July / Aug. / Sept. 2009 - Nebraska Public Power District
July / Aug. / Sept. 2009 - Nebraska Public Power District
July / Aug. / Sept. 2009 - Nebraska Public Power District
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Current news about <strong>Nebraska</strong> <strong>Public</strong> <strong>Power</strong> <strong>District</strong><br />
<strong>July</strong> / <strong>Aug</strong>ust / <strong>Sept</strong>ember <strong>2009</strong><br />
Volume 2 Issue 4
2<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER <strong>2009</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 />
Dennis Rasmussen, Chairman<br />
Larry Linstrom, First Vice Chairman<br />
Ron Larsen, Second Vice Chairman<br />
Mary Harding, Secretary<br />
Wayne Boyd<br />
Jerry Chlopek<br />
Virg Froehlich<br />
Ken Kunze<br />
Darrell Nelson<br />
Ed Schrock<br />
Gary Thompson<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 Halloween Safety<br />
It’s a ghoulish time of year.<br />
Learn what you can do to help<br />
keep little ones safe.<br />
4 President’s Message<br />
Below average temperatures<br />
and above average precipitation<br />
present challenges for the<br />
<strong>District</strong>. Read what President<br />
and CEO Ron Asche has to say<br />
about the situation.<br />
6 Transmission<br />
Projects in Full Swing<br />
Read about the importance<br />
of four NPPD transmission<br />
projects.<br />
8 <strong>Public</strong> <strong>Power</strong><br />
Progressing Toward<br />
a Smart Grid<br />
NPPD and 13 public power<br />
partners seek stimulus funds to<br />
develop smart grid technology.<br />
courtesy photo<br />
10 A New Rate Choice<br />
NPPD hopes to learn more<br />
about customers’ energy habits<br />
through a “time-of-use” rate<br />
pilot program.<br />
12 Compliance and You<br />
Transmission Compliance and<br />
Planning Manager Paul Malone<br />
explains what you can do to<br />
help NPPD meet new rules and<br />
regulations.<br />
14 Tips to Save Energy<br />
Follow these EnergyWise SM<br />
tips to save money on your<br />
electric bill.<br />
16 News Briefs<br />
Check out these headlines and<br />
photos from around the state<br />
to learn more about NPPD’s<br />
recent activities.<br />
About the Cover:<br />
<strong>Nebraska</strong> City Station Unit 2<br />
provides electricity to NPPD and<br />
seven other utilities. The <strong>District</strong>’s<br />
participation share of the new facility<br />
is 157 megawatts. Other utilities<br />
purchasing power from the plant under<br />
long-term contracts are <strong>Nebraska</strong><br />
City Utilities, Falls City Utilities,<br />
Grand Island Utilities Department,<br />
Independence (Missouri) <strong>Power</strong> &<br />
Light, Missouri Joint Electric Utilities<br />
Commission, and Central Minnesota<br />
Municipal <strong>Power</strong> Agency. Omaha<br />
<strong>Public</strong> <strong>Power</strong> <strong>District</strong> owns and<br />
operates the plant and uses half of its<br />
663 megawatts of electrical generation.<br />
The other utilities have long-term<br />
contracts to purchase the remaining<br />
portion of the plant’s generating<br />
capacity. The plant came on-line May<br />
1, <strong>2009</strong>, and a dedication ceremony<br />
and facility tours were held in <strong>July</strong>.
SAFETY TIPS<br />
for a...<br />
Halloween is a cherished tradition but the<br />
excitement of the night can cause children to<br />
forget to be careful. There is no real “trick”<br />
to making Halloween a real treat for the<br />
entire family. The following tips will help keep<br />
everyone safe.<br />
The National Safety Council urges<br />
motorists to be especially alert on<br />
Halloween.<br />
• Watch for children darting out from between parked<br />
cars.<br />
• Watch for children walking on roadways, medians<br />
and curbs.<br />
• Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully.<br />
• At twilight and later in the evening, watch for chil‑<br />
dren in dark clothing.<br />
on the<br />
Wayne Bruns, planner, Sheldon Station, to planner/<br />
scheduler.<br />
Mathew Ellison, combustion turbine technician,<br />
Sheldon Station, to engineering specialist.<br />
Kirk Evert, engineer—project engineering<br />
department, Gerald Gentleman Station, to engineer.<br />
Jack Frary, water quality technician, GGS, to<br />
radiological protection technician, Cooper Nuclear<br />
Station.<br />
John Frum, planner, CNS, to project manager.<br />
Cody Hellbusch, apprentice line<br />
technician‑in‑training, York, to apprentice line<br />
construction technician.<br />
Gerald Horn, mechanical engineering<br />
supervisor (TA), CNS, to mechanical engineering<br />
supervisor.<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER <strong>2009</strong> 3<br />
Before children start out on their “trick<br />
or treat” rounds, parents should:<br />
• Make sure that an adult or an older responsible<br />
youth will be supervising the outing for children<br />
under age 12.<br />
• Plan and discuss the route trick‑or‑treaters intend to<br />
follow. Know the names of older children’s com‑<br />
panions.<br />
• Instruct your children to travel only in familiar areas<br />
and along an established route.<br />
• Teach your children to stop only at houses or apart‑<br />
ment buildings that are well‑lit and never to enter a<br />
stranger’s home.<br />
• Establish a return time.<br />
• Tell your youngsters not to eat any treat until they<br />
return home.<br />
• Review all appropriate trick‑or‑treat safety precau‑<br />
tions, including pedestrian/traffic safety rules.<br />
• Pin a slip of paper with the child’s name, address<br />
and phone number inside a pocket in case the<br />
youngster gets separated from the group.<br />
To ensure a safe trick-or-treat outing,<br />
parents are urged to:<br />
• Give children an early meal before<br />
going out.<br />
•<br />
•<br />
•<br />
Insist that treats be brought home<br />
for inspection before anything<br />
is eaten.<br />
Wash fruit and slice into<br />
small pieces.<br />
When in doubt, throw it out.<br />
Todd Keller, journey line technician, Ainsworth, to<br />
local manager.<br />
Marlene Lentfer, operator, Kearney, to administrative<br />
assistant (TA), Columbus.<br />
Thomas Reeson, apprentice line<br />
technician‑in‑training, Kearney, to apprentice line<br />
technician, Ogallala.<br />
Bruce Rhodes, heating, ventilation, air conditioning,<br />
and refrigeration/electrical building maintenance<br />
technician, Doniphan, to heating, ventilation, air<br />
conditioning, and refrigeration/electrical building<br />
maintenance technician lead.<br />
John Walsh, asset management specialist, GGS, to<br />
day shift leader.<br />
Brandon Ware, operator, Kearney, to operator team<br />
leader.
4<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER <strong>2009</strong><br />
Not a<br />
TYPICAL<br />
from the<br />
PRESIDENT & CEO<br />
First, this summer’s mild weather resulted in<br />
reduced sales to our <strong>Nebraska</strong> customers.<br />
Our “billable” peak load this summer of<br />
2,181 megawatts was 365 megawatts below our <strong>2009</strong><br />
original budget, which was used to set electric rates<br />
for this year. In April, we revised the <strong>2009</strong> budget and<br />
lowered our forecasted billable summer peak load<br />
from 2,546 megawatts to 2,449 megawatts. The actual<br />
billable peak of 2,181 megawatts was 268 megawatts<br />
below that revised budget estimate.<br />
summer<br />
RON ASCHE<br />
As the summer draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on the season. Obviously, this wasn’t<br />
a typical summer. We saw below average temperatures and above average precipitation. If<br />
you are an outdoor enthusiast, you might have enjoyed the mild temperatures; however, the<br />
weather indirectly brought with it several challenges for the <strong>District</strong>.<br />
Energy usage has also been down. As a result, we<br />
expect to end this year with sales to our <strong>Nebraska</strong><br />
customers $24 million below our revised budget.<br />
A second challenge included a reduction in prices in<br />
the regional wholesale energy markets due primarily<br />
to the national economic recession and reduced<br />
natural gas prices. For example, through <strong>Aug</strong>ust,<br />
the <strong>District</strong>’s average sales price of non-firm energy<br />
on the wholesale energy market is about $25 per<br />
megawatt‑hour, a decline of 50 percent from the
average price for the same time period in 2008.<br />
Actual revenues from the wholesale non-firm<br />
energy sales are forecasted to be $33 million below<br />
our revised budget for the year. Projected revenue<br />
shortfalls from sales to our <strong>Nebraska</strong> customers—<br />
coupled with declining energy prices—are about<br />
$57 million for this year.<br />
Thankfully, we’re able to offset some of this<br />
shortfall. Earlier this year, we looked for ways<br />
to reduce our <strong>2009</strong> costs and were able to cut<br />
approximately $20 million from our budget.<br />
Because of the decrease in energy sales to our<br />
<strong>Nebraska</strong> customers, our fuel and purchased power<br />
costs are going to be less than budgeted. We’re also<br />
expecting our O&M expenses to be slightly less<br />
than budget. Between the revenue shortfall and<br />
the cost cuts, NPPD is currently projecting a $19<br />
million deficit for <strong>2009</strong>. This deficit in <strong>2009</strong> will in<br />
part be covered by use of existing rate stabilization<br />
funds.<br />
What about 2010 electric rates?<br />
Our preliminary 2010 budgets indicated<br />
additional revenue shortfalls. To mitigate these<br />
shortfalls, we looked first at cutting costs. We did a<br />
review of our preliminary 2010 budgets. That effort<br />
resulted in $21 million of proposed cost reductions.<br />
We changed some of our short-term financing plans<br />
resulting in additional reductions of $11 million<br />
for 2010, for a total reduction of $32 million in our<br />
operating budget for next year. We also deferred or<br />
reduced our capital budget for next year by more<br />
than $60 million. One thing we did not cut were<br />
expenditures necessary to maintain safety and<br />
reliability of our system.<br />
Even with these cost reductions, we will need<br />
to increase both wholesale and retail rates around<br />
6 percent for next year. The main reason this<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER <strong>2009</strong> 5<br />
Some of things we will do to reduce<br />
our operating budget for next year<br />
include:<br />
• freeze executive salaries at current levels for 2010<br />
•<br />
•<br />
•<br />
•<br />
•<br />
•<br />
defer merit pay adjustments for colleagues across the<br />
<strong>District</strong> until the fall of 2010 (merit adjustments are<br />
typically made in March), and then we will look to see<br />
if our financial situation has improved before making a<br />
final determination<br />
defer filling vacant positions wherever possible<br />
defer enhancements to the 401k retirement program<br />
reduce employee travel and training<br />
reduce software enhancements and outside contractor<br />
services<br />
reduce tree trimming and pole inspections provided it<br />
does not impact safety and reliability<br />
increase is necessary is to cover the cost of new<br />
facility additions and improvements that have been<br />
made to our system, such as the new 80‑mile 345 kV<br />
transmission line from Columbus to Lincoln that will<br />
be completed later this year, improvements made at<br />
Cooper Nuclear Station, and payment of our share<br />
of the costs of OPPD’s new <strong>Nebraska</strong> City coal-fired<br />
plant which began operation late this spring.<br />
Next steps<br />
Our Board of Directors will consider final rate<br />
changes for 2010 later this year. The new proposed<br />
rates, if approved by the Board, would likely have an<br />
effective date of Jan. 1. The proposed rate adjustments<br />
would have been substantially higher if we had<br />
not been able to reduce our costs. The support of<br />
colleagues across the <strong>District</strong> has been tremendous.<br />
I thank everyone for their support in addressing our<br />
financial situation in these trying economic times. Our<br />
customers expect nothing less from all of us.
6<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER <strong>2009</strong><br />
Quartet of transmission<br />
projects...<br />
JACK STEINER<br />
Project managers Craig Holthe and Jack Steiner might not be<br />
wielding batons, shepherding wayward woodwinds or tempering bombastic<br />
brass, but the two are currently orchestrating a quartet of important<br />
transmission projects in northeast and central <strong>Nebraska</strong>.<br />
Even though they may be the “leader of the<br />
band,” figuratively speaking, their ultimate<br />
goal isn’t to ply an audience with sweet<br />
music. These four projects are being undertaken<br />
to meet growing electrical loads, ensure system<br />
reliability, increase the efficient use of NPPD’s<br />
generation resources and meet the <strong>District</strong>’s mandate<br />
to provide service and fulfill regional obligations.<br />
Briefly, the four projects are:<br />
1) Three 115,000‑volt [115 kV] transmission lines<br />
[and accompanying substation work] in support of<br />
TransCanada’s Keystone XL crude oil pipeline; 2)<br />
strikes up-tempo<br />
notes!<br />
CRAIG HOLTHE<br />
A 345 kV transmission line [and accompanying<br />
substation work] from the Axtell Substation south of<br />
Kearney to the <strong>Nebraska</strong>/Kansas border; 3) Two 115<br />
kV transmission lines [and accompanying substation<br />
work] in South Sioux City to support expanding<br />
load in that bustling community; and 4) A 115 kV<br />
transmission line to support a new wind farm near<br />
Broken Bow, contingent on NPPD being able to sell<br />
up to 50 percent of the output to other utilities. The<br />
Broken Bow wind farm will need transmission lines to<br />
move energy from the farm to the substation. Pending<br />
approvals, construction is anticipated to begin in early<br />
2010 and should be completed in early 2011.
In total, these projects carry an early, estimated<br />
price tag of approximately $180 million, with a share<br />
of the costs being paid by members of the Southwest<br />
<strong>Power</strong> Pool, wind developers and TransCanada.<br />
NPPD’s 115 kV transmission line<br />
project for the TransCanada Keystone<br />
XL crude oil pipeline will involve construction<br />
of three 115 kV transmission line segments. These<br />
will be built from O’Neill to near Stuart, from<br />
Petersburg to near Ericson and from south of Clarks to<br />
near Central City. The new lines will provide electric<br />
energy to three NPPD wholesale customers – Niobrara<br />
Valley EMC, Loup Valleys RPPD and Southern <strong>Power</strong><br />
<strong>District</strong>, respectively. These three utilities will then<br />
supply power to TransCanada enabling that company<br />
to operate pump stations to move crude oil through<br />
its pipeline. TransCanada and NPPD will share in<br />
the cost of this project, with most being paid by<br />
TransCanada. Construction is set to begin in mid‑2011<br />
with an in service date of mid 2012.<br />
The Axtell to Kansas 345 kV electric<br />
transmission line project is part of a larger,<br />
multi‑entity project that encompasses a total of<br />
approximately 215 miles of new, 345 kV transmission<br />
line to be built in the states of <strong>Nebraska</strong> and Kansas.<br />
NPPD’s portion of the project (approximately<br />
45 miles) runs from the Axtell Substation to the<br />
<strong>Nebraska</strong>/Kansas border. There, NPPD’s new<br />
transmission line will link with a similar transmission<br />
line project being constructed by ITC Great Plains.<br />
This project is part of the Southwest <strong>Power</strong> Pool’s (a<br />
Regional Transmission Organization of which NPPD<br />
is a member) “Balanced Portfolio” of transmission<br />
projects and as such will be paid for by SPP members,<br />
although exact allocation formulas have not yet been<br />
determined. Construction on this project will begin<br />
in the fall of 2011 with an in‑service date of summer<br />
2013.<br />
The South Sioux City 115 kV<br />
transmission system expansion project<br />
involves design and construction of approximately 15<br />
miles, total, of two 115 kV transmission lines from the<br />
existing Twin Church Substation to a new substation<br />
to be constructed approximately one mile northeast of<br />
Dakota City.<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER <strong>2009</strong> 7<br />
Why build these<br />
transmission lines?<br />
The answer differs slightly for each project.<br />
The TransCanada 115 kV project<br />
is perhaps the most straightforward: The crude<br />
oil pipeline needs energy to operate; NPPD is<br />
obligated to supply that energy. The need for<br />
Axtell to Kansas is more complicated. The<br />
new 345 kV transmission line from Axtell south to<br />
Kansas will do several beneficial things. First, it<br />
will ease transmission congestion in the area and<br />
allow NPPD to more efficiently operate Gerald<br />
Gentleman Station, the <strong>District</strong>’s largest, and<br />
lowest-cost power generation resource. The Axtell<br />
to Kansas line is a part of a larger plan proposed<br />
by the Southwest <strong>Power</strong> Pool.<br />
The two new 115 kV transmission<br />
lines in South Sioux City are<br />
necessary because of expanding industrial load<br />
there. The work will also help enhance South<br />
Sioux City’s electric system reliability. And as far<br />
as the lines in support of the two<br />
wind projects which are to begin soon,<br />
there is a nationwide call for renewable energy.<br />
Also, NPPD’s Board has approved an energy<br />
supply strategy of having 10 percent of NPPD’s<br />
generation mix be from renewable sources by<br />
2020. Ultimately, in many cases, when wind farms<br />
are built, the construction of transmission lines<br />
goes hand-in-hand.<br />
When these projects are completed, NPPD’s<br />
electric system will be stronger, more diverse,<br />
potentially more reliable, certainly more efficient.<br />
Now, that’s sweet music to anyone’s ears. To learn<br />
more about NPPD’s Grid Essential transmission<br />
projects, go to nppd.com and click on Grid<br />
Essential – Transmission Line Projects or to http://<br />
www.nppd.com/grid_essential/.
8 ENERGY INSIGHT • JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER <strong>2009</strong><br />
NPPD and 13<br />
public power<br />
partners seek<br />
stimulus funds<br />
to develop<br />
smart grid<br />
technology<br />
<strong>Nebraska</strong>’s public power utilities<br />
routinely work together in and out<br />
of storms, but one fair‑weather<br />
project that has 14 different power<br />
districts and municipalities excited<br />
about the future is a potential and<br />
collaborative “smart grid.”<br />
On behalf of the partnering<br />
utilities, NPPD filed a grant<br />
application with the Department<br />
of Energy for approximately $32<br />
million to install and integrate<br />
smart meters communication<br />
systems and data management<br />
systems, collectively used by the<br />
14 utilities, for a smart grid that<br />
will improve system reliability,<br />
operations and efficiency.<br />
The team had six weeks to work<br />
on the application process which<br />
included reviewing more than<br />
400 pages of the stimulus bill to<br />
identify potential opportunities for<br />
NPPD and its customers, obtaining<br />
the required information from<br />
those involved and developing the<br />
joint application. The deadline to<br />
submit the application was <strong>Aug</strong>.<br />
6. The team has since heard back<br />
from those involved with the<br />
grant program that the application<br />
was compliant and subsequently<br />
forwarded on for merit review. An<br />
announcement should be made<br />
in October as to whether or not<br />
stimulus funds will be provided to<br />
the utilities.<br />
“Smart grid is the next<br />
evolutionary step to enhance electric<br />
utility operations by enabling new<br />
technologies to establish two‑way<br />
communications between generators<br />
and connected consumers,” said<br />
Vice President and Chief Operating<br />
Officer Pat Pope. “Similar to<br />
the introduction of electricity,<br />
smart grid benefits will not occur<br />
instantaneously, but will be<br />
progressive over the next generation<br />
as consumers and generators fully<br />
integrate two‑way communication<br />
technologies.”<br />
The alliance of public power<br />
utilities are requesting 50 percent of<br />
the project’s total cost, estimated to<br />
be more than $64 million.<br />
NPPD will lead the design and<br />
implementation of the wireless<br />
system. Other components of the<br />
project include a modern database<br />
architecture that allows for the<br />
collection of massive amounts of<br />
time‑based data, as well as customer<br />
metering data, and power plant,<br />
transmission, sub‑transmission and<br />
distribution system information.<br />
All of the participants want to use<br />
an advanced metering infrastructure<br />
of automated meters that enable
time‑of‑use rates, load control, and<br />
the use of smart appliances, smart<br />
thermostats, etc. The automated<br />
meters streamline the meter reading<br />
process, improve the accuracy of<br />
readings, reduce billing errors,<br />
re‑reads, and re‑bills, and enable<br />
remote service starts/disconnects,<br />
troubleshooting and outage<br />
management.<br />
“With the smart grid system we<br />
utilities envision our respective<br />
customers will be able to better<br />
manage their energy usage and<br />
we, as their service providers will<br />
be able to enhance our customer<br />
service to them,” said Pope.<br />
KBR General Manager Rich<br />
Walters is excited about the Smart<br />
Grid project. “The term ‘Smart<br />
Grid’ means different things to<br />
different people,” he said. “I<br />
personally see Smart Grid as a way<br />
to utilize technology to provide<br />
data and information which can<br />
be used to make quicker and more<br />
accurate decisions based upon time<br />
responsive facts.<br />
Cedar Knox PPD General<br />
Manager Dan Leise agrees. “Our<br />
AMI project would provide an<br />
abundance of information to our<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER <strong>2009</strong> 9<br />
operations and customer service<br />
departments, thus greatly improving<br />
efficiency and customer service,” he<br />
said.<br />
“Customers will have more<br />
‘ownership’ in operating the electric<br />
grid, especially with load control,”<br />
continued Walters. “The customer<br />
will be able to monitor and operate<br />
his irrigation well with technology<br />
provided by the utility. Smart Grid<br />
also opens up new possibilities with<br />
irrigators, and other customers, and<br />
the possibility of using time‑of‑use<br />
rates.” (See story on pages 10‑11).<br />
When asked what they thought<br />
about the collaboration between<br />
the utilities to work on the grant<br />
application, Walters said, “This was<br />
an excellent example of <strong>Public</strong> <strong>Power</strong><br />
at its best. By partnering with and<br />
using our power supplier’s leadership,<br />
large and small utilities along with<br />
power supplier and customer were<br />
able to work together for a common<br />
cause to benefit the ratepayers of<br />
<strong>Nebraska</strong>.” The collaboration between<br />
the utilities involved was typical of<br />
the <strong>Public</strong> <strong>Power</strong> System in <strong>Nebraska</strong>,<br />
echoed Leise. “NPPD did a great<br />
job of pulling this together in a short<br />
period of time,” he concluded.<br />
Smart Grid Alliance<br />
City of Beatrice<br />
Burt County PPD<br />
Cedar-Knox PPD<br />
Cornhusker PPD<br />
Custer PPD<br />
Dawson PPD<br />
Elkhorn Rural PPD<br />
KBR RPPD<br />
Loup PD<br />
NPPD<br />
Northeast <strong>Nebraska</strong> PPD<br />
City of Superior<br />
Twin Valleys PPD<br />
City of Wayne<br />
Core internal team<br />
members<br />
Annette Bailey<br />
Sharon Brown<br />
Ken Curry<br />
Joel Dagerman<br />
Jay Dring<br />
Steve Merrill<br />
Pat Pope<br />
Ed Wagner<br />
Dave Webb
10<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER <strong>2009</strong><br />
NEW RATE<br />
ANEWCHOICE<br />
Residential and small commercial customers enrolled in the pilot program will benefit most<br />
if they can significantly shift their electric usage from on-peak hours to off-peak hours.<br />
What does NPPD hope to<br />
learn from the pilot program?<br />
Visit http://www.nppd.com/timeofuse/ for more information.<br />
It took less than two weeks for NPPD to get the<br />
needed 200 residential customer volunteers<br />
signed up for a new EnergyWise SM Pricing<br />
Pilot Program being offered to retail residential and<br />
small commercial customers in the communities of<br />
Chadron, Milford and Plattsmouth.<br />
The recruitment drive, which began <strong>Aug</strong>. 3, sought<br />
volunteers who were willing to change the time<br />
they use energy and potentially save money on their<br />
electric bill. NPPD’s Board of Directors approved the<br />
pilot program, which features time‑of‑use rates, in<br />
<strong>July</strong>.<br />
How does the new rate work?<br />
During certain times of the day and year, NPPD<br />
customers require more electricity than at other<br />
times. Those periods with heavier usage are called<br />
“peak hours.” During these hours, NPPD must run<br />
higher‑cost generating facilities to meet consumer<br />
demand.<br />
Under this pilot time‑of‑use rate, a customer will<br />
have the potential to save money by shifting their<br />
energy use away from higher cost, on‑peak hours to<br />
lower cost, off‑peak hours. These pre‑determined<br />
hours vary based on the time of day, the day of the<br />
week, and the season (see charts on next page).<br />
Doing this ultimately helps NPPD pass on cost<br />
savings from these efforts to customers.<br />
Today, a total of six commercial customers have<br />
signed up for the 11‑month program, which begins<br />
in November <strong>2009</strong> and runs through October 2010.<br />
More than 100 residential customers are on a waiting<br />
list.<br />
“From this pilot, we hope to gain valuable input<br />
about customers’ pricing preferences and response to<br />
time-varying price signals and real-time information<br />
on electric usage. We also will use the data to decide<br />
whether to offer this rate across our entire service area.”<br />
--Ron Asche, NPPD President & CEO
How is the pilot program structured?<br />
Each month program participants will receive<br />
information in their monthly electric bill showing the<br />
cost difference between the EnergyWiseSM Pricing<br />
Pilot time‑of‑use rate compared to what they would be<br />
paying on NPPD’s standard electric rate. Customers<br />
who stay in the pilot program until its conclusion will<br />
also receive a $50 bill credit.<br />
Participants will be asked to complete periodic<br />
program surveys to aid in completion of NPPD’s cost‑<br />
benefit analysis of the program. This feedback will<br />
help determine if and when time‑based rates should<br />
be offered to all NPPD residential and commercial<br />
customers.<br />
How will NPPD track the hourly data?<br />
Implementation of the new time‑of‑use rate option<br />
is made easier through the use of “smart” meters in<br />
NPPD’s service area. Smart meters allow utilities<br />
to charge different prices at different times of the<br />
day to more accurately reflect the cost of providing<br />
electricity. The locations of Chadron, Milford, and<br />
Plattsmouth were chosen for the pilot because smart<br />
meters have recently been installed in those towns.<br />
Each participant will also be able to track real‑time<br />
data through a <strong>Power</strong> Cost MonitorTM , a wireless<br />
energy device designed to allow electric consumers<br />
an opportunity to view the electricity consumption at<br />
their home or business. NPPD will provide each pilot<br />
participant with the option to try a monitor for free.<br />
•<br />
•<br />
Some ways a<br />
consumer can save<br />
Install a programmable thermostat<br />
Get a tune‑up on heating/cooling system<br />
Clean air filters frequently<br />
Use caulking and weather‑stripping<br />
Shut‑off unused appliances<br />
Use a microwave instead of a stove<br />
Put a time clock on water heater<br />
Wash clothes and dishes in off‑peak hours<br />
Install compact fluorescent bulbs<br />
Regularly clean bulbs, fixtures, lenses, lamps<br />
and other reflective surfaces.<br />
Turn off outdoor lighting during the day.<br />
Use the energy‑saving features on printers,<br />
monitors, copiers and computers, if available.<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER <strong>2009</strong> 11<br />
Time of Use Periods for Commercial and Residential<br />
Customers in EnergyWise SM Pricing Pilot Program<br />
REDUCE yOUR ELECTRIC USAGE DURING ON-PEAk<br />
hOURS IN WINTER AND SUMMER. CENTRAL TIME ZONE*<br />
Winter - Weekdays<br />
(October - May)<br />
*Adjust time one hour for Mountain Time Zone<br />
Summer - Weekdays<br />
(June - <strong>Sept</strong>ember)<br />
Weekends and<br />
Holidays<br />
ON-PEAK OFF-PEAK<br />
TOU rates reflect NPPD’s costs to supply energy. It is more expensive to serve customers when demand is high<br />
(on-peak). Customers are charged less when the demand for electricity is lower (off-peak).<br />
Commercial Rates<br />
ShIFT ON-PEAk USAGE TO OFF-PEAk AND SAVE<br />
Current Rates<br />
Customer Charge ($/month)<br />
Single Phase $15.50<br />
Three Phase $19.00<br />
Summer<br />
1st 1,000 kWh* 9.57¢<br />
Remaining kWh 8.42¢<br />
Winter<br />
1st 1,000 kWh 7.45¢<br />
Next 2,000 kWh 5.90¢<br />
Remaining kWh 5.45¢<br />
TOU Rates (Pilot)<br />
Customer Charge ($/month)<br />
Single Phase $15.50<br />
Three Phase $19.00<br />
Summer<br />
On-Peak kWh 16.55¢<br />
Off-Peak kWh 6.70¢<br />
Winter<br />
On-Peak kWh 14.21¢<br />
Off-Peak (1st 500 kWh) 6.11¢<br />
Off-Peak (Over 500 kWh) 3.79¢<br />
* kWh ‑ kilowatt‑hour<br />
Eighty-five percent of all time-of-use hours are off-peak so that makes<br />
shifting electricity use to these hours easier.<br />
Residential Rates<br />
ShIFT ON-PEAk USAGE TO OFF-PEAk AND SAVE<br />
Current Rates<br />
Customer Charge - $14.25<br />
($/month)<br />
Summer<br />
1st 750 kWh* 8.75¢<br />
over 750 kWh 7.87¢<br />
Winter<br />
1st 750 kWh 6.66¢<br />
over 750 kWh 4.14¢<br />
TOU Rates (Pilot)<br />
Customer Charge - $14.25<br />
($/month)<br />
Summer<br />
On-Peak kWh 18.20¢<br />
Off-Peak kWh 6.18¢<br />
Winter<br />
On-Peak kWh 14.03¢<br />
Off-Peak (1st 500 kWh) 4.94¢<br />
Off-Peak (Over 500 kWh) 3.08¢<br />
* kWh ‑ kilowatt‑hour<br />
Eighty-five percent of all time-of-use hours are off-peak so that makes<br />
shifting electricity use to these hours easier.
12<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER <strong>2009</strong><br />
Meeting our<br />
obligations<br />
...counting on one<br />
another to maintain<br />
compliance<br />
It was six years ago when a<br />
massive widespread power<br />
outage occurred throughout<br />
parts of the Northeastern and<br />
Midwestern United States and<br />
Canada. According to NPPD<br />
Transmission Compliance and<br />
Planning Manager Paul Malone,<br />
the event was considered the<br />
largest electrical blackout in<br />
history and it has since served as<br />
the impetus in driving several new<br />
policies, rules and regulations for<br />
utilities.<br />
Response to the outage, he<br />
said, can be compared to what<br />
took place following an historic<br />
incident in the nuclear industry at<br />
Three Mile Island in 1979. While<br />
the event ended without a major<br />
release of radiation or a need to<br />
order a general evacuation, it<br />
prompted a whole new set of rules<br />
and regulations for nuclear power<br />
facilities across the country.<br />
Malone sat down<br />
recently with an<br />
Energy Insight reporter<br />
to explain the many<br />
changes that have<br />
occurred since the<br />
blackout and discuss<br />
what NPPD employees<br />
and customers need<br />
to know about this<br />
new, more regulated,<br />
environment.<br />
Q: What is changing and<br />
why?<br />
A: Operational compliance is not<br />
a new issue for NPPD. We have<br />
always been required to meet<br />
some form of industry operating<br />
regulations since we were formed<br />
in 1970. What is different now<br />
though is the number and type<br />
of regulations in place and the<br />
method of enforcement. A fairly<br />
significant shift in the structure of<br />
how the electric grid is managed<br />
and maintained has occurred over<br />
the past decade. Since early 2000,<br />
the industry has been witness<br />
to the creation of several new<br />
entities with operational control<br />
of the electric grid. One such<br />
example is the creation of regional<br />
transmission organizations, such<br />
as the Southwest <strong>Power</strong> Pool,<br />
which NPPD joined as a member<br />
this past spring. Along with new<br />
RTOs and similarly, independent<br />
system operators, the industry<br />
as a whole has incurred changes<br />
within the entities responsible for<br />
enforcing reliability of the electric<br />
grid. The combination of each<br />
of these factors has transformed<br />
the way utilities across the<br />
country address compliance and<br />
enforcement issues.
Q: Which entity does<br />
NPPD report to?<br />
A: The Federal Energy<br />
Regulatory Commission, or<br />
FERC, has ultimate responsibility<br />
over the reliability arm of the<br />
electric industry. Under FERC,<br />
is the North American Electric<br />
Reliability Corporation. NERC<br />
works with eight regional entities<br />
to improve the reliability of the<br />
bulk power system. NPPD is<br />
a NERC‑registered entity and<br />
currently reports to the Midwest<br />
Reliability Organization, one<br />
of the eight NERC‑based<br />
organizations. However, since we<br />
are now members of SPP, we have<br />
submitted a request to transfer to<br />
the SPP regional reliability entity.<br />
This request is presently under<br />
review.<br />
Q: How does the<br />
compliance program<br />
work?<br />
A: FERC has encouraged<br />
NERC‑registered entities (such<br />
as NPPD) to develop rigorous<br />
written compliance programs,<br />
to foster a culture of compliance<br />
with active involvement of<br />
senior management and their<br />
governing bodies. In addition<br />
to the traditional transmission<br />
planning, system operations and<br />
power plant operations functions<br />
that the NERC standards have<br />
traditionally focused on, NERC<br />
has also turned its attention to<br />
cyber security, an area that is<br />
demanding tremendous effort<br />
on the part of registered entities.<br />
FERC states that an effective<br />
compliance program is a factor<br />
in mitigating any fines for noncompliance.<br />
Compliance audits by<br />
NERC include an assessment of<br />
the registered entity’s reliability<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER <strong>2009</strong> 13<br />
standards compliance program.<br />
NPPD is scheduled for its next<br />
audit in <strong>Sept</strong>ember 2010.<br />
Q: Why is compliance so<br />
important?<br />
A: Previously, there were 10<br />
general policies that NPPD<br />
needed to adhere to when<br />
addressing compliance issues.<br />
Today, that compliance structure<br />
has expanded to include more<br />
than 125 standards and more<br />
than 1,500 total requirements<br />
under each of the standards.<br />
For example, one standard on<br />
cyber security might have 10<br />
requirements. If NPPD meets 9<br />
of the 10 requirements, we can<br />
still be held accountable for not<br />
meeting the tenth requirement,<br />
meaning we would be in<br />
violation of this standard. Lack of<br />
compliance on any one standard<br />
can be very expensive—in<br />
some cases up to $1 million per<br />
violation. Of course, compliance<br />
is also important to ensure the<br />
safety and reliability of the<br />
electric grid.<br />
Q: What do you expect<br />
from NPPD employees<br />
and customers?<br />
A: Because of the significant<br />
growth in the number of<br />
compliance standards and the<br />
additional monitoring by NERC<br />
on the enforcement of each,<br />
NPPD needs all of its employees<br />
and customers to understand that<br />
enforcement of our program will<br />
require much more support than<br />
we needed in the past. Gone are<br />
the days when a utility could<br />
simply show it was compliant<br />
by reporting limited operational<br />
information and producing some<br />
records of maintenance activities.<br />
We need to expand our team and<br />
work together if we expect to<br />
remain compliant in the future.<br />
This is no small undertaking. It<br />
will take the efforts of many of us<br />
to retain our great track record.<br />
To help address this objective, we<br />
established a new organizational<br />
structure to achieve compliance<br />
with all applicable standards.<br />
Part of this change includes<br />
expanding the role of the Board’s<br />
Audit committee to focus on<br />
compliance performance, creating<br />
an executive level compliance<br />
steering committee, and naming<br />
Pat Pope, VP and Chief Operating<br />
Officer as NPPD’s Chief Electric<br />
Reliability Compliance Officer.<br />
We have also increased the<br />
responsibilities within my area<br />
by authorizing two new positions<br />
with responsibilities of monitoring<br />
compliance issues on a full‑time<br />
basis. Despite these changes,<br />
we still need the assistance of<br />
others. It is critical all employees<br />
understand the importance of<br />
supporting a standard, if asked.<br />
In some cases, we may need<br />
to make future investments to<br />
maintain compliance. Violations<br />
are expensive therefore anyone<br />
who notices a potential violation<br />
should report it so it can be<br />
addressed accordingly. It will<br />
take some time to accomplish<br />
everything we have included<br />
in our Compliance Program;<br />
however, Pat and I are counting<br />
on everyone to do their utmost<br />
to assist in any way possible to<br />
ensure NPPD remains NERC<br />
compliant. NPPD’s compliance<br />
program plan and related<br />
information will soon be available<br />
on the Energy Zone.
14<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER <strong>2009</strong><br />
Weatherize your home and use less energy.<br />
Properly sealing and insulating your home<br />
is one of the most cost‑effective ways to<br />
become more energy efficient.<br />
According to ENERGY STAR®, a nationwide<br />
energy efficiency program sponsored jointly by the<br />
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S.<br />
Department of Energy, homeowners can realize a<br />
potential savings of up to 20 percent on heating and<br />
cooling costs (or up to 10 percent on their total annual<br />
energy bill) by improving the sealing and insulation of<br />
a home.<br />
First, help make your house weather tight. Many<br />
air leaks and drafts in the home are easy to find<br />
because they are easy to feel – like those around<br />
windows and doors. Other leaks may take some<br />
hunting to find – like holes hidden in attics, basements<br />
and crawl spaces. Sealing any of these leaks with<br />
caulk, spray foam or weather stripping will have a<br />
great impact on improving your comfort and reducing<br />
utility bills.<br />
Second, after any home sealing project, have a<br />
heating and cooling technician check to make sure<br />
your combustion appliances (gas- or oil-fired furnace,<br />
water heater and clothes dryer) are venting properly.<br />
Third, here’s a good EnergyWise SM rule of thumb:<br />
Don’t scrimp on the insulation! Insulation helps keep<br />
your home warm in winter and cool in summer. There<br />
are several common types of insulation – fiberglass<br />
(in both batt and blown forms), cellulose, rigid foam<br />
board and spray foam. When correctly installed with<br />
air sealing, each type of insulation can deliver comfort<br />
and lower energy bills throughout the majority of the<br />
year.<br />
To get the biggest savings, the easiest place to<br />
add insulation is usually the attic. A quick way to see<br />
if you need more insulation is to look across your<br />
uncovered attic floor. If your insulation is level with or<br />
below the attic floor joists, you probably need to add<br />
more insulation.<br />
For more information on steps<br />
homeowners can take to improve<br />
the energy efficiency of their<br />
homes, contact your local electric<br />
public power utility or visit the<br />
ENERGY STAR® Home Advisor<br />
at http://www.energystar.gov/<br />
homeadvisor. Lots of useful energy<br />
efficiency information is also<br />
available at http://www.nppd.com.
Three letters... CFL ...lead to energy efficiency.<br />
Relatively new technology, the compact<br />
fluorescent light bulb (CFL) is an energyefficient<br />
emitter of light that performs<br />
adequately in many, but not all, situations where a<br />
standard incandescent light bulb has been used in the<br />
past. The CFL has many benefits when compared to<br />
its elder cousin. Chief among those, a CFL can last<br />
up to 10 times longer than a standard light bulb and<br />
uses about 75 percent less energy while producing a<br />
comparable amount of illumination.<br />
Here are some facts about CFLs:<br />
• CFLs are safe to use and are energy efficient. It’s<br />
true, each bulb contains about 5 milligrams of<br />
mercury, but this does not<br />
pose a health risk when the<br />
bulbs are properly used,<br />
handled, and disposed of.<br />
• If a CFL breaks, it is safe<br />
for you to clean the broken<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER <strong>2009</strong> 15<br />
bulb yourself by following some general safety<br />
practices. For more information visit www.epa.gov<br />
• When buying a CFL, select one with an ENERGY<br />
STAR® on the label. This indicates the bulb has<br />
met strict federal specifications for quality, energy<br />
savings, long life, color and brightness.<br />
• CFLs come in all shapes and sizes making<br />
it possible for you to replace nearly every<br />
conventional light bulb in your home. When<br />
shopping for a CFL, check the wattage<br />
equivalency numbers on the package.<br />
• A typical 20-watt CFL costs around $3 when<br />
purchased as a single bulb and about $2 per bulb or<br />
less when purchased in multi‑packs. The CFL bulb<br />
will often pay for itself in energy savings and low<br />
electric bills in less than eight months, depending<br />
upon your local electric rate and hours of use. And<br />
the energy/cost savings don’t end then; a CFL will<br />
save you money throughout its long life.
16<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER <strong>2009</strong><br />
Record amount raised for <strong>2009</strong> <strong>Nebraska</strong> Open<br />
Continuing an 18‑year tradition of great golf for<br />
a great cause, the <strong>2009</strong> <strong>Nebraska</strong> Open raised<br />
a record amount of $135,000 to be split between the<br />
tournament purse and scholarships awarded to needy<br />
students attending one of five <strong>Nebraska</strong> community<br />
college systems throughout the state.<br />
Since its inception, the second‑largest golf event<br />
in <strong>Nebraska</strong> has provided more than $875,000 to<br />
the <strong>Nebraska</strong> Community College Foundation. The<br />
Foundation divides the proceeds among the Central,<br />
Mid‑Plains, Southeast, Northeast and Western<br />
Community College Systems. More than $65,000 will<br />
be split between the campuses.<br />
NPPD coordinates the tournament, which is<br />
Tyler Bishop of Longmont, Colo., studies the course at<br />
the Elks Country Club in Columbus, Neb. Bishop took top<br />
endorsed and administered by the <strong>Nebraska</strong> Section<br />
honors in the professional division of the <strong>Nebraska</strong> Open.<br />
of the PGA and the <strong>Nebraska</strong> Golf Association.<br />
It has been held at the Elk’s Country Club in<br />
The <strong>Nebraska</strong> Open for golf professionals and<br />
Columbus, Neb. since 1991. Approximately 50<br />
amateurs started on Friday, <strong>Sept</strong>. 11 and concluded<br />
businesses sponsored this year’s event, many of which Sunday, <strong>Sept</strong>. 13. Tyler Bishop of Longmont, Colo.,<br />
participated in an 18‑hole scramble with some of the won top honors in the professional division, taking<br />
professional golfers on Thursday, <strong>Sept</strong>. 10.<br />
home $11,500 with a three‑day score of 195.<br />
Using the NPPD flash over trailer,<br />
GGS Unit Operator Tim Berntson,<br />
GGS Mechanical Technician Randy<br />
Jochum and North Platte Systems<br />
Operator Mark Tobiasson trained<br />
the Ainsworth Fire Department on<br />
flash over fires. A “flash over” is<br />
the near simultaneous ignition of all<br />
combustible material in an enclosed<br />
area when the majority of surfaces in<br />
a space are heated to the temperature<br />
at which the flammable gases that are<br />
being produced from the combustible<br />
materials in the space are hot enough<br />
to ignite.<br />
NPPD aids Ainsworth Fire Department<br />
with flash over training
Norfolk Operations Center construction on schedule<br />
Relatively good weather has enabled<br />
construction of the Norfolk Operations Center<br />
to proceed on schedule. Pictured above, steel<br />
frames the general outline of the NOC’s<br />
administration building. At right is another shot<br />
of the construction site.<br />
Next generation wind<br />
monitoring technology<br />
demonstrated<br />
Second Wind Inc., the manufacturer of mobile<br />
wind devices, made a stop at the Columbus<br />
General Office to demonstrate a next generation<br />
and very unique mobile wind monitoring device<br />
called the “Triton.” Employees were invited<br />
to attend the demonstration or link in through<br />
LiveMeeting. Those who did heard about the<br />
wide array of applications for which Triton can<br />
be used.<br />
Earlier this month, the United States<br />
Department of Agriculture approved a $100,000<br />
grant to be used by NPPD to obtain the Triton<br />
units.<br />
Renewable Energy Development Project<br />
Manager John O’Connor coordinated the<br />
demonstration.<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER <strong>2009</strong> 17
18<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER <strong>2009</strong><br />
from around the state<br />
Sheldon Station / Cindy Holsing, Administrative<br />
Assistant / clholsi@nppd.com<br />
Procurement Specialist<br />
Brian Epp earned the status<br />
of Certified Professional<br />
in Supply Management<br />
from the Institute of Supply<br />
Management. Individuals<br />
earning this designation<br />
are required to pass three<br />
examinations, hold a<br />
Brian Epp<br />
Bachelor’s degree and have participated in applicable<br />
work experience.<br />
Cooper Nuclear Station / Glenn Troester,<br />
Communications Coordinator / grtroes@nppd.com<br />
Over the summer, four musicians from Auburn High<br />
School toured several countries in Europe with the<br />
<strong>Nebraska</strong> Ambassadors of Music. They performed<br />
in concerts and recitals for nearly three weeks. The<br />
musicians are: Michael Wellman, son of Nuclear<br />
Instructor Tami Wellman; Ben Billesbach, son of<br />
Fix‑It‑Now Team Superintendant Doug Billesbach;<br />
David Wheeler, son of Shift Technical Engineer<br />
Steve Wheeler; and Kendall Victor, daughter of<br />
Licensing Engineer William Victor.<br />
From left: Michael Wellman, Ben Billesbach, David Wheeler<br />
and Kendall Victor. The Matterhorn of Switzerland is in the<br />
background.<br />
Columbus / Kathy Fadschild, Administrative Assistant /<br />
klfadsc@nppd.com<br />
This past summer, Patrick Keep and his father,<br />
Chuck Keep, corporate accounting supervisor,<br />
completed a 100‑mile backpacking trek over 12 days<br />
in the rugged mountains of Philmont Scout Ranch<br />
near Cimarron, N.M. as part of a high‑adventure Boy<br />
Scout crew in which participants were required to<br />
carry everything needed for the trek in 40 to 50 pound<br />
packs.<br />
Philmont<br />
is a<br />
national<br />
training<br />
facility<br />
and High<br />
Adventure<br />
base for<br />
the Boy<br />
Scouts of<br />
America<br />
and<br />
Patrick and Chuck Keep<br />
comprises 215 square miles in the Sangre de Cristo<br />
range of the Rocky Mountains. Patrick and Chuck<br />
are pictured here on top of Baldy Mountain, elevation<br />
12,441 feet, the highest point in the region. Two<br />
weeks later, they backpacked another 45 miles in the<br />
Black Hills of South Dakota as part of a Medicine<br />
Mountain Scout Ranch trek. Patrick is a Life Scout<br />
with Troop 276 in Columbus.<br />
Kaylee<br />
Tonniges,<br />
daughter of Web<br />
Development<br />
Specialist<br />
Ann and Brad<br />
Tonniges,<br />
participated in<br />
the 2008‑09<br />
AYSO season.<br />
The team<br />
received 1st<br />
place in the U10<br />
division. Brad<br />
coached the team.<br />
Kaylee and Brad Tonniges
Students from St. Isidore’s<br />
Elementary School National<br />
Energy Education Development<br />
(NEED) group placed first in<br />
the nation as Junior School<br />
of the Year at the 29th annual<br />
NEED’s Youth Award for<br />
energy achievement in<br />
Keaton Swanson Washington D.C. Members<br />
of the team included Justina<br />
Wemhoff, daughter of the<br />
late Engineering Technician<br />
Kevin and Julie Wemhoff;<br />
Keaton Swanson, son of<br />
Economic Development Process<br />
Coordinator Tami Swanson;<br />
Erica Ernst, step‑daughter<br />
of Building Maintenance<br />
Technician Ted and Angie<br />
Erica Ernst<br />
Wemhoff; Adam Starzec son<br />
of Controller & Financial Planning Manager Donna<br />
and Land Management Appraiser Ron Starzec; and<br />
Allison Beiermann, daughter of Energy Efficiency<br />
Coordinator Kelly and Land Management Manager<br />
Alan Beiermann.<br />
Adam Starzec earned fifth<br />
in the nation for his group<br />
documentary, “A.J. Higgins:<br />
Inventor, Patriot Hero,” at the<br />
National History Day contest<br />
at the University of Maryland.<br />
The theme was “An Individual<br />
in History: Legends and<br />
Legacies.” Students qualify by<br />
competing on local and state<br />
levels before moving on to the Adam Starzec<br />
national contest. Adam and his<br />
team member received the U.S. Marine Corps Award<br />
for which they were given gold medals and $500.<br />
Also qualifying for the national<br />
competition and receiving a<br />
superior rating was Allison<br />
Beiermann for her part in the<br />
group performance, “Eunice<br />
Kennedy Shriver, Taking the<br />
Disabled from Despair to<br />
Dignity.”<br />
Allison Beiermann<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER <strong>2009</strong> 19<br />
Parker Douglass, son of<br />
Sr. Workforce Development<br />
Specialist Jim and Rita<br />
Douglass recently signed<br />
with the New York Jets as<br />
a kicker. He was previously<br />
a kicker with the Cleveland<br />
Browns. Parker is a Columbus<br />
High School graduate and<br />
a graduate of South Dakota<br />
State University where he<br />
set or tied 19 records. He<br />
also played for the Sioux<br />
Parker Douglass<br />
Falls Storm of the Indoor<br />
Football League. While at South Dakota State he<br />
was a two‑time member of the ESPN The Magazine<br />
Academic All‑<strong>District</strong> First Team and Division 1 All‑<br />
American Second Team, along with numerous other<br />
accomplishments and awards.<br />
Miles Putnam,<br />
11‑year‑old son of<br />
Sr. Compensation<br />
Specialist Chuck and<br />
Gerri Putnam, was<br />
recently recognized<br />
by the United States<br />
Chung Do Kwan Tae<br />
Kwon Do Association<br />
for earning his 1st<br />
degree black belt in<br />
Taekwondo.<br />
Miles Putnam<br />
Chadron / Darla Wait, Distribution Support Specialist /<br />
dkwait@nppd.com<br />
Haley Hanks<br />
Haley Hanks, daughter of<br />
Crawford Local Manager<br />
Lynn and Terri Hanks,<br />
was elected 7th grade class<br />
president. Haley attends<br />
Crawford Junior High<br />
School.
20<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER <strong>2009</strong><br />
Scottsbluff / Colleen Mathewson, Distribution Support<br />
Specialist / cmmathe@nppd.com<br />
Scottsbluff employees and their families participate in the<br />
Oregon Trail Days parade.<br />
The 88th edition of Oregon Trail Days took place<br />
in Scottsbluff and Gering the second weekend in<br />
<strong>July</strong>. Participating in the Saturday morning parade,<br />
equipped with the electric pickup from York, Louie the<br />
Lightning Bug and frozen popsicles, were Temporary<br />
Meter Reader Steve Trebilcock, Temporary Part‑<br />
Time Meter Reader Lance O’Bryan, Senior Planner/<br />
Scheduler Chuck, Anne, Landon and Allie Vacha,<br />
Account Manager Terry and Danielle Rajewich,<br />
Customer Services Support Specialist Sarah and<br />
Ashton Stretch, and Finance Analyst Lad Kocer.<br />
Kearney / Lisa Willson, Administrative Assistant /<br />
lmwills@nppd.com<br />
Meter Technician Todd Willers and Customer Service<br />
and Delivery Representative Carol Lentell completed<br />
CPR and First Aid Instructor training through the Fort<br />
Kearney Red Cross and will serve as the Kearney area<br />
CPR and First Aid instructors.<br />
From left: Carol Lentell, Executive Director of the Fort<br />
Kearney Red Cross Relena Meyers and Todd Willers.<br />
The National Craniofacial Association, also known<br />
as FACES, honored Kearney System Control<br />
Operator John<br />
Eckhardt with<br />
the <strong>2009</strong> Louise<br />
G. Best Volunteer<br />
of the Year Award.<br />
FACES is a non‑<br />
profit organization<br />
for children and<br />
young adults<br />
with facial birth<br />
defects. As a<br />
fund‑raiser, John<br />
has organized<br />
the FACES<br />
motorcycle<br />
Rally event for<br />
John Eckhardt<br />
eight years. Based in<br />
Chattanooga, Tenn., FACES assists families with<br />
traveling and lodging expenses since many need<br />
to travel long distances to receive needed medical<br />
attention.<br />
York / Cindy Klein, Customer Services & Delivery<br />
Representative / ceklein@nppd.com<br />
Zack<br />
Packard and<br />
a friend won<br />
first place for<br />
walleye in<br />
the Father’s<br />
Day fishing<br />
tournament<br />
at Glen Elder<br />
Lake in<br />
north central<br />
Kansas. Along<br />
with trophies,<br />
the boys won<br />
several prizes<br />
Zack Packard<br />
including $200, a<br />
fish finder and a night guided fishing tour. Zack is<br />
the son of Planner / Scheduler Linnea and Scott<br />
Packard.
R E T I R E E N E W S<br />
Bill McBride retires after 21 years of service<br />
After 21 years of<br />
hanging baskets for their<br />
service, Bill McBride<br />
support of Bill through the<br />
retired from NPPD.<br />
years.<br />
Hired Jan. 4, 1988 as a<br />
As part of the festivities,<br />
precipitator performance<br />
a golf putting contest was<br />
engineer at Gerald<br />
held for the children in<br />
Gentleman Station,<br />
attendance. Winners were<br />
Bill accepted several<br />
Riley, Keegan and Theron<br />
promotions before<br />
Nitsch, children of GGS<br />
advancing to senior<br />
Engineer Bob and Barbara<br />
engineer at GGS, a<br />
Nitsch; Katelyn Iske,<br />
position he held at the<br />
time of his retirement.<br />
Bill McBride accepts his retirement documents from<br />
Investment Recovery Coordinator Chet Harger.<br />
daughter of Plant Technical<br />
Services Assistant Stacy and<br />
The lake and green<br />
Dan Iske; and Emma and<br />
fairways of the Sutherland Golf Course provided a Jamie Krab, Bill and Nancy’s grandchildren.<br />
beautiful setting for the June 14 reception held in his Stacy Iske and Engineering Technician Judy<br />
honor. Investment Recovery Coordinator Chet Harger Soell received special recognition for their efforts<br />
presided as Master of Ceremonies. He presented in coordinating the retirement reception and were<br />
Bill with his official retirement document and gifts presented with flowering baskets.<br />
of a new grill and griddle set from friends and GGS Bill plans to work on his farming interests, camp<br />
colleagues. Special guests included his wife, Nancy; and sailboat at Lake McConaughy, golf, and spend<br />
mother, Adeline McBride; and mother‑in‑law, Marge time with his granddaughters in Ogallala and Frisco,<br />
Ecklund, who were all honored with flowering Texas.<br />
Columbus Energizers<br />
will meet Oct. 15, Nov. 19 and<br />
Dec. 17, at 8:30 a.m. at Stack ‘N<br />
Steak.<br />
Paul Badje, (402) 564‑8863,<br />
tailor@neb.rr.com<br />
Klassy Kilowatts will meet<br />
Oct. 19, Nov. 16 and Dec. 21 at<br />
12:30 p.m. CST at the Airport Inn<br />
in North Platte. Cory Steinke with<br />
Central <strong>Nebraska</strong> <strong>Public</strong> <strong>Power</strong><br />
and Irrigation <strong>District</strong> will be<br />
the guest speaker at the October<br />
meeting.<br />
Tom Pendelton, (308) 532‑5040<br />
tmpen@hamilton.net<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER <strong>2009</strong> 21<br />
RETIREES<br />
Low Voltage Panhandlers<br />
will meet Oct. 20 at 9 a.m. at Sky<br />
Port Restaurant in Scottsbluff and<br />
Dec. 8 at 9 a.m. at the Country<br />
Kitchen, Scottsbluff‑Gering Hwy.<br />
Don Koralewski, (308) 783‑1851<br />
donaldkoralewski340@gmail.com<br />
Northern Lights have no<br />
meetings scheduled through the<br />
remainder of <strong>2009</strong>.<br />
Jim Decker, (402) 357‑3788<br />
NPPD Antiques will meet<br />
Nov. 2 and Dec. 7 at 8:30 a.m. at<br />
Country Cooking in Beatrice. All<br />
meetings are scheduled for the<br />
first Monday of the month unless<br />
that date is a holiday.<br />
Dot Cornelius, (402) 228‑0494<br />
Retired & Rewired will<br />
meet next at the December<br />
Christmas party.<br />
Lois McCoy, (308) 665‑1625,<br />
lmccoy919@gmail.com<br />
Make plans to attend your<br />
local retiree meeting
22<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER <strong>2009</strong><br />
We will<br />
remember<br />
Vicky Janssen, Norfolk customer service and<br />
delivery representative, on the death of her mother,<br />
Vivian Schackneis<br />
Tim Piper, YOC fleet services coordinator, on the<br />
death of his mother, Gladys<br />
Mort Hough, YOC account manager, on the death of<br />
his brother, Don<br />
Ray Weller, CNS plant chemist, on the death of his<br />
father, Ray<br />
Greg Nutsch, Sheldon Station electrical and<br />
instrument technician, on the death of his father,<br />
George<br />
John Larson, CNS quality assurance supplier leader,<br />
on the death of his mother‑in‑law, Connie Drudik<br />
Jeff Beatty, CNS security shift supervisor, on the<br />
death of his grandfather, Ralph<br />
Roger Krumbach, YOC fleet technician, on the death<br />
of his sister, Jeanie Howard<br />
CGO Contracts Manager Rod Rinne and CGO<br />
Planning Analyst Sue Rinne on the death of his<br />
mother and her mother‑in‑law, Doloma<br />
Jamie Phipps, Sheldon Station shift leader, on the<br />
death of his father, Joel<br />
Robyn Sprunk, CGO desktop support specialist, on<br />
the death of her father, Ken Richards<br />
Gene Staehr, YOC materials management material<br />
controller, on the death of his brother, Doug<br />
Cindy Abernathy, CGO supply chain management<br />
supervisor, on the death of her husband, Jeff<br />
Tom Carson, CNS maintenance manager, on the<br />
death of his grandmother, Mary<br />
Shannon Georges, CNS temporary armed security<br />
officer, on the death of her husband, Joe<br />
our sympathies go out to the following families<br />
Retired Doniphan Senior Operations Consultant Jerry<br />
Hagge on the death of his son, Allan<br />
Marlene Lentfer, Kearney system control operator,<br />
on the death of her mother, Mildred Pavlish<br />
Terry Rajewich, Scottsbluff account manager, on the<br />
death of her mother‑in‑law, Mar Jean Favinger<br />
Lisa Willson, Kearney administrative assistant, on the<br />
death of her grandmother, Phyllis Cahalene<br />
April Tichenor, Norfolk CCCC dispatch specialist,<br />
on the death of her grandmother, Elanore Houdek<br />
YOC Materials Management Truck Driver Tim<br />
Wemhoff, YOC Senior Substation Construction<br />
Technician Gordon Wemhoff and CGO Human<br />
Resources Assistant Linda Wemhoff on the death of<br />
Tim and Gordon’s mother and Linda’s mother‑in‑law,<br />
Marian<br />
Retired Ogallala <strong>District</strong> Manager Bill Timm on the<br />
death of his son, Jeffrey<br />
Roger Guilford, CNS security officer, on the death of<br />
his stepfather, Dale Lee Culbertson<br />
Tim Stehlik, Sheldon Station instrument and control<br />
technician on the death of his grandfather, Crete Knox<br />
Michele Matteson, CGO accounting analyst, on the<br />
death of her grandmother, Vernetta Becher<br />
Traci Bender, CGO vice president and chief financial<br />
officer, on the death of her mother, Sandra Larsen<br />
CGO Water Resource Advisor Randy Zach and CGO<br />
Energy Efficiency Consultant Steve Zach on the death<br />
of their mother, Donna<br />
Brian Rosse, Kearney outage management system<br />
administrator, on the death of his stepfather, Mark<br />
Anderson<br />
Alice Kudron, CGO accounts payable analyst, on the<br />
death of her father, Ben Chohon
of events<br />
N O V E M B E R<br />
11 Veterans Day Holiday<br />
12-13 NPPD Board Meeting<br />
Columbus<br />
20 Customer Meeting<br />
Location to be determined<br />
26-27 Thanksgiving Holiday<br />
Retired GGS Plant Support Technician Joyce Blake,<br />
70, who passed away June 9. Joyce joined the <strong>District</strong><br />
in 1979 and retired in 2000. Survivors include her<br />
husband, Dareld; sons, Rick, Randy and Brad; seven<br />
grandchildren, a sister and three brothers.<br />
Retired O’Neill Engineering Technician George<br />
Lang, 83, who passed away June 16. George began<br />
his NPPD career in 1947 and retired in 1995.<br />
Survivors include his wife, Orma; daughter, Brenda<br />
Jones; two grandchildren, one brother and two sisters.<br />
Retired Clay Center Journey Line Technician Wayne<br />
Mattison, 75, who passed away <strong>July</strong> 17. Wayne<br />
joined the <strong>District</strong> in 1969 and retired in 1999. He<br />
is survived by his wife, Eileen; sons, Dale, Michael,<br />
Alan and Richard; daughter, Darla Rand; and seven<br />
grandchildren.<br />
Retired YOC Journey Line Technician Adolf (J.R.)<br />
Kulhanek, 65, who passed away <strong>Aug</strong>. 6. J.R.<br />
joined NPPD in 1967 and retired in 1999. Survivors<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER <strong>2009</strong><br />
O C T O B E R<br />
27 Customer Meeting<br />
Location to be determined<br />
D E C E M B E R<br />
10-11 NPPD Board Meeting<br />
Columbus<br />
17 Customer Meeting<br />
Location to be determined<br />
25 Christmas Holiday<br />
include his wife, Sheila; sons, Alan and Robert; three<br />
grandchildren and four sisters.<br />
Retired CNS Electrician Jack Reeves, 70, who passed<br />
away <strong>Aug</strong>. 8. Jack began his NPPD career in 1984<br />
and retired in 1997. He is survived by his wife, Kay;<br />
sons, Scott and J.R.; daughter, Nita Pohlmann; four<br />
grandchildren, a sister and a brother.<br />
Retired Sheldon Station Chief Draftsman Richard<br />
“Dick” Buechel, 87, who passed away <strong>Aug</strong>. 12.<br />
Dick joined the <strong>District</strong> in 1945 and retired in 1984.<br />
Survivors include his wife, Doris; daughters, Kathleen<br />
Carmichael and Barbara Wiggins; sons, Don, John,<br />
Larry, Gerald and Thomas; nine grandchildren and<br />
two great grandchildren.<br />
CNS Mechanic Clinton Reeves, 63, who passed<br />
away <strong>Aug</strong>. 20, following a lengthy illness. Clinton<br />
joined the <strong>District</strong> in 1984. He is survived by his wife,<br />
Phyllis; sons, Chad and Chris; five grandchildren,<br />
three sisters and a brother.<br />
23
P.O. Box 499<br />
Columbus, NE 68602-0499<br />
Address Service Requested<br />
PRSRT STD<br />
US POSTAGE<br />
PAID<br />
COLUMBUS NE<br />
PERMIT NO. 3<br />
I am where I want to be!<br />
WhERE DOES yOUR CAREER TAkE yOU?<br />
Corey<br />
Engineer<br />
NPPD<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 />
Check us out at www.facebook.com/nppd