May / June 2010 - Nebraska Public Power District
May / June 2010 - Nebraska Public Power District
May / June 2010 - Nebraska Public Power District
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Current news about<br />
<strong>Nebraska</strong> <strong>Public</strong> <strong>Power</strong> <strong>District</strong><br />
A Proud Moment<br />
<strong>May</strong> / <strong>June</strong> <strong>2010</strong><br />
Volume 3 Issue 3
2<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • maY / juNE <strong>2010</strong><br />
Energy Insight is published by<br />
the <strong>Nebraska</strong> <strong>Public</strong> <strong>Power</strong> <strong>District</strong><br />
Corporate Communications Department<br />
as a service for employees, customers<br />
and friends of NPPD. Its purpose<br />
is to communicate NPPD news<br />
and information and to recognize<br />
achievements of employees, retirees<br />
and their families.<br />
Board of Directors<br />
Larry Linstrom, Chairman<br />
Ronald Larsen, First Vice Chairman<br />
Gary Thompson, Second Vice Chairman<br />
Mary Harding, Secretary<br />
Wayne Boyd<br />
Jerry Chlopek<br />
Virgil Froehlich<br />
Ken Kunze<br />
Darrell Nelson<br />
Dennis Rasmussen<br />
Edward Schrock<br />
Senior manager, Government and<br />
<strong>Public</strong> Relations<br />
Beth Boesch<br />
Executive Editor<br />
Brenda Sanne<br />
managing Editor<br />
Jill Novicki, jrnovic@nppd.com<br />
Photography<br />
Gary Pelster<br />
Contributors<br />
Evelyn Chittenden<br />
Mark Miller<br />
Graphic Design<br />
Bill Haack<br />
Dan Zastera<br />
Reporters<br />
Marjorie Allen, Chadron<br />
Darla Wait, Chadron<br />
Kathy Fadschild, Columbus<br />
Glenn Troester, Cooper Nuclear Station<br />
Kathy Nelson, Doniphan Control Center<br />
Lynn Phagan, Gerald Gentleman Station<br />
Lisa Willson, Kearney<br />
Bobbie Morford, Lincoln<br />
Kathy Eaton, McCook<br />
Helen Hinz, McCook<br />
Barb Keating, Norfolk<br />
Mindy Leaverton, Norfolk<br />
Connie Knapp, Ogallala<br />
Eileen Osborne, O’Neill<br />
Lottie Kellison, Plattsmouth<br />
Colleen Mathewson, Scottsbluff<br />
Cindy Holsing, Sheldon Station<br />
Kris Cross, South Sioux City<br />
Cindy Klein, York<br />
3 It’s Tick Season<br />
Read how you can protect<br />
yourself and your family from<br />
tick-borne diseases.<br />
4 President’s Message<br />
President and CEO Ron Asche<br />
discusses how agriculture and<br />
industry are an important part of<br />
NPPD’s customer base.<br />
8 Moving Along<br />
Check out this update on the<br />
<strong>District</strong>’s Grid Essential projects.<br />
10 SPP—One Year Later<br />
NPPD’s first year in the<br />
Southwest <strong>Power</strong> Pool proves to<br />
be a learning experience.<br />
14 Program Reaches<br />
Critical Phase<br />
Read what customers are saying<br />
about NPPD’s EnergyWise SM<br />
Pricing Pilot Program.<br />
15 Meet the <strong>2010</strong><br />
Graduates<br />
20 <strong>Public</strong> <strong>Power</strong>’s<br />
Progress<br />
Learn more about NPPD’s<br />
recent activities.<br />
24 News From Around<br />
the State<br />
Read about activities and<br />
accomplishments of employees<br />
and their children.<br />
28 Retiree News<br />
Sonny McCormick and Steve<br />
Petersen retire from the <strong>District</strong><br />
after more than 57 years of<br />
combined service. Also, check<br />
out the schedule of retiree<br />
meetings.<br />
30 Sympathies<br />
Included in this issue’s<br />
condolences is CNS Staff<br />
Health Physicist Stephen<br />
Robinson who passed away<br />
<strong>May</strong> 18.<br />
About the Cover:<br />
NPPD was represented well<br />
at this year’s <strong>Public</strong> <strong>Power</strong><br />
Lineworkers Rodeo in Omaha.<br />
Plattsmouth apprentice<br />
Line Technician michael<br />
mcLaughlin took top honors<br />
in the apprentice events and<br />
NPPD’s journeyman Team<br />
had its best year ever. Read<br />
all about it on pages 6-7.
Protect yourself from tick-borne diseases<br />
Ticks are nasty. Not only can they give you the<br />
creeps, they can cause serious illnesses such as<br />
Lyme disease if their bites aren’t treated quickly.<br />
Since tick-borne illnesses can occur throughout<br />
the U.S., you should learn how to protect yourself<br />
and your family.<br />
Prevention<br />
Steering clear of ticks’ favorite haunts—wooded,<br />
grassy, and brushy sites, including those near beaches<br />
and sand dunes—can reduce your risk for tick bites<br />
and infection. When this isn’t possible, follow these<br />
precautions:<br />
•<br />
•<br />
•<br />
Wear light-colored, long-sleeved shirts and<br />
long pants, which can make it easier to spot<br />
crawling ticks. Tuck the legs of your pants<br />
into your socks to keep ticks from crawling up<br />
your legs.<br />
Apply an insect repellent containing DEET to<br />
exposed skin.<br />
Check your skin and scalp at the end of the<br />
day. Remove clothing and use a mirror to<br />
check hard-to-see places, like the back of your<br />
knees and neck. If a tick has latched on to<br />
you, remove it as soon as you can.<br />
Tick Removal<br />
Contrary to popular belief, applying petroleum jelly<br />
or a hot match to a tick won’t make the critter detach<br />
itself. In fact, these tactics can increase your risk for<br />
infection by irritating the tick and stimulating it to<br />
release more germ-bearing saliva.<br />
To properly remove an attached tick:<br />
• Use fine-tipped tweezers and protect your<br />
fingers with a tissue or latex gloves.<br />
•<br />
•<br />
•<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • maY / juNE <strong>2010</strong> 3<br />
Grasp the tick close to the surface of your skin<br />
and pull upward using even pressure. Try not<br />
to twist or jerk the tick, since this can cause<br />
parts of the mouth to break off and remain in<br />
your skin. If this happens, remove those parts<br />
with the tweezers.<br />
After removing the tick, disinfect the site with<br />
iodine, rubbing alcohol or water containing<br />
detergent. Wash your hands with soap and<br />
water.<br />
Put the tick in a sealable plastic bag marked<br />
with the date and store it in a freezer. If you<br />
come down with a tick-borne illness, your<br />
doctor can use the tick to make an accurate<br />
diagnosis.<br />
When to See a Doctor<br />
Whether a tick bite makes you ill depends on the type<br />
of tick and how long it was attached to your skin.<br />
Symptoms vary depending on the illness the tick<br />
transmits. Seek medical attention if you develop any<br />
of these symptoms after being bitten by a tick: fever,<br />
chills, muscle aches and pains, headache, nausea or a<br />
rash.<br />
For more information, visit the Centers for Disease<br />
Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov/ticks.<br />
Source: Vitality magazine
4<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • maY / juNE <strong>2010</strong><br />
Agriculture & INDUSTRY<br />
An important part of NPPD’s customer base<br />
from the<br />
PRESIDENT & CEO<br />
RON ASCHE<br />
NPPD’s customers<br />
include a variety<br />
of businesses that<br />
provide jobs essential<br />
to maintaining and<br />
growing the <strong>District</strong>’s<br />
service area population<br />
and customer base. A<br />
large number of these<br />
businesses provide<br />
goods or services to—or<br />
buy the output from—<br />
<strong>Nebraska</strong>’s largest<br />
industry, production<br />
agriculture.<br />
While the number of farms in <strong>Nebraska</strong> has declined<br />
since 1935, agriculture remains important to the<br />
state’s overall economic vitality and the economic<br />
well-being of our customers. Irrigation load related to<br />
crop production is an obvious source of demand for<br />
NPPD’s electricity. Between 2000 and 2009, irrigation<br />
accounted for between 6.1 percent and 8.6 percent<br />
of NPPD’s energy sales to end-use customers served<br />
directly or indirectly in <strong>Nebraska</strong>. In 2008, <strong>Nebraska</strong><br />
farmers produced $8.2 billion of feed and oil crops,<br />
primarily corn and soybeans.<br />
Perhaps somewhat less obvious in terms of its<br />
contribution to NPPD’s electric load is <strong>Nebraska</strong>’s<br />
livestock industry, which includes cattle, dairy, swine<br />
and poultry production. In terms of farm revenue,<br />
livestock production is traditionally <strong>Nebraska</strong>’s top<br />
agriculture sector, with meat production the largest<br />
component of this sector. In 2008, <strong>Nebraska</strong>ns produced<br />
$7.8 billion of meat animals and in 2009, ranked first<br />
nationally in commercial red meat production and sixth<br />
in all hogs on farms.<br />
Electricity used directly by <strong>Nebraska</strong> livestock<br />
producers represents a small fraction of agriculture’s<br />
overall contribution to NPPD’s sales. Livestock<br />
generates indirect demand for electricity through<br />
its consumption of irrigated crops. More than half<br />
of the irrigated crops grown in <strong>Nebraska</strong> are fed to<br />
livestock. The livestock and crop production sectors<br />
both indirectly impact the demand for electricity<br />
through their sales to and purchases from the state’s<br />
manufacturing industries. Livestock and crop producers<br />
are major suppliers or customers of <strong>Nebraska</strong>’s three<br />
largest manufacturing sectors–food processing,<br />
fabricated metals and machinery manufacturing.<br />
Together, these three industries account for more than<br />
half of all <strong>Nebraska</strong> manufacturing employment.
Food, farm implement, and farm machinery plus<br />
firms in other manufacturing sectors such as Norfolk’s<br />
Nucor Steel plant are major pieces of NPPD’s<br />
industrial customer base. Between 2000 and 2009,<br />
annual industrial sales accounted for between 19.3<br />
percent and 22.4 percent of NPPD’s energy sales to its<br />
end-use <strong>Nebraska</strong> customers.<br />
The combination of a large inventory of livestock<br />
and a plentiful supply of feed corn has contributed<br />
to the recent rapid expansion of <strong>Nebraska</strong>’s biofuels<br />
sector and significantly contributed to NPPD’s sales.<br />
There are 21 ethanol plants in NPPD’s service area<br />
with 17 of those being constructed between 2000 and<br />
2009. The expansion of ethanol plants between 2000<br />
and 2009 accounted for 32 percent of NPPD’s energy<br />
sales growth. Last year, approximately 11 percent<br />
of the <strong>District</strong>’s energy sales were to ethanol plants.<br />
Irrigation, ethanol and other industrial load combined<br />
represent approximately 40 percent of our annual<br />
energy sales.<br />
NPPD’s service area mix of agriculture,<br />
agribusinesses, and other businesses has allowed our<br />
economy to weather the recent recession much better<br />
than most areas of the economy. While many NPPD<br />
service area businesses have been severely stressed<br />
and there have been major plant closings, <strong>Nebraska</strong>’s<br />
unemployment rate has remained either the second or<br />
third lowest in the nation and has been about half the<br />
national average since the recession began.<br />
Looking forward<br />
Agriculture and agribusiness will continue to be<br />
important drivers of NPPD’s load growth. Food<br />
processing is one of the manufacturing industries<br />
projected to experience employment growth during<br />
the next eight years as eating habits change, global<br />
population and income grow, and new plants are<br />
built. This industry is a target for our economic<br />
development department.<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • maY / juNE <strong>2010</strong> 5<br />
Firms manufacturing products for the wind<br />
industry constitute another import target for NPPD’s<br />
expansion and recruitment efforts. Several of the<br />
fabricated metal and machinery manufacturing firms<br />
in NPPD’s service area are currently supplying or<br />
bidding to supply parts to major wind manufacturers.<br />
This industry is an excellent fit for NPPD’s service<br />
area because of the wind resources in the Midwest<br />
and the ability of many of our manufacturing firms to<br />
add product lines or convert some of their production<br />
lines from making products for agriculture and<br />
agribusinesses to making parts for wind turbines.<br />
The data center industry has also been aggressively<br />
recruited by both NPPD and <strong>Nebraska</strong> for several<br />
years. The need to store, manage and transmit large<br />
volumes of data continues to expand at a rapid<br />
pace and growth in this industry is expected to<br />
continue for several years. Large data centers are<br />
now looking for sites with 25 to 100 megawatts<br />
of redundant power. The large amount of power<br />
required to operate a major data center means that<br />
low cost, reliable and redundant electric power is the<br />
number one factor when deciding where a facility<br />
will be located and NPPD’s service area has many<br />
sites that will be attractive to this industry. The<br />
<strong>Nebraska</strong> Department of Economic Development<br />
recently selected Aurora, Kearney and South Sioux<br />
City in NPPD’s service area as the initial test<br />
sites for the development of new “<strong>Power</strong> Parks”<br />
designed specifically to attract data centers and other<br />
technology-related businesses to <strong>Nebraska</strong>.<br />
The continued growth of businesses in NPPD’s<br />
service area is crucial to the future economic well<br />
being of our customers and NPPD. As always, there<br />
will be both challenges and opportunities, but we<br />
will meet both head-on and make the most of the<br />
opportunities before us.
6 ENERGY INSIGHT • maY / juNE <strong>2010</strong><br />
ELECTRIC<br />
Established in 2001 by the American<br />
<strong>Public</strong> <strong>Power</strong> Association, the <strong>Public</strong><br />
<strong>Power</strong> Lineworkers Rodeo is<br />
the premier event where public<br />
power lineworkers from all over the<br />
nation come to showcase their skill and<br />
knowledge. At the Rodeo, journeyman<br />
linemen and apprentice line technicians<br />
compete against their peers for<br />
professional recognition, attend training<br />
courses and practice essential skills in a<br />
safe environment.<br />
This year, the 10th annual event hosted<br />
by Omaha <strong>Public</strong> <strong>Power</strong> <strong>District</strong>, was<br />
held at Levi Carter Park in Omaha in<br />
March. The NPPD Journeyman team did<br />
their home state proud. Team members<br />
included: Bassett Local Manager Todd Keller,<br />
who brings 13 years of experience to the team; North<br />
Platte Journey Line Technicians Jake McGill, who<br />
was hired as an apprentice in 1998 and earned his<br />
journeyman status in 2003, and John Boyer, who<br />
joined NPPD in 2007 as a journey line technician,<br />
and York Journey Line Technician Ray Boston, a<br />
13-year veteran who began his career as a co-op line<br />
technician.<br />
The team earned a perfect score of 100 in each<br />
of the Hurtman Rescue, 600 Amp Switch, Lighting<br />
Arrestor, Oil Circuit Recloser and Downed Primary<br />
events. Their scores, when combined with their<br />
completion times, gave them a 6 th place finish in the<br />
overall competition.<br />
“<strong>2010</strong> was our most successful year ever,” said<br />
York Distribution Superintendent Mike Damon.<br />
“This year’s journeyman lineman team earned the first<br />
perfect score ever posted by an NPPD team and their<br />
overall finish was the highest ever. Two apprentice<br />
line technicians also entered the competition, with<br />
Mike McLaughlin of Plattsmouth taking the top prize<br />
and Adam Zarek of York scoring 490 points out of<br />
500.”<br />
Standing from left: Tom Kent, Mike Damon, John Boyer,<br />
Jake McGill and Mike McLaughlin. Kneeling from left: Trevor<br />
Roth, Todd Keller, Ray Boston and Adam Zarek.<br />
With more than 40 teams and 52 apprentices<br />
entered, the competition was tough. Damon attributes<br />
the success of the linemen to the solid training they<br />
receive. “Safety is our number one focus at NPPD and<br />
it shows. Our apprentices and journeyman teams were<br />
able to perform all of the tasks with no deductions.<br />
That says a lot about the safety culture and level of<br />
training at NPPD,” he said.<br />
Every two years, try-outs for the Rodeo team and<br />
apprentices are held at the York Operations Center.<br />
NPPD colleagues from across the state compete<br />
in events which are judged in the same way as the<br />
real competition. The top scorers earn a place on<br />
the NPPD journeyman lineman team or compete as<br />
individual apprentices in the Rodeo.<br />
Next year, the competition will be held on March<br />
19 in Nashville, Tenn. In a city known for country<br />
music, we might well be hearing a <strong>Nebraska</strong> (NPPD)<br />
victory song.
Michael McLaughlin<br />
takes top honors in<br />
apprentice events<br />
Plattsmouth Apprentice Line Technician<br />
Michael McLaughlin took first place in<br />
the overall apprentice competition. In fact,<br />
he’s been racking up a lot of firsts lately. He<br />
is the first apprentice line technician in the 10-year<br />
history of the event to attain a perfect score during a<br />
competition being held for the first time in his home<br />
state of <strong>Nebraska</strong>.<br />
Michael, who received his degree from Northeast<br />
Community College in Norfolk and joined NPPD<br />
in 2007 straight out of school, competed in five<br />
events; a written safety test, the Hurtman Rescue,<br />
Transformer Hook-up, Double Dead End Insulator<br />
Change-out and Service Install event. He achieved a<br />
perfect score of 100 in every one. All of the events<br />
are timed, and judges deduct from two to 10 points<br />
for safety violations. A combined total of scores<br />
and times determine the winner of the overall<br />
competition.<br />
Michael completed the written test in five minutes<br />
and 39 seconds, nearly half the time taken by the<br />
next person receiving a perfect score. According<br />
to Michael, the written test required the most<br />
preparation time, and he used the APPA Safety<br />
Manual as a study guide.<br />
He also completed the other four events with no<br />
deductions. “I may not have had the fastest time in<br />
the events, but I completed them all safely,” he said.<br />
“And, safety was the number one goal.”<br />
He was unaware of what he had accomplished<br />
until his name was announced at the banquet held<br />
after the competition. “I was nervous,” he said. “After<br />
you complete your events, you have no idea where<br />
you stand. I knew this year that I had 100 percent on<br />
all of my events so I thought that I did pretty well but<br />
I didn’t know for sure. It was a little nerve-wracking.<br />
To hear my name announced as the overall winner<br />
was awesome…just awesome.”<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • maY / juNE <strong>2010</strong> 7<br />
He’s personable and well-spoken. He’s also<br />
skilled and professional. And when it comes to<br />
matching up to his peers, he’s the best in the<br />
nation.<br />
Although he is proud of taking home the trophy<br />
for winning the overall competition, as well as the<br />
first place trophy in the written test and second place<br />
trophy in the service install event, Michael modestly<br />
says the best thing about the competition is getting<br />
to meet people from all over the nation who have the<br />
same skills and getting to compete with them toe-totoe.<br />
Plattsmouth Apprentice Line Technician Michael McLaughlin<br />
shown here with the hardware he brought home from the<br />
<strong>Public</strong> <strong>Power</strong> Lineworkers Rodeo held in Omaha this year.<br />
As fair warning to other apprentice line<br />
technicians, Michael says he’ll be back next<br />
year to compete in the Lineman Rodeo in<br />
Nashville.
8<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • maY / juNE <strong>2010</strong><br />
Grid Essential projects move forward<br />
A<br />
robust transmission grid is vital to the<br />
efficient operation of NPPD’s electric<br />
system, including the ability to meet<br />
the ever-changing (and growing) electric power<br />
needs of our customers. In 2009, NPPD took<br />
steps to ensure the strength of the transmission<br />
grid by implementing a group of transmission<br />
projects under the Grid Essential umbrella.<br />
Grid Essential projects were identified<br />
as such because they:<br />
• Support economic development and increased system<br />
demand for electric energy<br />
• Produce a vital link between generation and load<br />
• Build access to regional or national wholesale energy<br />
markets<br />
• Strengthen reliability of service to NPPD customers<br />
through investments in new and existing infrastructure<br />
Now, almost midway through <strong>2010</strong>, these projects<br />
continue to move forward.<br />
The four Grid Essential transmission projects<br />
include the Axtell to Kansas 345,000-volt<br />
Transmission Line Project (Axtell to Kansas);<br />
the South Sioux City 115,000-volt Transmission<br />
System Expansion Project (South Sioux City);<br />
the TransCanada Keystone XL Pipeline 115,000<br />
volt Transmission Line Project (TransCanada<br />
Keystone XL); and the Broken Bow 115,000-volt<br />
Transmission Line Project (Broken Bow), which is<br />
in its preliminary stages.<br />
Here is a thumbnail sketch of each project and<br />
where each project stands.<br />
Axtell to Kansas<br />
NPPD’s Axtell to Kansas Project is part of a larger,<br />
multi-entity project that comprises about 225 miles of<br />
new, 345,000-volt high-voltage transmission line to<br />
be built in the states of <strong>Nebraska</strong> and Kansas. NPPD’s<br />
portion of the project (approximately 53 miles) will<br />
be constructed from NPPD’s Axtell Substation south<br />
to the <strong>Nebraska</strong>/Kansas border. There NPPD’s new<br />
transmission line will link with a similar transmission<br />
line project constructed by International Transmission<br />
Company Great Plains.<br />
The project is being done to alleviate congestion in<br />
the regional transmission grid and to enhance system<br />
reliability.<br />
Since the project began in <strong>June</strong> 2009, numerous<br />
public meetings have been held, including three<br />
rounds of open houses. The third round of open<br />
houses was completed March 10 and 11; possible line<br />
routes, including a preferred route and alternatives<br />
were presented to the public. On <strong>May</strong> 14, the<br />
<strong>Nebraska</strong> <strong>Power</strong> Review Board approved the project.<br />
<strong>Public</strong> hearings are planned for <strong>June</strong> 23 and 24 in<br />
Franklin and Minden.<br />
South Sioux City<br />
The South Sioux City Project involves design<br />
and construction of two 115,000-volt transmission<br />
lines from the Twin Church substation (located four<br />
miles west of Dakota City) to a new substation to<br />
be constructed approximately one mile northeast of<br />
Dakota City.
One transmission line, approximately five miles in<br />
length, will run from Twin Church substation on a<br />
southern route to the new substation. The second line,<br />
with an initial estimate of approximately 10 miles<br />
transmission lines to serve the TransCanada pumping<br />
stations. This information will be shared at a series<br />
of required public hearings at locations across central<br />
<strong>Nebraska</strong> in mid-July <strong>2010</strong>.<br />
A robust transmission grid is vital to the efficient operation of NPPD’s<br />
electric system, including the ability to meet the ever-changing (and<br />
growing) electric power needs of our customers.<br />
in length, will also run from Twin Church, but on a<br />
northern route to the new substation.<br />
This construction is necessary because the new line<br />
and associated substation work will support recent and<br />
projected electric load growth in the South Sioux City/<br />
Dakota City area. In addition, the project will enhance<br />
the area’s electric system reliability.<br />
As of mid-<strong>May</strong>, the South Sioux City Project<br />
was about to enter its routing phase. At the end of<br />
<strong>May</strong>, NPPD colleagues and routing consultants are<br />
scheduled to review comments and other information<br />
gathered from open houses, other public meetings<br />
and contacts with individual property owners and city<br />
and county officials. At a <strong>June</strong> 22 open house, the<br />
project team will then present alternative line routes,<br />
including a preferred route.<br />
TransCanada Keystone XL<br />
NPPD’s TransCanada Keystone XL Project will<br />
involve construction of three, new 115,000-volt<br />
transmission lines in central <strong>Nebraska</strong>. The new<br />
lines, 74 miles, total (for all three line segments),<br />
will provide electric energy to three NPPD wholesale<br />
customers: Niobrara Valley EMC, Loup Valleys<br />
RPPD and Southern <strong>Power</strong> <strong>District</strong>. The transmission<br />
lines will serve the needs of new, crude oil pumping<br />
stations that will be owned by TransCanada.<br />
Currently, NPPD’s TransCanada Keystone XL<br />
Project is in the fourth phase of a four-step public<br />
involvement process. NPPD will be reviewing input<br />
gathered at open houses and other meetings, as<br />
well as consideration of an extensive variety of line<br />
routing criteria, to determine a proposed final route for<br />
Broken Bow<br />
NPPD has a goal of achieving 10 percent<br />
of its energy supply for NPPD’s native load<br />
from renewable resources by 2020. As part of<br />
that goal, the <strong>District</strong> is currently negotiating a<br />
<strong>Power</strong> Purchase Agreement with Midwest Wind<br />
Energy, LLC for an 80-megawatt wind farm in<br />
Custer County (the Broken Bow Project). After<br />
the execution of a <strong>Power</strong> Purchase Agreement is<br />
completed, NPPD will continue the project’s public<br />
involvement process to gather information from<br />
landowners and the general public to determine<br />
potential routes for the new transmission line<br />
(approximately 8 miles of 115,000-volt transmission<br />
line).<br />
In Summary<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • maY / juNE <strong>2010</strong> 9<br />
As their name implies, the Grid Essential projects<br />
will play an important role in assisting NPPD to<br />
safely deliver low-cost reliable energy when and<br />
where it is needed. More information on NPPD’s<br />
Grid Essential projects can be found on the Web<br />
by visiting http://nppd.com or at http://nppd.com/<br />
grid_essential.
10 ENERGY INSIGHT • maY / juNE <strong>2010</strong><br />
Diving In<br />
NPPD completes first year in Southwest <strong>Power</strong> Pool<br />
It took about a decade of review and analysis before NPPD determined<br />
when and what regional transmission organization to join, but when<br />
management and the Board decided the Southwest <strong>Power</strong> Pool was<br />
the most logical and economical choice for NPPD and its customers,<br />
it did not take long for those involved to dive right in. Thousands of<br />
activities were completed over a six-month timeframe to prepare for<br />
the transition to SPP on April 1, 2009. And, the subsequent 13 months<br />
have been just as fluid with NPPD adjusting to the new environment,<br />
forming relationships, learning processes and responding to volatile<br />
energy and market conditions.
To understand NPPD’s membership in<br />
SPP it is important to recognize that over<br />
the past two decades the electric utility<br />
industry has experienced fundamental<br />
change. The push for greater wholesale and retail<br />
competition in the mid-1990s led to a more formal<br />
energy marketing process, but also brought with it its<br />
own set of challenges. Organizations such as Enron<br />
and other non-utility generators found ways of gaming<br />
the system and oftentimes utilities got lost in the<br />
shuffle.<br />
By 2000, the Federal Energy Regulatory<br />
Commission stepped in to bring more standards to the<br />
marketplace by encouraging the voluntary formation<br />
of regional transmission organizations. While it<br />
took awhile for RTOs to develop and gain a strong<br />
foothold in the energy marketplace, today, they are a<br />
key part of utility operations. Southwest <strong>Power</strong> Pool,<br />
an entity that served for many years as a traditional<br />
utility power pool, filed as an RTO in 2004. Today,<br />
there are seven RTOs operating in the United States<br />
and interacting with these organizations is critical for<br />
utilities with excess generation to sell or purchase.<br />
Resource Pooling...<br />
Nothing New<br />
The Mid-Continent Area <strong>Power</strong> Pool, of which<br />
NPPD is a founding member, was SPP’s equivalent<br />
prior to SPP becoming an RTO; however it, too, was<br />
affected by the changing landscape.<br />
“MAPP provided NPPD and other regional<br />
entities with pooling services such as transmission<br />
planning and generation reserve sharing for more<br />
than 30 years, but the organization did not evolve<br />
with the competitive landscape and started seeing<br />
its membership decline this past decade,” said Vice<br />
President and Chief Operating Officer Pat Pope.<br />
“This was essentially the beginning of the end of<br />
MAPP as we had known it, and we knew it would not<br />
be long before NPPD’s business model would need to<br />
change as well.”<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • maY / juNE <strong>2010</strong> 11<br />
As an RTO, SPP brings many of the same services<br />
as MAPP, but a key difference is its centralized<br />
functions related to a utility’s operations and<br />
performance in a market-driven environment, which<br />
includes “off-system sales,” or sales outside a utility’s<br />
normal service area.<br />
“In MAPP, most of NPPD’s off-system sales were<br />
bilateral, or basically direct exchanges between one<br />
utility and another,” said Pope. “While we could<br />
participate in energy markets of other regional<br />
transmission organizations such as the Midwest<br />
Independent System Operator, or in SPP, it eventually<br />
proved more valuable to become an actual member of<br />
an RTO, rather than accessing these markets or other<br />
services as a non-member.”<br />
Making Waves in a<br />
Volatile Market<br />
In SPP’s “Energy Imbalance Market,” NPPD has<br />
the option to participate in energy sales and purchase<br />
transactions and change the level of participation as<br />
frequently as every five minutes. The <strong>District</strong> also<br />
continues to make bilateral transactions outside of the<br />
SPP Region with help from The Energy Authority and<br />
sometimes chooses to sell power into another RTO,<br />
such as MISO. Being able to market extra capacity<br />
is important because it averages about 7 percent of<br />
NPPD’s total electric energy sales.<br />
“As a public power utility, sales to NPPD’s<br />
wholesale and retail customers is always our first<br />
priority; however, when their energy needs are met,<br />
we can sell excess energy to other utilities in the offsystem<br />
market,” said Pope. “Any margin we make<br />
from those sales is reinvested into our system to help<br />
keep rates for our in-state customers more affordable.”<br />
For Energy Manager Ron Thompson, participating<br />
in the energy market is “a classic game of risk and<br />
reward.” “A utility sets budgets based on what it<br />
believes it can sell or purchase from others, but the
12<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • maY / juNE <strong>2010</strong><br />
energy market is extremely volatile,”<br />
said Thompson. “When prices are<br />
favorable that is a good thing, but<br />
when they are less than expected,<br />
a utility will make less money than<br />
budgeted.”<br />
Besides prices, another area that<br />
can affect success in the energy<br />
market is transmission access.<br />
“The ability to sell or purchase<br />
power without experiencing a<br />
bottleneck when distributing that<br />
power on the electric grid is also<br />
another big factor,” explained<br />
Thompson. “Both prices and<br />
transmission access have been<br />
setbacks for NPPD during our first<br />
year in SPP.”<br />
When NPPD first decided to join SPP, energy<br />
market prices averaged almost double what they are<br />
today. But in the past year, prices have decreased<br />
now averaging about $25 dollars a megawatt-hour.<br />
Two main reasons for the lower market prices include<br />
declining natural gas prices and the fact that demand<br />
for electricity is down overall due to the depressed<br />
economy.<br />
“It’s a volatile marketplace and SPP’s role is to find<br />
the next cheapest megawatt to sell into the region,”<br />
said Thompson. “NPPD’s diverse generating resources<br />
are cost competitive, but, at times, we are limited in<br />
how much power we can deliver, particularly in one<br />
area on the transmission grid in southwest <strong>Nebraska</strong>,<br />
which oftentimes exceeds capacity during times of<br />
heavy demand.”<br />
The Ripple Effect<br />
of Congestion, New<br />
Generation<br />
New wind-powered generation and more available<br />
hydropower in the region are two items contributing<br />
to the line congestion in this area. Most of the energy<br />
“We are on<br />
course to fix some<br />
major transmission<br />
bottlenecks that<br />
we’ve struggled with<br />
for years... .”<br />
Ron Thompson<br />
Energy Manager<br />
in the SPP region flows from north<br />
to south and, north of NPPD’s most<br />
constrained interface, wind power<br />
grew by 32 percent last year. Yet,<br />
transmission growth has not kept<br />
pace.<br />
“We would be facing this<br />
same scenario even if we were<br />
not an SPP member,” explained<br />
Thompson. “The bottom line is more<br />
investments in new transmission<br />
facilities are needed, and SPP<br />
provides NPPD with immediate<br />
benefits in that regard.”<br />
NPPD’s costs for a new 345,000volt<br />
transmission line between<br />
Columbus and Lincoln placed into<br />
service in December 2009, will be<br />
reimbursed approximately 40 percent by other SPP<br />
utilities. While the payment distribution over the next<br />
30 years is on a declining scale, in <strong>2010</strong>, payment by<br />
SPP utilities for this project will be approximately<br />
$6.3 million. Then, shortly upon joining SPP, the<br />
RTO approved a separate package of projects that<br />
included construction of a transmission line from<br />
Axtell, Neb., to Spearville, Kan. Construction of this<br />
new line will provide another transmission path to<br />
reduce congestion in southwest <strong>Nebraska</strong>, enhance<br />
reliability of the transmission grid, and allow NPPD to<br />
make additional electric sales—all of which provide<br />
significant financial benefits.<br />
“We are on course to fix some major transmission<br />
bottlenecks that we’ve struggled with for years,<br />
and could not justify addressing on our own,” said<br />
Thompson. “Estimates show that building the Axtell<br />
line will result in immediate savings to our customers<br />
of $1.5 to $2 million per year as a result of reduced<br />
congestion and will help us achieve more energy sales<br />
in the SPP region.”<br />
To date, cost sharing these major transmission<br />
projects with other SPP members provides NPPD<br />
with financial benefits that are more favorable than<br />
if we would construct the lines on its own. But it
does reflect a brand new philosophy—one that is a<br />
fundamental change from the traditional transmission<br />
planning model.<br />
“It’s a whole new way of thinking,” said<br />
Transmission Asset Planning Supervisor Randy<br />
Lindstrom. “In MAPP, decisions and policies<br />
were created from the bottom up through utility<br />
participation and feedback. In SPP, policies are<br />
created through a strategic committee structure which<br />
is more of a top down approach.”<br />
Transmission planning in SPP also requires a greater<br />
focus on economics as well as reliability. “This is<br />
also a new approach,” said Lindstrom. “NPPD will<br />
continue to work on regional planning, but we don’t<br />
have as much control over which lines are built and<br />
when, since SPP is now part of the decision-making<br />
and that has been a bit of a learning curve.”<br />
In SPP, NPPD continues to own, operate and<br />
maintain its transmission system; however, agreeing<br />
to “pool” its transmission facilities with other SPP<br />
members maximizes the benefits and market access to<br />
customers. In some ways, SPP membership is similar<br />
to a farmer’s cooperative where economies of scale<br />
and pooling of resources provide individual entities<br />
with benefits they could not achieve on their own.<br />
“Given the uncertainty with carbon legislation and<br />
future fuel sources, transmission access is critical,”<br />
said Pope. “We simply don’t know what the favored<br />
fuels will be, but we need to ensure that we have<br />
access to them and markets. It’s not just solely about<br />
reliability anymore, economics plays a big role as<br />
well, and that means looking at transmission planning<br />
differently.”<br />
Despite some areas of change, a few things have<br />
remained much the same. NPPD reserves the right to<br />
not pursue a transmission project if it is not in the best<br />
interest of customers, and the <strong>Nebraska</strong> <strong>Power</strong> Review<br />
Board must still approve transmission line projects in<br />
<strong>Nebraska</strong>. Also—from an operation’s standpoint—<br />
aside from software changes and updates, being<br />
part of SPP is not that much different. According<br />
to Transmission System Control Supervisor Ron<br />
Gunderson, the biggest change from MAPP to SPP is<br />
which entity is in charge of reliability coordination.<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • maY / juNE <strong>2010</strong> 13<br />
“When we were part of MAPP, the Midwest<br />
Independent System Operator served as our reliability<br />
coordinator, and now that function has transferred<br />
to SPP,” he said. “A lot of our time is spent getting<br />
to know the new operators, tools, processes and<br />
respective SPP staff.”<br />
Smooth Waters ...<br />
Over the Long-Term<br />
As SPP evolves and takes on new membership,<br />
it is also looking at new transmission planning and<br />
cost recovery processes. And, while NPPD does not<br />
agree with all of the details of some of these process<br />
changes, working alongside SPP through member<br />
committees helps address issues head on. SPP’s<br />
proposed highway/byway cost allocation methodology<br />
is one process change in which NPPD is expressing<br />
concern.<br />
“It is not the entire cost recovery process, but rather<br />
one piece of it that we do not find acceptable, so<br />
NPPD, along with a few other SPP members, have<br />
contested the approach with FERC,” said Pope. “We<br />
would like to see the methodology match more closely<br />
with the other cost recovery methods that were in<br />
effect when we joined.”<br />
While NPPD’s membership in SPP this past year<br />
has been a whirlwind of activity, some up and some<br />
down, it has helped the utility get a seat at the table<br />
and some transmission projects off the ground.<br />
“NPPD is well represented on the SPP committees<br />
and will continue to approach any issues in the best<br />
interests of NPPD and our customers,” said Pope.<br />
“Helping drive some of these fundamental policy<br />
issues is significantly more valuable than doing<br />
nothing from the outside looking in. It’s unrealistic<br />
to think that we would not face some challenges<br />
when making such a fundamental shift in how we<br />
do business, but we are committed to working with<br />
SPP and being part of the bigger solution. We are<br />
committed to being an active participant for the longterm.”
14<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • maY / juNE <strong>2010</strong><br />
PROGRAM REACHES<br />
CRITICAL PHASE<br />
Customers in NPPD’s EnergyWiseSM Pricing Pilot<br />
Program were offered an additional opportunity this<br />
spring to learn more about how and when they use<br />
energy. The 11-month pilot program, which began<br />
Nov. 1, 2009, provides an opportunity to evaluate a<br />
customer’s ability and/or willingness to shift energy<br />
usage out of higher-priced “on-peak” or “critical<br />
peak” hours and into lower-priced “off-peak” hours.<br />
About 70 of the 200 customers who were already<br />
participating in the pilot on the time-of-use (TOU)<br />
rate chose to voluntarily switch to the Critical Peak<br />
Pricing (CPP) Rate, which started in <strong>May</strong>. Another<br />
16 customers volunteered for the second phase of the<br />
pilot from the pilot’s original waiting list. Both the<br />
TOU and CPP Phases of the program conclude at the<br />
end of October <strong>2010</strong>.<br />
TOU vs. CPP – What’s the Difference?<br />
Critical peak pricing is essentially the same as TOU<br />
pricing in that customers are charged different rates<br />
depending on when they use energy, both on-peak<br />
and off-peak. The difference is that, under CPP, the<br />
on-peak energy rate is replaced with a higher “critical<br />
peak” rate during days and hours when the cost of<br />
providing energy is most expensive.<br />
“The CPP phase of the pilot is a more advanced<br />
pricing option, but offers additional opportunities to<br />
save money,” explained Pricing, Rates & Wholesale<br />
Billing Manager Todd Swartz. “If customers are able<br />
to shift their energy usage from higher priced ‘critical<br />
peak’ hours to lower priced off-peak hours, they could<br />
see cost savings.”<br />
For example, on-peak hours on the TOU rate<br />
during the summer months range from 2 p.m. to 7<br />
p.m. (CDT) each weekday. On-peak hours on the<br />
CPP rate are also from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., but on certain<br />
days, NPPD will charge a substantially higher “critical<br />
peak” rate between the hours of 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.<br />
To make up for the higher rate charged during this<br />
CPP time period, all off-peak and on-peak CPP rates<br />
are lower than on the TOU rate providing participants<br />
the opportunity for additional cost savings if they are<br />
willing to further shift energy usage outside of the onpeak<br />
and critical peak hours.<br />
“Temperature is the biggest factor in a decision<br />
to declare a critical peak day,” said Swartz. “For<br />
the pilot, critical peak days will be limited<br />
to weekdays in July and August, and<br />
a cap of no more than 15 critical peak days will be<br />
declared.”<br />
The CPP phase of the program began in <strong>May</strong> and<br />
will go through October. Critical peak hours will be 3<br />
p.m. to 6 p.m. on declared critical peak days. NPPD<br />
will declare a CPP event a day in advance, and will<br />
provide notice to customers on the CPP pilot rate<br />
through a message on www.nppd.com/timeofuse, and<br />
via an automated phone call and email.<br />
“NPPD’s overall goal of the pilot is to gain<br />
valuable input about customers’ pricing preferences<br />
and response to time-varying price signals and realtime<br />
information on electric usage,” explained Swartz.<br />
“Program results will be used to determine whether to<br />
permanently offer the same or similar rate options in<br />
the future.”<br />
What Participants Are Saying<br />
Results of a mid-pilot survey indicate most pilot<br />
participants are finding the new rates beneficial:<br />
“I like the feedback that helps me understand how<br />
much power I use during the day/week and when I use<br />
it. I also like the clear guidelines NPPD has set to help<br />
avoid using or reduce using power during the peak<br />
times.” (Plattsmouth)<br />
“It is easy to participate in and you get helpful<br />
information for ways to save energy.” (milford)<br />
“My children love to check the <strong>Power</strong> Cost<br />
MonitorTM and see what they can turn off to make it<br />
go down.” (Chadron)<br />
“I love that a little extra planning on my part can<br />
result in such huge benefits. I love the monitor, and<br />
the daily graphs. I can help NPPD save and the reward<br />
trickles down to us. I recommend it (the program) to<br />
all my friends.” (Plattsmouth)<br />
The areas of Plattsmouth, Chadron and Milford<br />
were selected for the pilot because they were among<br />
the first of NPPD’s retail towns in which smart meters<br />
were installed. NPPD is continuing to install these<br />
meters across its service area.<br />
.
Brian Ackman<br />
Scotus H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
Columbus HR<br />
Team Leader<br />
Kathryn Ackman<br />
Alex Boyce<br />
<strong>Nebraska</strong> City<br />
H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
CNS Project Mgr.<br />
Mike Boyce<br />
Rebecca Derickson<br />
North Platte H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
North Platte Proj.<br />
& Tech. Leader<br />
Chris Derickson<br />
Katie Foust<br />
Wahoo H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
GGS<br />
Planner<br />
Joe Foust<br />
Clint Albracht<br />
Lakeview H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
Columbus P.T.<br />
Systems Spec.<br />
Barb & Eng. Tech.<br />
Joe Albracht<br />
Nichole Boyle<br />
Creighton H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
Creighton Sr.<br />
Line Tech.<br />
Ed Boyle<br />
Stephanie Derickson<br />
North Platte H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
North Platte Proj.<br />
& Tech. Leader<br />
Chris Derickson<br />
Kailey Frenzel<br />
Auburn H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
CNS Information<br />
Tech. Conslt.<br />
Craig Frenzel<br />
Alyse Andreasen<br />
Twin River H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
Columbus<br />
Eng. Spec.<br />
Scotty Andreasen<br />
Emily Brandt<br />
Fossil Ridge H.S.<br />
Fort Collins, Colo.<br />
Dau. of<br />
Retired Columbus<br />
Billing Supp. Spec.<br />
Mark Brandt<br />
Jerrod Dixon<br />
Lakeview H.S.<br />
Temp. ITT Intern &<br />
Son of<br />
Columbus<br />
Cost Mgmt.<br />
Process Lead<br />
Mike Dixon<br />
Noelle Gerken<br />
York H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
YOC Fleet Parts<br />
Spec.<br />
Michael Gerken<br />
McKenzie Anderson<br />
Auburn H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
CNS Sr. Systems<br />
Analyst<br />
Darin Anderson<br />
Ross Bricker<br />
Paxton Consol.<br />
H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
GGS Material<br />
Controller<br />
Scott Bricker<br />
Seth Eggerling<br />
Pierce H.S.<br />
Son of Norfolk<br />
Customer<br />
Contact Spec.<br />
Angie Eggerling<br />
Morgan Hahn<br />
Pierce H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
Norfolk Customer<br />
Contact Spec.<br />
Becky Hahn<br />
Nathan Arlt<br />
Adams Central<br />
H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
Doniphan Sys.<br />
Control Mgr.<br />
Tim Arlt<br />
Chelsea Bulmer<br />
Auburn H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
CNS I&C Tech.<br />
Jerry Bulmer<br />
Anastasia Esch<br />
Lakeview H.S.<br />
Step-Dau. of<br />
Columbus<br />
Eng. Tech.<br />
Kraig Esch<br />
Derek Hawkins<br />
Tarkio H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
CNS I&C Supt.<br />
H.A. Hawkins<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • maY / juNE <strong>2010</strong><br />
Bria Backer<br />
Beatrice H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
Beatrice Plant<br />
Operator<br />
Chris Backer<br />
Devin Campbell<br />
Shenandoah H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
CNS<br />
Nuclear Support<br />
Jacque Campbell<br />
Marcus Estrada<br />
Auburn H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
CNS<br />
Design Mgr.<br />
Roman Estrada<br />
Amanda Heywood<br />
Auburn H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
CNS Sr. Eng.<br />
Scheduler<br />
Ruth Heywood<br />
Anthony Benda<br />
Columbus H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
Columbus<br />
Security System<br />
Analyst<br />
Heather Benda<br />
William Carroll<br />
<strong>Nebraska</strong> City<br />
H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
CNS Engineer<br />
Christine Parkyn<br />
Jake Fink<br />
Humboldt Table<br />
Rock Steinauer<br />
H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
CNS<br />
PT Chem. Tech.<br />
Jana Fink<br />
Jason Hoff<br />
York H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
YOC Fleet<br />
Operations Asst.<br />
Julie Hoff<br />
Jason Bouc<br />
Columbus H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
Columbus<br />
Planner/<br />
Scheduler<br />
Kevin Bouc<br />
Erin DuBois<br />
Lourdes Central<br />
Catholic H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
CNS Safety &<br />
HU Supv.<br />
Laurence DuBois<br />
Greg Florence<br />
Auburn H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
CNS Simulator<br />
Supv.<br />
Jim Florence<br />
Jay Hongsermeier<br />
Sutherland H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
GGS Water<br />
Quality Tech.<br />
Randy Hongsermeier<br />
15
16<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • maY / juNE <strong>2010</strong><br />
Jake Hopwood<br />
Shelby H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
Columbus<br />
Records Analyst<br />
Kathy Hopwood<br />
Emily Koch<br />
G.I. Northwest H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
Doniphan Reliability<br />
Stand. Compl.<br />
Consultant<br />
Rick Koch<br />
Sara Mason<br />
Auburn H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
CNS Lead<br />
Planner<br />
Rory Mason<br />
Allison O’Connor<br />
Lincoln SW H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
Lincoln Proj.<br />
Manager<br />
John O’Connor<br />
Willow Hunt<br />
Sterling H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
Sterling EE &<br />
Bus. Partners<br />
Consult.<br />
Roger Hunt<br />
Mitchel Kracman<br />
Lakeview H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
Columbus<br />
Cash & Billing<br />
Analyst<br />
Gina Torczon<br />
Jordan McMann<br />
Johnson-Brock H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
CNS<br />
Mechanic<br />
Steven McMann<br />
Tori Olberding<br />
Falls City Sacred<br />
Heart H.S.<br />
Dau. of CNS<br />
Licensing Spec. Jodie<br />
and Security Officer<br />
Tom Olberding<br />
Zack Jenner<br />
Sutherland H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
GGS<br />
HVAC Tech.<br />
Jerry Jenner<br />
Kloe Kratz<br />
Auburn H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
CNS<br />
Security Officer<br />
David Kratz<br />
Daniel Montgomery<br />
Mound City H.S.<br />
Son of CNS<br />
Emerg. Prep. Mgr.<br />
David Montgomery<br />
Tate Olsen<br />
Columbus H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
Columbus<br />
ITT Appl. Supv.<br />
Mark Olsen<br />
Adrian Jochum<br />
Sutherland H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
GGS<br />
Mechanical Tech.<br />
Randy Jochum<br />
Todd Kunze<br />
Lakeview H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
Columbus<br />
Deputy Asst.<br />
Treasurer<br />
Christine Pillen<br />
Kelsey Mundhenke<br />
O’Neill H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
O’Neill<br />
Sr. Line Tech.<br />
Kevin Mundehnke<br />
Rhiannon Peak<br />
Paxton Consol.<br />
H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
GGS<br />
Plant Operator<br />
Vance Peak<br />
Trey Johnson<br />
Hershey H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
GGS<br />
I&C Tech.<br />
Tom Johnson<br />
Alex Kuta<br />
Scotus H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
Columbus<br />
Admin. Asst.<br />
Elaine Kuta<br />
Heidi Nelson<br />
Diller/Odell H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
Sheldon Station<br />
Elec. I&C Lead<br />
Marvin Nelson<br />
Kayla Petska<br />
Hershey H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
GGS<br />
Material Handler<br />
Gary Petska<br />
Matthew Jones<br />
Columbus H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
Columbus<br />
Business Tech.<br />
Lead<br />
Teena Jones<br />
Tausha Lee<br />
Doniphan Trumbull<br />
H.S.<br />
Dau. of Doniphan<br />
Contracts &<br />
Analysis Supv.<br />
Joel Lee<br />
Kylie Newcomb<br />
EBeka Academy,<br />
Pensacola, Fla.<br />
Dau. of<br />
CNS<br />
Fire Marshal<br />
Kent Newcomb<br />
Amy Pettit<br />
Hastings H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
Doniphan<br />
Sr. Systems<br />
Analyst<br />
Tracy Pettit<br />
Kody Killion<br />
York H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
YOC Contract &<br />
Analysis Spec.<br />
Lori Richter<br />
Rachel Lentfer<br />
Kearney H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
Columbus<br />
Admin. Asst.<br />
Marlene Lentfer<br />
Andrew Norris<br />
Kearney H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
Kearney Cust.<br />
Service Spec.<br />
Brenda Norris<br />
Dove Phillips<br />
Hershey H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
GGS<br />
Material Handler<br />
Bill Phillips<br />
Megan Kirkland<br />
Kearney H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
Kearney<br />
Lineman<br />
Russell Kirkland<br />
Courtney Lloyd<br />
Columbus H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
Columbus<br />
A/P Spec.<br />
Paula Lloyd<br />
Ben Nosal<br />
Columbus H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
Columbus Office<br />
Services Supv.<br />
Juliann Nosal<br />
Grady Phillips<br />
Hershey H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
GGS<br />
Material Handler<br />
Bill Phillips
Taylor Phipps<br />
Crete H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
Sheldon Station<br />
Shift Leader<br />
James Phipps<br />
Anna Steiner<br />
Columbus H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
Columbus VP<br />
Human Resources<br />
& Corp. Support<br />
Roy Steiner<br />
Samantha Welch<br />
Lakeview H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
Columbus<br />
Compensation<br />
Spec.<br />
Donna Welch<br />
Miranda Pinkerton<br />
Mountain View<br />
H.S.<br />
Dau. of GGS<br />
Lab. Tech.<br />
Michal Pinkerton<br />
Jeffrey Stewart<br />
Sutherland H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
GGS HVAC Tech.<br />
Mike Stewart<br />
Michael Wellman<br />
Auburn H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
CNS Nuclear<br />
Instructor<br />
Tami Wellman<br />
Arielle Raymond<br />
Home School<br />
Dau. of YOC<br />
Envir. Coord.<br />
Jeff Raymond<br />
Samuel Swartz<br />
Columbus H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
Columbus Pricing,<br />
Rates & Wholesale<br />
Billing Mgr.<br />
Todd Swartz<br />
Annika Wickizer<br />
Wallace H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
GGS<br />
Computer Tech.<br />
Cynthia Wickizer<br />
Jenny Andrew<br />
Hastings College<br />
Dau. of<br />
Columbus<br />
Retired Engineer<br />
Dan Andrew<br />
Roger Rhodes<br />
Doniphan-<br />
Trumbull H.S.<br />
Son of Doniphan<br />
Lead HVAC<br />
Elec. Tech.<br />
Bruce Rhodes<br />
Meghan Tinkham<br />
Kearney H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
Kearney Eng.<br />
Spec.<br />
Mike Tinkham<br />
Amanda Wusk<br />
Freeman H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
Sheldon Station<br />
Operations<br />
Leader<br />
Rodney Wusk<br />
Abby Baumert<br />
UN-Lincoln<br />
Dau. of<br />
Columbus Retired<br />
Records Analyst<br />
Bernadine Baumert<br />
Laura Ruskamp<br />
Johnson Brock<br />
H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
CNS Electrician<br />
Jerry Ruskamp<br />
Koni Valencia<br />
Scotus H.S.<br />
Foreign Exchange<br />
Student of<br />
Columbus Energy<br />
Efficiency Conslt.<br />
Steve Zach<br />
Blair Youngs<br />
Paxton Consl.<br />
H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
Paxton Civil<br />
Maint. Tech.<br />
Keith Youngs<br />
Audra Blatchford<br />
UN-Omaha<br />
Dau. of Columbus<br />
Proj. Suppt. Spec.<br />
Brenda & Property<br />
Insur. Admin.<br />
Doug Blatchford<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • maY / juNE <strong>2010</strong> 17<br />
Tim Shannon<br />
Columbus H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
Columbus Sr.<br />
Systems Analyst<br />
Mark Shannon<br />
Dalton Wademan<br />
Gering H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
Scottsbluff Distr.<br />
Supt.<br />
Dennis Wademan<br />
Laura Zach<br />
Scotus H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
Columbus Energy<br />
Efficiency Conslt.<br />
Steve Zach<br />
Zachary Brueningsen<br />
Nebr. Christian<br />
College<br />
Son of<br />
Doniphan Entry<br />
Control Spec.<br />
Bec Brueningsen<br />
Katie Skaff<br />
Norfolk H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
Norfolk<br />
Engineer<br />
Tom Skaff<br />
Zachary Walgren<br />
<strong>Nebraska</strong> City H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
CNS<br />
Supply Chain Mgr.<br />
Chuck Walgren<br />
Megan Comstock<br />
<strong>Nebraska</strong><br />
Wesleyan<br />
Dau. of<br />
CNS HU/IS Coord.<br />
Chuck Comstock<br />
Elizabeth Spellman<br />
York H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
York/Kearney<br />
ITT Support<br />
Supv.<br />
Todd Spellman<br />
Kyle Wegner<br />
Norfolk H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
Lead Telec. Tech.<br />
Corey Wegner<br />
Richard Costello<br />
Northwest<br />
Arkansas CC<br />
Son of<br />
CNS Outage<br />
Scheduler<br />
Barb Stramel
18<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • maY / juNE <strong>2010</strong><br />
Rob Eshleman<br />
Peru State<br />
College<br />
GGS<br />
I&C Eng. Spec.<br />
Megan Lamb<br />
Iowa State U.<br />
Dau. of<br />
Columbus Sr.<br />
Systems Analyst<br />
Charles Lamb<br />
Sarah Plettner<br />
Chadron State<br />
College Dau. of<br />
Norfolk Economic<br />
Dev. Consult. Mary<br />
and Columbus<br />
Env. Spec.<br />
Rocky Plettner<br />
Jessica Wendt<br />
UN-Lincoln<br />
Dau. of<br />
Columbus<br />
Sr. Systems<br />
Analyst<br />
Jean Wendt<br />
Tony Evasco<br />
UN-Lincoln<br />
Son of<br />
Columbus Sr.<br />
Proj. Mgr.<br />
Guy Evasco<br />
Chelsea Lewis<br />
Bryan LGH College<br />
of Nursing<br />
Dau. of<br />
Norfolk<br />
Journey Line Tech.<br />
Jerry Lewis<br />
Amber Sammons<br />
Bellevue U.<br />
CNS<br />
Temp.<br />
Security Officer<br />
Lindsey Wendt<br />
UN-Kearney<br />
Dau. of<br />
Scottsbluff<br />
Safety Spec.<br />
Doug Wendt<br />
Jeremy Florke<br />
UN-Kearney<br />
Son of North<br />
Platte<br />
Account Mgr.<br />
Jim Florke<br />
Keenan Lewis<br />
SECC-Lincoln<br />
Son of<br />
Norfolk<br />
Journey Line Tech.<br />
Jerry Lewis<br />
Jenna Schmit<br />
Wayne State<br />
College<br />
Dau. of Doniphan<br />
Elec. Reliability<br />
Compliance<br />
Spec.<br />
Don Schmit<br />
Caleb Westmore<br />
U. of<br />
Northern Colo.<br />
Son of<br />
Ogallala Lead<br />
Telec. Tech.<br />
Charlie Westmore<br />
Katie Goedeken<br />
SD State U.<br />
Dau. of<br />
Columbus<br />
Envir. Process<br />
Asst.<br />
Denise Goedeken<br />
Cade Lueck<br />
SECC-Milford<br />
Son of<br />
Doniphan<br />
Contracts &<br />
Analysis Spec.<br />
Laurie Lueck<br />
Nicole Schultz<br />
UN-Lincoln<br />
Dau. of<br />
CNS<br />
Quality Assurance<br />
Eng.<br />
Rocky Schultz<br />
Courtney Wever<br />
Chadron State<br />
College<br />
Dau. of<br />
GGS<br />
Material Handler<br />
Brent Wever<br />
Ryan Grieb<br />
UN-Lincoln<br />
Son of<br />
YOC<br />
Acct. Mgmt.<br />
Coord.<br />
Sheila Grieb<br />
Roxanne Maine<br />
Wayne State<br />
College<br />
Dau. of<br />
CNS Work Week<br />
Director<br />
Richard Maine<br />
Nicole Sobotka<br />
U. of South Dakota<br />
Dau. of<br />
Columbus<br />
Finance & Cost<br />
Mgr.<br />
Tom Sobotka<br />
Rochelle Wright<br />
UNMC College of<br />
Dentistry<br />
Dau. of<br />
Columbus<br />
Computer Tech.<br />
Mary Wright<br />
Kelli Gruber<br />
UN-Lincoln<br />
Dau. of<br />
YOC<br />
Operations Asst.<br />
Jnel Gruber<br />
Meagan Mohrman<br />
UN-Kearney<br />
Dau. of<br />
Columbus<br />
Contract Admin.<br />
Spec.<br />
Deb Mohrman<br />
Cameron Vincent<br />
SECC-Milford<br />
Son of<br />
Doniphan Tech.<br />
Training Clerk<br />
Brook and Sys.<br />
Operator Craig<br />
Vincent<br />
Austin Zach<br />
UN-Omaha<br />
Son of<br />
Columbus<br />
Energy Efficiency<br />
Consult.<br />
Steve Zach<br />
Jessica Johnson<br />
Bryan LGH<br />
College of Nursing<br />
Dau. of<br />
Chadron<br />
Planner/Scheduler<br />
Terry Johnson<br />
Michelle Moore<br />
Mt. Marty College<br />
Dau. of<br />
Columbus<br />
Adm. Asst.<br />
Lori Moore<br />
Erik Weinmeister<br />
Peru State<br />
College<br />
Columbus<br />
Sr. Systems<br />
Analyst<br />
Nicholas Zarek<br />
NECC-Norfolk<br />
Son of<br />
Columbus<br />
Adm. Asst.<br />
Margie Zarek<br />
Brynn Kunhart<br />
Wayne State<br />
College<br />
Dau. of<br />
Columbus Office<br />
Services Supv.<br />
Mark Kunhart<br />
Jerod Persson<br />
CCC-Hastings<br />
Son of<br />
Kearney<br />
Planner/Scheduler<br />
Daniel Persson<br />
Jacquelyn Wellman<br />
Midland Lutheran<br />
College<br />
Dau. of CNS<br />
Nuclear Instructor<br />
Tami Wellman
Shawn Beaudette<br />
UN-Lincoln Law<br />
School<br />
Son of<br />
Norfolk Customer<br />
Service Leader<br />
Cate Janssen<br />
Jason Rinne<br />
UN-Omaha<br />
MA-Physical Ed/<br />
Exerc. Science<br />
Son of Columbus<br />
Planning Analyst<br />
Sue & Contracts<br />
Mgr. Rod Rinne<br />
Meshelle Boruch<br />
Bellevue U.<br />
MA-Leadership<br />
CNS<br />
Site HR Manager<br />
Jacob Steiner<br />
UN-Lincoln School<br />
of Law<br />
Son of<br />
Columbus<br />
VP Human<br />
Resources & Corp.<br />
Support<br />
Roy Steiner<br />
Brian Gruber<br />
National<br />
Graduate School<br />
MS-Quality<br />
Systems Mgmt.<br />
Son of YOC<br />
Operations Asst.<br />
Jnel Gruber<br />
Jen Swenson<br />
U. of NY<br />
MA-Sculpture<br />
Dau. of<br />
Doniphan Lead<br />
Real Time Appl.<br />
Analyst<br />
Victor Bockerman<br />
Casey Holsing<br />
Baker U.<br />
MA-Conflict Mgmt.<br />
& Dispute Resol.<br />
Dau. of Sheldon<br />
Station<br />
Admin. Asst.<br />
Cindy Holsing<br />
Heather Tillotson<br />
Doane College<br />
M-Education<br />
Dau. of<br />
Norfolk Sr.<br />
Planning Analyst<br />
Chris Adamson<br />
Daniel Hoover<br />
Southern College<br />
of Optometry-<br />
Memphis, Tenn.<br />
Son of Paxton Civil<br />
Maint. Tech.<br />
Calvin Hoover<br />
Britney Wever<br />
Rocky Mountain<br />
College<br />
M-Physician Asst.<br />
Dau. of GGS<br />
Material Handler<br />
Brent Wever<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • maY / juNE <strong>2010</strong> 19<br />
Sarah Luther<br />
Hastings College<br />
MA Teaching<br />
Dau. of<br />
Doniphan Lead<br />
Real Time Appl.<br />
Analyst<br />
Victor Bockerman<br />
Andrew Molthan<br />
Dr. of Philosophy<br />
U. of Alabama-<br />
Huntsville<br />
Son of Lincoln<br />
Substation Support<br />
Spec.<br />
Debra Molthan<br />
Amanda Nelson<br />
Forest Institute of<br />
Psychology<br />
M-Clinical<br />
Psychology<br />
Dau. of Doniphan<br />
Contracts &<br />
Analysis Spec.<br />
Kathy Nelson
20<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • maY / juNE <strong>2010</strong><br />
NPPD Recognized for Safety Record<br />
<strong>Nebraska</strong> <strong>Public</strong> <strong>Power</strong> <strong>District</strong><br />
earned an American <strong>Public</strong><br />
<strong>Power</strong> Association’s (APPA) Electric<br />
Utility Safety Award for safe operating<br />
practices in 2009. The utility received a<br />
second place award in the category for<br />
utilities with four million worker-hours<br />
of annual worker exposure.<br />
The award was presented to NPPD<br />
by Marc Gerken, chair of the APPA<br />
Board of Directors and President/CEO<br />
of American Municipal <strong>Power</strong>, Inc.,<br />
during APPA’s annual Engineering and<br />
Operations Technical Conference held in<br />
Omaha.<br />
“NPPD values safety as an<br />
important aspect of our work, whether<br />
it be working on a power line or<br />
driving company vehicles,” said<br />
Chris Overman, safety and human<br />
performance manager for NPPD. “The<br />
safety of our employees and the public<br />
is an NPPD value and our first priority.<br />
NPPD actively works to develop and reinforce the<br />
desire, knowledge, and skills that allow our employees<br />
to live and work safely both on and off the job.<br />
“We strive to continuously improve our safety<br />
performance and practices while at the same time<br />
continuing to provide low cost, reliable electricity to<br />
our customers throughout <strong>Nebraska</strong>,” said Overman.<br />
More than 230 public power utilities across the<br />
country entered the APPA contest. Entrants were<br />
placed in categories according to their number of<br />
worker hours and judged for the most incident-free<br />
records during 2009. The incidence rate used to<br />
APPA Vice President of Engineering Services Mike Hyland, York<br />
Construction Services Manager Paul Brune, and APPA Board Chair and<br />
President/CEO of American Municipal <strong>Power</strong>, Inc. Marc Gerken pose for this<br />
photo during the association’s annual Engineering and Operations Technical<br />
Conference held in Omaha March 29.<br />
judge entries is based on the number of work-related<br />
reportable injuries or illnesses and the number<br />
of worker-hours during 2009, as defined by the<br />
Occupational Safety and Health Administration.<br />
“Safety is the top concern when it comes to<br />
working with electricity,” said Gerken. “These utilities<br />
should be proud of the efforts they’ve put forth to<br />
guarantee that safety is always top of mind.”<br />
APPA’s Electric Utility Safety Award has been<br />
presented annually for the past 50 years. APPA is the<br />
national organization representing more than 2,000<br />
not-for-profit community- and state-owned electric<br />
utilities.
Brian O’Grady Promoted to Vice President and<br />
Chief Nuclear Officer at Cooper Nuclear Station<br />
Brian O’Grady<br />
was promoted to<br />
Vice President and Chief<br />
Nuclear Officer at Cooper<br />
Nuclear Station effective<br />
April 12. O’Grady is an<br />
employee of Entergy<br />
Nuclear <strong>Nebraska</strong>, which<br />
provides management<br />
support services to NPPD<br />
at the nuclear plant. He<br />
previously served as<br />
Cooper Nuclear Station<br />
Brian O’Grady<br />
Site Vice President. He<br />
replaced Stu Minahan, who spent the past six-andone-half<br />
years at Cooper Station in key management<br />
positions. Minahan accepted an assignment with the<br />
Nuclear Energy Institute, and remains an Entergy<br />
employee.<br />
O’Grady has more than 25 years experience in<br />
the commercial nuclear power industry. He holds a<br />
Bachelor of Science degree from Lehigh University<br />
in Bethlehem, Pa., with a major in metallurgical and<br />
material engineering and a minor in economics. He<br />
joined the Cooper Nuclear Station management team<br />
in September, 2008.<br />
Prior to joining Entergy, he served as Site Vice<br />
President at Tennessee Valley Authority’s Browns<br />
Ferry Nuclear Plant, where he was responsible for<br />
restarting Unit 1 following 22 years of shutdown, and<br />
for the day-to-day operation of Units 2 & 3. O’Grady<br />
has also served as Vice President of Operations<br />
Support for Entergy Nuclear Northeast, following<br />
two years as General Manager, Plant Operations, at<br />
James A. Fitzpatrick Nuclear <strong>Power</strong> Plant. He is also<br />
a former Operations Manager of Point Beach Nuclear<br />
Plant for the Nuclear Management Company.<br />
Storm Damages Harbine to Steele City Line<br />
storm that moved through southeast <strong>Nebraska</strong><br />
A April 29 was responsible for damage along the<br />
Harbine to Steele City 115,000-volt transmission line.<br />
Thirty-six structures were damaged, bringing down<br />
This pole was one of 36 damaged in an April 29 storm.<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • maY / juNE <strong>2010</strong> 21<br />
approximately three-and-a-half miles of transmission<br />
line. The line was built to serve a pumping station<br />
to be used by TransCanada and no customers were<br />
affected. The line was back in service <strong>May</strong> 5.<br />
Crews work to repair the Harbine to Steele City<br />
transmission line.
22<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • maY / juNE <strong>2010</strong><br />
NPPD to save money by changing refueling outage schedule<br />
Over the next year, NPPD will transition into a<br />
24-month refueling cycle for Cooper Nuclear<br />
Station. Normally, NPPD refuels the power station<br />
every 18 months. The majority of nuclear stations<br />
designed like Cooper conduct their refueling outages<br />
every 24 months.<br />
“Cooper generates approximately 21 percent of<br />
our customers’ electricity,” said President and CEO<br />
Ron Asche, “so its refueling outages are critical to<br />
our operations. If we can save costs associated with<br />
an outage and make a change that benefits us as a<br />
utility, it only makes sense to move forward with this<br />
change.”<br />
During a refueling outage, the plant is removed<br />
from service and employees conduct large- and smallscale<br />
equipment maintenance, repair, and replacement<br />
activities. One of those large-scale activities is<br />
to replace approximately 160 used fuel bundles<br />
(approximately one-third of the fuel used to generate<br />
electricity) with the same number of new fuel bundles.<br />
Transitioning to a 24-month refueling cycle<br />
will include a one-time cost of approximately $6.5<br />
million for an NRC license amendment and will add<br />
approximately $6 million in fuel costs over the next<br />
three years; however, NPPD expects to save $50<br />
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$ 99<br />
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and shipping on nppd.com<br />
www.nppd.com/theonlystate/.<br />
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million every six years after the transition is complete.<br />
The 24-month refueling cycle reduces the number<br />
of refueling outages from four outages over a 6-year<br />
period to three outages every six years. This results<br />
in reduced labor costs, material expenses and the<br />
costs associated with purchasing replacement energy<br />
when Cooper is in outage. Cooper will also benefit<br />
by having a schedule that reduces the competition<br />
for specialized contract labor, which currently occurs<br />
when Cooper is in outage at the same time as other<br />
nuclear power plants in the region.<br />
NPPD will conduct studies to ensure that Cooper’s<br />
instrument calibration and preventative maintenance<br />
requirements, the type and amount of fuel, as well<br />
as plant procedures and calculations are set up to<br />
support 24-month cycles. It will take approximately<br />
one year to perform the necessary engineering and<br />
licensing work. NPPD will then seek approval of this<br />
change from the Nuclear<br />
Regulatory Commission.<br />
NPPD hopes to receive<br />
NRC approval by August of<br />
2012 and begin operating<br />
under a 24-month fuel cycle<br />
in the fall of that year.
NPPD RESPONDS...<br />
to hazardous material threat<br />
On the afternoon of April<br />
15, an unidentified white<br />
substance was found on a<br />
piece of correspondence opened by a<br />
General Office employee. Members<br />
of NPPD’s environmental department<br />
and corporate security were called,<br />
and they put NPPD’s hazardous<br />
material response plan into action<br />
by calling the Columbus Police<br />
Department and the East Central<br />
<strong>District</strong> Health. Other emergency<br />
response organizations including<br />
the Columbus Fire Department<br />
Hazardous Materials Team, <strong>Nebraska</strong><br />
State Patrol, and the Platte Valley Emergency<br />
Management Agency also responded.<br />
Approximately 20 individuals were in the building<br />
at the time the response plans were put into action.<br />
Those people were quarantined until shortly after<br />
10 p.m. when hazardous materials response teams<br />
gave the individuals the “all clear” and sent them on<br />
their way.<br />
On-site test results indicated that the substance was<br />
not hazardous. Conclusive tests were then conducted<br />
in Omaha and showed the same result.<br />
“The makeup of the substance could not be<br />
determined,” stated Physical Security Specialist Don<br />
Thorson. “The tests just proved it was not hazardous<br />
to anyone’s health.”<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • maY / juNE <strong>2010</strong> 23<br />
As part of their procedure in dealing with a hazardous<br />
material situation, members of the <strong>Nebraska</strong> Hazardous<br />
Incident Team are sprayed after touching the suspect<br />
document to remove any potential contamination.<br />
Fortunately, on-site tests indicated no hazardous substance<br />
on the document.<br />
“This real-life event was a good test<br />
of our emergency response plans.” We<br />
learned some things that will help us in<br />
future emergency situations.”<br />
Don Thorson<br />
Physical Security Specialist
24<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • maY / juNE <strong>2010</strong><br />
from around the state<br />
Norfolk / Barb Keating, Customer Contact Specialist /<br />
bjkeati@nppd.com<br />
The first annual Earth Day Expo was held at the<br />
Lifelong Learning Center at Northeast Community<br />
College. NPPD was represented in the event with<br />
a Hybrid Bucket Truck furnished by Journey Line<br />
Technician Gale Bender and a booth where Customer<br />
Services Leader Cate Janssen, Customer Contact<br />
Specialists Georgia Wyatt, Judy Cavanaugh and<br />
Barb Keating offered information to the public on<br />
energy efficiency for their homes.<br />
Gale Bender is shown here with the NPPD Hybrid Bucket Truck<br />
at the Earth Day Expo at Northeast Community College.<br />
Cooper Nuclear Station / Glenn Troester,<br />
Nuclear Communications Coordinator / grtroes@nppd.com<br />
Martha Dykstra, daughter<br />
of Electrical Programs<br />
Supervisor James Dykstra,<br />
took 2nd place at the Iowa<br />
state regional Math Bee<br />
competition, which qualified<br />
her for the State Math Bee.<br />
At the state competition, she<br />
medaled in the top 25 with a<br />
15th place finish. Martha will<br />
be in the 7th grade in the fall.<br />
Martha Dykstra<br />
O’Neill / Eileen Osborne, Customer Services Support Specialist /<br />
erosbor@nppd.com<br />
United States Air Force<br />
Airman First Class<br />
Amber Mundhenke<br />
graduated from Air<br />
Force Basic Military<br />
Training at Lackland<br />
Air Force Base in San<br />
Antonio, Texas. She<br />
completed an intensive<br />
eight-week program<br />
that included training<br />
in military discipline<br />
and studies, Air Force<br />
Amber Mundhenke<br />
core values, physical<br />
fitness and basic warfare principles and skills. Amber<br />
was chosen to be a tactical leader for deployment<br />
simulation training and her flight earned the honor of<br />
being the flag mass for the graduation ceremony. She<br />
is studying Aerospace Medical Services at Sheppard<br />
Air Force Base in Texas. Upon completion of her<br />
studies, Amber will be stationed at Nellis Air Force<br />
Base in Las Vegas, Nev. She is the daughter of Senior<br />
Line Technician Kevin and Darla Mundhenke.<br />
North Platte / Kay Nichols, Administrative Assistant /<br />
kenicho@nppd.com<br />
Paxton Civil<br />
Maintenance Technician<br />
Roy Reutzel was<br />
awarded the American<br />
Legion <strong>District</strong> Five<br />
Horse Collar Award at<br />
its convention in Paxton<br />
for his willingness<br />
to help work and<br />
serve others in both<br />
the organization and<br />
community. Roy has<br />
been a member of<br />
the Paxton American<br />
Legion Post 303 for the<br />
past 28 years.<br />
Roy Reutzel
Columbus / Kathy Fadschild, Administrative Assistant /<br />
klfadsc@nppd.com<br />
Brittany Hopwood<br />
Amy Price<br />
The University of <strong>Nebraska</strong>–<br />
Lincoln recognized Brittany<br />
Hopwood and Amy Price<br />
at the <strong>2010</strong> Big Red Stars<br />
ceremony. Big Red Stars<br />
honors outstanding eighthgrade<br />
<strong>Nebraska</strong> students.<br />
The students are nominated<br />
by school principals for<br />
strong leadership skills and<br />
academic promise. Brittany<br />
attends Shelby <strong>Public</strong><br />
School and is the daughter<br />
of Procurement Coordinator<br />
Sarah and Rodney<br />
Hopwood. Amy attends<br />
Scotus Central Catholic and<br />
is the daughter of Part-Time<br />
Sr. Accounting Analyst Joan<br />
and Sr. Systems Analyst John<br />
Price.<br />
Procurement Specialist<br />
Tami Weber placed 6th<br />
in the Mrs. <strong>Nebraska</strong><br />
America Pageant held in<br />
Omaha. Tami, who holds<br />
the title of Mrs. Greater<br />
<strong>Nebraska</strong>, competed<br />
against 14 other women<br />
and took home awards<br />
for the Best in Interview<br />
for Non-Finalists and<br />
the Entourage Award<br />
Tami Weber<br />
for generating the most<br />
advertising through sponsorships. Tami launched<br />
a youth literacy campaign at the Shelby <strong>Public</strong><br />
School, Bright Beginnings Preschool and the Shelby<br />
<strong>Public</strong> Library to raise awareness on the importance<br />
of reading at a young age. She also participated in<br />
several events including the Susan G. Komen “Puttin<br />
on the Pink” event in Omaha to support breast cancer<br />
research, and the American Heart Association “Go<br />
Red for Women” event in Lincoln to raise awareness<br />
on heart disease. Tami lives in Shelby with her<br />
husband, Travis, and three children, Tyler, Faith and<br />
Aniston.<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • maY / juNE <strong>2010</strong> 25<br />
Energy Efficiency Consultant Steve Zach and his<br />
family were named the <strong>Nebraska</strong> State Family of<br />
the Year at the 105th Annual Knights of Columbus<br />
Convention in Kearney. The Zach’s are members of<br />
St. Isidore Church.<br />
Standing: Laura, Austin, Marie, Steve, Koni (foreign<br />
exchange student); Kneeling: Danny, Wes<br />
Alex Kurtenbach, son of<br />
Staff Auditor Todd and Beth<br />
Kurtenbach, received his<br />
Eagle Scout Award. His Eagle<br />
Scout project consisted of<br />
designing and constructing<br />
a cabinet for the Columbus<br />
Rescue Mission, which is<br />
used to serve meals and store<br />
recycling containers. Alex, an<br />
upcoming junior at Columbus<br />
High School, is active in<br />
Alex Kurtenbach<br />
football, basketball and is on the honor roll.<br />
Temporary ITT Intern Jerrod<br />
Dixon competed at the<br />
Greater <strong>Nebraska</strong> Science<br />
Engineering Fair in <strong>Nebraska</strong><br />
City. He won first in the<br />
computer science category,<br />
won the Intel Excellence in<br />
Computer Science Award,<br />
and the U.S. Army Award. A<br />
<strong>2010</strong> graduate of Lakeview<br />
High School, Jerrod is the son<br />
of Cost Management Process<br />
Lead Mike and Karla Dixon.<br />
Jerrod Dixon
26<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • maY / juNE <strong>2010</strong><br />
York / Cindy Klein, Customer Services & Delivery Representative /<br />
ceklein@nppd.com<br />
Apprentice Substation Technician Monty Rahder<br />
gave presentations at various groundwater festivals<br />
across the state. He spoke to school children in<br />
Norfolk, Sydney and Grand Island about water<br />
conservation. Monty is the Chairman of the <strong>Public</strong><br />
Education Committee of the <strong>Nebraska</strong> Water<br />
Environment Association.<br />
Monty Rahder (front center) prepares to give a water<br />
conservation presentation to school-aged children in Norfolk.<br />
Kearney / Lisa Willson, Administrative Assistant /<br />
lmwills@nppd.com<br />
The Kearney on the Bricks Rotary Club completed<br />
the Agriculture Zone at the Kearney Area Children’s<br />
Museum. The Ag Zone features a barn, interactive<br />
touch screen monitors, silo, chicken coop, John<br />
Deere tractor and a flower box. The Club received a<br />
$20,000 grant from the Monsanto Fund to complete<br />
the project. Subtransmission & Distribution Training<br />
Specialist Gary Nunns is the club president.<br />
The new agriculture Zone at the Kearney Area Children’s Museum.<br />
Journey Line Technician Russ Kirkland holds the flag as the<br />
motorcade passes by on 2nd Avenue in Kearney.<br />
On April 16, thousands of people lined the streets of<br />
Kearney to welcome home soldiers from the city’s<br />
<strong>Nebraska</strong> Army National Guard 1195th Transportation<br />
Company. The unit was stationed at Camp Victory in<br />
Baghdad, Iraq for 11 months.<br />
Ogallala / Connie Knapp, Customer Services Support Specialist /<br />
csknapp@nppd.com<br />
Lexington Line Technician<br />
Nick Nichols received<br />
the Daughters of the<br />
American Revolution<br />
Community Service<br />
Award. Nick is active in<br />
the Lexington community,<br />
serving as Commander for<br />
the Veterans of Foreign<br />
Wars post and Assistant<br />
Scoutmaster of the Boy<br />
Nick Nichols<br />
Scout Troop 144, and Cub<br />
Packs 143 and 146. He served a combined 36 years<br />
in the Marine Corps and the National Guard. He also<br />
plays “St. Nick” during the Christmas season.
Darrell and Cleo Nelson...<br />
Darrell and Cleo Nelson were married on<br />
Aug. 27, 1950. Here, they are shown cutting<br />
their wedding cake.<br />
on the<br />
Kris Anderson, dispatch specialist, Norfolk, to<br />
customer contact specialist.<br />
Mike Bird, instrument and control technician, Cooper<br />
Nuclear Station, to planner.<br />
Nick Bockerman, coordinator, Kearney, to system<br />
operator, Doniphan.<br />
Diane Bryant, plant technical services assistant,<br />
Gerald Gentleman Station, to water quality technician.<br />
Laurence Dubois, human performance and safety<br />
supervisor (temporary assignment), CNS, to human<br />
performance and safety supervisor.<br />
Louann Fischer, business analyst, Columbus, to<br />
automatic metering information administrator.<br />
Joel Lee, energy supply operator, Doniphan, to<br />
contract and analysis supervisor.<br />
Barb Ludden, administrative assistant, Columbus, to<br />
human resources assistant.<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • maY / juNE <strong>2010</strong> 27<br />
to celebrate 60 years of wedded bliss<br />
An open house in honor of the 60th wedding anniversary of<br />
NPPD Board Director Darrell Nelson and his wife, Cleo, will be<br />
held at the Oconto Community Center on July 17 from 2-4 p.m.<br />
The couple married on Aug. 27, 1950 at the Evangelical United<br />
Brethren Church in Oconto. Cards will reach them at 851 Pawnee<br />
Lane, Broken Bow, NE 68822. Congratulations!<br />
Kim Maddox, foreign material exclusion coordinator<br />
(temporary assignment), CNS, to foreign material<br />
exclusion coordinator.<br />
Jennifer Ogan, customer contact specialist, Norfolk,<br />
to administrative assistant, Columbus.<br />
Dave Oshlo, radiation protection manager, CNS, to<br />
information technology manager.<br />
Jeremy Poulsen, journey line technician, South Sioux<br />
City, to local manager, Tilden.<br />
Steve Sheldon, electrician, CNS, to planner.<br />
April Tichenor, dispatch specialist, Norfolk, to<br />
customer contact specialist.<br />
Dirk Triplett, operator, Kearney, to subtransmission<br />
and distribution system control coordinator.<br />
Brian Wolken, engineer, GGS, to civil engineering<br />
supervisor, CNS.<br />
Kody Youngquist, mechanic, CNS, to mechanical<br />
maintenance supervisor.
28<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • maY / juNE <strong>2010</strong><br />
Sonny McCormick received all the right stuff<br />
to retire from <strong>Nebraska</strong> <strong>Public</strong> <strong>Power</strong> <strong>District</strong><br />
in style. A dinner in his honor was held <strong>May</strong> 1 at<br />
Valentino’s in Ogallala. Special guests included<br />
his wife, Beth; son and daughter-in-law, Mike and<br />
Mindy McCormick and grandchildren Drake<br />
and Kalyssa of Lincoln; daughter and son-in-law,<br />
Donelle and Cody Kimberling and grandchildren<br />
Chase, Jenna and Kinsey of North Platte; mother,<br />
Della McCormick of Longmont, Colo.; sisters,<br />
Carol Seiler of Ogallala and Venita Kimble and<br />
JoDeen McCormick, both of Longmont, Colo.;<br />
brothers, Gary Kelso of Arvada, Colo., Fritz<br />
McCormick of Grant and Calvin McCormick of<br />
North Platte and their spouses.<br />
McCook Distribution Superintendent and Master<br />
of Ceremonies Brian Buhr presented Sonny with<br />
his official retirement document and gift from<br />
NPPD, an Olympus digital camera which Sonny<br />
will use on the trips he and Beth are planning to<br />
take.<br />
To make sure Sonny’s retirement got off to a<br />
good start; Brian presented a money tree from coworkers.<br />
As a remembrance, employees from the<br />
Ogallala district also gave Sonny a metal, laser cut<br />
sign depicting a lineman on a pole.<br />
Chase Kimberling and Drake McCormick<br />
presented their grandfather with gifts from the<br />
family, a GPS navigation unit for smooth travel on<br />
the highways and byways and a band saw for use in<br />
his woodworking shop.<br />
R E T I R E E N E W S<br />
Sonny mcCormick has the right tools for retirement<br />
Sonny McCormick holds the metal sign Ogallala district<br />
employees gave him as a retirement gift.<br />
For Sonny, the occasion marked more than 33<br />
years of employment with NPPD. He began his<br />
career Jan. 3, 1977 as an apprentice lineman in<br />
Ogallala. He advanced to lineman July 1, 1980<br />
and earned his status as a journeyman lineman<br />
in December of 1984. He was awarded several<br />
promotions to work as a distribution serviceman,<br />
line foreman and lead line technician. In February<br />
of 2004, he accepted a position as senior line<br />
technician on the Ogallala Maintenance and<br />
Construction Crew. In 2005, he transferred to the<br />
Distribution Crew as a journey line technician, a<br />
position he held at the time of his retirement on<br />
March 5, <strong>2010</strong>.<br />
Sonny plans to put his gifts to good use when<br />
traveling and woodworking. He also hopes to catch<br />
a few fish.
Family and friends<br />
gathered at Dusters<br />
Restaurant in Columbus on<br />
March 5 for an open house<br />
reception honoring Steve<br />
Petersen of Columbus on his<br />
retirement from NPPD. Special<br />
guests were his wife, Carol;<br />
sister, Jeri Ann Petersen,<br />
and brother and sister-in-law,<br />
Greg and Lisa Petersen, all<br />
of Omaha; Carol’s sister, Joan<br />
Speicher-Simpson, and niece,<br />
Kerri Simpson, both of Lincoln.<br />
Steve joined NPPD on<br />
<strong>May</strong> 16, 1986 as a systems analyst<br />
in the Data Information Services Department. Later<br />
that year, he accepted a promotion to work as a<br />
senior systems analyst. He devoted his career to<br />
Columbus Energizers<br />
will meet July 15 and Aug. 19 at<br />
8:30 a.m. at Stack ‘N Steak.<br />
Paul Badje, (402) 564-8863,<br />
tailor@neb.rr.com<br />
Klassy Kilowatts will meet<br />
July 19 and Aug. 16 at the North<br />
Platte Airport. Meetings scheduled<br />
to begin at 12:30 p.m. CST.<br />
Tom Pendelton, (308) 532-5040<br />
tmpen@hamilton.net<br />
R E T I R E E N E W S<br />
Steve Petersen at his retirement<br />
open house in Columbus.<br />
RETIREES<br />
Low Voltage Panhandlers<br />
will not meet in July.<br />
Don Koralewski, (308) 783-1851<br />
donaldkoralewski340@gmail.com<br />
Northern Lights will meet<br />
at noon on Aug. 9 for a Missouri<br />
River Tour and picnic at Jim<br />
Decker’s cabin. Please RSVP to<br />
Jim. Address: 57493 892 Rd.,<br />
Wynot, NE 68792. Rain date is<br />
Aug. 16. No meetings scheduled<br />
for the remainder of the year.<br />
Jim Decker, (402) 357-3788<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • maY / juNE <strong>2010</strong> 29<br />
Steve Petersen enjoys retirement festivities with family, friends<br />
working with computers and software<br />
systems and transferred to the Office<br />
System Services department in January<br />
of 1990 where he held positions as a<br />
systems analyst and senior network<br />
support specialist. In 2002, he accepted<br />
duties in the Enterprise Information<br />
Technology Department where he<br />
worked as an operating systems analyst<br />
and senior systems analyst until his<br />
retirement on Nov. 30, 2009.<br />
Steve chose a watch as his retirement<br />
gift from NPPD and also received a<br />
cash gift from co-workers.<br />
Retirement plans include travel,<br />
enjoying various hobbies and continuing<br />
his Lion’s Club involvement along with other<br />
volunteer activities.<br />
NPPD antiques will meet<br />
July 6, Aug. 2 and Sept. 7 at<br />
8:30 a.m. at Country Cooking<br />
in Beatrice. All meetings are<br />
scheduled for the first Monday<br />
of the month unless that date is a<br />
holiday.<br />
Dot Cornelius, (402) 228-0494<br />
Retired & Rewired will not<br />
meet in July or August.<br />
Lois McCoy, (308) 665-1625,<br />
lmccoy919@gmail.com<br />
Make plans to attend your local retiree meeting.
30<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • maY / juNE <strong>2010</strong><br />
We will<br />
remember<br />
Bill Phillips, GGS material handler, on the death of<br />
his mother, Frances<br />
Jeffrey Copley, CNS nuclear instructor, on the death<br />
of his father-in-law, Edson Cornick<br />
Gordon Wemhoff Sr., York senior substation<br />
construction technician, on the death of his son,<br />
Gordon Wemhoff Jr.<br />
Marlene Heiting, Chadron customer service support<br />
specialist, on the death of her father-in-law, Don<br />
Columbus ITT Process Assistant Narka Braun and<br />
Columbus Safety Analyst Sue Graham on the death<br />
of Narka’s father and Sue’s father-in-law, Rex Graham<br />
D’Ete Haldiman-Kluck, retired Columbus process<br />
improvement secretary, on the death of her husband,<br />
Fred<br />
Jamie Becker, Chadron Distribution Supervisor, on<br />
the death of his grandfather, Kenneth Kisner<br />
Steven Rezab, CNS staff health physicist, on the<br />
death of his mother, Joan Hudgens<br />
Jerry Evans, Chadron lead line technician, on the<br />
death of his brother, Jim<br />
Jim Roup, CNS senior quality assurance auditor, on<br />
the death of his brother, Randy<br />
Laurie Schilling, Columbus human resources<br />
manager, on the death of her father, Oren<br />
Phil Awtry, Columbus ITT business analyst, on the<br />
death of his father-in-law, Lester “Bud” Schmidt<br />
Doug Kallesen, Columbus energy market planning<br />
team leader, on the death of his mother, Alice<br />
Dewey Aksamit, Sheldon Station mechanical<br />
engineer, on the death of his daughter, Daysha<br />
Mitch Beal, Columbus billing and payment<br />
processing analyst, on the death of his mother, Karen<br />
our sympathies go out to the following families<br />
Brian Brownlow, Columbus transmission asset<br />
planning engineer, on the death of his grandmother,<br />
Frankie<br />
Retired GGS Engineer Bill McBride on the death of<br />
his mother, Adeline<br />
Retired York Regional Superintendent Secretary<br />
Dorothy Anderson on the death of her son, Alan<br />
Columbus Land Management Appraiser Ron and<br />
Columbus Controller and Financial Planning Manager<br />
Donna Starzec on the death of his mother and her<br />
mother-in-law, Bernice<br />
Lisa Mohr, Columbus web development specialist,<br />
on the death of her grandfather, Harley Hiemer<br />
Randy Schnell, Columbus aviation manager, on the<br />
death of his father, Floyd<br />
Retired CNS Utility Service Technician Jimmy<br />
Reimers on the death of his wife, Penny<br />
Retired GGS Engineer Jay Favinger on the death of<br />
his mother, Frances<br />
Dave Groteluschen, Columbus transmission and<br />
distribution engineering specialist, on the death of his<br />
mother-in-law, Irene Malasek<br />
Jay Windreich, CNS maintenance training<br />
supervisor, on the death of his father, Stanley<br />
Columbus Transmission and Distribution Construction<br />
& Operations Administrative Assistant Donna Jaixen<br />
and retired Columbus Records Analyst Marilyn<br />
Lusche on the death of Donna’s father and Marilyn’s<br />
husband, Gayle<br />
Dan Lorenz, Sheldon Station unit operator, on the<br />
death of his mother, Idella<br />
Alan Bysfield, CNS system engineer, on the death of<br />
his son, Mark
j u L Y<br />
of events<br />
5 NPPD Holiday<br />
9-10 NPPD Board Meeting<br />
Columbus<br />
15 Rate Review Committee /<br />
Customer Meeting<br />
Kearney Holiday Inn<br />
Cooper Nuclear Station<br />
Staff Health Physicist<br />
Stephen Robinson, 47, of<br />
Auburn, who passed away<br />
<strong>May</strong> 18. Stephen was born<br />
March 2, 1963, in Reading,<br />
Pa., to Richard and Gloria<br />
Robinson. He was a 1981<br />
graduate of Oley Valley<br />
Stephen Robinson<br />
Area High School and a<br />
1985 graduate of Purdue University with a Bachelor<br />
of Science degree in health physics. He joined NPPD<br />
in 1981. Survivors include his parents; brothers,<br />
Michael, Bradd and Todd; four nephews and three<br />
nieces.<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • maY / juNE <strong>2010</strong><br />
a u G u S T<br />
12-13 NPPD Board Meeting<br />
Columbus<br />
24 Rate Review Committee /<br />
Customer Meeting<br />
Columbus Holiday Inn Express<br />
Retired Sheldon Station Shift Supervisor Jack Fisher,<br />
78, who passed away April 10 in Des Moines, Iowa.<br />
Jack began his NPPD career in 1961 and retired in<br />
1993. Survivors include his sons and daughters-inlaw,<br />
Patrick and Michelle Fisher, and James and<br />
Maureen Fisher; daughters, Christine Fisher and<br />
Eva Marie Fisher; and eight grandchildren.<br />
Retired CNS Senior Electric/Instrument and Control<br />
Engineer Richard Bailey, 79, of Ogallala, who passed<br />
away April 29. Richard joined the <strong>District</strong> in 1989 and<br />
retired in 1993. Richard’s surviving family includes<br />
his wife, Joan; daughter, Susan; sons, Gregory and<br />
Timothy; six grandchildren; two sisters, Ramona<br />
Benjamin and Delores Rodine; and special friends,<br />
Dick and Lillian Easley.<br />
31
P.O. Box 499<br />
Columbus, NE 68602-0499<br />
Address Service Requested<br />
Bryce<br />
Apprentice<br />
Line Technician<br />
PRSRT STD<br />
US POSTAGE<br />
PAID<br />
COLUMBUS NE<br />
PERMIT NO. 3<br />
<strong>Nebraska</strong> <strong>Public</strong> <strong>Power</strong> <strong>District</strong> employs<br />
a diverse workforce, from engineers to<br />
line technicians to customer service<br />
representatives, at a variety of power<br />
plant and facility locations throughout the<br />
state. NPPD - It’s where you want to be.<br />
For employment opportunities,visit<br />
www.nppd.com<br />
I am where I want to be!<br />
WHERE DOES YOUR CAREER TAKE YOU?