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Welcome to SWPPD

Located in Palisade serving five counties in Southwest Nebraska including: Chase, Dundy, Hayes, Hitchcock, and Red Willow. Servicing 2,585 miles of line, 6,452 meters, and over 109,000 Horsepower of irrigation load.

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Latest News


Our main concern is servicing you to the best of our ability and being part of this great community. Here we will keep you informed about current news and things happening at SWPPD including widespread outage situations.
By Frank Bonini 26 Apr, 2023
Southwest Public Power District is proud to announce the Frank & Betty Potthoff Memorial Scholarship Program! Frank and Betty Potthoff were both formerly employed by SWPPD, and the Potthoff family has generously offered to fund this scholarship as a memorial to them. This $500 per semester scholarship will help a student attend the Utility Line Program at either Northeast Community College or Western Nebraska Community College. To qualify for the scholarship students must be a high school senior or graduate and reside in the border territory generally served by SWPPD and all towns therein. The applicant must have already applied to be admitted to the Utility Line Program at either college and have been accepted or placed on a waiting list. To apply for the scholarship, the student must submit a personal essay to SWPPD not more than 350 words in length explaining why they are interested in the Utility Line Program as their course of study. They must also provide their class rank and GPA. If the applicant has graduated high school and is attending college, they must submit college transcripts with their essay. Applicant essays will be forwarded to a selection committee. SWPPD would like to award the first scholarship for the Fall semester of 2023. Applicants must have their essays submitted by May 31, 2023 in order to be eligible. Please contact Frank Bonini at (308)285-3295, or frankb@swppd.com, with questions.
11 Aug, 2022
As the country continues to recover from the many recent global and national events, the supply chain issues are going to remain a challenge for at least the next 12 to 24 months. The inventory SWPPD requires to build and maintain new and existing services has been strained. Today, the current order lead time for transformers used in our industry are estimated to be approximately 52 weeks out. Unfortunately, transformers are not the only inventory item of concern. Everything from the raw materials used in our conductor wire to the poles, cross-arms and bolts used in construction have been impacted. The trade associations and organizations we belong to have been proactive in working with the federal government and with manufacturers to make sure we have what we need to serve our customers. SWPPD has adapted by ordering supplies further in advance and in larger quantities when the manufacturer allows. We also continue to recycle and reuse materials where possible. Materials ordered by SWPPD are also subject to change based on several unexpected events such as national and local storm restoration needs, transportation costs and availability, raw material interruptions and many other possible unexpected scenarios. These circumstances have been substantial enough that we can no longer guarantee that new services will be completed prior to the summer of 2023. More specifically, no new irrigation service requests that are not already in our que will be built before the summer of 2023. Therefore, any new service requests for the rest of the year will be put on a waiting list on a “first come, first serve” basis. The Board and Management at SWPPD felt strongly that it was better to communicate this delay to our customers as far in advance as possible to make the necessary adjustments in your plans if you are considering a new service in 2023. We apologize for any inconvenience. Please reach out to SWPPD if you have any questions.
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EnergyWise℠ Tips


Saving energy is something we all strive to do. Here we have a complete blog dedicated to energywise tips regarding the electric industry.
10 Sep, 2024
By: NPPD Energy Efficiency Program Manager Cory Fuehrer During this time of the year, many are switching their thermostats from “cooling” to “heating” mode. This is also a good time to check and change filters in heating and cooling (HVAC) systems. Some may have not been replaced since the start of the cooling season or longer. But how important could a filter be if your HVAC system still seems to provide adequate heating and cooling? Consider the following potential impacts: Inefficient heating and cooling The whole reason you have an HVAC system is to keep comfortable inside. Dirty filters reduce airflow and the system’s ability to condition the air in your home. According to the Department of Energy, a furnace or air conditioner with a clogged filter can use 15 percent more energy than one operating with a clean one. Higher cost of utility bills Every year, energy efficiency professionals start hearing concerns about the high cost of utilities after homeowners and renters receive their first bills after an extended cold period. An inefficient HVAC system only makes these bills higher. Uneven temperatures inside Most duct systems are designed with the assumption that, with a clean filter, the furnace or air handler will move an adequate volume of air to keep temperatures balanced throughout your home. Diminished air flows due to a dirty filter often result in a room or rooms not receiving the same amount of conditioned air as others. Short cycling or equipment failure Reduced air flow due to a dirty filter can cause your heat exchanger to overheat and shut off before your thermostat’s setpoint is reached. Over a relatively short period of time, the HVAC system will continue to cycle on and off. If this happens too often, the system’s electronic "limit switch" can fail, and the furnace won't fire up at all. Now, on top of higher utility bills, a HVAC technician will leave one for parts and labor. Of course, Murphy’s Law states this will occur on one of the coldest days of the year and after normal business hours to optimize the technician’s fees. A similar problem can occur in the middle of summer. A clogged filter can cause the evaporator coil to freeze up because not enough air is moving through it to remove condensation produced during the cooling process. This seems to inevitably occur to filter abusers over the Fourth of July weekend in order to once again, optimize the HVAC technician’s fees. Also, dirt that gets past a filter can also make its way into the fan motor and other parts, causing damage to those components. As if the repair bill didn’t cost enough! Puts the burden on your lungs Relying on your lungs to filter out all the contaminants that can potentially be in indoor air could mean you find yourself sick or feeling ill more often. Those contaminants might include: dust, mites, spores, mold, ash, pollen, pet dander, bug parts, hair, lint, tobacco smoke, food particles, pesticides, paint vapors or fumes from cleaning products. A clean filter helps remove these contaminants to create a healthier home. Changing your filter once a year is probably not often enough. However, if you’re not currently changing your filter at all, it’s a start. Some heating and cooling experts recommend replacing your filter every month. While this practice may ensure you never operate your system with a dirty filter, you may be throwing a good filter away prematurely if your indoor air is relatively clean. Instead, check filters monthly for one year until you understand how often needs to be replaced. Some do may require monthly replacement, but if your system operates very little, such as during mild months, you may get additional use from the same filter. Also note that some filters are designed to last multiple months. Only through observation and following manufacturers’ recommendations can you best gauge optimal replacement frequency. Not sure which filter to select? Visit with your HVAC technician or retail expert to assure your selection provides the best filtration possible without negatively impacting your system’s performance. Southwest Public Power District and Nebraska Public Power District want to help you make the most of the energy they provide you. That includes helping you keep your home’s heating and cooling system running efficiently. For other ideas on making your home EnergyWiseSM, contact Southwest Public Power District or visit www.nppd.com.
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We Value Your Opinion


Southwest Public Power District is committed to providing the best possible customer service. We value input from our customers and invite you to use the Contact Us form to share your comments, concerns, questions and suggestions. Compliments are accepted as well! Rest assured that all correspondence will be reviewed and handled with professional confidence and courtesy.
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Board of Directors


In March of 1945, the Southwest Electric Membership Corporation was born and electric light took its first steps to become an active part of life in southwest Nebraska. At the time nine men were elected to the board of directors. Many things in the electrical industry have changed over the years but one thing remains the same, continued leadership and dedication to the electrical needs of southwest Nebraska.
Meet The Board

A tour of Southwest Nebraska….our home.

We live in a very special place with proud and hard working communities. This video is a small peak into the places we call home in the southwest corner of Nebraska. Southwest Public Power District is proud to be a part of these communities. If you are not able to see our video here visit YouTube.

Stay Informed


Manager's Articles


General Manager Colyn Suda will keep you updated with monthly articles from SWPPD about industry news, safety tips, and ways to save you money. Also, this is your direct link to the Nebraska Rural Electric Association. Here you will find information about industry and political events and you can also sign-up for notifications.
02 Oct, 2024
It’s pretty easy to keep drafts out of the house on cold and windy days: Simply insulate your windows by caulking around them. All you need is caulk and a caulk gun, which you can find at any home or hardware store. You can even show your children how to do it. · To get started, clean the windows, window sill, trim and frames with a damp clot. Allow everything to dry. · Scrape old caulk and any peeling paint off of the windows and the area surrounding them · Using the caulk gun, apply the caulk between the window frame and siding on the outdoors. Indoors, fill in the gap between the windows and the trim. · Don’t over-apply or the caulk can look messy. Repeat the routine every few years as the caulk starts to crack and peel.
25 Sep, 2024
Are you getting all of the energy savings you can from your programmable thermostat? Most people aren’t. That’s because few people understand how to program their thermostats to raise and lower the temperature when the house is going to be empty or everyone will be asleep. The thermostat itself won’t save you any energy or money on your electric bill. To see a savings, you have to program the thermostat to turn the heat down during times of the day when nobody’s home. If your older-model thermostat is too complicated, consider investing in a new one. Manufacturers have introduced programmable thermostats that are easier to use and understand. New models have touch screens, recorded instructions and digital reminders. Some even “talk” to you to help you do the programming. Proper use of a programmable thermostat can save you up to $150 a year in energy costs, according to Energy Star, a federal government program. To get the most savings from programmable thermostats: · Program the thermostat to turn down the heat and keep the temperature low for at least eight hours at a stretch. The thermostat can lower the temperature right after everyone leaves for school and work, for example, bring it back up just before the family is due to return home, and then set it back again at bedtime. · Override the preprogrammed settings and put in your own. That way, you can set the thermostat back for longer periods of time if you know you’ll be gone a while. · Use the hold or vacation setting when you’re planning to be out of the house for a few days. Set this feature to keep the house several degrees cooler in the winter or several degrees warmer in the summer, even if you’ll be away just for the weekend. · Change the batteries in your thermostat each year to keep it functioning properly.
17 Sep, 2024
After years of endorsing gas-powered leaf blowers over electric, Consumer Reports has changed its tune, saying that electric models outperform traditional gas devices for vacuuming, handling and noise. In fact, the magazine, known for its objective testing of appliances and other products, said in a comparison of leaf blowers that “electric is the clear winner.” “The best electric leaf blowers we’ve tested match or beat the best gas models in every single test we conduct,” the article said. Their only drawback, when compared with gas, the magazine said, is that electrics require recharging, which takes some time. So if you’re in the market for a lightweight, quieter and still powerful leaf blower, consider a cordless electric model.
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