Southwest Public Power District will be closed Wednesday, January 1st, 2025, in observance of New Year’s Day. Normal business hours will resume Thursday, January 2nd, 2025. If you need assistance, please call (308)285-3295 to speak with an on-call representative.

Southwest Public Power District will be closed Wednesday, December 25th, in observance of Christmas. Normal business hours will resume Thursday, December 26th. If you need assistance, please call (308)285-3295 to speak with an on-call representative.

If you’ve always wanted a fireplace but never needed the hassle, it could be time to buy an electric version. Electric fireplaces can help heat a room and add a bit of ambience. And they look much nicer than a simple space heater. Because electric fireplaces require only floor space and a power outlet, they’re a great option for apartments or condos. If you’re in the mood for faux fire, consider: • If you move frequently, an electric fireplace could be a good investment. Most are portable and are relatively easy to move. • The look of the “flames” in an electric fireplace is much more natural than it used to be. Still, don’t expect too much. The “fire” is created by special light bulbs that simulate flickering flames, but even fireplace sales reps say there’s no comparison with the real deal. • That said, manufacturers have come up with some artful designs using light, glass, rocks and other elements. Even if the fire doesn’t look authentic, the fireplace is a conversation starter and can be mesmerizing.

You may have heard that you can extend the freshness of your Christmas tree by mixing bleach, aspirin, soda, syrup or vinegar to the water in the tree holder. If you tried it, you mostly likely found out those remedies simply don’t work. Tree experts say it’s an urban myth that any of those things feed the tree, kill mold that might grow around its base, help it absorb water or simply make it last longer. Adding acidity to the water with soda doesn’t help the tree take in moisture. Sugar acts as a nutrient; in fact, the tree doesn’t need food. It just needs water. And sugar can cause bacteria to grow in the water and make it smell bad. Although some believe bleach may help prevent bacteria like mold, it’s more likely to kill the plant tissue with its hydrochloric acid. The best way to keep your tree healthy and smelling good is to make a fresh cut on the tree trunk right before you dunk it into a tree stand filled with fresh water. Check the water daily to make sure the cut is covered and never exposed to air. Once it’s exposed to air, the trunk will start forming a cap that will prevent the tree from soaking up the water it needs to last all season.

Southwest Public Power District will be closed Thursday, November 28th, and Friday, November 29th, in observance of Thanksgiving. Normal business hours will resume Monday, December 2nd. If you need assistance during this period, please call (308)285-3295 to speak with an on-call representative.

When your house is full of dinner guests and overnight company, you’re bound to use more energy than you do on almost every other day of the year. To keep your electric bill from skyrocketing: Lower the heat a couple of degrees before company arrives. You’ll be using the stove and oven all day, so the house will be warmer than usual anyway. Plus, people generate heat, so a cooler house will feel more comfortable. Keep an eye on the refrigerator and freezer so you’ll know the doors at snugly closed. Doors that aren’t tightly sealed will send cold air into the kitchen. Wait until the leftovers cool off a bit before placing them in the refrigerator. The appliance has to work harder to cool hot food than to keep cool food cold Place lids on pots and pans as you use them for cooking. The lids keep heat in, so food cooks quicker. Heat up whatever you can in the microwave instead of on the stovetop or oven. Microwaves use about half the energy as your oven. Fill your oven with as many different dishes as you can fit, and cook them all at once. As long as the recipes don’t call for temperatures that vary by more than 25 degrees, everything should cook or bake evenly.

As the holidays approach, your refrigerator is probably getting as full as you do at the Thanksgiving dinner table. Can it handle the extra food you’re storing? How about the constant opening and closing as everyone opens and closes it more often to find leftovers and cold drinks? If your fridge is more than a decade old, the holidays might be too much for it. Consider replacing your old fridge before the holidays. And this time, buy one that bears the Energy Star label, means it uses at least 15% less energy than federal standards require, and 40% less than one that’s been around for a decade or more, according to the Department of Energy. Yet more than 60 million households have refrigerators that are more than 10 years old, DOE says. By replacing it with a new, energy-efficient model, you could save up to $300 in electricity charges over its lifetime. When shopping for a new refrigerator or freezer, read the EnergyGuide label. It tells you how many kilowatt-hours of electricity the unit will consume over a year of operation. The smaller the number, the better. Look for refrigerators that have a freezer on the bottom or the top, as side-by-side designs consume more energy. Chest freezers are typically better insulated than upright models. Whether you're buying a new fridge this year or not, follow these tips for more efficient use around the holidays: Brush or vacuum your refrigerator's coils regularly to improve efficiency by as much as 30 percent. Keeping your refrigerator full shouldn't be hard this time of year, and doing so will help your unit retain cold better. If you have trouble keeping it stocked, fill the extra space with bottles or containers of water. If your milk is frosty in the morning, reduce the refrigerator's temperature. Refrigerators should be set between 36 degrees and 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Freezers should stay between 0 degrees and 5 degrees. Put a dollar bill in the door's seal to see if it is airtight. If the dollar slips out easily, so will cold air.

If you heat your home with a gas furnace or use other gas appliances at home, you must install carbon monoxide detectors. You can’t see or smell carbon monoxide, which is a potential byproduct of burning fossil fuels. Your home should have at least one carbon monoxide detector to alert you of the presence of gas. Follow these safety guidelines: • If you install only one carbon monoxide detector, put it near the bedrooms so it can alert your family to wake up in case levels of the gas reach an unhealthy level. Better: Place a detector on every floor of the house. • Keep your detectors at least 15 feet away from a gas stove or oven, which may emit a small amount of carbon monoxide on startup. • Detectors don’t operate properly in humid areas like the bathroom. • Replace the batteries in your alarms twice a year. • Properly maintain your gas appliances, including the furnace and stove. Same goes for devices that use gasoline.

Adults like to huddle inside the toasty, heated house when it’s cold outdoors. But kids love to play outside in the snow and cold. November is Child Safety and Protection Month. Keep your child safe and protected by following these winter safety tips: · Dress kids in layers. As their body temperature warms up they can remove clothes one layer at a time to stay comfortable. · Kids should wear hats when playing outside in the winter, as most body heat is lost through the head. · Remove boots and clothing as soon as it gets wet. · Discourage snowball fights. Snowballs are blamed for too many injuries, especially to the eyes. · Teach your children to sit up or kneel on a sled rather than lying on it. Reclining on a sled and going downhill head-first increases the risk of head, spine and abdominal injuries. · Apply sunscreen. Even on cold days, the sun’s rays can still cause sunburn, especially when they reflect off of the snow. · Lure your kids inside for frequent breaks that include warm drinks and healthy snacks.