May / June - Nebraska Public Power District

May / June 2010
Volume 3
Current news about
Nebraska Public Power District
A Proud Moment
Issue 3
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Energy Insight is published by
the Nebraska Public Power District
Corporate Communications Department
as a service for employees, customers
and friends of NPPD. Its purpose
is to communicate NPPD news
and information and to recognize
achievements of employees, retirees
and their families.
Board of Directors
Larry Linstrom, Chairman
Ronald Larsen, First Vice Chairman
Gary Thompson, Second Vice Chairman
Mary Harding, Secretary
Wayne Boyd
Jerry Chlopek
Virgil Froehlich
Ken Kunze
Darrell Nelson
Dennis Rasmussen
Edward Schrock
Senior Manager, Government and
Public Relations
Beth Boesch
Executive Editor
Brenda Sanne
Managing Editor
Jill Novicki, [email protected]
Photography
Gary Pelster
Contributors
Evelyn Chittenden
Mark Miller
Graphic Design
Bill Haack
Dan Zastera
Reporters
Marjorie Allen, Chadron
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3 It’s Tick Season Read how you can protect
yourself and your family from
tick-borne diseases.
4 President’s Message
President and CEO Ron Asche
discusses how agriculture and
industry are an important part of
NPPD’s customer base.
8 Moving Along
Check out this update on the
District’s Grid Essential projects.
10SPP—One Year Later
NPPD’s first year in the
Southwest Power Pool proves to
be a learning experience.
14 Program Reaches
Critical Phase Read what customers are saying
about NPPD’s EnergyWiseSM
Pricing Pilot Program.
15 Meet the 2010
Graduates
20 Public Power’s
Progress
Learn more about NPPD’s
recent activities.
24 News From Around
the State
Read about activities and
accomplishments of employees
and their children.
28 Retiree News
Sonny McCormick and Steve
Petersen retire from the District
after more than 57 years of
combined service. Also, check
out the schedule of retiree
meetings.
30 Sympathies
Included in this issue’s
condolences is CNS Staff
Health Physicist Stephen
Robinson who passed away
May 18.
Darla Wait, Chadron
Kathy Fadschild, Columbus
Glenn Troester, Cooper Nuclear Station
Kathy Nelson, Doniphan Control Center
Lynn Phagan, Gerald Gentleman Station
Lisa Willson, Kearney
Bobbie Morford, Lincoln
Kathy Eaton, McCook
Helen Hinz, McCook
Barb Keating, Norfolk
Mindy Leaverton, Norfolk
Connie Knapp, Ogallala
Eileen Osborne, O’Neill
Lottie Kellison, Plattsmouth
Colleen Mathewson, Scottsbluff
Cindy Holsing, Sheldon Station
Kris Cross, South Sioux City
Cindy Klein, York
About the Cover:
NPPD was represented well
at this year’s Public Power
Lineworkers Rodeo in Omaha.
Plattsmouth Apprentice
Line Technician Michael
McLaughlin took top honors
in the apprentice events and
NPPD’s Journeyman Team
had its best year ever. Read
all about it on pages 6-7.
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Protect yourself from tick-borne diseases
Ticks are nasty. Not only can they give you the
creeps, they can cause serious illnesses such as
Lyme disease if their bites aren’t treated quickly.
Since tick-borne illnesses can occur throughout
the U.S., you should learn how to protect yourself
and your family.
Prevention
Steering clear of ticks’ favorite haunts—wooded,
grassy, and brushy sites, including those near beaches
and sand dunes—can reduce your risk for tick bites
and infection. When this isn’t possible, follow these
precautions:
• Wear light-colored, long-sleeved shirts and
long pants, which can make it easier to spot
crawling ticks. Tuck the legs of your pants
into your socks to keep ticks from crawling up
your legs.
• Apply an insect repellent containing DEET to
exposed skin.
• Check your skin and scalp at the end of the
day. Remove clothing and use a mirror to
check hard-to-see places, like the back of your
knees and neck. If a tick has latched on to
you, remove it as soon as you can.
Tick Removal
Contrary to popular belief, applying petroleum jelly
or a hot match to a tick won’t make the critter detach
itself. In fact, these tactics can increase your risk for
infection by irritating the tick and stimulating it to
release more germ-bearing saliva.
To properly remove an attached tick:
• Use fine-tipped tweezers and protect your
fingers with a tissue or latex gloves.
• Grasp the tick close to the surface of your skin
and pull upward using even pressure. Try not
to twist or jerk the tick, since this can cause
parts of the mouth to break off and remain in
your skin. If this happens, remove those parts
with the tweezers.
• After removing the tick, disinfect the site with
iodine, rubbing alcohol or water containing
detergent. Wash your hands with soap and
water.
• Put the tick in a sealable plastic bag marked
with the date and store it in a freezer. If you
come down with a tick-borne illness, your
doctor can use the tick to make an accurate
diagnosis.
When to See a Doctor
Whether a tick bite makes you ill depends on the type
of tick and how long it was attached to your skin.
Symptoms vary depending on the illness the tick
transmits. Seek medical attention if you develop any
of these symptoms after being bitten by a tick: fever,
chills, muscle aches and pains, headache, nausea or a
rash.
For more information, visit the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov/ticks.
Source: Vitality magazine
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Agriculture & I N D U S T R Y
An important part of NPPD’s customer base
from the
PRESIDENT & CEO
RON ASCHE
NPPD’s customers
include a variety
of businesses that
provide jobs essential
to maintaining and
growing the District’s
service area population
and customer base. A
large number of these
businesses provide
goods or services to—or
buy the output from—
Nebraska’s largest
industry, production
agriculture.
While the number of farms in Nebraska has declined
since 1935, agriculture remains important to the
state’s overall economic vitality and the economic
well-being of our customers. Irrigation load related to
crop production is an obvious source of demand for
NPPD’s electricity. Between 2000 and 2009, irrigation
accounted for between 6.1 percent and 8.6 percent
of NPPD’s energy sales to end-use customers served
directly or indirectly in Nebraska. In 2008, Nebraska
farmers produced $8.2 billion of feed and oil crops,
primarily corn and soybeans.
Perhaps somewhat less obvious in terms of its
contribution to NPPD’s electric load is Nebraska’s
livestock industry, which includes cattle, dairy, swine
and poultry production. In terms of farm revenue,
livestock production is traditionally Nebraska’s top
agriculture sector, with meat production the largest
component of this sector. In 2008, Nebraskans produced
$7.8 billion of meat animals and in 2009, ranked first
nationally in commercial red meat production and sixth
in all hogs on farms.
Electricity used directly by Nebraska livestock
producers represents a small fraction of agriculture’s
overall contribution to NPPD’s sales. Livestock
generates indirect demand for electricity through
its consumption of irrigated crops. More than half
of the irrigated crops grown in Nebraska are fed to
livestock. The livestock and crop production sectors
both indirectly impact the demand for electricity
through their sales to and purchases from the state’s
manufacturing industries. Livestock and crop producers
are major suppliers or customers of Nebraska’s three
largest manufacturing sectors–food processing,
fabricated metals and machinery manufacturing.
Together, these three industries account for more than
half of all Nebraska manufacturing employment.
E N E R G Y
Food, farm implement, and farm machinery plus
firms in other manufacturing sectors such as Norfolk’s
Nucor Steel plant are major pieces of NPPD’s
industrial customer base. Between 2000 and 2009,
annual industrial sales accounted for between 19.3
percent and 22.4 percent of NPPD’s energy sales to its
end-use Nebraska customers.
The combination of a large inventory of livestock
and a plentiful supply of feed corn has contributed
to the recent rapid expansion of Nebraska’s biofuels
sector and significantly contributed to NPPD’s sales.
There are 21 ethanol plants in NPPD’s service area
with 17 of those being constructed between 2000 and
2009. The expansion of ethanol plants between 2000
and 2009 accounted for 32 percent of NPPD’s energy
sales growth. Last year, approximately 11 percent
of the District’s energy sales were to ethanol plants.
Irrigation, ethanol and other industrial load combined
represent approximately 40 percent of our annual
energy sales.
NPPD’s service area mix of agriculture,
agribusinesses, and other businesses has allowed our
economy to weather the recent recession much better
than most areas of the economy. While many NPPD
service area businesses have been severely stressed
and there have been major plant closings, Nebraska’s
unemployment rate has remained either the second or
third lowest in the nation and has been about half the
national average since the recession began.
Looking forward
Agriculture and agribusiness will continue to be
important drivers of NPPD’s load growth. Food
processing is one of the manufacturing industries
projected to experience employment growth during
the next eight years as eating habits change, global
population and income grow, and new plants are
built. This industry is a target for our economic
development department.
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Firms manufacturing products for the wind
industry constitute another import target for NPPD’s
expansion and recruitment efforts. Several of the
fabricated metal and machinery manufacturing firms
in NPPD’s service area are currently supplying or
bidding to supply parts to major wind manufacturers.
This industry is an excellent fit for NPPD’s service
area because of the wind resources in the Midwest
and the ability of many of our manufacturing firms to
add product lines or convert some of their production
lines from making products for agriculture and
agribusinesses to making parts for wind turbines.
The data center industry has also been aggressively
recruited by both NPPD and Nebraska for several
years. The need to store, manage and transmit large
volumes of data continues to expand at a rapid
pace and growth in this industry is expected to
continue for several years. Large data centers are
now looking for sites with 25 to 100 megawatts
of redundant power. The large amount of power
required to operate a major data center means that
low cost, reliable and redundant electric power is the
number one factor when deciding where a facility
will be located and NPPD’s service area has many
sites that will be attractive to this industry. The
Nebraska Department of Economic Development
recently selected Aurora, Kearney and South Sioux
City in NPPD’s service area as the initial test
sites for the development of new “Power Parks”
designed specifically to attract data centers and other
technology-related businesses to Nebraska.
The continued growth of businesses in NPPD’s
service area is crucial to the future economic well
being of our customers and NPPD. As always, there
will be both challenges and opportunities, but we
will meet both head-on and make the most of the
opportunities before us.
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ELECTRIC
E
stablished in 2001 by the American
Public Power Association, the Public
Power Lineworkers Rodeo is
the premier event where public
power lineworkers from all over the
nation come to showcase their skill and
knowledge. At the Rodeo, journeyman
linemen and apprentice line technicians
compete against their peers for
professional recognition, attend training
courses and practice essential skills in a
safe environment.
This year, the 10th annual event hosted
by Omaha Public Power District, was
held at Levi Carter Park in Omaha in
March. The NPPD Journeyman team did
their home state proud. Team members
included: Bassett Local Manager Todd Keller,
who brings 13 years of experience to the team; North
Platte Journey Line Technicians Jake McGill, who
was hired as an apprentice in 1998 and earned his
journeyman status in 2003, and John Boyer, who
joined NPPD in 2007 as a journey line technician,
and York Journey Line Technician Ray Boston, a
13-year veteran who began his career as a co-op line
technician.
The team earned a perfect score of 100 in each
of the Hurtman Rescue, 600 Amp Switch, Lighting
Arrestor, Oil Circuit Recloser and Downed Primary
events. Their scores, when combined with their
completion times, gave them a 6th place finish in the
overall competition.
“2010 was our most successful year ever,” said
York Distribution Superintendent Mike Damon.
“This year’s journeyman lineman team earned the first
perfect score ever posted by an NPPD team and their
overall finish was the highest ever. Two apprentice
line technicians also entered the competition, with
Mike McLaughlin of Plattsmouth taking the top prize
and Adam Zarek of York scoring 490 points out of
500.”
Standing from left: Tom Kent, Mike Damon, John Boyer,
Jake McGill and Mike McLaughlin. Kneeling from left: Trevor
Roth, Todd Keller, Ray Boston and Adam Zarek.
With more than 40 teams and 52 apprentices
entered, the competition was tough. Damon attributes
the success of the linemen to the solid training they
receive. “Safety is our number one focus at NPPD and
it shows. Our apprentices and journeyman teams were
able to perform all of the tasks with no deductions.
That says a lot about the safety culture and level of
training at NPPD,” he said.
Every two years, try-outs for the Rodeo team and
apprentices are held at the York Operations Center.
NPPD colleagues from across the state compete
in events which are judged in the same way as the
real competition. The top scorers earn a place on
the NPPD journeyman lineman team or compete as
individual apprentices in the Rodeo.
Next year, the competition will be held on March
19 in Nashville, Tenn. In a city known for country
music, we might well be hearing a Nebraska (NPPD)
victory song.
E N E R G Y
Michael McLaughlin
takes top honors in
apprentice events
P
lattsmouth Apprentice Line Technician
Michael McLaughlin took first place in
the overall apprentice competition. In fact,
he’s been racking up a lot of firsts lately. He
is the first apprentice line technician in the 10-year
history of the event to attain a perfect score during a
competition being held for the first time in his home
state of Nebraska.
Michael, who received his degree from Northeast
Community College in Norfolk and joined NPPD
in 2007 straight out of school, competed in five
events; a written safety test, the Hurtman Rescue,
Transformer Hook-up, Double Dead End Insulator
Change-out and Service Install event. He achieved a
perfect score of 100 in every one. All of the events
are timed, and judges deduct from two to 10 points
for safety violations. A combined total of scores
and times determine the winner of the overall
competition.
Michael completed the written test in five minutes
and 39 seconds, nearly half the time taken by the
next person receiving a perfect score. According
to Michael, the written test required the most
preparation time, and he used the APPA Safety
Manual as a study guide.
He also completed the other four events with no
deductions. “I may not have had the fastest time in
the events, but I completed them all safely,” he said.
“And, safety was the number one goal.”
He was unaware of what he had accomplished
until his name was announced at the banquet held
after the competition. “I was nervous,” he said. “After
you complete your events, you have no idea where
you stand. I knew this year that I had 100 percent on
all of my events so I thought that I did pretty well but
I didn’t know for sure. It was a little nerve-wracking.
To hear my name announced as the overall winner
was awesome…just awesome.”
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He’s personable and well-spoken. He’s also
skilled and professional. And when it comes to
matching up to his peers, he’s the best in the
nation.
Although he is proud of taking home the trophy
for winning the overall competition, as well as the
first place trophy in the written test and second place
trophy in the service install event, Michael modestly
says the best thing about the competition is getting
to meet people from all over the nation who have the
same skills and getting to compete with them toe-totoe.
Plattsmouth Apprentice Line Technician Michael McLaughlin
shown here with the hardware he brought home from the
Public Power Lineworkers Rodeo held in Omaha this year.
As fair warning to other apprentice line
technicians, Michael says he’ll be back next
year to compete in the Lineman Rodeo in
Nashville.
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Grid Essential projects move forward
A
robust transmission grid is vital to the
efficient operation of NPPD’s electric
system, including the ability to meet
the ever-changing (and growing) electric power
needs of our customers. In 2009, NPPD took
steps to ensure the strength of the transmission
grid by implementing a group of transmission
projects under the Grid Essential umbrella.
Grid Essential projects were identified
as such because they:
• Support economic development and increased system
demand for electric energy
• Produce a vital link between generation and load
• Build access to regional or national wholesale energy
markets
• Strengthen reliability of service to NPPD customers
through investments in new and existing infrastructure
Now, almost midway through 2010, these projects
continue to move forward.
The four Grid Essential transmission projects
include the Axtell to Kansas 345,000-volt
Transmission Line Project (Axtell to Kansas);
the South Sioux City 115,000-volt Transmission
System Expansion Project (South Sioux City);
the TransCanada Keystone XL Pipeline 115,000
volt Transmission Line Project (TransCanada
Keystone XL); and the Broken Bow 115,000-volt
Transmission Line Project (Broken Bow), which is
in its preliminary stages.
Here is a thumbnail sketch of each project and
where each project stands.
Axtell to Kansas
NPPD’s Axtell to Kansas Project is part of a larger,
multi-entity project that comprises about 225 miles of
new, 345,000-volt high-voltage transmission line to
be built in the states of Nebraska and Kansas. NPPD’s
portion of the project (approximately 53 miles) will
be constructed from NPPD’s Axtell Substation south
to the Nebraska/Kansas border. There NPPD’s new
transmission line will link with a similar transmission
line project constructed by International Transmission
Company Great Plains.
The project is being done to alleviate congestion in
the regional transmission grid and to enhance system
reliability.
Since the project began in June 2009, numerous
public meetings have been held, including three
rounds of open houses. The third round of open
houses was completed March 10 and 11; possible line
routes, including a preferred route and alternatives
were presented to the public. On May 14, the
Nebraska Power Review Board approved the project.
Public hearings are planned for June 23 and 24 in
Franklin and Minden.
South Sioux City
The South Sioux City Project involves design
and construction of two 115,000-volt transmission
lines from the Twin Church substation (located four
miles west of Dakota City) to a new substation to
be constructed approximately one mile northeast of
Dakota City.
E N E R G Y
One transmission line, approximately five miles in
length, will run from Twin Church substation on a
southern route to the new substation. The second line,
with an initial estimate of approximately 10 miles
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transmission lines to serve the TransCanada pumping
stations. This information will be shared at a series
of required public hearings at locations across central
Nebraska in mid-July 2010.
A robust transmission grid is vital to the efficient operation of NPPD’s
electric system, including the ability to meet the ever-changing (and
growing) electric power needs of our customers.
in length, will also run from Twin Church, but on a
northern route to the new substation.
This construction is necessary because the new line
and associated substation work will support recent and
projected electric load growth in the South Sioux City/
Dakota City area. In addition, the project will enhance
the area’s electric system reliability.
As of mid-May, the South Sioux City Project
was about to enter its routing phase. At the end of
May, NPPD colleagues and routing consultants are
scheduled to review comments and other information
gathered from open houses, other public meetings
and contacts with individual property owners and city
and county officials. At a June 22 open house, the
project team will then present alternative line routes,
including a preferred route.
TransCanada Keystone XL
NPPD’s TransCanada Keystone XL Project will
involve construction of three, new 115,000-volt
transmission lines in central Nebraska. The new
lines, 74 miles, total (for all three line segments),
will provide electric energy to three NPPD wholesale
customers: Niobrara Valley EMC, Loup Valleys
RPPD and Southern Power District. The transmission
lines will serve the needs of new, crude oil pumping
stations that will be owned by TransCanada.
Currently, NPPD’s TransCanada Keystone XL
Project is in the fourth phase of a four-step public
involvement process. NPPD will be reviewing input
gathered at open houses and other meetings, as
well as consideration of an extensive variety of line
routing criteria, to determine a proposed final route for
Broken Bow
NPPD has a goal of achieving 10 percent
of its energy supply for NPPD’s native load
from renewable resources by 2020. As part of
that goal, the District is currently negotiating a
Power Purchase Agreement with Midwest Wind
Energy, LLC for an 80-megawatt wind farm in
Custer County (the Broken Bow Project). After
the execution of a Power Purchase Agreement is
completed, NPPD will continue the project’s public
involvement process to gather information from
landowners and the general public to determine
potential routes for the new transmission line
(approximately 8 miles of 115,000-volt transmission
line).
In Summary
As their name implies, the Grid Essential projects
will play an important role in assisting NPPD to
safely deliver low-cost reliable energy when and
where it is needed. More information on NPPD’s
Grid Essential projects can be found on the Web
by visiting http://nppd.com or at http://nppd.com/
grid_essential.
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Diving In
NPPD completes first year in Southwest Power Pool
It took about a decade of review and analysis before NPPD determined
when and what regional transmission organization to join, but when
management and the Board decided the Southwest Power Pool was
the most logical and economical choice for NPPD and its customers,
it did not take long for those involved to dive right in. Thousands of
activities were completed over a six-month timeframe to prepare for
the transition to SPP on April 1, 2009. And, the subsequent 13 months
have been just as fluid with NPPD adjusting to the new environment,
forming relationships, learning processes and responding to volatile
energy and market conditions.
E N E R G Y
T
o understand NPPD’s membership in
SPP it is important to recognize that over
the past two decades the electric utility
industry has experienced fundamental
change. The push for greater wholesale and retail
competition in the mid-1990s led to a more formal
energy marketing process, but also brought with it its
own set of challenges. Organizations such as Enron
and other non-utility generators found ways of gaming
the system and oftentimes utilities got lost in the
shuffle.
By 2000, the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission stepped in to bring more standards to the
marketplace by encouraging the voluntary formation
of regional transmission organizations. While it
took awhile for RTOs to develop and gain a strong
foothold in the energy marketplace, today, they are a
key part of utility operations. Southwest Power Pool,
an entity that served for many years as a traditional
utility power pool, filed as an RTO in 2004. Today,
there are seven RTOs operating in the United States
and interacting with these organizations is critical for
utilities with excess generation to sell or purchase.
Resource Pooling...
Nothing New
The Mid-Continent Area Power Pool, of which
NPPD is a founding member, was SPP’s equivalent
prior to SPP becoming an RTO; however it, too, was
affected by the changing landscape.
“MAPP provided NPPD and other regional
entities with pooling services such as transmission
planning and generation reserve sharing for more
than 30 years, but the organization did not evolve
with the competitive landscape and started seeing
its membership decline this past decade,” said Vice
President and Chief Operating Officer Pat Pope.
“This was essentially the beginning of the end of
MAPP as we had known it, and we knew it would not
be long before NPPD’s business model would need to
change as well.”
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As an RTO, SPP brings many of the same services
as MAPP, but a key difference is its centralized
functions related to a utility’s operations and
performance in a market-driven environment, which
includes “off-system sales,” or sales outside a utility’s
normal service area.
“In MAPP, most of NPPD’s off-system sales were
bilateral, or basically direct exchanges between one
utility and another,” said Pope. “While we could
participate in energy markets of other regional
transmission organizations such as the Midwest
Independent System Operator, or in SPP, it eventually
proved more valuable to become an actual member of
an RTO, rather than accessing these markets or other
services as a non-member.”
Making Waves in a
Volatile Market
In SPP’s “Energy Imbalance Market,” NPPD has
the option to participate in energy sales and purchase
transactions and change the level of participation as
frequently as every five minutes. The District also
continues to make bilateral transactions outside of the
SPP Region with help from The Energy Authority and
sometimes chooses to sell power into another RTO,
such as MISO. Being able to market extra capacity
is important because it averages about 7 percent of
NPPD’s total electric energy sales.
“As a public power utility, sales to NPPD’s
wholesale and retail customers is always our first
priority; however, when their energy needs are met,
we can sell excess energy to other utilities in the offsystem market,” said Pope. “Any margin we make
from those sales is reinvested into our system to help
keep rates for our in-state customers more affordable.”
For Energy Manager Ron Thompson, participating
in the energy market is “a classic game of risk and
reward.” “A utility sets budgets based on what it
believes it can sell or purchase from others, but the
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energy market is extremely volatile,”
in the SPP region flows from north
said Thompson. “When prices are
to south and, north of NPPD’s most
“We are on
favorable that is a good thing, but
constrained interface, wind power
when they are less than expected,
grew by 32 percent last year. Yet,
course to fix some
a utility will make less money than
transmission growth has not kept
budgeted.”
pace.
major transmission
Besides prices, another area that
“We would be facing this
can affect success in the energy
same scenario even if we were
bottlenecks that
market is transmission access.
not an SPP member,” explained
“The ability to sell or purchase
Thompson. “The bottom line is more
we’ve struggled with
power without experiencing a
investments in new transmission
bottleneck when distributing that
facilities are needed, and SPP
for years... .”
power on the electric grid is also
provides NPPD with immediate
another big factor,” explained
benefits in that regard.”
Ron Thompson
Thompson. “Both prices and
NPPD’s costs for a new 345,000Energy Manager
transmission access have been
volt transmission line between
setbacks for NPPD during our first
Columbus and Lincoln placed into
year in SPP.”
service in December 2009, will be
When NPPD first decided to join SPP, energy
reimbursed approximately 40 percent by other SPP
market prices averaged almost double what they are
utilities. While the payment distribution over the next
today. But in the past year, prices have decreased
30 years is on a declining scale, in 2010, payment by
now averaging about $25 dollars a megawatt-hour.
SPP utilities for this project will be approximately
Two main reasons for the lower market prices include
$6.3 million. Then, shortly upon joining SPP, the
declining natural gas prices and the fact that demand
RTO approved a separate package of projects that
for electricity is down overall due to the depressed
included construction of a transmission line from
economy.
Axtell, Neb., to Spearville, Kan. Construction of this
“It’s a volatile marketplace and SPP’s role is to find
new line will provide another transmission path to
the next cheapest megawatt to sell into the region,”
reduce congestion in southwest Nebraska, enhance
said Thompson. “NPPD’s diverse generating resources
reliability of the transmission grid, and allow NPPD to
are cost competitive, but, at times, we are limited in
make additional electric sales—all of which provide
how much power we can deliver, particularly in one
significant financial benefits.
area on the transmission grid in southwest Nebraska,
“We are on course to fix some major transmission
which oftentimes exceeds capacity during times of
bottlenecks that we’ve struggled with for years,
heavy demand.”
and could not justify addressing on our own,” said
Thompson. “Estimates show that building the Axtell
line will result in immediate savings to our customers
The Ripple Effect
of $1.5 to $2 million per year as a result of reduced
of Congestion, New
congestion and will help us achieve more energy sales
in the SPP region.”
Generation
To date, cost sharing these major transmission
New wind-powered generation and more available
projects with other SPP members provides NPPD
hydropower in the region are two items contributing
with financial benefits that are more favorable than
to the line congestion in this area. Most of the energy
if we would construct the lines on its own. But it
E N E R G Y
does reflect a brand new philosophy—one that is a
fundamental change from the traditional transmission
planning model.
“It’s a whole new way of thinking,” said
Transmission Asset Planning Supervisor Randy
Lindstrom. “In MAPP, decisions and policies
were created from the bottom up through utility
participation and feedback. In SPP, policies are
created through a strategic committee structure which
is more of a top down approach.”
Transmission planning in SPP also requires a greater
focus on economics as well as reliability. “This is
also a new approach,” said Lindstrom. “NPPD will
continue to work on regional planning, but we don’t
have as much control over which lines are built and
when, since SPP is now part of the decision-making
and that has been a bit of a learning curve.”
In SPP, NPPD continues to own, operate and
maintain its transmission system; however, agreeing
to “pool” its transmission facilities with other SPP
members maximizes the benefits and market access to
customers. In some ways, SPP membership is similar
to a farmer’s cooperative where economies of scale
and pooling of resources provide individual entities
with benefits they could not achieve on their own.
“Given the uncertainty with carbon legislation and
future fuel sources, transmission access is critical,”
said Pope. “We simply don’t know what the favored
fuels will be, but we need to ensure that we have
access to them and markets. It’s not just solely about
reliability anymore, economics plays a big role as
well, and that means looking at transmission planning
differently.”
Despite some areas of change, a few things have
remained much the same. NPPD reserves the right to
not pursue a transmission project if it is not in the best
interest of customers, and the Nebraska Power Review
Board must still approve transmission line projects in
Nebraska. Also—from an operation’s standpoint—
aside from software changes and updates, being
part of SPP is not that much different. According
to Transmission System Control Supervisor Ron
Gunderson, the biggest change from MAPP to SPP is
which entity is in charge of reliability coordination.
I N S I G H T
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“When we were part of MAPP, the Midwest
Independent System Operator served as our reliability
coordinator, and now that function has transferred
to SPP,” he said. “A lot of our time is spent getting
to know the new operators, tools, processes and
respective SPP staff.”
Smooth Waters ...
Over the Long-Term
As SPP evolves and takes on new membership,
it is also looking at new transmission planning and
cost recovery processes. And, while NPPD does not
agree with all of the details of some of these process
changes, working alongside SPP through member
committees helps address issues head on. SPP’s
proposed highway/byway cost allocation methodology
is one process change in which NPPD is expressing
concern.
“It is not the entire cost recovery process, but rather
one piece of it that we do not find acceptable, so
NPPD, along with a few other SPP members, have
contested the approach with FERC,” said Pope. “We
would like to see the methodology match more closely
with the other cost recovery methods that were in
effect when we joined.”
While NPPD’s membership in SPP this past year
has been a whirlwind of activity, some up and some
down, it has helped the utility get a seat at the table
and some transmission projects off the ground.
“NPPD is well represented on the SPP committees
and will continue to approach any issues in the best
interests of NPPD and our customers,” said Pope.
“Helping drive some of these fundamental policy
issues is significantly more valuable than doing
nothing from the outside looking in. It’s unrealistic
to think that we would not face some challenges
when making such a fundamental shift in how we
do business, but we are committed to working with
SPP and being part of the bigger solution. We are
committed to being an active participant for the longterm.”
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P rogram reaches
CRITICAL PHASE
Customers in NPPD’s EnergyWiseSM Pricing Pilot
Program were offered an additional opportunity this
spring to learn more about how and when they use
energy. The 11-month pilot program, which began
Nov. 1, 2009, provides an opportunity to evaluate a
customer’s ability and/or willingness to shift energy
usage out of higher-priced “on-peak” or “critical
peak” hours and into lower-priced “off-peak” hours.
About 70 of the 200 customers who were already
participating in the pilot on the time-of-use (TOU)
rate chose to voluntarily switch to the Critical Peak
Pricing (CPP) Rate, which started in May. Another
16 customers volunteered for the second phase of the
pilot from the pilot’s original waiting list. Both the
TOU and CPP Phases of the program conclude at the
end of October 2010.
a cap of no more than 15 critical peak days will be
declared.”
The CPP phase of the program began in May and
will go through October. Critical peak hours will be 3
p.m. to 6 p.m. on declared critical peak days. NPPD
will declare a CPP event a day in advance, and will
provide notice to customers on the CPP pilot rate
through a message on www.nppd.com/timeofuse, and
via an automated phone call and email.
“NPPD’s overall goal of the pilot is to gain
valuable input about customers’ pricing preferences
and response to time-varying price signals and realtime information on electric usage,” explained Swartz.
“Program results will be used to determine whether to
permanently offer the same or similar rate options in
the future.”
TOU vs. CPP – What’s the Difference?
Critical peak pricing is essentially the same as TOU
pricing in that customers are charged different rates
depending on when they use energy, both on-peak
and off-peak. The difference is that, under CPP, the
on-peak energy rate is replaced with a higher “critical
peak” rate during days and hours when the cost of
providing energy is most expensive.
“The CPP phase of the pilot is a more advanced
pricing option, but offers additional opportunities to
save money,” explained Pricing, Rates & Wholesale
Billing Manager Todd Swartz. “If customers are able
to shift their energy usage from higher priced ‘critical
peak’ hours to lower priced off-peak hours, they could
see cost savings.”
For example, on-peak hours on the TOU rate
during the summer months range from 2 p.m. to 7
p.m. (CDT) each weekday. On-peak hours on the
CPP rate are also from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., but on certain
days, NPPD will charge a substantially higher “critical
peak” rate between the hours of 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.
To make up for the higher rate charged during this
CPP time period, all off-peak and on-peak CPP rates
are lower than on the TOU rate providing participants
the opportunity for additional cost savings if they are
willing to further shift energy usage outside of the onpeak and critical peak hours.
“Temperature is the biggest factor in a decision
to declare a critical peak day,” said Swartz. “For
the pilot, critical peak days will be limited
to weekdays in July and August, and
What Participants Are Saying
Results of a mid-pilot survey indicate most pilot
participants are finding the new rates beneficial:
“I like the feedback that helps me understand how
much power I use during the day/week and when I use
it. I also like the clear guidelines NPPD has set to help
avoid using or reduce using power during the peak
times.” (Plattsmouth)
“It is easy to participate in and you get helpful
information for ways to save energy.” (Milford)
“My children love to check the Power Cost
MonitorTM and see what they can turn off to make it
go down.” (Chadron)
“I love that a little extra planning on my part can
result in such huge benefits. I love the monitor, and
the daily graphs. I can help NPPD save and the reward
trickles down to us. I recommend it (the program) to
all my friends.” (Plattsmouth)
The areas of Plattsmouth, Chadron and Milford
were selected for the pilot because they were among
the first of NPPD’s retail towns in which smart meters
were installed. NPPD is continuing to install these
meters across its service area.
.
E N E R G Y
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Brian Ackman
Scotus H.S.
Son of
Columbus HR
Team Leader
Kathryn Ackman
Clint Albracht
Lakeview H.S.
Son of
Columbus P.T.
Systems Spec.
Barb & Eng. Tech.
Joe Albracht
Alyse Andreasen
Twin River H.S.
Dau. of
Columbus
Eng. Spec.
Scotty Andreasen
McKenzie Anderson
Auburn H.S.
Dau. of
CNS Sr. Systems
Analyst
Darin Anderson
Nathan Arlt
Adams Central
H.S.
Son of
Doniphan Sys.
Control Mgr.
Tim Arlt
Bria Backer
Beatrice H.S.
Dau. of
Beatrice Plant
Operator
Chris Backer
Anthony Benda
Columbus H.S.
Son of
Columbus
Security System
Analyst
Heather Benda
Jason Bouc
Columbus H.S.
Son of
Columbus
Planner/
Scheduler
Kevin Bouc
Alex Boyce
Nebraska City
H.S.
Son of
CNS Project Mgr.
Mike Boyce
Nichole Boyle
Creighton H.S.
Dau. of
Creighton Sr.
Line Tech.
Ed Boyle
Emily Brandt
Fossil Ridge H.S.
Fort Collins, Colo.
Dau. of
Retired Columbus
Billing Supp. Spec.
Mark Brandt
Ross Bricker
Paxton Consol.
H.S.
Son of
GGS Material
Controller
Scott Bricker
Chelsea Bulmer
Auburn H.S.
Dau. of
CNS I&C Tech.
Jerry Bulmer
Devin Campbell
Shenandoah H.S.
Dau. of
CNS
Nuclear Support
Jacque Campbell
William Carroll
Nebraska City
H.S.
Son of
CNS Engineer
Christine Parkyn
Erin DuBois
Lourdes Central
Catholic H.S.
Dau. of
CNS Safety &
HU Supv.
Laurence DuBois
Jerrod Dixon
Lakeview H.S.
Temp. ITT Intern &
Son of
Columbus
Cost Mgmt.
Process Lead
Mike Dixon
Seth Eggerling
Pierce H.S.
Son of Norfolk
Customer
Contact Spec.
Angie Eggerling
Anastasia Esch
Lakeview H.S.
Step-Dau. of
Columbus
Eng. Tech.
Kraig Esch
Marcus Estrada
Auburn H.S.
Son of
CNS
Design Mgr.
Roman Estrada
Noelle Gerken
York H.S.
Dau. of
YOC Fleet Parts
Spec.
Michael Gerken
Morgan Hahn
Pierce H.S.
Dau. of
Norfolk Customer
Contact Spec.
Becky Hahn
Derek Hawkins
Tarkio H.S.
Son of
CNS I&C Supt.
H.A. Hawkins
Rebecca Derickson
North Platte H.S.
Dau. of
North Platte Proj.
& Tech. Leader
Chris Derickson
Katie Foust
Wahoo H.S.
Dau. of
GGS
Planner
Joe Foust
Stephanie Derickson
North Platte H.S.
Dau. of
North Platte Proj.
& Tech. Leader
Chris Derickson
Kailey Frenzel
Auburn H.S.
Dau. of
CNS Information
Tech. Conslt.
Craig Frenzel
Amanda Heywood
Auburn H.S.
Dau. of
CNS Sr. Eng.
Scheduler
Ruth Heywood
Jake Fink
Humboldt Table
Rock Steinauer
H.S.
Son of
CNS
PT Chem. Tech.
Jana Fink
Jason Hoff
York H.S.
Son of
YOC Fleet
Operations Asst.
Julie Hoff
Greg Florence
Auburn H.S.
Son of
CNS Simulator
Supv.
Jim Florence
Jay Hongsermeier
Sutherland H.S.
Son of
GGS Water
Quality Tech.
Randy Hongsermeier
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16
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Jake Hopwood
Shelby H.S.
Son of
Columbus
Records Analyst
Kathy Hopwood
Willow Hunt
Sterling H.S.
Dau. of
Sterling EE &
Bus. Partners
Consult.
Roger Hunt
Zack Jenner
Sutherland H.S.
Son of
GGS
HVAC Tech.
Jerry Jenner
Adrian Jochum
Sutherland H.S.
Dau. of
GGS
Mechanical Tech.
Randy Jochum
Trey Johnson
Hershey H.S.
Son of
GGS
I&C Tech.
Tom Johnson
Emily Koch
G.I. Northwest H.S.
Dau. of
Doniphan Reliability
Stand. Compl.
Consultant
Rick Koch
Mitchel Kracman
Lakeview H.S.
Son of
Columbus
Cash & Billing
Analyst
Gina Torczon
Kloe Kratz
Auburn H.S.
Dau. of
CNS
Security Officer
David Kratz
Todd Kunze
Lakeview H.S.
Son of
Columbus
Deputy Asst.
Treasurer
Christine Pillen
Alex Kuta
Scotus H.S.
Son of
Columbus
Admin. Asst.
Elaine Kuta
Sara Mason
Auburn H.S.
Dau. of
CNS Lead
Planner
Rory Mason
Jordan McMann
Johnson-Brock H.S.
Dau. of
CNS
Mechanic
Steven McMann
Daniel Montgomery
Mound City H.S.
Son of CNS
Emerg. Prep. Mgr.
David Montgomery
Allison O’Connor
Lincoln SW H.S.
Dau. of
Lincoln Proj.
Manager
John O’Connor
Tori Olberding
Falls City Sacred
Heart H.S.
Dau. of CNS
Licensing Spec. Jodie
and Security Officer
Tom Olberding
Tate Olsen
Columbus H.S.
Son of
Columbus
ITT Appl. Supv.
Mark Olsen
Kelsey Mundhenke
O’Neill H.S.
Dau. of
O’Neill
Sr. Line Tech.
Kevin Mundehnke
Rhiannon Peak
Paxton Consol.
H.S.
Dau. of
GGS
Plant Operator
Vance Peak
Matthew Jones
Columbus H.S.
Son of
Columbus
Business Tech.
Lead
Teena Jones
Kody Killion
York H.S.
Son of
YOC Contract &
Analysis Spec.
Lori Richter
Megan Kirkland
Kearney H.S.
Dau. of
Kearney
Lineman
Russell Kirkland
Tausha Lee
Doniphan Trumbull
H.S.
Dau. of Doniphan
Contracts &
Analysis Supv.
Joel Lee
Rachel Lentfer
Kearney H.S.
Dau. of
Columbus
Admin. Asst.
Marlene Lentfer
Courtney Lloyd
Columbus H.S.
Dau. of
Columbus
A/P Spec.
Paula Lloyd
Heidi Nelson
Diller/Odell H.S.
Dau. of
Sheldon Station
Elec. I&C Lead
Marvin Nelson
Kylie Newcomb
EBeka Academy,
Pensacola, Fla.
Dau. of
CNS
Fire Marshal
Kent Newcomb
Andrew Norris
Kearney H.S.
Son of
Kearney Cust.
Service Spec.
Brenda Norris
Ben Nosal
Columbus H.S.
Son of
Columbus Office
Services Supv.
Juliann Nosal
Kayla Petska
Hershey H.S.
Dau. of
GGS
Material Handler
Gary Petska
Amy Pettit
Hastings H.S.
Dau. of
Doniphan
Sr. Systems
Analyst
Tracy Pettit
Dove Phillips
Hershey H.S.
Dau. of
GGS
Material Handler
Bill Phillips
Grady Phillips
Hershey H.S.
Son of
GGS
Material Handler
Bill Phillips
E N E R G Y
I N S I G H T
Taylor Phipps
Crete H.S.
Son of
Sheldon Station
Shift Leader
James Phipps
Miranda Pinkerton
Mountain View
H.S.
Dau. of GGS
Lab. Tech.
Michal Pinkerton
Arielle Raymond
Home School
Dau. of YOC
Envir. Coord.
Jeff Raymond
Roger Rhodes
DoniphanTrumbull H.S.
Son of Doniphan
Lead HVAC
Elec. Tech.
Bruce Rhodes
Laura Ruskamp
Johnson Brock
H.S.
Dau. of
CNS Electrician
Jerry Ruskamp
Tim Shannon
Columbus H.S.
Son of
Columbus Sr.
Systems Analyst
Mark Shannon
Anna Steiner
Columbus H.S.
Dau. of
Columbus VP
Human Resources
& Corp. Support
Roy Steiner
Jeffrey Stewart
Sutherland H.S.
Son of
GGS HVAC Tech.
Mike Stewart
Samuel Swartz
Columbus H.S.
Son of
Columbus Pricing,
Rates & Wholesale
Billing Mgr.
Todd Swartz
Meghan Tinkham
Kearney H.S.
Dau. of
Kearney Eng.
Spec.
Mike Tinkham
Koni Valencia
Scotus H.S.
Foreign Exchange
Student of
Columbus Energy
Efficiency Conslt.
Steve Zach
Dalton Wademan
Gering H.S.
Son of
Scottsbluff Distr.
Supt.
Dennis Wademan
Samantha Welch
Lakeview H.S.
Dau. of
Columbus
Compensation
Spec.
Donna Welch
Michael Wellman
Auburn H.S.
Son of
CNS Nuclear
Instructor
Tami Wellman
Annika Wickizer
Wallace H.S.
Dau. of
GGS
Computer Tech.
Cynthia Wickizer
Amanda Wusk
Freeman H.S.
Dau. of
Sheldon Station
Operations
Leader
Rodney Wusk
Blair Youngs
Paxton Consl.
H.S.
Dau. of
Paxton Civil
Maint. Tech.
Keith Youngs
Laura Zach
Scotus H.S.
Dau. of
Columbus Energy
Efficiency Conslt.
Steve Zach
Jenny Andrew
Hastings College
Dau. of
Columbus
Retired Engineer
Dan Andrew
Abby Baumert
UN-Lincoln
Dau. of
Columbus Retired
Records Analyst
Bernadine Baumert
Audra Blatchford
UN-Omaha
Dau. of Columbus
Proj. Suppt. Spec.
Brenda & Property
Insur. Admin.
Doug Blatchford
Zachary Brueningsen
Nebr. Christian
College
Son of
Doniphan Entry
Control Spec.
Bec Brueningsen
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Katie Skaff
Norfolk H.S.
Dau. of
Norfolk
Engineer
Tom Skaff
JU N E
2 0 1 0
Elizabeth Spellman
York H.S.
Dau. of
York/Kearney
ITT Support
Supv.
Todd Spellman
Zachary Walgren
Nebraska City H.S.
Son of
CNS
Supply Chain Mgr.
Chuck Walgren
Kyle Wegner
Norfolk H.S.
Son of
Lead Telec. Tech.
Corey Wegner
Megan Comstock
Nebraska
Wesleyan
Dau. of
CNS HU/IS Coord.
Chuck Comstock
Richard Costello
Northwest
Arkansas CC
Son of
CNS Outage
Scheduler
Barb Stramel
17
18
E N E R G Y
I N S I G H T
Rob Eshleman
Peru State
College
GGS
I&C Eng. Spec.
Megan Lamb
Iowa State U.
Dau. of
Columbus Sr.
Systems Analyst
Charles Lamb
•
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Tony Evasco
UN-Lincoln
Son of
Columbus Sr.
Proj. Mgr.
Guy Evasco
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JU N E
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Jeremy Florke
UN-Kearney
Son of North
Platte
Account Mgr.
Jim Florke
Katie Goedeken
SD State U.
Dau. of
Columbus
Envir. Process
Asst.
Denise Goedeken
Ryan Grieb
UN-Lincoln
Son of
YOC
Acct. Mgmt.
Coord.
Sheila Grieb
Kelli Gruber
UN-Lincoln
Dau. of
YOC
Operations Asst.
Jnel Gruber
Jessica Johnson
Bryan LGH
College of Nursing
Dau. of
Chadron
Planner/Scheduler
Terry Johnson
Brynn Kunhart
Wayne State
College
Dau. of
Columbus Office
Services Supv.
Mark Kunhart
Chelsea Lewis
Bryan LGH College
of Nursing
Dau. of
Norfolk
Journey Line Tech.
Jerry Lewis
Keenan Lewis
SECC-Lincoln
Son of
Norfolk
Journey Line Tech.
Jerry Lewis
Cade Lueck
SECC-Milford
Son of
Doniphan
Contracts &
Analysis Spec.
Laurie Lueck
Roxanne Maine
Wayne State
College
Dau. of
CNS Work Week
Director
Richard Maine
Meagan Mohrman
UN-Kearney
Dau. of
Columbus
Contract Admin.
Spec.
Deb Mohrman
Michelle Moore
Mt. Marty College
Dau. of
Columbus
Adm. Asst.
Lori Moore
Jerod Persson
CCC-Hastings
Son of
Kearney
Planner/Scheduler
Daniel Persson
Sarah Plettner
Chadron State
College Dau. of
Norfolk Economic
Dev. Consult. Mary
and Columbus
Env. Spec.
Rocky Plettner
Amber Sammons
Bellevue U.
CNS
Temp.
Security Officer
Jenna Schmit
Wayne State
College
Dau. of Doniphan
Elec. Reliability
Compliance
Spec.
Don Schmit
Nicole Schultz
UN-Lincoln
Dau. of
CNS
Quality Assurance
Eng.
Rocky Schultz
Nicole Sobotka
U. of South Dakota
Dau. of
Columbus
Finance & Cost
Mgr.
Tom Sobotka
Cameron Vincent
SECC-Milford
Son of
Doniphan Tech.
Training Clerk
Brook and Sys.
Operator Craig
Vincent
Erik Weinmeister
Peru State
College
Columbus
Sr. Systems
Analyst
Jacquelyn Wellman
Midland Lutheran
College
Dau. of CNS
Nuclear Instructor
Tami Wellman
Jessica Wendt
UN-Lincoln
Dau. of
Columbus
Sr. Systems
Analyst
Jean Wendt
Lindsey Wendt
UN-Kearney
Dau. of
Scottsbluff
Safety Spec.
Doug Wendt
Caleb Westmore
U. of
Northern Colo.
Son of
Ogallala Lead
Telec. Tech.
Charlie Westmore
Courtney Wever
Chadron State
College
Dau. of
GGS
Material Handler
Brent Wever
Rochelle Wright
UNMC College of
Dentistry
Dau. of
Columbus
Computer Tech.
Mary Wright
Austin Zach
UN-Omaha
Son of
Columbus
Energy Efficiency
Consult.
Steve Zach
Nicholas Zarek
NECC-Norfolk
Son of
Columbus
Adm. Asst.
Margie Zarek
E N E R G Y
Shawn Beaudette
UN-Lincoln Law
School
Son of
Norfolk Customer
Service Leader
Cate Janssen
Jason Rinne
UN-Omaha
MA-Physical Ed/
Exerc. Science
Son of Columbus
Planning Analyst
Sue & Contracts
Mgr. Rod Rinne
Meshelle Boruch
Bellevue U.
MA-Leadership
CNS
Site HR Manager
Jacob Steiner
UN-Lincoln School
of Law
Son of
Columbus
VP Human
Resources & Corp.
Support
Roy Steiner
Brian Gruber
National
Graduate School
MS-Quality
Systems Mgmt.
Son of YOC
Operations Asst.
Jnel Gruber
Casey Holsing
Baker U.
MA-Conflict Mgmt.
& Dispute Resol.
Dau. of Sheldon
Station
Admin. Asst.
Cindy Holsing
Daniel Hoover
Southern College
of OptometryMemphis, Tenn.
Son of Paxton Civil
Maint. Tech.
Calvin Hoover
Jen Swenson
U. of NY
MA-Sculpture
Dau. of
Doniphan Lead
Real Time Appl.
Analyst
Victor Bockerman
Heather Tillotson
Doane College
M-Education
Dau. of
Norfolk Sr.
Planning Analyst
Chris Adamson
Britney Wever
Rocky Mountain
College
M-Physician Asst.
Dau. of GGS
Material Handler
Brent Wever
I N S I G H T
Sarah Luther
Hastings College
MA Teaching
Dau. of
Doniphan Lead
Real Time Appl.
Analyst
Victor Bockerman
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Andrew Molthan
Dr. of Philosophy
U. of AlabamaHuntsville
Son of Lincoln
Substation Support
Spec.
Debra Molthan
JU N E
2 0 1 0
Amanda Nelson
Forest Institute of
Psychology
M-Clinical
Psychology
Dau. of Doniphan
Contracts &
Analysis Spec.
Kathy Nelson
19
20
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I N S I G H T
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NPPD Recognized for Safety Record
N
ebraska Public Power District
earned an American Public
Power Association’s (APPA) Electric
Utility Safety Award for safe operating
practices in 2009. The utility received a
second place award in the category for
utilities with four million worker-hours
of annual worker exposure.
The award was presented to NPPD
by Marc Gerken, chair of the APPA
Board of Directors and President/CEO
of American Municipal Power, Inc.,
during APPA’s annual Engineering and
Operations Technical Conference held in
Omaha.
“NPPD values safety as an
important aspect of our work, whether
APPA Vice President of Engineering Services Mike Hyland, York
it be working on a power line or
Construction Services Manager Paul Brune, and APPA Board Chair and
driving company vehicles,” said
President/CEO of American Municipal Power, Inc. Marc Gerken pose for this
Chris Overman, safety and human
photo during the association’s annual Engineering and Operations Technical
Conference held in Omaha March 29.
performance manager for NPPD. “The
safety of our employees and the public
is an NPPD value and our first priority.
judge entries is based on the number of work-related
NPPD actively works to develop and reinforce the
reportable injuries or illnesses and the number
desire, knowledge, and skills that allow our employees
of worker-hours during 2009, as defined by the
to live and work safely both on and off the job.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
“We strive to continuously improve our safety
“Safety is the top concern when it comes to
performance and practices while at the same time
working with electricity,” said Gerken. “These utilities
continuing to provide low cost, reliable electricity to
should be proud of the efforts they’ve put forth to
our customers throughout Nebraska,” said Overman.
guarantee that safety is always top of mind.”
More than 230 public power utilities across the
APPA’s Electric Utility Safety Award has been
country entered the APPA contest. Entrants were
presented annually for the past 50 years. APPA is the
placed in categories according to their number of
national organization representing more than 2,000
worker hours and judged for the most incident-free
not-for-profit community- and state-owned electric
records during 2009. The incidence rate used to
utilities.
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Brian O’Grady Promoted to Vice President and
Chief Nuclear Officer at Cooper Nuclear Station
B
rian O’Grady
was promoted to
Vice President and Chief
Nuclear Officer at Cooper
Nuclear Station effective
April 12. O’Grady is an
employee of Entergy
Nuclear Nebraska, which
provides management
support services to NPPD
at the nuclear plant. He
previously served as
Brian O’Grady
Cooper Nuclear Station
Site Vice President. He
replaced Stu Minahan, who spent the past six-andone-half years at Cooper Station in key management
positions. Minahan accepted an assignment with the
Nuclear Energy Institute, and remains an Entergy
employee.
A
O’Grady has more than 25 years experience in
the commercial nuclear power industry. He holds a
Bachelor of Science degree from Lehigh University
in Bethlehem, Pa., with a major in metallurgical and
material engineering and a minor in economics. He
joined the Cooper Nuclear Station management team
in September, 2008.
Prior to joining Entergy, he served as Site Vice
President at Tennessee Valley Authority’s Browns
Ferry Nuclear Plant, where he was responsible for
restarting Unit 1 following 22 years of shutdown, and
for the day-to-day operation of Units 2 & 3. O’Grady
has also served as Vice President of Operations
Support for Entergy Nuclear Northeast, following
two years as General Manager, Plant Operations, at
James A. Fitzpatrick Nuclear Power Plant. He is also
a former Operations Manager of Point Beach Nuclear
Plant for the Nuclear Management Company.
Storm Damages Harbine to Steele City Line
storm that moved through southeast Nebraska
April 29 was responsible for damage along the
Harbine to Steele City 115,000-volt transmission line.
Thirty-six structures were damaged, bringing down
This pole was one of 36 damaged in an April 29 storm.
approximately three-and-a-half miles of transmission
line. The line was built to serve a pumping station
to be used by TransCanada and no customers were
affected. The line was back in service May 5.
Crews work to repair the Harbine to Steele City
transmission line.
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NPPD to save money by changing refueling outage schedule
O
ver the next year, NPPD will transition into a
24-month refueling cycle for Cooper Nuclear
Station. Normally, NPPD refuels the power station
every 18 months. The majority of nuclear stations
designed like Cooper conduct their refueling outages
every 24 months.
“Cooper generates approximately 21 percent of
our customers’ electricity,” said President and CEO
Ron Asche, “so its refueling outages are critical to
our operations. If we can save costs associated with
an outage and make a change that benefits us as a
utility, it only makes sense to move forward with this
change.”
During a refueling outage, the plant is removed
from service and employees conduct large- and smallscale equipment maintenance, repair, and replacement
activities. One of those large-scale activities is
to replace approximately 160 used fuel bundles
(approximately one-third of the fuel used to generate
electricity) with the same number of new fuel bundles.
Transitioning to a 24-month refueling cycle
will include a one-time cost of approximately $6.5
million for an NRC license amendment and will add
approximately $6 million in fuel costs over the next
three years; however, NPPD expects to save $50
million every six years after the transition is complete.
The 24-month refueling cycle reduces the number
of refueling outages from four outages over a 6-year
period to three outages every six years. This results
in reduced labor costs, material expenses and the
costs associated with purchasing replacement energy
when Cooper is in outage. Cooper will also benefit
by having a schedule that reduces the competition
for specialized contract labor, which currently occurs
when Cooper is in outage at the same time as other
nuclear power plants in the region.
NPPD will conduct studies to ensure that Cooper’s
instrument calibration and preventative maintenance
requirements, the type and amount of fuel, as well
as plant procedures and calculations are set up to
support 24-month cycles. It will take approximately
one year to perform the necessary engineering and
licensing work. NPPD will then seek approval of this
change from the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission.
NPPD hopes to receive
NRC approval by August of
2012 and begin operating
under a 24-month fuel cycle
in the fall of that year.
The Only State sells for...
$
29
99
plus tax
and shipping on nppd.com
www.nppd.com/theonlystate/.
You can also contact Columbus Administrative Assistant
Kathy Fadschild at 402.563.5690 to order a copy.
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NPPD RESPONDS...
to hazardous material threat
O
n the afternoon of April
15, an unidentified white
substance was found on a
piece of correspondence opened by a
General Office employee. Members
of NPPD’s environmental department
and corporate security were called,
and they put NPPD’s hazardous
material response plan into action
by calling the Columbus Police
Department and the East Central
District Health. Other emergency
response organizations including
the Columbus Fire Department
Hazardous Materials Team, Nebraska
State Patrol, and the Platte Valley Emergency
Management Agency also responded.
Approximately 20 individuals were in the building
at the time the response plans were put into action.
Those people were quarantined until shortly after
10 p.m. when hazardous materials response teams
gave the individuals the “all clear” and sent them on
their way.
On-site test results indicated that the substance was
not hazardous. Conclusive tests were then conducted
in Omaha and showed the same result.
“The makeup of the substance could not be
determined,” stated Physical Security Specialist Don
Thorson. “The tests just proved it was not hazardous
to anyone’s health.”
As part of their procedure in dealing with a hazardous
material situation, members of the Nebraska Hazardous
Incident Team are sprayed after touching the suspect
document to remove any potential contamination.
Fortunately, on-site tests indicated no hazardous substance
on the document.
“This real-life event was a good test
of our emergency response plans.” We
learned some things that will help us in
future emergency situations.”
Don Thorson
Physical Security Specialist
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from around the state
Norfolk / Barb Keating, Customer Contact Specialist /
[email protected]
O’Neill / Eileen Osborne, Customer Services Support Specialist /
[email protected]
The first annual Earth Day Expo was held at the
Lifelong Learning Center at Northeast Community
College. NPPD was represented in the event with
a Hybrid Bucket Truck furnished by Journey Line
Technician Gale Bender and a booth where Customer
Services Leader Cate Janssen, Customer Contact
Specialists Georgia Wyatt, Judy Cavanaugh and
Barb Keating offered information to the public on
energy efficiency for their homes.
United States Air Force
Airman First Class
Amber Mundhenke
graduated from Air
Force Basic Military
Training at Lackland
Air Force Base in San
Antonio, Texas. She
completed an intensive
eight-week program
that included training
in military discipline
and studies, Air Force
Amber Mundhenke
core values, physical
fitness and basic warfare principles and skills. Amber
was chosen to be a tactical leader for deployment
simulation training and her flight earned the honor of
being the flag mass for the graduation ceremony. She
is studying Aerospace Medical Services at Sheppard
Air Force Base in Texas. Upon completion of her
studies, Amber will be stationed at Nellis Air Force
Base in Las Vegas, Nev. She is the daughter of Senior
Line Technician Kevin and Darla Mundhenke.
North Platte / Kay Nichols, Administrative Assistant /
Gale Bender is shown here with the NPPD Hybrid Bucket Truck
at the Earth Day Expo at Northeast Community College.
Cooper Nuclear Station / Glenn Troester,
Nuclear Communications Coordinator / [email protected]
Martha Dykstra, daughter
of Electrical Programs
Supervisor James Dykstra,
took 2nd place at the Iowa
state regional Math Bee
competition, which qualified
her for the State Math Bee.
At the state competition, she
medaled in the top 25 with a
15th place finish. Martha will
be in the 7th grade in the fall.
Martha Dykstra
[email protected]
Paxton Civil
Maintenance Technician
Roy Reutzel was
awarded the American
Legion District Five
Horse Collar Award at
its convention in Paxton
for his willingness
to help work and
serve others in both
the organization and
community. Roy has
been a member of
the Paxton American
Legion Post 303 for the
past 28 years.
Roy Reutzel
E N E R G Y
Columbus / Kathy Fadschild, Administrative Assistant /
[email protected]
Brittany Hopwood
The University of Nebraska–
Lincoln recognized Brittany
Hopwood and Amy Price
at the 2010 Big Red Stars
ceremony. Big Red Stars
honors outstanding eighthgrade Nebraska students.
The students are nominated
by school principals for
strong leadership skills and
academic promise. Brittany
attends Shelby Public
School and is the daughter
of Procurement Coordinator
Sarah and Rodney
Hopwood. Amy attends
Scotus Central Catholic and
is the daughter of Part-Time
Sr. Accounting Analyst Joan
and Sr. Systems Analyst John
Price.
Amy Price
Procurement Specialist
Tami Weber placed 6th
in the Mrs. Nebraska
America Pageant held in
Omaha. Tami, who holds
the title of Mrs. Greater
Nebraska, competed
against 14 other women
and took home awards
for the Best in Interview
for Non-Finalists and
the Entourage Award
Tami Weber
for generating the most
advertising through sponsorships. Tami launched
a youth literacy campaign at the Shelby Public
School, Bright Beginnings Preschool and the Shelby
Public Library to raise awareness on the importance
of reading at a young age. She also participated in
several events including the Susan G. Komen “Puttin
on the Pink” event in Omaha to support breast cancer
research, and the American Heart Association “Go
Red for Women” event in Lincoln to raise awareness
on heart disease. Tami lives in Shelby with her
husband, Travis, and three children, Tyler, Faith and
Aniston.
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Energy Efficiency Consultant Steve Zach and his
family were named the Nebraska State Family of
the Year at the 105th Annual Knights of Columbus
Convention in Kearney. The Zach’s are members of
St. Isidore Church.
Standing: Laura, Austin, Marie, Steve, Koni (foreign
exchange student); Kneeling: Danny, Wes
Alex Kurtenbach, son of
Staff Auditor Todd and Beth
Kurtenbach, received his
Eagle Scout Award. His Eagle
Scout project consisted of
designing and constructing
a cabinet for the Columbus
Rescue Mission, which is
used to serve meals and store
recycling containers. Alex, an
upcoming junior at Columbus
Alex Kurtenbach
High School, is active in
football, basketball and is on the honor roll.
Temporary ITT Intern Jerrod
Dixon competed at the
Greater Nebraska Science
Engineering Fair in Nebraska
City. He won first in the
computer science category,
won the Intel Excellence in
Computer Science Award,
and the U.S. Army Award. A
2010 graduate of Lakeview
High School, Jerrod is the son
of Cost Management Process
Lead Mike and Karla Dixon.
Jerrod Dixon
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York / Cindy Klein, Customer Services & Delivery Representative /
[email protected]
Apprentice Substation Technician Monty Rahder
gave presentations at various groundwater festivals
across the state. He spoke to school children in
Norfolk, Sydney and Grand Island about water
conservation. Monty is the Chairman of the Public
Education Committee of the Nebraska Water
Environment Association.
Monty Rahder (front center) prepares to give a water
conservation presentation to school-aged children in Norfolk.
Kearney / Lisa Willson, Administrative Assistant /
[email protected]
The Kearney on the Bricks Rotary Club completed
the Agriculture Zone at the Kearney Area Children’s
Museum. The Ag Zone features a barn, interactive
touch screen monitors, silo, chicken coop, John
Deere tractor and a flower box. The Club received a
$20,000 grant from the Monsanto Fund to complete
the project. Subtransmission & Distribution Training
Specialist Gary Nunns is the club president.
The new agriculture Zone at the Kearney Area Children’s Museum.
Journey Line Technician Russ Kirkland holds the flag as the
motorcade passes by on 2nd Avenue in Kearney.
On April 16, thousands of people lined the streets of
Kearney to welcome home soldiers from the city’s
Nebraska Army National Guard 1195th Transportation
Company. The unit was stationed at Camp Victory in
Baghdad, Iraq for 11 months.
Ogallala / Connie Knapp, Customer Services Support Specialist /
[email protected]
Lexington Line Technician
Nick Nichols received
the Daughters of the
American Revolution
Community Service
Award. Nick is active in
the Lexington community,
serving as Commander for
the Veterans of Foreign
Wars post and Assistant
Scoutmaster of the Boy
Nick Nichols
Scout Troop 144, and Cub
Packs 143 and 146. He served a combined 36 years
in the Marine Corps and the National Guard. He also
plays “St. Nick” during the Christmas season.
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Darrell and Cleo Nelson... to celebrate 60 years of wedded bliss
Darrell and Cleo Nelson were married on
Aug. 27, 1950. Here, they are shown cutting
their wedding cake.
An open house in honor of the 60th wedding anniversary of
NPPD Board Director Darrell Nelson and his wife, Cleo, will be
held at the Oconto Community Center on July 17 from 2-4 p.m.
The couple married on Aug. 27, 1950 at the Evangelical United
Brethren Church in Oconto. Cards will reach them at 851 Pawnee
Lane, Broken Bow, NE 68822. Congratulations!
on the
Kris Anderson, dispatch specialist, Norfolk, to
customer contact specialist.
Mike Bird, instrument and control technician, Cooper
Nuclear Station, to planner.
Nick Bockerman, coordinator, Kearney, to system
operator, Doniphan.
Diane Bryant, plant technical services assistant,
Gerald Gentleman Station, to water quality technician.
Laurence Dubois, human performance and safety
supervisor (temporary assignment), CNS, to human
performance and safety supervisor.
Kim Maddox, foreign material exclusion coordinator
(temporary assignment), CNS, to foreign material
exclusion coordinator.
Jennifer Ogan, customer contact specialist, Norfolk,
to administrative assistant, Columbus.
Dave Oshlo, radiation protection manager, CNS, to
information technology manager.
Jeremy Poulsen, journey line technician, South Sioux
City, to local manager, Tilden.
Steve Sheldon, electrician, CNS, to planner.
April Tichenor, dispatch specialist, Norfolk, to
customer contact specialist.
Louann Fischer, business analyst, Columbus, to
automatic metering information administrator.
Dirk Triplett, operator, Kearney, to subtransmission
and distribution system control coordinator.
Joel Lee, energy supply operator, Doniphan, to
contract and analysis supervisor.
Brian Wolken, engineer, GGS, to civil engineering
supervisor, CNS.
Barb Ludden, administrative assistant, Columbus, to
human resources assistant.
Kody Youngquist, mechanic, CNS, to mechanical
maintenance supervisor.
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Sonny McCormick has the right tools for retirement
onny McCormick received all the right stuff
to retire from Nebraska Public Power District
in style. A dinner in his honor was held May 1 at
Valentino’s in Ogallala. Special guests included
his wife, Beth; son and daughter-in-law, Mike and
Mindy McCormick and grandchildren Drake
and Kalyssa of Lincoln; daughter and son-in-law,
Donelle and Cody Kimberling and grandchildren
Chase, Jenna and Kinsey of North Platte; mother,
Della McCormick of Longmont, Colo.; sisters,
Carol Seiler of Ogallala and Venita Kimble and
JoDeen McCormick, both of Longmont, Colo.;
brothers, Gary Kelso of Arvada, Colo., Fritz
McCormick of Grant and Calvin McCormick of
North Platte and their spouses.
McCook Distribution Superintendent and Master
of Ceremonies Brian Buhr presented Sonny with
his official retirement document and gift from
NPPD, an Olympus digital camera which Sonny
will use on the trips he and Beth are planning to
take.
To make sure Sonny’s retirement got off to a
good start; Brian presented a money tree from coworkers. As a remembrance, employees from the
Ogallala district also gave Sonny a metal, laser cut
sign depicting a lineman on a pole.
Chase Kimberling and Drake McCormick
presented their grandfather with gifts from the
family, a GPS navigation unit for smooth travel on
the highways and byways and a band saw for use in
his woodworking shop.
Sonny McCormick holds the metal sign Ogallala district
employees gave him as a retirement gift.
For Sonny, the occasion marked more than 33
years of employment with NPPD. He began his
career Jan. 3, 1977 as an apprentice lineman in
Ogallala. He advanced to lineman July 1, 1980
and earned his status as a journeyman lineman
in December of 1984. He was awarded several
promotions to work as a distribution serviceman,
line foreman and lead line technician. In February
of 2004, he accepted a position as senior line
technician on the Ogallala Maintenance and
Construction Crew. In 2005, he transferred to the
Distribution Crew as a journey line technician, a
position he held at the time of his retirement on
March 5, 2010.
Sonny plans to put his gifts to good use when
traveling and woodworking. He also hopes to catch
a few fish.
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Steve Petersen enjoys retirement festivities with family, friends
F
working with computers and software
amily and friends
systems and transferred to the Office
gathered at Dusters
System Services department in January
Restaurant in Columbus on
of 1990 where he held positions as a
March 5 for an open house
systems analyst and senior network
reception honoring Steve
support specialist. In 2002, he accepted
Petersen of Columbus on his
duties in the Enterprise Information
retirement from NPPD. Special
Technology Department where he
guests were his wife, Carol;
worked as an operating systems analyst
sister, Jeri Ann Petersen,
and senior systems analyst until his
and brother and sister-in-law,
retirement on Nov. 30, 2009.
Greg and Lisa Petersen, all
Steve chose a watch as his retirement
of Omaha; Carol’s sister, Joan
gift from NPPD and also received a
Speicher-Simpson, and niece,
cash gift from co-workers.
Kerri Simpson, both of Lincoln. Steve Petersen at his retirement
open
house
in
Columbus.
Retirement plans include travel,
Steve joined NPPD on
enjoying various hobbies and continuing
May 16, 1986 as a systems analyst
his Lion’s Club involvement along with other
in the Data Information Services Department. Later
volunteer activities.
that year, he accepted a promotion to work as a
senior systems analyst. He devoted his career to
RETIREES
Columbus Energizers
will meet July 15 and Aug. 19 at
8:30 a.m. at Stack ‘N Steak.
Paul Badje, (402) 564-8863,
[email protected]
Klassy Kilowatts will meet
July 19 and Aug. 16 at the North
Platte Airport. Meetings scheduled
to begin at 12:30 p.m. CST.
Tom Pendelton, (308) 532-5040
[email protected]
Low Voltage Panhandlers
will not meet in July.
Don Koralewski, (308) 783-1851
[email protected]
Northern Lights will meet
at noon on Aug. 9 for a Missouri
River Tour and picnic at Jim
Decker’s cabin. Please RSVP to
Jim. Address: 57493 892 Rd.,
Wynot, NE 68792. Rain date is
Aug. 16. No meetings scheduled
for the remainder of the year.
Jim Decker, (402) 357-3788
NPPD Antiques will meet
July 6, Aug. 2 and Sept. 7 at
8:30 a.m. at Country Cooking
in Beatrice. All meetings are
scheduled for the first Monday
of the month unless that date is a
holiday.
Dot Cornelius, (402) 228-0494
Retired & Rewired will not
meet in July or August.
Lois McCoy, (308) 665-1625,
[email protected]
Make plans to attend your local retiree meeting.
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our sympathies go out to the following families
Bill Phillips, GGS material handler, on the death of
his mother, Frances
Jeffrey Copley, CNS nuclear instructor, on the death
of his father-in-law, Edson Cornick
Gordon Wemhoff Sr., York senior substation
construction technician, on the death of his son,
Gordon Wemhoff Jr.
Marlene Heiting, Chadron customer service support
specialist, on the death of her father-in-law, Don
Columbus ITT Process Assistant Narka Braun and
Columbus Safety Analyst Sue Graham on the death
of Narka’s father and Sue’s father-in-law, Rex Graham
D’Ete Haldiman-Kluck, retired Columbus process
improvement secretary, on the death of her husband,
Fred
Brian Brownlow, Columbus transmission asset
planning engineer, on the death of his grandmother,
Frankie
Retired GGS Engineer Bill McBride on the death of
his mother, Adeline
Retired York Regional Superintendent Secretary
Dorothy Anderson on the death of her son, Alan
Columbus Land Management Appraiser Ron and
Columbus Controller and Financial Planning Manager
Donna Starzec on the death of his mother and her
mother-in-law, Bernice
Lisa Mohr, Columbus web development specialist,
on the death of her grandfather, Harley Hiemer
Randy Schnell, Columbus aviation manager, on the
death of his father, Floyd
Jamie Becker, Chadron Distribution Supervisor, on
the death of his grandfather, Kenneth Kisner
Retired CNS Utility Service Technician Jimmy
Reimers on the death of his wife, Penny
Steven Rezab, CNS staff health physicist, on the
death of his mother, Joan Hudgens
Retired GGS Engineer Jay Favinger on the death of
his mother, Frances
Jerry Evans, Chadron lead line technician, on the
death of his brother, Jim
Dave Groteluschen, Columbus transmission and
distribution engineering specialist, on the death of his
mother-in-law, Irene Malasek
Jim Roup, CNS senior quality assurance auditor, on
the death of his brother, Randy
Laurie Schilling, Columbus human resources
manager, on the death of her father, Oren
Phil Awtry, Columbus ITT business analyst, on the
death of his father-in-law, Lester “Bud” Schmidt
Doug Kallesen, Columbus energy market planning
team leader, on the death of his mother, Alice
Dewey Aksamit, Sheldon Station mechanical
engineer, on the death of his daughter, Daysha
Mitch Beal, Columbus billing and payment
processing analyst, on the death of his mother, Karen
Jay Windreich, CNS maintenance training
supervisor, on the death of his father, Stanley
Columbus Transmission and Distribution Construction
& Operations Administrative Assistant Donna Jaixen
and retired Columbus Records Analyst Marilyn
Lusche on the death of Donna’s father and Marilyn’s
husband, Gayle
Dan Lorenz, Sheldon Station unit operator, on the
death of his mother, Idella
Alan Bysfield, CNS system engineer, on the death of
his son, Mark
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of events
JULY
5
NPPD Holiday
9-10 NPPD Board Meeting
Columbus
15 Rate Review Committee /
Customer Meeting
Kearney Holiday Inn
Cooper Nuclear Station
Staff Health Physicist
Stephen Robinson, 47, of
Auburn, who passed away
May 18. Stephen was born
March 2, 1963, in Reading,
Pa., to Richard and Gloria
Robinson. He was a 1981
graduate of Oley Valley
Stephen Robinson
Area High School and a
1985 graduate of Purdue University with a Bachelor
of Science degree in health physics. He joined NPPD
in 1981. Survivors include his parents; brothers,
Michael, Bradd and Todd; four nephews and three
nieces.
AUGUST
12-13 NPPD Board Meeting
Columbus
24 Rate Review Committee /
Customer Meeting
Columbus Holiday Inn Express
Retired Sheldon Station Shift Supervisor Jack Fisher,
78, who passed away April 10 in Des Moines, Iowa.
Jack began his NPPD career in 1961 and retired in
1993. Survivors include his sons and daughters-in-
law, Patrick and Michelle Fisher, and James and
Maureen Fisher; daughters, Christine Fisher and
Eva Marie Fisher; and eight grandchildren.
Retired CNS Senior Electric/Instrument and Control
Engineer Richard Bailey, 79, of Ogallala, who passed
away April 29. Richard joined the District in 1989 and
retired in 1993. Richard’s surviving family includes
his wife, Joan; daughter, Susan; sons, Gregory and
Timothy; six grandchildren; two sisters, Ramona
Benjamin and Delores Rodine; and special friends,
Dick and Lillian Easley.
31
P.O. Box 499
Columbus, NE 68602-0499
PRSRT STD
US POSTAGE
PAID
COLUMBUS NE
PERMIT NO. 3
Address Service Requested
Nebraska Public Power District employs
a diverse workforce, from engineers to
line technicians to customer service
representatives, at a variety of power
plant and facility locations throughout the
state. NPPD - It’s where you want to be.
For employment opportunities,visit
www.nppd.com
I am where I want to be!
W H E R E D O E S Y O U R C A R E E R TA K E Y O U ?
Bryce
Apprentice
Line Technician