Nebraska Public Power District

Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) is the largest electric utility in the state of Nebraska, serving all or parts of 91 (of 93) counties. It was formed on January 1, 1970, when Consumers Public Power District, Platte Valley Public Power and Irrigation District (PVPPID) and Nebraska Public Power System merged to become Nebraska Public Power District. NPPD's predecessors were created through the efforts of the Nebraska legislature and financial agent Guy L. Myers as part of a system where all the investor-owned utilities operating in the state of Nebraska (Nebraska Power Co., Central Power Co., Southern Nebraska Power Co., et al.) were condemned and their properties turned over to 'public power districts' being created at the time (early 1940s). NPPD is a public corporation and political subdivision of the state of Nebraska. The utility is governed by an 11-member Board of Directors, who are popularly elected from NPPD's chartered territory.

NPPD's revenue is mainly derived from wholesale power supply agreements with 52 cities/villages and 25 rural public power districts and rural cooperatives. NPPD also serves about 79 communities directly at the retail level. Over 5,000 miles (8,000 km) of transmission lines make up the NPPD electrical grid system, which delivers power to about one million customers.

NPPD's corporate headquarters is located in Columbus, Nebraska.

Generating facilities

In addition, NPPD operates two wind generation facilities, nine hydroelectric facilities, nine diesel plants and three peaking units.

NPPD also purchases electricity from the Western Area Power Administration, which is operated by the United States Department of Energy.

Irrigation & Recreation

NPPD also operates the intricate network of irrigation canals, dams and reservoirs along a 150-mile (240 km) stretch of the Platte River which help power its hydro plants. In addition to the essential role the water plays in irrigating farmland and generating electricity in the area, the reservoir system provides fishing, hunting and boating opportunities for all Nebraskans.

Lake Maloney

Lake Maloney is located along Highway 83, five miles (8 km) south of the Interstate 80 exit at North Platte, Neb. Lake Maloney is used to regulate the flow of water for generating electricity at NPPD's nearby North Platte Hydro facility. The 1,650-acre (6.7 km²) reservoir is a popular place for fishing, skiing and boating. A handicap-accessible fishing pier, fish-cleaning station and 57 camping pads with electrical hookups are available at the lake's Inlet Recreation Area.

Lake Maloney's Outlet Recreation Area has camp sites, a trailer dump station, two boat ramp/docks, a fish-cleaning station and a shower house. Primitive camp sites are also available at several locations around the lake, and an 18-hole golf course is nearby. Entry to the lake requires a day or season pass from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Camping fees are posted.

Lake Ogallala/Sutherland Supply Canal

Lake Ogallala and the Sutherland Supply Canal are among the top trout fisheries in the state. The area is also one of the best places in the nation for viewing a wide variety of native and migratory birds, including bald eagles.

The lake is formed by the Keystone Dam on the North Platte River. Canal roads can be accessed east from Highway 61 or north from U.S. 30 at Roscoe and Paxton. Because of steep banks and swift water, no wading, boating or watercraft are permitted in the canal. Anglers fishing from the banks are recommended to wear life jackets. Emergency buoys with ropes are location along the canal. This is a day-use area; no overnight camping is allowed.

Sutherland Reservoir

The Sutherland Reservoir is a 3,000-acre (12 km²) lake located three miles (5 km) south of the Interstate 80 Exit at Sutherland, Neb. NPPD owns and manages the Sutherland Reservoir, part of its hydropower system. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) oversees most of the recreation areas at the lake. A day or season pass is required for entry into NGPC areas.

Primitive campsites are located on the east and west sides of the lake, while a private camping area with electrical hook-ups and a nine-hole golf course are located along the north shore. Four boat launching ramps and two swimming areas are available. NPPD maintains a roost and perch tree protection program for eagles and, during the winter months, bird watchers can observe numerous wintering American Bald Eagles.

North Platte Trail

In North Platte, the city's riding and hiking path continues on the south side of town along NPPD's North Platte Hydro tailrace canal. Trail users travel under Interstate 80 on a low-water bridge along the canal. Hikers and bikers pass along the grass and gravel canal maintenance road to State Farm Road where the route continues west. From the bridge, trail users receive a fine view of the North Platte Hydro. Fishing is allowed north of the bridge, but not immediately downstream of the North Platte Hydro. Boaters and swimmers are restricted from the tailrace canal.

Kearney Canal Trail

The City of Kearney and Buffalo County Parks and Recreation Department constructed an 8-foot (2.4 m)-wide concrete trail along NPPD's Kearney Canal in 1996. The 2.6-mile (4.2 km) scenic corridor is a gradual downhill grade from Cottonmill Park to the University of Nebraska at Kearney campus. The 16-mile (26 km)-long canal was built in the 1880s to divert Platte River water for irrigation and electrical generation. Cottonmill Lake once served as a reservoir for a cotton mill and now is a city park. The Kearney Dam & Hydro date to 1889. The 1.485-megawatt hydro-generator in the turret-looking tower was refurbished by NPPD in 1996. Access to NPPD's dam and hydro areas near the trail is restricted with no swimming or boating allowed.

Districts Served by NPPD

Burt County PPD
Butler PPD
Cedar-Knox PPD
Cuming County PPD
Custer PPD
Dawson PPD
Elkhorn RPPD
Howard-Greeley RPPD
KBR RPPD
Loup PPD
Loup Valleys RPPD
McCook PPD
Niobrara Valley EMC
Norris PPD
North Central PPD
Northeast NE PPD
Perennial PPD
Polk County PPD
Seward County PPD
South Central PPD
Southern PD
Southwest PPD
Stanton County PPD
Twin Valleys PPD

Wholesale Communities Served by NPPD

Arapahoe
Auburn
Battle Creek
Beatrice
Bradshaw
Brainard
Central City
Chester
Cozad
Davenport
David City
Deshler
DeWitt
Dorchester
Edgar
Fairmont
Friend
Giltner
Gothenburg
Hampton
Hebron
Hemingford
Hildreth
Holdrege
Lexington
Lodgepole
Lyons
Madison
Minden
Neligh
Nelson
North Platte
Ord
Polk
Prague
Randolph
Scribner
Seward
Snyder
South Sioux City
Summerfield, KS
Superior
Sutton
Valentine
Wahoo
Wakefield
Walthill
Wauneta
Wayne
Webber, KS
Wilcox
Wymore

Retail Communities Served by NPPD

Ainsworth
Alma
Anoka
Ashton
Atkinson
Aurora
Barada
Bassett
Big Springs
Bloomfield
Brandon
Bristow
Broadwater
Brule
Burchard
Butte
Chadron
Clinton
Crab Orchard
Craig
Crawford
Creighton
Crystal Lake
Dakota City
Dawson
DuBois
Elm Creek
Elsie
Emmet
Fort Robinson
Geneva
Gibbon
Gordon
Hartington
Hay Springs
Homer
Humboldt
Inman
Kearney
Lewellen
Lewiston
Lisco
Long Pine
Loup City
Lynch
Madrid
McCook
McGrew
Meadow Grove
Melbeta
Merriman
Milford
Minatare
Murray
Mynard
Nehawka
Norfolk
Northport
Oakdale
Oakland
Odessa
Ogallala
Oglala Sioux
O'Neill
Oshkosh
Pawnee City
Pine Ridge
Plattsmouth
Ravenna
Rushville
St. Mary
Scottsbluff
Shelton
Shubert
Steinauer
Stella
Sterling
Sutherland
Table Rock
Tekamah
Terrytown
Tilden
Union
Venango
Verdon
White Clay
Whitney
Winnebago
York

External links