OPPD is always working to keep the power on. Over the last 41 days, the utility has offered a glimpse into the everyday efforts they make to provide safe, reliable power to 13 counties and 846,000 people.
For six weeks, OPPD chronicled in near-real time the work that happens in the communities they serve. From maintaining power plants, safety equipment, electrical lines and wind farms to offering customer service, information, education and trouble-shooting, the utility shared some of the crucial tasks that go into providing consistent, affordable energy.
OPPD values the people and the communities they serve. It’s an honor to share some of the efforts that go into keeping these 13 counties safe and powered. OPPD is passionate about consistently looking for ways to provide and maintain affordability, economic growth opportunities, efficient service, and sustainable energy solutions. They are proud to share that passion with you.
Watch the video below to see the kind of things OPPD is doing every day to serve their communities.
Actions, not words
No two days are alike at OPPD. What remains constant, however, is the commitment to providing reliable, affordable and environmentally sensitive electricity service. Every day, The Wire will feature a snapshot of the work OPPD employees do to meet this commitment.
OPPD lives out its commitment to the communities it serves through actions rather than words. Since it came online in 2015, The Wire has pulled back the curtain to show customers what OPPD does. Check in here for the next six weeks to see how OPPD serves customers and how we work to keep the lights on. This daily effort is an extension of our transparency.
It’s real. It’s not glamorous. But it’s important work.
Previous days’ photos
April 1, 2019, 7:36 a.m.: OPPD gets an early start when it comes to serving its customers. The work varies, but always focuses on reliable electricity.
April 2, 2019, 10:31 a.m.:
OPPD employees are building tomorrow’s workforce today by sharing their knowledge of STEM careers with high school students.
April 3, 2019, 10:39 a.m.: The floodwaters have receded, but OPPD is busy reconnecting power to customers affected by the floods.
April 4, 2019, 10:29 a.m.: Regular safety training is important when safety is an all day, everyday commitment to each other and OPPD customers.
April 5, 2019, 9:23 a.m.: Troubleshooters are first to respond to outage calls. They assess the situation and determine what work needs to be done.
April 7, 2019, 2:34 p.m.: OPPD’s energy traders first meet customer demands, then sell excess power to member utilities in the Southwest Power Pool.
April 8, 2019, 9:40 a.m.: OPPD employees were in Lincoln Monday for a Lineworker Appreciation Day event at the state capitol.
April 9, 2019, 9:40 a.m.: OPPD streams each Board of Directors meeting and their committee meeting live online, allowing more people to stay informed on the issues impacting their utility.
April 10, 2019, 11:51 a.m.: Rubber equipment can be the last line of defense for field employees. So we test them ourselves to ensure they are safe.
April 11, 2019, 12:34 p.m.: Area river levels could rise in coming days. OPPD is taking steps to protect its facilities from potential damage.
April 12, 2019, 1:37 p.m.: OPPD performs regular maintenance outages on its power plants now to maintain reliability before customers need power most – summer.
April 13, 2019, 11:40 a.m.: OPPD showed Earth Day Omaha visitors how energy is made and shared information about the utility’s new community solar program.
April 15, 2019, 7:46 a.m.: Every morning, crews check trucks and equipment. It’s all part of safe, efficient work for customers.
April 16, 2019, 11:03 a.m.: Environmental specialists take groundwater samples from monitoring wells near OPPD power plants. The testing is part of OPPD’s commitment to protecting the environment.
April 17, 2019, 9:51 a.m.: OPPD contractors trimmed dozens of trees near power lines. The work done now ensures reliable service and fewer outages.
April 18, 2019, 11:45 a.m.: From a locomotive to a chainsaw, the Transportation Department ensures OPPD’s fleet is in tip-top shape to respond when needed.
April 19, 11:36 a.m.: OPPD employees updated electrical system data with information about solar panels and other on-site generation.
April 20, 2019, 12:03 p.m.: The Energy Control Center is the “brain” of OPPD. There, employees manage power flow, dispatch crews, and find solutions to power outages.
April 22, 2019, 2:22 p.m.: Substation tested a new transformer for an industrial customer. The tests determine if it meets specifications and need.
April 23, 2019, 11:07 a.m.: Area streetlights are getting a face lift with new LED fixtures, which are brighter and longer-lasting than the existing ones.
April 24, 2019, 2:01 p.m.: OPPD always looks out for its customers, even in Lincoln, where they monitor legislation that could affect them.
April 25, 2019, 12:01 p.m.: OPPD employees participated in an Arbor Day event at Lauritzen Gardens that included planting a tree and educating students.
April 26, 2019, 8:50 a.m.: OPPD employees located underground utilities for customers as a result of calls to Nebraska 811.
April 27, 2019, 11:14 a.m.: The OPPD Arboretum gave nature photographers plenty of subjects to capture during the 2019 City Nature Challenge.
April 29, 2019, 8:56 a.m.: Louisville employees chatted with customers paying their bills. Nebraskans enjoy electric rates that are among country’s lowest.
April 30, 2019, 10:42 a.m.: Employees in OPPD’s call center speak every day with customers about their accounts and electrical service.
May 1, 2019, 9:43 a.m.: A line crew from Humboldt installed equipment for a new electric service near Tecumseh. It’s an example of the work crews do every day beyond the Omaha metro area.
May 2, 2019, 10:05 a.m.: Personnel at OPPD’s North Omaha Station kept an eye on plant operations to ensure reliable service to customers.
May 3, 2019, 7:44 a.m.: Crews from OPPD’s North Bend office loaded up on the supplies needed for the day’s work assignments early Friday morning. The Supply Chain Management group makes sure metro and rural crews are stocked and ready to keep power flowing.
May 4, 2019, 10 a.m.: OPPD employees were among the thousands of people who turned out for the annual Cinco de Mayo parade which marched down Omaha’s historic 24th Street Saturday morning.
May 6, 2019, 11:09 a.m.: Work continues at the Sholes Wind Energy Center. In 2019, OPPD will add 160MW from the facility, putting OPPD closer to having 40% of electricity from renewables.
May 7, 2019, 10:47 a.m.: Animals at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium enjoyed a free lunch of OPPD tree trimmings.
May 8, 2019, 8:23 a.m.: OPPD equipment requires constant monitoring by a variety of tradespeople such as electricians, welders and steamfitters.
May 9, 2019, 11:03 a.m.: OPPD and community partners helped land $1.4 billion in economic development projects last year resulting in over 2,000 new jobs in the area.
May 10, 2019, 10:13 a.m.: OPPD cable splicers were busy in the vaults, stringing new cables for the underground network that serves downtown Omaha.
May 11, 2019, 9:36 a.m.: OPPD’s largest bucket truck, the Condor, which reaches up 170 feet, was used to replace lights on Highway 75.
Laura King-Homan is the supervisor, Brand and Communication Operations, at Omaha Public Power District. She has nearly 20 years of print journalism and design experience, including the Omaha World-Herald.
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Communications technicians, a specialized group of workers with technical minds and top-notch problem-solving skills, help connect, protect and expand OPPD’s vast communications network.
