YOU are invited!

Please attend Dawson Public Power District's Open House on Saturday, October 10th. 

We are extending an open invitation to the public to view Dawson PPDs new headquarters at 75191 Road 433, just one mile south of Lexington.  The hours will be 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

A special appearance by George Norris; bucket truck rides, lunch from 11:30 to 1:00 p.m.; Louie the Lightning bug, electrical safety demonstrations, energy efficiency displays and digger truck demonstrations.

A Modern Power Grid

It will take years, but consumers of electricity will need a smarter system to keep up with the demands of the future.  Here's a short video that describes the modern grid.  While Dawson PPD cannot verify that NETL's facts regarding cost or distribution is accurate, the overall picture is one we'd like our customers to understand. 

Pick Up The Phone

While many people are comfortable with using the Internet or email to contact their state senators, there are an equal number of consumers who are not. For me, electronic communication is simple and quick.

If you would prefer to call Senator Johanns or Senator Nelson and tell them what you think about climate change legislation, here is the information you need:

Senator Johanns
Omaha Office 1-402-758-8981
Kearney Office 1-308-236-7602
Lincoln Office 1-402-476-1400
Scottsbluff Office 1-308-632-6032
Washington DC 1-202-224-4224

Senator Nelson
Omaha Office 1-402-391-3411
Northeast Nebraska 1-402-209-3595
Scottsbluff Office 1-308-631-7614
Lincoln Office 1-402-441-4600
Central Nebraska 1-308-293-5818
Washington DC 1-202-224-6551

Dawson Public Power District is encouraging our senators to take a balanced approach to climate change legislation. Read my earlier blog(s) about climate change legislation and how it will impact each one of us.

Gwen Kautz, Customer Service Manager
Dawson Public Power District

THREE DECISIONS

First, decide:
1. Global warming is real
2. Global warming is not real
3. Global warming is exaggerated

Everyone has an opinion on this topic. Why are environmentalists adamant that temperatures are rising. Why are scientists stepping forward telling us that the data on global warming isn’t true? This giant tug-o-war has all of us wondering who’s right.

It might come down to who’s MORE right? To disregard the opinions and perception of others with whom you do not agree is not the answer. But if you had to weigh all the data, where do you stand?

The basic premise of cap-and-trade is that government doesn't tell polluters how to clean up their act. Instead, it simply imposes a cap on emissions. Each company starts the year with a certain number of tons allowed—a so-called right to pollute. The company decides how to use its allowance; it might restrict output, or switch to a cleaner fuel, or buy a scrubber to cut emissions. If it doesn't use up its allowance, it might then sell what it no longer needs. Then again, it might have to buy extra allowances on the open market. Each year, the cap ratchets down, and the shrinking pool of allowances gets costlier. As in a game of musical chairs, polluters must scramble to match allowances to emissions.

A majority of people will tell you they want a cleaner environment – it’s a responsible position to take for our future. But, no matter WHERE you stand on the global warming position, if a cap and trade program is passed by the Senate, it will cost every American more money. Utilities cannot put in the necessary equipment to reduce CO2 emissions, nor can they purchase market-based allowances, without passing those costs on to the customers in the form of higher electric rates.

Next decision:
1. How much MORE are you willing to pay for a cleaner environment?

The Congressional Budget Office says cap and trade will cost an average family of four $175.00 more each year in higher energy costs; about the price of a postage stamp per day. The Wall Street Journal and The Heritage Foundation paint a different picture. By 2020, The Heritage Foundation says it will cost the average family $1,870 per year and by 2035, that will increase to $6,800 annually. CBO took a one year snapshot of the costs while other organizations have calculated costs into the year 2035.

AGAIN, it might come down to who’s MORE right? If you had to weigh all the data, how much do you think it will cost?

Last decision:
1. What will you ask your state senator to do on your behalf?

Now…go to www.ourenergy.coop and tell them!

Gwen Kautz, Customer Service Manager
Dawson Public Power District

SCAM ALERT FOR OUR CUSTOMERS!

Dawson Power has been alerted that cooperative or public power district consumers in various states are receiving phone calls from fraudsters posing to be from the power district or co-op and asking the consumer to provide credit card or other financial account information and personally identifiable information over the phone. This scam is hitting utilities across the nation. There are at least two flavors of this scam -- one is to say the consumer owes on his/her account and will have service shut-off unless payment information is provided immediately. The other appears aimed more specifically at seniors. The caller claims the consumer can receive Federal stimulus dollars to pay their utility bills or some sort of a bill credit but the consumer must first provide his/her personal information (e.g. Social Security Number and utility account number).

Dawson Power consumers should not give out credit card or social security information over the phone if they are called. Please call into our office (308) 324-2386 or 1-800-752-8305 to double check the legitimacy of the call. You can pay your account online at any time or you can call after hours and be assisted by our after-hours call provider. If you are delinquent on your account, you may receive a recorded message advising you of this status if we have current contact information on your account.

There are state level resources (typically through the state attorney general’s office) as well as the Federal Trade Commission's identity theft site: www.ftc.gov/idtheft. Additional information is available from the FTC's main site: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menus/consumer/data/idt.shtm.

IN THE MAIL....

Did you know Nebraska ranks 5th lowest in the United States regarding electric rates? This is credible information from the Energy Information Administration based on 2007 rate data.

Our customers may receive a letter in the mail from our general manager, Robert Heinz, asking them to contact Senator Johanns and Senator Nelson about climate change legislation. If you are concerned with what is being proposed, we urge you to sign these cards and put them in your mailbox right away. Dawson PPD is interested in providing you with reliable, safe and AFFORDABLE electricity. Won't you please help us keep Nebraska's rates low?

Gwen Kautz, Customer Service Manager
Dawson Public Power District

1943 - 2009

As Dawson PPD employees begin final preparations to move to the new headquarters building, I thought I’d share a few observations. These are the things we found that rest between the dashes of 1943-2009.

Its absolute mind boggling at how much stuff can be accumulated or stored since 1943.

1. We have discovered archival documents that weave a wonderful history of Dawson PPD and will be preserved for another 100 years.

2. There are vintage versions of cameras, projectors, cassette recorders and even a labeling system that were found in storage. Some of these gadgets I don’t even recognize much less know if they “work.”

3. Formal tea sets, kitchen gadgets and decorations from when Dawson PPD strongly promoted that modern kitchen.

4. Stacks of photo albums and scrap books that I could easily get lost in and spend hours perusing.

5. Files and files of records dating back to 1943, including formal letters and cost estimates to extend services.

6. Boxes of engineering documents for system design.

7. Vintage meters and tools that are sought as collector items but will remain in our care for a future donation to the Dawson County Museum.

8. And, of course we have found the occasional “Oh, that’s where I put that” stuff.

I have to admit I’ve been fighting the urge to keep everything. To protect our customers, we have shredded over 200 boxes of files that contained customer information. For the past 3 years, Dawson PPD has been working diligently to digitize customer records so we have a file system that is easily accessed.

My grandmother used to say “the devils’ in the details” and until now, I didn’t know what that meant. It’s the small things that we are tending to now – organization, orchestration, decisions, training, and adapting to the changes we will face in a new facility. I have to give significant credit to the project manager, Scott Fagot, and our “technology guru” Tracy Gordon for their hard work to get us to where we are.

All the while we are packing; we are doing business as usual. Our planned move should not impact customer service. We will close our doors here for the last time on Friday, September 11th and open the doors to our new facility on Monday, September 14th.

We hope you will visit us on Saturday, October 10th at the open house!

Gwen Kautz, Customer Service Manager
Dawson Public Power District