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Administrator’s Award honors NPPD achievements

Nebraska Public Power District earned Western’s prestigious Administrator’s Award by keeping an eye on the future while listening closely to its customers.

The award acknowledges Western customers who demonstrate superior achievements and commitment to energy efficiency and renewable energy. NPPD CEO Bill Fehrman accepted the award at a May 13 ceremony at the district’s Columbus, Neb., headquarters. Upper Great Plains Regional Manager Robert Harris presented the award on behalf of Western.

The award nomination recognized NPPD for developing the Ainsworth Wind Farm, for its innovative customer input program and for its technical assistance program. UGP Energy Services Manager John Pankratz and Facility Engineering and Construction Manager Craig Knoell nominated the utility.

“NPPD has been very innovative and proactive by merging its customers’ needs into a strategic commitment to renewable energy development,” said Knoell, who was formerly a field representative with Western’s Upper Great Plains regional office.

Ainsworth advances state wind development
NPPD’s board of directors approved the development of the state’s biggest wind farm August 2004, and broke ground on construction of the Ainsworth Wind Energy Facility April 13. State and municipal officials and representatives from utilities participating in the project attended the celebration six miles south of the city of Ainsworth, Neb.

Ainsworth will generate up to 60 MW of energy, or enough to serve about 19,000 customers. NPPD will distribute 32 MW to its wholesale power customers and retail communities. Omaha Public Power District, Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska, Grand Island, Neb., Utilities and JEA of Jacksonville, Fla., have agreed to purchase portions of the facility’s output.

The proposed design for the site includes 36 wind turbines rated at 1.65 MW each. The turbine rotor blades, 269 feet in diameter, will sit on top of 230-foot, tubular steel towers.

The location for the wind farm was selected, in part, for its average wind speeds of approximately 19.5 mph. The Class 4 resource promises a capacity factor of as much as 42 percent.

NPPD anticipates that the facility will be ready for commercial operation by the fourth quarter 2005.

Customer groups offer guidance
The development of Ainsworth was cemented by customer feedback NPPD gathered in 2003 through deliberative polling. The trademarked process, never before used by a utility in the Midwest, involved surveying more than 500 consumers and inviting 100 survey participants to learn more about renewable energy at a one-day session.

“The dialogue confirmed that the consumer base fully supported renewable wind energy and encouraged NPPD to take steps to develop it," said System Control Manager Tim Arlt.

NPPD’s Power Resource Advisory Board also lent its support to large scale wind development. The board was one of two groups NPPD and its customers formed during recent contract negotiations to give wholesale and retail customers more involvement in critical policy discussions.

The Power Resource Advisory Board evaluates NPPD's power supply and makes recommendations about adding to or eliminating resources from the power supply portfolio. “The wind project went before the PRAB and they let the board of directors know they were strongly in favor of developing Ainsworth,” Arlt said.

The second group, the Rate Review Committee, helps NPPD develop rate methodology and strategies. “These things are going to change, and if our customers have a voice in how, we get their buy-in at the front end instead of at the back end,” explained Arlt.

“These groups symbolize the public power tradition of local participation,” said Pankratz. “They give customers a proactive voice in the strategy and decisions that impact them the most.”

Training answers, anticipates issues
Customer needs are also the focus of the Technical Solutions group, the third program area recognized by the Administrator’s Award. NPPD customer representatives provide retail and wholesale power customers and their consumers with technical energy efficiency solutions and training.

“When we hold a training session, we invite both the end users and their power suppliers to attend,” Arlt said. “Both audiences can benefit from the material we present.”

Sessions have covered such topics as harmonics, power quality and HVAC technology. A recent statewide lighting efficiency training workshop attracted participants from the residential and commercial sector, as well as state and municipal facility managers. NPPD teamed up with Western and Nebraska Municipal Power Pool to develop, promote and host the event.

Choosing the topics for the workshops, “is a two-sided coin,” said Arlt. “The Technical Solutions group responds to customer needs, but at the same time, it is proactive in its initiatives. It’s always better to help customers avoid a problem than solve one.”

“That kind of commitment to energy efficiency is how the Technical Solutions group consistently meets and even exceeds customer expectations,” added Pankratz.

And looking out for its customers today while developing new energy sources for tomorrow is how a utility earns the Administrator’s Award. Western congratulates Nebraska Public Power District on its vision and superior service.