Wheat Belt Hosts Annual Customer Meeting

A Wheat Belt Public Power District Customer Meeting was held Friday, March 22, from noon to approximately 2:30 p.m.

The meeting kicked off with a lunch served by Wheat Belt Staff and followed with business updates from Wheat Belt General Manager Tim Lindahl and three guest speakers.

"Coming together with our customers provides a great opportunity to share ideas, updates, and receive input on how Wheat Belt provides power. We have six strategic goals that will drive our decisions for the next three years. Developing long term plans for Infrastructure, Modern Energy, Customer Engagement, Technology, Broadband, and Financial stability will be our focus," Lindahl said.

The guest speakers were Nebraska Rural Electric Association General Manager Kim Christiansen, Congressman Adrian Smith's Agriculture Director Sallie Atkins and Tri-State Senior Vice President of Member Relations, Jennifer Goss.

Christiansen reiterated cost efficiencies and the importance of public power and electric coops in the rural areas of our state.

"We have a strong presence of the two and Nebraska has the least expensive electricity in the country per capita. In Nebraska, urban areas have an average of 52 meters per mile of line, whereas the rural areas have less than two meters per mile of line. In large metro areas, one lineman will service two miles of line while one Wheat Belt lineman services 95 miles of line," she said.

Goss discussed the relationship and benefits Tri-State offers its 43-member owners. Atkins spoke about the new farm bill, which delivers certainty and stability to Nebraska farmers, ranchers and consumers.

Tri-State G & T Relationship Manager Gary Myers had an efficiency comparison display, which included an insulation meter comparing insulating products, an outlet display showing air leakage and a meter showing the amount of electricity different types of bulbs use. Myers also provided 2019 Energy Efficiency Products rebate information.

Drawings for door prizes were held throughout the meeting including the grand prize donated by Tri-State G & T of a 50" HDTV.