General

Public power: powering your life

Any time you flip on lights, wash clothes, watch television or check your cell phone, you probably aren’t thinking about the electricity that makes it all possible.

Yet reliable power supports virtually every comfort, convenience and necessity that we take for granted. We reap the benefits countless times a day, from the grocery stores we visit to feed our families to the hospitals that provide life-saving medical care.

That’s why it’s important to recognize October as National Energy Awareness Month, a time that celebrates the importance of modern energy generation and energy efficiency.

National Energy Awareness Month dates to 1991, when then-President George Bush encouraged governments and organizations to focus on the importance of managing the nation’s energy resources to increase sustainability.

A special priority in Nebraska

In addition, this week is Public Power Week. Providing reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity is paramount in Nebraska, the only state to benefit exclusively from various forms of public power.

Every Nebraskan receives electricity from a public power district, municipal utility or electric cooperative. These providers all have elected or appointed governing boards that are accountable to you, their constituents. The exact governing structures vary throughout Nebraska, including power district boards, rural cooperatives and city councils.

The workers who keep your power flowing are your friends and neighbors, from the plant employees and field technicians to the engineers and customer service representatives who work behind the scenes to serve all of Nebraska.

Public power utilities also operate at cost, allowing them to keep rates much lower than the national average and invest in crucial infrastructure without having to divert money to shareholders. That gives Nebraska a competitive advantage when attracting new families, developments and businesses.

Serving eastern Nebraska

OPPD serves 893,000 people in 13 counties, covering a 5,000-square-mile service district. The territory includes Omaha, neighboring suburbs, smaller towns and rural farmland throughout eastern Nebraska.

Founded in 1946, OPPD is now the nation’s 12^th largest public power utility as measured by the number of customers.

OPPD’s residential, commercial, industrial and retail rates are all significantly below the national average. This remains true even as unprecedented growth in demand for electricity and new regulatory rules require the utility to greatly expand its capacity.

Across all customer classes, rates were 15.8% below the regional average and 27.4% below the national average, according to 2023 data (the most recent available) from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Residential rates were 14% below the regional average and 24.9% below the national average. Commercial rates were 22.2% below the regional average and 32.9% below the national average. And industrial rates were 11.6% below the national average and 13.6% below the national average.

OPPD also works directly with customers who struggle to pay their bills. The utility offers assistance to those who qualify and works with community groups to help serve people in need.

Using electricity wisely

National Energy Awareness Month also serves as a reminder to make smarter energy decisions in our homes and businesses.

Smart energy usage is particularly important as demand for energy grows in Nebraska and nationwide. Utilities across the country are working to keep pace with demand using a variety of energy sources.

There’s a lot you can do to conserve and use energy more efficiently, all while saving your hard-earned money. OPPD can help with many helpful tips here, here, here and here. Small changes can make a big difference.