| July 20, 2007
Cornhusker Public Power District Profile
Cornhusker Power is a non-profit electric distribution system, which provides electricity to rural portions of Platte, Colfax, Boone, Nance, Greeley and Wheeler counties. Customers receive prompt service because of the location of service centers in Columbus, Fullerton and Albion.
Cornhusker employs 45 people, buys power from Nebraska Public Power District and distributes it to 9,147 electric services over 3,357 miles of energized distribution line.
An elected board of 10 directors governs the utility policy.
2007 Cornhusker Public Power District Board Members
- Subdivision 1 Bill Robinson, Cedar Rapids
- Subdivision 2 Robert Gray, Jr., Albion
- Subdivision 3 Ray Merrell, St. Edward
- Subdivision 4 Galen Frenzen, Fullerton
- Subdivision 5 Glen Pfeifer, Lindsay
- Subdivision 6 Andrew Daniels, Columbus
- Subdivision 7 Gayle Goering, Platte Center
- Subdivision 8 Milan Siefken, Columbus
- Subdivision 9 Lawrence Franzen, Leigh
- Subdivision 10 Lawrence Sobota, Schuyler
Cornhusker Public Power District rates are among the lowest in the country according to a report, Key Ratio Trend Analysis, which compares financial information from 819 nonprofit rural electric utilities throughout the United States. Cornhusker Power's rank in this group is in the lowest 10% of the nation. In 2006, out of 819 rural electric systems, Cornhusker’s cost to the customers for power is lower than 737 other systems. National median rates of all rural electrics were 8.18 cents per kWh.
According to a June 19, 2007 article by Public Power Daily, the average cost of power from all U.S. utilities in 2006 was 8.86 cents per kwh. Cornhusker rates 29.3% lower than the national average of all U.S.utilities.
In 2006, out of 30 rural electric systems in the state of Nebraska, Cornhusker’s residential rate is lower than 26 other systems. State median costs for rural electrics were 7.5 cents per kilowatt-hour. Cornhusker’s average rate was 6.26 cents per kWh.
Cornhusker serves 1,965 electric irrigation pumps. A radio-controlled irrigation load control system allows Cornhusker to offer low load control rates. Of those 1,894 were in the irrigation load control program.
The service area is larger than Delaware. If the power line were stretched out it would go from the tip of Florida to Seattle, Washington. Cornhusker serves 2.8 customers per mile of line.
Today, service has few interruptions because crews can work on energized lines. Cornhusker supplies electrical service for a variety of uses: manufacturing, hog production, electric irrigation pumps, homes, grain drying and storage on farms, churches, schools, feedlots and stock wells. A radio-controlled irrigation system and residential water heater and air conditioning load control system allows Cornhusker to offer the lowest anytime-off control rates.
In 2006, all Cornhusker Public Power District customers paid an average of 6.26¢ per kilowatt-hour of electricity. In 1943, the first year of Cornhusker Power operation, the cost was 6¢ in 1943. Rates have remained stable for nearly 65 years.
Reliable service is attained because of 24-hour dispatching, a pole maintenance program and tree clearing practices. Since 1973, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association National Safety Accreditation Program has accredited Cornhusker.
Cornhusker supports rural residents through Community Builders, Cornhusker Power Goodwill Fund, fair participation, taking photos of 4-H and FFA exhibits, sending youth to Nebraska Rural Electric Energy Camp and filling vehicles with biofuels.
A professional staff is available to help customers with energy problems, questions and needs. Electric home heating is promoted by giving heat incentive payments and an all-electric home heating discount.
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