Many of you may know that I have accepted a position of President and CEO of Southern Public Power District in Grand Island, NE. It was a difficult decision for me to make simply because of the people I have worked with and the many accomplishments we were able to achieve over the last 8 years.

Stanton County Public Power District may not be the largest District in the state, but the accomplishments over the last several years are second to none. I credit much of our success to the employees for that work to better the District and the Board of Directors that provides the strategic direction and vison. While my time with the District is coming to an end, I believe we are positioned very well to thrive for years to come.

Great accomplishments can only be achieved by a team of individuals that are moving in the same direction trying to achieve the same goals. Everything we have done over the past 8 plus years could not have been done without everyone’s teamwork. We have built some impressive projects, reached some great financial targets, and have built a positive workplace culture we are all very proud of. Here are some of the projects we have completed in the last 8 years:

•New Automated Meter Infrastructure (AMI) was installed throughout the District to enhance the level of service for the customers and allow the District to monitor the system in real time.
•A building addition adding several truck bays and an office remodel was completed. This was long overdue and provides an adequate working environment for all employees.
•Replaced miles of electric utility plant to maintain the system and keep the reliability at the level we all have come to expect.
•Continued to improve the culture of safety. We continue to be accredited by NRECA RESAP program. We also recently completed the Commitment To Zero 2.0 program. This is just a slice of the safety program we have that builds on the past and looks for new and better ways to keep our employees and customers safe.
•We continue to study and make necessary changes to our rate schedules to fairly serve today’s electric user. These rates include customer generation rates, interruptible large commercial rates, and net meter rates. This work is ongoing to ensure all customers are treated fairly

This list could be expanded by adding rate studies, financial forecasting, strategic planning and more. I am extremely proud of what we have done, and I am excited for the future. I have been very fortunate to work with such a good group of people and I will not forget my time here at the District. The foundation is laid for many successful years to come. I want to thank all the employees and customers for the last 8 years!
Chad Waldow – General Manager/CEO

The daily work of a lineman is full of hazards including hot-line work, climbing poles, cutting trees, and driving large equipment in some of the worst weather conditions.  Storm jobs can present some difficult working conditions as well.  At the end of the day, we strive to keep the lights on but must remain focused on doing it safely. 

The importance of safety is generally accepted by all. In the utility business, we live that statement every day. We all have important jobs to do to keep the lights on and your power affordable, however we must focus on safety every step of the way! Stanton County Public Power District, and many other utilities across the country, spend a lot of time and energy on their safety programs and rightfully so. They are always striving to get better, improve programs and keep that focus. There are some goals in the industry that are measurable when met, such as a specific financial target or a reduction in outage time. Those results are in the data and we can determine if the goal is met. Safety goals don’t work that way so we have to constantly work to keep our safety program fresh and our employees engaged.

This summer we are working though a new program called Commitment to Zero 2.0 with assistance from our statewide association, NREA. This program is aimed at breaking down various portions of our work procedures and policies and identifying areas that may need some attention. We want to identify distractions, blind spots and areas of drift before issues arise.

Each lineman was surveyed over key work procedures and company policies. This survey was developed by our national organization and insurance company from the trends of the industry. The survey results are compiled and carefully reviewed. The crew leaders and the management team developed a plan to work on areas of opportunity. Each plan is specific to the District it applies to.

We are continuously looking for new and better ways to improve our safety program. We are all working to build a culture of safety and promote a work environment that sends all our lineman home safely every night.

Chad Waldow – General Manager/CEO

As summer comes to a close, harvest season is just around the corner. Please take extra time to look up for power lines! Stay a safe distance away from all high voltage equipment. Keep your equipment lowered and keep yourself safe from danger.

Upgrading your heating/cooling system to a high efficiency heat pump can save energy AND money! Check with your HVAC installer to find out which system will work best for your home and don’t forget to ask about the EnergyWise rebate!