We are incredibly thankful for Nebraska’s public power grid every day, but especially after the historic storm that hit eastern Nebraska last month. Between the Omaha Public Power District and the Lincoln Electrical System, more than 248,000 power outages were reported. The utility districts worked tirelessly and deployed tremendous resources to restore power to more than 220,000 homes and businesses within days of the storm.
Not only is Nebraska the only state governed by a unicameral system, but it is also the only one in which every home and business receives electricity from public utilities. Nebraska has 166 different municipal utilities. These nonprofit utilities serve the public good and are run by officials elected in a nonpartisan vote. Local people make decisions on behalf of their neighbors.
Nebraska has a long history of public power, dating back to the early days of electrification. Senator George Norris, father of the unicameral system, spearheaded the introduction of public power in Nebraska. He believed that government should serve the needs of the people and that reliable, affordable utilities are a public need.
People also read…
Nebraska’s electric grid consistently ranks among the best in the country for reliability and low rates. From small towns to big cities and all the miles in between, public power is part of the good life we live in Nebraska.
Jeff Randall, Omaha, Independent Nebraska
