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Columbus/Lincoln/Omaha, Neb. & Tulsa, Okla. - In a collaborative effort that marks a milestone for Nebraska’s and Oklahoma’s energy future — Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD), Omaha Public Power District (OPPD), Lincoln Electric System (LES) and Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA) — have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to form the Great Plains New Nuclear Consortium.
This consortium will explore the feasibility and development of deploying between 1,000 and 2,000 megawatts of new nuclear technology— including Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)—within Nebraska to serve the needs of the four utilities in the Southwest Power Pool market footprint.
This early-stage collaboration reflects a shared commitment to long-term power supply planning, reliability, affordability, sustainability, diversity and innovation. The consortium will focus on feasibility studies, site evaluations and technology assessments. No construction or investment decisions have been made at this time.
“This is a smart, forward-looking step for public power,” said Javier Fernandez, president and CEO of OPPD. “We’re exploring all viable options to ensure we can continue to deliver reliable, affordable energy and we’re doing it in a way that’s transparent, collaborative and grounded in data.”
The consortium will be coordinated by a steering committee led by NPPD with representatives from each participating utility.
“Nuclear technology has long proven to be a dependable and resilient energy source,” said NPPD President and CEO Tom Kent. “Public power utilities have a strong tradition of collaboration, and this consortium strengthens that legacy as we work together to meet the region’s growing energy demands.”
Utilities across the country are facing rising demand, evolving reliability standards and the need for long-term resource planning. The consortium allows the partners to share expertise, reduce costs and evaluate how new nuclear technology could play a role in their future energy mix.
“This partnership reflects the best of public power: local utilities working together for the long-term good of our communities,” said Emeka Anyanwu, CEO of LES. “We’re committed to thoughtful planning that puts people first and ensures our customers benefit from innovation, resilience and shared value.”
“GRDA is proud to bring our generation and grid expertise to this effort,” said Dan Sullivan, president and CEO of GRDA. “This is about preparing for the future responsibly with a focus on reliability and cost-effectiveness.”
Each utility will fund its own early-stage work. Any future steps, such as investment, permitting or construction, would follow public engagement and each utility’s independent board approval process.
NPPD is currently finalizing a nuclear feasibility siting study funded through the Nebraska Legislature and the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. “While there is important work ahead, the siting feasibility study positions us proactively as the consortium begins exploring opportunities to deploy this technology within Nebraska,” added Kent.
A joint landing page with FAQs and additional information will launch at www.gpnuclearconsortium.com.
POSTPONED: Due to weather conditions the planned outage is being pushed back to December 10 from 10 PM MT until midnight. Impacted customers are being notified of the time change.
Columbus, Neb. – A planned outage is scheduled for electric customers in Hay Springs Wednesday, December 3 from 5 to 7 p.m. Mountain Time, to allow for work at a substation in the area.
The outage is being conducted so crews can conduct needed maintenance at the substation. “We know outages are not convenient, and we appreciate the patience of the impacted customers while the work is completed,” said NPPD Account Manager Jennifer Branson. “The work will help ensure reliable service to area customers, and crews will be working hard to complete the work in a safe and efficient manner.”
NPPD works closely with impacted communities to schedule any planned outages. NPPD will notify impacted customers prior to the planned outage, and customers can call 1-877-ASK-NPPD if they have any questions.
Columbus, Neb. – Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) will be replacing an aging bridge that crosses the Kearney Canal on Evergreen Road west of Kearney, with work to start mid-November.
The bridge located west of Kearney and approximately one-quarter mile north of Highway 30 will be replaced with a large concrete box culvert. The work is expected to begin the week of November 24, and traffic will be rerouted to Dove Hill Avenue, 1-mile east of Evergreen Road, until installation of the box culvert is complete. The new culvert will support all legal traffic loads.
The project is estimated to take approximately two months to complete, and the road will reopen once the work is completed.
Columbus, Neb. – Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) has begun the process to slowly return water to the Sutherland Canal, following a fall outage for maintenance work.
“NPPD has completed the planned work along the canal system, and we want to make sure area residents are aware water is starting to return to the canal,” said NPPD Canaday, Water, and Renewable Energy Manager Kirk Evert. “The water will be added in slowly and will remain filled heading into the winter months.”
The Sutherland Canal has been dewatered since early October, and while canal waters were lowered, crews conducted general maintenance activities. This work included inspecting gates, work to remove sediment from the canal, replacing part of a structure near Keystone, replacing some canal lining in areas along the canal, and maintenance activities at the hydro.
Columbus, Neb. - Nebraska Public Power District’s (NPPD) board of directors approved a 3% retail and 1% wholesale rate increase during November’s regularly scheduled meeting.
The average residential retail customer uses around 1,000 kilowatts of electricity a month, and based on this amount, would experience an increase of just over $5 per month.
“NPPD’s strong history of maintaining low rates has enabled existing customers to grow within the state and has attracted new industries looking to establish operations in Nebraska, driving economic growth across the communities we serve,” said NPPD President and CEO Tom Kent. “We continue to manage costs at a time when inflation, supply chain constraints, and rising material, fleet, and facility expenses present challenges. Despite these pressures, our focus remains on delivering affordable, reliable energy, and that commitment is reflected in how NPPD’s rates compare to peer utilities across the nation.”
NPPD benchmarks its retail rate using data from U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), who collected data from over 2,600 utilities across the nation. According to finalized EIA data for 2024, NPPD continues to meet the goal to maintain a total retail base rate position among the lowest 15 percent of providers, with the most recent ranking finishing in the lowest 6.5 percent.
NPPD benchmarks its wholesale rates, using a database maintained by the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC). The large group includes more than 800 electric utilities, across the nation, which purchase wholesale power. NPPD’s Board of Directors set a goal to remain in the lowest 25 percent and NPPD continues to meet that goal by finishing at the 12.5 percentile in the most recent rankings.
In addition, the NPPD Board of Directors has voted to provide approximately $30.8 million to wholesale customers, which will appear in the form of a Production Cost Adjustment (PCA) credit on wholesale customer bills. This is the eighth consecutive year that NPPD’s wholesale customers will receive a PCA credit.
Columbus, Neb. – Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) wants to remind equipment and drone operators to keep powerline safety a key focus when working around power lines.
When large equipment comes too close to a power line, electricity can arc to the equipment, leading to serious or potentially fatal injuries to the operator. “Being safe out in the field starts with checking your surroundings and becoming aware of power lines in your area,” said NPPD VP of Energy Delivery Scott Walz. “We take safety very seriously, and we want to encourage everyone working around power lines to be aware of their surroundings, so they can complete their work safely as well.”
If a piece of equipment comes in contact with a power line, call 911 or your local power provider, and remain inside the vehicle until help has arrived, to de-energize the line. If a fire forces you to exit the vehicle, jump away from the vehicle, never touching the vehicle and the ground at the same time. Land on two feet and shuffle as far away from the area as possible.
“Drone use is growing in both ag and non-ag areas of work, and we want to encourage these operators to also be careful when operating around power lines,” added Walz. “When a drone gets into a power line it can cause extensive damage to the drone and the power lines, which can cause outages to local customers and be expensive to repair.”
NPPD encourages agricultural operators to review the following safety precautions before working around power lines. More information on farm safety can also be found on NPPD.com.
Columbus, Neb. – Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) will be hosting an open house Tuesday, Oct. 14, from 4 to 7 p.m., at the Hallam Auditorium to share information about the new generating facility, Princeton Road Station.
NPPD will be constructing Princeton Road Station (PRS) on NPPD-owned land adjacent to the District’s existing plant, Sheldon Station, just north of Hallam. NPPD plans to install natural gas-powered generation at PRS including Combustion Turbines and Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines for a total of 694 megawatts of generation. These generation resources have dual fuel capability and can also utilize diesel fuel to generate electricity when needed. This facility will have the capability to serve the equivalent to an estimated 318,000 residential homes when operating at max capacity.
“As our state’s energy needs continue to grow, PRS will help NPPD continue to provide reliable, affordable power, and will complement NPPD’s existing diverse generation mix,” said NPPD VP of Energy Production Art Wiese. “The public open house will be an opportunity to learn about NPPD’s newest facility and meet the project team. If members of the public have questions, we encourage them to attend to find out more about the facility.”
At the open house, participants will have the opportunity to walk through the various information stations at their own pace to learn about the project and ask questions. There will be no formal presentation, so participants may come and go at their convenience, any time between 4 and 7 p.m.
Columbus, Neb. – Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) will begin a delayed outage to the Sutherland Canal starting Saturday, October 4 in between Lake Ogallala, Sutherland Reservoir, and Lake Maloney.
NPPD originally began the process to dewater the canal system on September 21, but refilled the canal after the failure of a pump motor that helps circulate cooling waters in the Sutherland Reservoir for Gerlad Gentleman Station.
With temperatures beginning to drop in the coming weeks, Sutherland Canal will no longer need additional cooling water from the canal system. The waters will begin to lower in the canal, starting Saturday, and will drain for roughly two weeks. The water will then remain lowered for five to seven weeks before being refilled.
While canal waters are lowered, crews will be conducting general maintenance activities along the canal, inspecting gates, working to remove sediment from the canal, replacing part of a structure near Keystone, replacing some canal lining in areas, and completing maintenance at the hydro. With this work being completed, there will be various road closures along the canal and North Platte Hydro Tailrace due to heavy equipment being used. These road closures along the canal will be marked with signs to notify people of the work, where possible.
Columbus, Neb. – A planned outage is scheduled for electric customers in Crawford, Whitney and Fort Robinson, Tuesday, Oct. 7 from 6 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. MT, to return the electric system to normal operation.
This is the second of two planned outages. The first outage took place on Sept. 18 to install a mobile substation, so maintenance could be conducted at a permanent substation in the area. With maintenance completed, the planned outage on Oct. 7 will allow crews to unhook the mobile substation and return the system to normal operation.
“Outages are not convenient, and we appreciate everyone’s patience as crews complete this work. The work done at the substation will help support reliable electric service,” said NPPD Account Manager Jennifer Branson.
NPPD works closely with impacted communities to schedule any planned outages. NPPD will notify impacted customers prior to the planned outage, and customers can call 1-877-ASK-NPPD if they have any questions.
Columbus, Neb. – A brief planned outage is scheduled for electric customers in Tilden Sunday, October 5 from 2 to 4 p.m. to allow for work at a substation in the area.
The outage is being conducted so crews can conduct maintenance at the substation. “Outages are not convenient, and we appreciate the patience of the impacted customers while the crews complete this necessary work,” added NPPD Account Manager Brittney Koenig. “Crews will be working hard to complete the work at the substation in a safe and timely manner.”
NPPD works closely with impacted communities to schedule any planned outages. NPPD will notify impacted customers prior to the planned outage, and customers can call 1-877-ASK-NPPD if they have any questions.
Columbus, Neb. – Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) will be returning water to the Sutherland Canal starting Monday in between Lake Ogallala, Sutherland Reservoir, and Lake Maloney due to an equipment issue on a Gerald Gentleman Station (GGS) reservoir pump.
NPPD began the process to dewater the canal system on September 21 with plans to complete regular maintenance and inspection along the canal. While the canal is dewatered, the Sutherland Reservoir uses pumps to help circulate cooling water within the Reservoir which is used by GGS. Due to a failure of a pump motor, NPPD will return water to the Sutherland Canal system to assist with the flow of cooling water through GGS until the motor can be repaired.
A new date for dewatering the canal and completing the planned inspections and maintenance has not been determined.
“Once the pump motor has been repaired, we will determine if we can still dewater the canal this fall to complete the planned work or if we will need to delay the work to a later date,” says NPPD Canaday, Water, and Renewable Energy Manager Kirk Evert. “The delayed work won’t have any impact on the safe operation of the canal system and If the canal is able to be dewatered still this year, we will send out additional information.”
Columbus, Neb. – Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) will begin draining the Sutherland Canal next week in between Lake Ogallala, Sutherland Reservoir, and Lake Maloney to conduct maintenance and inspection activities.
The process to dewater the canal system will start September 21 after closing the Keystone Diversion Gates at Lake Ogallala and will take roughly two weeks to complete. The canal will then remain dewatered for approximately five to seven weeks before being refilled to normal operating levels.
“Dewatering the canal allows our crews to conduct any needed maintenance, as well as a thorough inspection of the canal system,” says NPPD Canaday, Water, and Renewable Energy Manager Kirk Evert. “Doing this regularly helps ensure the canal operates successfully throughout the year, to provide cooling water for Gerald Gentleman Station and to help generate power at the North Platte Hydro.”
While canal waters are lowered, crews will be conducting general maintenance activities along the canal, inspecting gates, working to remove sediment from the canal, replacing part of a structure near Keystone, replacing some canal lining in areas, and completing maintenance at the hydro. With this work being completed, there will be various road closures along the canal and North Platte Hydro Tailrace due to heavy equipment being used. These road closures along the canal will be marked with signs to notify people of the work, where possible.
Columbus, Neb. – A planned outage is scheduled for electric customers in Crawford, Whitney and Fort Robinson, Thursday, September 18 from 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. MT, to allow for substation work.
The outage is being conducted so crews can hook-up a mobile substation, so maintenance can be conducted at an existing substation.
“We appreciate everyone’s patience while our crews complete this work,” said NPPD Account Manager Jennifer Branson. “Over the next couple of weeks crews will conduct maintenance at a substation in the area, and once completed a second outage will take place in October to return the system to normal operation.”
NPPD works closely with impacted communities to schedule any planned outages. NPPD will notify impacted customers prior to the planned outage, and customers can call 1-877-ASK-NPPD if they have any questions. NPPD will send out additional information once the second outage date and time are confirmed.
Columbus, Neb. – Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) crews will use a helicopter to deliver power pole structures near Friend and Dorchester starting Sept. 11 in an effort to rebuild a damaged transmission line.
A helicopter will be carrying wooden power pole structures, also referred to as H-frames, to the locations where they will be installed in the areas around Friend and Dorchester. Some of the structures will be placed in locations near Highway 6. This work is being done to repair 41 structures on a 345-kV transmission line that was damaged after an intense storm on Aug. 9.
“Due to the size and build of the structures, the safest and most efficient option for getting the structures installed in their new locations is to fly them in by helicopter,” said NPPD District Transmission Manager Bob Blessin. “Safely completing this work is very important. We want to ensure area residents are aware of the work taking place and ask that if anyone sees the helicopters working to keep their distance.”
NPPD asks that drone operators refrain from operating in the area to ensure the helicopter operators can safely complete their work. Drivers who see a helicopter carrying structures to their new location should maintain a safe distance from the work being completed. If needed, traffic on a road may be temporarily stopped in order for a helicopter carrying a structure to safely cross a roadway.
The helicopters’ work to carry and set the new structures is anticipated to take a couple days, with a smaller helicopter assisting with stringing the new power line wires once the structures are in place. The work to string the wires is expected to take a couple weeks to complete.
Columbus, Neb. – A brief planned outage is scheduled for electric customers in Bassett, Wednesday, September 10 at 7 a.m. for approximately 5 minutes, to allow for work at a substation in the area.
The outage is being conducted so crews can hook-up a mobile substation, so maintenance can be conducted at the substation. “Outages are not convenient and while it will be brief, we want to make sure people are aware so they can plan ahead for the morning schedule,” noted NPPD Account Manager Brittney Koenig. “Over the next month crews will conduct maintenance, and once completed a second five-minute outage will take place in late September to return the system to normal operation.”
NPPD works closely with impacted communities to schedule any planned outages. NPPD will notify impacted customers prior to the planned outage, and customers can call 1-877-ASK-NPPD if they have any questions. NPPD will send out additional information once the second outage date and time are confirmed.
Columbus, Neb. – Nebraska Public Power District’s (NPPD) wholesale electric rates continue to rank among the most affordable in the nation.
In 2016, NPPD began benchmarking its wholesale rates against others in the nation, utilizing a database maintained by the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC). The large group includes more than 800 electric utilities which purchase wholesale power. NPPD’s Board of Directors set a strategic directive to achieve and maintain wholesale rates in the best quartile of the CFC’s analysis – which is at or below the 25-percentile for power cost. NPPD first achieved this goal in 2020 by reaching the 23.2 percentile and has remained in the lowest quartile since. The rankings for 2024 were recently released, with NPPD finishing at the 12.5 percentile.
“Public power brings tremendous value to Nebraska. We are helping to power a state that consistently ranks as one of America’s top destinations for business year in and year out. We do this while keeping rates affordable for our customers, who are at the forefront of our decision-making - customers who live, work, and play in Nebraska's communities served by NPPD and our wholesale customers,” said NPPD President and CEO Tom Kent.
NPPD has shared surpluses with customers in the form of credits which have been applied to the wholesale power bills and have effectively lowered the cost of power. In addition, NPPD’s wholesale rates have remained steady for eight straight years. NPPD currently has wholesale contracts with 35 municipalities and 23 public power districts and cooperatives across the state.
Columbus, Neb. – A planned outage is scheduled for electric customers in Long Pine, Tuesday, August 26 from 7 to 8 a.m. to return the system to normal operation following recent substation work.
The outage will impact Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) customers in the city of Long Pine, including Hidden Paradise. Crews recently completed upgrades to a substation in the area, and during that time period the system has been utilizing a mobile substation. With the upgrade work completed, the planned outage will allow crews to return the system to its normal operation.
“We want to thank everyone in Long Pine for their cooperation and understanding during the two outages,” noted NPPD Account Manager Brittney Koenig. “The work done at the substation will help ensure the area continues to receive reliable electric service. As always, crews will complete the work as safely and efficiently as possible, and customers will be restored once the mobile substation is removed from service.”
NPPD works closely with impacted communities to schedule any planned outages, and customers impacted by the outage will receive a call or notification prior to the outage.
Columbus, Neb. – Nebraska Public Power District crews will use a helicopter to deliver power pole structures north of Lexington starting this week in an effort to rebuild a damaged transmission line.
Starting the week of July 21, a helicopter will be carrying wood power pole structures, also referred to as H-frames, to the locations where they will be installed in an area north of Lexington. This work is being done to repair over seven miles of a 230-kilovolt transmission line that was damaged after an intense storm knocked down 49 structures on June 30.
“Due to the size and build of the structures along with the terrain around the line, the safest and most efficient option for getting the structures installed in their new locations is to fly them in by helicopter,” says NPPD District Transmission Manager Bob Blessin. “We want to ensure customers and area residents are aware of the work taking place and ask that if anyone sees the helicopters working to keep their distance. We also ask that drone operators avoid flying in the area completely. Drones are very hazardous to helicopters and maintaining a safe work environment for everyone is very important.”
NPPD’s board of directors met in an emergency board meeting on Wednesday, July 2, to discuss the damage and restoration efforts needed to put the line back into operation. On an 11-0 vote, the board passed a resolution authorizing NPPD management to procure labor, materials, equipment and services, and to negotiate any contracts necessary to repair the line.
Columbus, Neb. – A planned outage is scheduled for electric customers in Oshkosh, Wednesday, July 16 from 7 to 11 p.m. Mountain Time, to allow for work at a substation in the area.
The approximately 4-hour outage will impact Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) customers in the city of Oshkosh.
“Outages are not convenient for anyone but taking this planned outage will allow our crews to complete work at the substation and help ensure reliable service to the area,” noted NPPD Account Manager Jennifer Branson.
NPPD works closely with impacted communities to schedule any planned outages. NPPD will notify impacted customers prior to the planned outage, and customers can call 1-877-ASK-NPPD if they have any questions.
Columbus, Neb. – The Nebraska Public Power District Board of Directors held an emergency virtual board meeting Wednesday at 9 a.m. to discuss the restoration of a transmission line damaged by a recent storm.
On an 11-0 vote, the board passed a resolution authorizing NPPD management to procure labor, materials, equipment and services, and to negotiate any contracts necessary to repair over 7-miles of a 230-kilovolt transmission line. The line was damaged from an intense storm that passed through early Monday morning knocking down 49 structures in an area north of Lexington.
The board was not scheduled to meet for a regularly scheduled meeting in July. The emergency board meeting was held on Wednesday so that the process of rebuilding the line could begin immediately. The overall repair project cost estimate is $6.7 million and will include individual contracts in excess of $1.5 million.
Columbus, Neb. – Construction on the Scottsbluff Power Project transmission line is completed, and the new line has officially been energized.
The Scottsbluff Power Project was first announced on March 11, 2022, and after over three years of planning, public involvement, easement acquisition, and construction, the transmission line was officially energized on June 25, 2025. The new line has increased the system’s capacity to meet electrical demand, reduce congestion, and further enhanced the reliability and resiliency of the Scottsbluff and western Nebraska areas.
“We appreciate the cooperation of the landowners and the public throughout this entire process,” said NPPD Project Manager Paul Brune. “This project will help ensure reliable energy service to this area for years to come.”
With construction completed, crews are working to remove material and equipment from material yards and completing property restoration. Information on the Scottsbluff Power Project can be found on nppd.com under the “current projects” tab.
Columbus, Neb. – A planned outage is scheduled for electric customers in Long Pine, Wednesday, July 9 from 7 to 11 a.m. to allow for work at a substation in the area.
The outage will impact Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) customers in the city of Long Pine, including Hidden Paradise. The planned outage will allow crews to complete work needed for future electric system upgrades.
“Outages are not convenient for anyone but taking this planned outage will allow our crews to complete work at the substation and help ensure reliable service to the area,” noted NPPD Account Manager Brittney Koenig.
An additional outage will be observed at a later date, and customers will be notified once the date and time is confirmed. NPPD works closely with impacted communities to schedule any planned outages.
Columbus, Neb. – Construction on the Kearney Power Project transmission line is completed, and the new line has officially been energized.
The Kearney Power Project was first announced on November 4, 2021, and after three and half years of public involvement, easement acquisition, and construction, the transmission line was officially energized on June 6, 2025. The new line has increased the transmission system's capacity, helping meet increasing demand and further enhancing reliability and resiliency of energy service in the Kearney area.
“We appreciate the cooperation of the landowners and the public throughout this entire process,” said NPPD Project Manager Paul Brune. “As the Kearney area’s energy needs continue to grow, this project will help ensure reliable energy service to the area for years to come.”
With construction completed, crews are working to remove material and equipment from material yards and completing property restoration. NPPD’s consultant Westwood will be conducting drone surveys of the finished line on or around June 23, as weather allows. Information on the Kearney Power Project can be found on nppd.com under the “current projects” tab.
