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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.
16 Oct, 2024
By: NPPD Energy Efficiency Program Manager Cory Fuehrer While demand for tankless water heaters continues to increase, more than 95% of homes have conventional storage tank heaters installed. About half use electric resistance or heat pump technology to produce hot water, while the other half uses natural gas or propane. If you’re like most, the only time you think about your water heater is when water fails to come out of the faucet or the tank starts to leak. Most homeowners overlook the importance of regular maintenance, which can lead to decreased efficiency, higher energy bills and premature replacement. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) estimates the average product lifetime for storage tank water heaters to be around 15 years. By annually doing the routine maintenance described below, you can help assure your water heater provides the efficiency and longevity you expect. Before starting, use a thermometer to identify your hot water temperature at the faucet located furthest from the hot water heater. Most water heater manufacturers preset thermostats at 140º Fahrenheit (F). The DOE recommends a setpoint of 120°F to optimize efficiency, slow mineral buildup and reduce corrosion. Temperatures lower than this can pose a slight risk of allowing bacterial growth, while temperatures above 140ºF significantly increase inefficiency from standby heat losses and create scalding risks. For every 10 degrees the temperature is lowered, you can expect to save up to 5% in water heating energy use. Next, take safety precautions. This should always be your top priority. Before beginning: 1. Turn off the power: For electric water heaters, switch off the circuit breaker. For gas-fired units, turn the gas valve to the “pilot” position. 2. Identify the cold-water line supplying the water heater and close it. 3. Wait a few hours after turning off the power to allow the water in the tank to cool. 4. Wear gloves and goggles to protect from hot water and debris. 5. If you have a gas water heater, ensure the area is well-ventilated to prevent the buildup of harmful gases. Now, perform the following maintenance steps: 1. Test the Temperature and Pressure Relief (TPR) Valve. The TPR valve is a critical safety device that releases internal pressure if it becomes too high. To test it: a. Place a bucket under the discharge pipe connected to the TPR valve. b. Lift the valve’s tab to release some water. c. If water flows freely and stops when you release the tab, the valve is working correctly. If not, the valve needs to be replaced. 2. For electric resistance and heat pump water heaters, inspect and replace the anode rod if it is less than half-inch in diameter. The anode rod attracts corrosive elements in the water, thus protecting the tank. 3. Flush the tank to remove sediment. Sediment buildup can reduce your heater’s hot water volume, require longer runtimes to provide hot water and corrode elements in electrical units. To flush the tank: a. Connect a garden hose to the drain valve at the bottom of the tank. b. Open the valve and let the water drain into a bucket and not a floor drain. Sediment could plug the floor drain, creating another problem. c. Once the tank is empty, briefly open the cold-water supply to stir up any remaining sediment. d. Continue flushing until the water runs clear. Close the drain valve, disconnect the hose, and refill the tank. Double-check to assure the TPR valve is closed to prevent flooding the floor. 4. If necessary, adjust the temperature setting. a. Locate the thermostat. While they are often installed on the bottom exterior of gas-powered units, they are usually located behind access panels on electric units. Also, electric units usually have two (top and bottom) thermostats. b. Adjust the dial in the direction you want your hot water temperature to be. You may need to use a screwdriver to adjust the dial. Most thermostats do not have markings that exactly correspond to the desired temperature. Therefore, small adjustments followed by waiting a couple of hours and checking the temperature at the faucet may be necessary to establish the desired temperature. c. Since electric hot water heaters usually have two thermostats, assure both are adjusted to the same setpoint. d. Remember to turn the water heater off or set the thermostat to its lowest setting if you’ll be away from home for more than three days. Southwest Public Power District, in partnership with Nebraska Public Power District, wants to help keep you effectively and efficiently in hot water! For other ways you can save energy while running your household or business, contact Southwest Public Power District or visit www.energywisenebraska.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.
16 Oct, 2024
Even if you like to prepare Thanksgiving dinner by yourself so it’s just right, consider letting your children in on the fun—and the work—this season. Of course, you’ll have to keep your youngsters away from the hot stove and sharp knives. Still, there are lots of fun, safe ways to get everyone involved: · Very young children can take the crusts off of bread for the stuffing. They can also snap the ends off of the green beans. · Children ages 3 to 5 can help pour in ingredients, and they can help stir or whisk. Have them stand at the kitchen sink to wash vegetables or let them use a hand-masher to make the mashed potatoes. · Older children can follow directions for a recipe and use cooking utensils with supervision. Let them cut, chop and peel vegetables. These older kids also are strong enough to knead dough, so let them shape and divide the rolls or biscuits. · Cooking can be a great way to get kids interested in science, math and physics, as well as the history of the holiday. Talk about the food you’re making, the measurements of the ingredients and the steps involved in getting food from the farm to the table.
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.
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