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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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.
Southwest Public Power District Rate Increase
Effective January 1, 2025, Southwest Public Power District will implement an overall 2.4% rate increase to the customers of the District. During the Southwest Public Power District board meeting held on November 20th, 2024, management with help from a third-party rate consultant, presented to the Board of Directors a current Cost of Service study. The Board of Directors reviewed the study and approved the new retail rates as recommended by management. Over the past 12 years, SWPPD customers have received safe and reliable electricity without experiencing an overall annual customer rate increase in energy usage. In fact, since 2019, a Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) credit has been passed through from our energy provider making kilowatt hour (kWh) rates even cheaper than they were twelve years ago. Aside from a customer charge increase on single phase service in 2022, this will be the first increase in kWh usage since 2013. Over this same period of time, inflation has risen by 33% with the majority of these increases coming in the past 4 years. Since 2022, we have seen an increase of between 30% to more than 100% in the costs of material items such as wire and transformers. We are also forced to keep more material on hand since it is taking longer to acquire those materials. These increases are the driving force that continues to pressure the District to maintain our financial integrity while at the same time, supporting the necessary maintenance and upgrades of the electric plant. Some projects have even been delayed in an effort to reduce costs, but that is proving to be only a short-term fix. A recent study from Cooperative Electric Energy Utility Supply Inc (CEEUS) shows that over the last 4 years, transformers are 99% more expensive today. Conductor has increased 62% while crossarms and poles cost over 103% more today. . Southwest Public Power District has been able to cope with rising inflation and expenses while still maintaining rates well below the national average. This has been accomplished by an extremely good working relationship between the employees of SWPPD and the Board of Directors keeping well informed and making sound educated business decisions in an effort to maintain the primary purpose for the establishment of SWPPD: to bring safe-dependable-affordable power to our customers. Although no one likes to see the cost of their utilities increase, it is crucial for SWPPD to continue to meet our financial goals and provide you with safe and reliable electricity. The new rates can be viewed on our website at www.swppd.com/rates-payment. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at (308)285-3295.
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 2026. Applicants must have their essays submitted by May 31, 2026 in order to be eligible. Please contact Frank Bonini at (308)285-3295, or frankb@swppd.com, with questions.
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.
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.
By: NPPD Energy Efficiency Program Manager Cory Fuehrer Most homeowners who have heat pumps use them to heat and cool their homes. But a heat pump also can be used to heat water. You may have already seen one of these units in a “big box” or appliance store and wondered what it was and how it worked. Here are the details: Heat pump water heaters use electricity to move heat instead of generating heat directly through electrical resistance. It takes a lot less electricity to transfer heat than it does to generate heat. Therefore, heat pump water heaters can be two to three times more energy efficient than conventional electric resistance water heaters. To move the heat, heat pump water heaters work like a refrigerator in reverse. While a refrigerator pulls heat from their interior and dumps it into the surrounding room, an air-source heat pump water heater pulls heat from the surrounding air and moves it into their internal water tank. Another type of heat pump water heater has indoor and outdoor components that move heat from outside the home. Still others are integrated with other space conditioning heat pump systems, which combine all the required equipment into a single unit located inside home. Stand-alone heat pump water heaters, which contain all the necessary equipment in one unit, require installation in locations that remain in the 40º– 90ºF temperature range year-round. Rooms housing heat pump water heaters should provide at least 500 to 1,000 cubic feet (28.3 cubic meters) of air space around the unit. As heat is transferred into the hot water tank, cool exhaust air can be vented back into the room or ducted outdoors. Ideal locations for installation are in spaces with excess heat, such as a furnace room. The temperature of the room in which the unit is installed will drop when it is operating by 2 F° to 6 F° and perhaps even more during periods of high demand for hot water. The energy to feed the heat pump water heater can come from passive solar gain, heat from a conventional heating system, the warming effect of soil surrounding a basement wall, or any other heat source. The cooling of air while the unit is operating is especially advantageous in the summer. If the unit is installed in a basement located in a humid region, it also removes moisture from the air, which reduces and may eliminate the need for a separate dehumidifier. Since the heat pump water heater operates as dehumidifier, a condensate drain must be available. In their “heat pump only” mode, heat pump water heaters cannot heat water as quickly as electric resistance water heaters. In this mode, they can only generate about 8 to 10 gallons per hour. To make up for this basic deficiency in performance, heat-pump water heaters are equipped with electric resistance elements that are energized whenever the heat pump cannot keep up with the demand for hot water. This feature improves the performance of the unit but does reduce its overall efficiency. Most heat-pump water heaters have controls that allow a homeowner to choose one of three modes of operation: •Heat-pump-only mode (the most energy-efficient). •Hybrid mode (heat-pump operation plus electric resistance backup). •Electric-resistance-only mode (a mode that you could choose during cold weather, when you might not want the appliance to cool the space where it is located). A study in the northeast U.S. revealed that households installing a heat pump water heater could save between $40 and $270 per year when compared to using an electric-resistance water heater. Savings calculations were based on a family household that uses 35 gallons of hot water per day, with an electricity cost of 17 cents/kilowatt-hour. Lower end savings were seen when the heat-pump water heater was installed in a bad location (a small, cold room). Conversely, the high end of the savings scale was seen when the unit was installed in a good location (a large, warm room). Your local public power provider, in partnership with Nebraska Public Power District, wants to help you make the most from the energy you use to produce hot water in your home or business. For more ideas on saving energy while running your business or home, along with possible EnergyWiseSM energy efficiency financial incentives to help with the cost of upgrading to a heat pump water heater, contact your local utility or visit www.energywisenebraska.com for additional details.
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.
The days are getting longer, and that means you don’t need your home’s outdoor lights to automatically turn on quite as early. Take a few minutes this weekend to reset outdoor motion sensors and timers to avoid wasting electricity when natural daylight is available. Walk around your property and adjust timers to match sunrise and sunset schedules. Photocell sensors should trigger lights only when it’s actually dark. Motion-activated floodlights should be properly aimed to illuminate paths without lighting empty spaces. While you’re at it, replace any old bulbs with LED alternatives, which can reduce energy use. Consider smart lighting controls that allow scheduling from your phone or tablet.
The month or two between cold and warm weather gives you the perfect opportunity to save energy. Milder temperatures mean heating season is winding down, but it’s not warm enough for air conditioning. Some call this a “shoulder season.” Take advantage of the moderate weather by keeping both the heat and the air conditioning turned off. Instead, open windows to draw in fresh air and turn on ceiling fans. Inspect and seal air leaks and clean AC filters. Open blinds, curtains and shades during daylight hours to reduce the need for electric lighting. The shoulder season is brief, so forming smart habits now can keep energy bills lower while the outdoor weather keeps your home naturally comfortable.
April is a great time to plant a tree. Arbor Day is April 24 this year, and people all over the world will plant trees in their yards and communities. The day is a reminder that spring is the season to think long term about your home’s energy use. Planting trees, shrubs or climbing vines now can provide natural cooling in the summer and save energy on air conditioning. Deciduous trees—the ones that shed their leaves in the fall—are particularly effective for energy efficiency because their lush leaves shade your home and yard in the summer and then allow sunlight to shine through your windows in the winter after their leaves fall. Position trees on the south and west sides of your house to block harsh afternoon sun. Fast-growing trees, like maples or lindens, offer benefits within a few years, while slower-growing species add long-term value and curb appeal. Shrubs and vines can shade walls and windows while enhancing landscaping. A trellis with vines near sunny windows can reduce heat gain, lowering cooling costs. Beyond energy savings, planting trees improves air quality, supports wildlife and adds value to your property. When selecting plants, consider native species that require minimal water and maintenance. By planting shade this spring, you’ll enjoy cooler indoor temperatures, and you could lower your heating and cooling bills.
