Tried and TestedPresident and CEO Tom Kent talks COVID-19

Third Quarter 2020 Volume 13 Issue 2

Current news about Nebraska Public Power District

Clap those hands!Let’s honor our 2020 graduates

POWERING Then & NowTimeline celebrates historic milestones

POW! WHAM!Pandemic reignites teammate’slove of comics

3 Letter from the Editor Life is a journey, not a destination,

and 2020 is no exception as teammates drive goals steadily forward.

4 President’s Message President and CEO Tom Kent provides an overview of NPPD’s COVID-19 response.

6 Powering Then and Now This historic timeline shows NPPD’s

greatest accomplishments over its 50-year history.

8 Comic Books: The Greatest Escape!

Amid the pandemic, NPPD’s Erik Weinmeister finds renewed inspiration in an old hobby.

10 Meet Our Graduates Proudly celebrating NPPD’s 2020

high school and college graduates, as well as post-graduates.

14 Then and Now An illustrative look at how public

power has remained affordable throughout the decades.

15 Customer News A new mobile app educates retail

customers about power use and connects them to NPPD.

17 Around the State From Columbus to York, here are

memorable achievements and inspiring awards making headlines.

18 Calendar of Events View retirement club meeting dates and upcoming NPPD events.

19 We Will Remember Fondly remembering NPPD teammates and retirees who recently passed away.

Board of DirectorsBarry DeKay, chairman Bill Johnson, first vice chairman Mary Harding, second vice chairman Jerry Chlopek, secretary Fred ChristensenMelissa FreelendBill Hoyt Charlie Kennedy Ken Kunze Ed Schrock Gary Thompson

Director of External Affairs and Corporate Communications Courtney Dentlinger

Managing Editor Cassie Rief, cjrief@nppd.com

Senior EditorJill Novicki PhotographyGary Pelster

Graphic Design Dan Zastera

Contributors Christy Avery Kathy Fadschild Scott Margheim

ReportersKathy Fadschild, ColumbusBrianna Gentert Haith, Cooper Nuclear StationKathy Nelson, Doniphan Control CenterShelly Reil, Gerald Gentleman StationBrenda Norris, KearneyCarol Johnson, LincolnSarah Hessler, McCookBecky Hahn, NorfolkJudie Sauer, OgallalaNicole Sedlacek, O’NeillLottie Kellison, Plattsmouth Margie Allen, RushvilleSarah Hessler, ScottsbluffCindy Holsing, Sheldon StationKris Cross, South Sioux CityPam Hoeft, York

Energy Insight is published by the Nebraska Public Power District Corporate Communications Department as a service for employees, customers and friends of NPPD. Its purpose is to communicate NPPD news and information and to recognize achievements of employees, retirees and their families.

About the Cover: Neligh, Nebraska – it’s home to Neligh Mills State Historical Site, the TK-Starlite Drive-In, and some of the best sunsets in the northeast part of the state. Known for its gently rolling hills, the area boasts many unique opportunities. Pay a visit to nearby Ash Falls Fossil Bed or try your luck fishing at Grove Lake Wildlife Management Area. Bathe in history at one of the community’s four museums, or shop ‘til you drop at one of six antique shops. Better yet, practice social distancing by walking, biking or horseback riding on the Cowboy Trail – the nation’s longest rails-to-trail path measuring 195 miles from Norfolk to Valentine.

Cassie RiefManaging Editor

Raise your hand in solidarity if you have small children at home and you’re trying to do ALL the things: raise a family, work efficiently and seamlessly adjust to future unknowns.

Most days are a lesson in grace and patience. On any given day, you can find me somewhere between snuggling our girls as my heart bursts with joy, and hiding from them in the closet as a glass of wine and favorite chocolate truffles keep me company.

Strapping the kids into the car and taking a nice, long country drive is therapeutic for our family. As we put miles between a dwelling that sometimes seems more jail than home, we breathe easier. The road opens up, and it’s welcoming. Refreshing.

There are many aspects of life that were put on hold this year due to the ongoing pandemic and need for social distancing. Weddings, graduations, concerts. At times, the hands of the clock barely seemed to move. Yet, everywhere, NPPD teammates, our customers and our respective communities are driving goals, projects and plans steadily forward. There are no helpless passengers here – only people getting behind the wheel to make it happen.

It’s resiliency at its best. Really, as Nebraskans, are we surprised?

Glancing into the rearview mirror, we can see the results of our efforts, what we’ve accomplished and the mark we’ve left on the world.

This issue of Energy Insight shines figurative taillights on where we’ve been – and headlights on where we’re going. We see the path NPPD has paved to benefit

customers throughout its history. And though much has changed throughout those 50 years, one of our core values remains the same – our ability to provide customers with low-cost, reliable electricity.

The issue is a celebration of the journey in every sense of the word. We recognize recent

statewide accomplishments, honor this year’s graduates, and wish them the best on their next adventure. We embrace winding roads that led one Columbus teammate back to a beloved hobby collecting comic books. We see careers change course as two of our wholesale customers rally behind new leaders.

Sure, this year has been a bumpy ride, but buckle in because NPPD and our teammates remain focused on driving the year home with integrity and performance excellence firmly intact.

Wherever you are in your own personal trip through 2020, I pray the ride be smooth, the roadblocks minimal and – when they aren’t – that your chocolate and closet space be abundant.

Driving forward(car optional)

But our eyes remain focused on the road before us.

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Teammates have certainly shown their mettle throughout the last four months, proving they can adapt and work in any environment if given the correct resources to succeed. Adoption of new technologies like Teams has been invaluable in keeping us connected, even amid social distancing, continuing our progress to work and communicate in productive, meaningful and efficient ways.

Many corporate changes have also occurred to keep employees and their families safe and healthy, from the addition of a mask-wearing policy to a new telecommuting standard that will give teammates the opportunity for more flexibility and balance in their work and personal lives.

Safety – in all aspects of the word – remains a number one priority at NPPD. We are dedicated to mitigating spread of the virus, and to date, have had just seven teammates test positive. Social distancing and mask-wearing have added challenges in the field, yet our teammates are problem-solvers, and

storm, maintenance and operational tasks are being completed with strict adherence to procedure and with plenty of communication to complete each job safely and smartly. Of course, maintaining the long-term mental and emotional health of teammates has been particularly important during these unprecedented times.

No doubt the pandemic has tested our willpower and resolve. You don’t have to look far in your own

communities to see pandemic fatigue setting in. Folks are anxious to return to the fun in the sun mentality summer brings, yet as positive COVID-19 cases continue to mount at concerning speeds, NPPD’s stance is that slow and steady wins the race. While directed health measures for our facility-located communities may be loosening, NPPD will continue to rely on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as our District physician and data from the state to make educated decisions regarding our recovery and re-entry plans.

It’s said we’re not yet out of the first wave of the virus, and with no idea what the second wave could look like, our Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Team believes small-scale re-entry is the best solution. As such, we will take a cautious, thoughtful approach to ensure continued safety and operational excellence.

While a corporate recovery plan has been developed, which provides a broad framework for more facility-specific and departmental plans, NPPD is also taking into consideration extensive feedback from our teammates that will feed into these plans. Plans include physical changes to facilities, process changes, contact tracing and testing efforts, and precautionary procedures like cleaning and disinfecting shared spaces.

Whereas our physical surroundings may have greatly changed, so, too, have the methods deployed on several projects planned for this year, due to pandemic-related changes to financial projections, project timeframes, outage configurations and more.

There has been much upheaval and social awakening this year – the likes of which we have never seen. Regardless, we will continue doing what we do best – providing customers with energy they can count on. We will listen to the needs of our customers, teammates and communities, and do our part to support and uplift. Throughout the course of the pandemic, we have committed to community involvement efforts, helping distribute hand sanitizer to local businesses, urging folks to support small business through various advertising campaigns, and providing options for financial support for those struggling to pay electric bills, including monetary donations to customers in need through our Pennies 4 Power program.

When we look back at this moment in history, I want to remember people coming together, united for the greater good. I want to know we did everything we could to prevent harm from coming to those we care about. And, I want to see our integrity in the work we do shining through, despite all the changes and challenges. This, to me, is what true strength in adversity means.

Thomas J. Kent

from the PRESIDENT & CEO

This pandemic plays a role in both, as it has uprooted the world, and our day-to-day lives. But, NPPD is not dismayed. We

have looked the pandemic in its metaphorical face, and we have responded as we do in any emergency or critical situation – with respect to the serious nature of the issue, and by prioritizing customer and employee health and safety, creating actionable, long-term processes and procedures, and making logical, composed decisions.

The result is an energy system that has not been compromised by COVID-19, and teammates who continue to generate and safely deliver reliable electricity to our customers, even as more than a third of the workforce has and continues to telecommute. In turn, I’m incredibly proud of teammates for their commendable approach to safety, as this year we achieved 135 consecutive days worked safe – the best demonstrated record since NPPD began documenting days worked safely in 2008.

Tried TestedandThere are countless moments in history that prove to either derail us or make us stronger. This can be true on a monumental scale, such as the world wars, the abolishment of slavery and the invention of electricity. But, it can also apply to personal battles and achievements, like a bold career move, a change in family dynamic, or a victory over illness.

SAFETYFIRST

6 feet

And, I know we are on the right track to make that happen.

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Viewers and lovers of the 2008 thriller, The Dark Knight, likely get chills by this quote from Lt. James Gordon as Batman rides off

into the darkness on his batcycle.Who doesn’t like the idea of someone bravely

watching out for their beloved city, especially amidst hardship or a global crisis?

While these days, there is certainly appeal in the superhero sentiment (hello, COVID-19, murder hornets, Saharan dust storms and massive locust swarms!), Columbus Security Architect Erik Weinmeister admits Batman is not his first pick to save the day. This is not just because he’s an avid Marvel addict over the D.C. Universe, though he will tell you Wonder Woman is one of his favorite films, alongside Avengers and X-Men.

“I used to be nitpicky about comic-book-based films, but honestly, they do a good job of staying within the original storylines, and the newest ones have certainly caught up with my imagination,” Weinmeister said.

He’s partial to the classic Superman over Batman, though, due to Superman’s sense of justice, honor and character. In a way, these virtues align closely with Weinmeister’s own sense of duty to keep teammates safe within NPPD’s security department.

“Batman went around the law, similar to some of the more questionable characters in modern comics,” said Weinmeister. “I don’t rally behind that much.”

Weinmeister is entitled to these opinions because he’s been in the comic space since the ripe age of five. Visits to his grandmother’s house were coupled with excitement to visit a nearby drugstore. There, he’d camp out in front of the comics, reading. If he was good, he might get to take a few home. It was a “want” that turned quickly into a “need!” Soon, he was picking up a 12-deep stack of comics with each monthly trip to the grocery store. Back then, they sold for around $0.25 to $0.45 cents apiece.

“Nancy Reagan was featured in ads at the back of the comics,” he recalled fondly. “I had a strong desire to ‘just say no’ to drugs because both she and Superman told me to!”

As life progressed through college, marriage, children and a full NPPD career, the comics were gradually placed carefully in boxes above the garage, saved for another day, or perhaps another generation.

“As luck wouldn’t have it, none of my kids are interested in them!” Weinmeister said with a helpless laugh. “What do you do?”

And then, after 23 years of comics on pause, his love for them was recently reignited upon seeing a comic book collector’s YouTube channel. It wasn’t long before he was tearing into the first of many boxes in storage.

“It was a feeling of, ‘Oh, wow – I remember that; that was cool; or I remember when I bought that,’” he said. “When I took out the comic detailing the death of Captain Marvel, it took me right back to a comic shop in Colorado Springs, where I spent 40 minutes deciding if I should buy that $25 comic book.”

Totally lost in the moment, he immediately sat down to read it again.

The hobby spiraled from there, as Weinmeister – inspired by nostalgia, appreciation for the genre and desire to own a complete collection – set to work inventorying and adding to his collection.

“I have about 6,500 comic books, with around 20 major storylines centered around my favorites: Superman, Batman, X-Men, Spiderman, G.I. Joe, Wonder Woman, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Green Lantern,” he said. “I have holes in my collections I want to next work on filling.”

Weinmeister has a total of 8,000 comics in his house currently due to his philanthropic nature to help inventory friends’ collections. One such friend has almost 1,000 comics, 800 of which Weinmeister hasn’t read.

“Most of them have huge storylines. If I go down that rabbit hole, it would be hard to stop!” he said. With that amount of comics at his hands, it’s safe to say Weinmeister has stumbled across some rarities and gems.

“I found a Spiderman #2 that, though worn, would go for $500,000 in perfect condition,” Weinmeister said. “And another – Spiderman #63 from my own collection is listed for $30,000 in perfect shape, which again, it’s not. I could maybe get $1,000 for it today.”

The most iconic comics, like Superman #1, have been documented selling at auction for $3.2 million.

Comics gain value due to character popularity or incredible storylines. Marvel and D.C. blockbusters have catapulted many characters into the spotlight in recent years, including Black Panther.

“I have a Miss Marvel #1. Five years ago, it wasn’t worth much, but now it’s increased in value quite rapidly because of the movie,” said Weinmeister.

Similarly, comic book collectors fight over the issue where Robin died, when Batgirl was shot, or when Wolverine and the Incredible Hulk fought.

Nowadays, inventory software integration with the cloud can provide “big data” information on values based on condition, age and more, including auction price listings.

But, Weinmeister isn’t really in it for the financial gain, unless trading a valuable comic in which he has multiple copies helps him piece together a complete collection.

“I would probably keep 90% of my collections,” he said. “They are filled with so much meaning for me. I might sell them when I get older, especially if I find someone who appreciates them as much as I do.”

The comics have been largely responsible for getting his mind off the pandemic and the harder facets of life.

“It takes you back to a simpler time, when life wasn’t so dark. No one really died in comics, and if they did, maybe they came back. My Fox News viewing has also decreased greatly!” he said. “I’ve had more fun in the last two months than I have in a long time. Comic books are contagious – in a good way; not in a pandemic way.”

“Because he’s the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now. So we’ll hunt him, because he can take it. Because he’s not a hero. He’s a silent guardian, a watchful protector … a dark knight.”

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Emma Murphy Auburn H.S. Dau. of CNS

Operations Shift Mgr. Brian & CNS

Sr. Fin. Analyst Paula Murphy

Keegan NitschNorth Platte St. Patrick’s H.S. Son of GGS Eng. & Asset

Mgr. - Production Bob Nitsch

Tyler Palmer Scotus Central Catholic H.S. Son of CGO

Strategic Sourcing Spec.

Tami Weber

Connor ParkerAuburn H.S. Son of CNS Shift Mgr.

Barry Parker

Thunder PilakowskiLakeview H.S. Son of CGO

HR Admin. Assist. Lauralyn Pilakowski

Elaina Riley Johnson-Brock H.S.

Dau. of CNS Work Week Mgr.

Ken Riley

Joshua BarkerAuburn H.S. Son of CNS

Dir. of Engineering Troy Barker

Riley BenderNorfolk H.S. Dau. of NOC

Planner/Scheduler Gale Bender

Dalton Borchers Scotus Central Catholic H.S. Son of CGO

Sr. Systems Analyst Lisa Borchers

Kamden BushHershey H.S.Son of GGS I&C Tech.

Robert Bush

Haylee Cielocha Scotus Central Catholic H.S. Dau. of CGO

Business Analyst Tim Cielocha

Ty Conroy Ainsworth H.S.

Son of Ainsworth Sr. Line Tech. Lee Conroy

Amanda Daugaard Columbus H.S. Dau. of CGO

Sr. Systems Analyst Don Daugaard

Alexander Dewhirst Rock Port H.S.

Son of CNS Reg. Affairs &

Compliance Mgr. Linda & CNS

Scheduler Rich Dewhirst

Lyndie EddlemanHastings H.S. Dau. of DCC

NERC Compliance Mgr. Tony Eddleman

Megan Endorf Columbus H.S. Dau. of CGO Land Mgmt.

Analyst Lisa Endorf & Workforce

Development Spec. Jeff Endorf

Alyssa Gilliland York H.S.

Dau. of York Dir. of Operations

Support Matt Gilliland

Abigail Gocek Nebraska City H.S.

Dau. of CNS Electrical Eng. Steve Gocek

Cara GoodmanLourdes Central

Catholic H.S. Dau. of CNS

QA Mgr. Dan Goodman

George Guhde-EggerJohnson-Brock H.S.

Son of CNS Control Room

Operator Nick Egger

Joshua Eshleman Hershey H.S. Son of GGS

Production Consult. Rob Eshleman

Austin Ferris Lakeview H.S. Son of CGO

Accounts Payable Spec. Carolyn Ferris

Amber Loutzenhiser HomeschooledDau. of Norfolk

Energy Efficiency Consultant

Jim Loutzenhiser

Tara MaddoxNebraska City H.S.

Dau. of CNS Mechanical Eng.

Jeff Maddox

Talan McGill North Platte

St. Patrick H.S. Son of North Platte

Sr. Line Tech. Jake McGill

Hannah Chramosta Lincoln Pius X H.S.

Dau. of Sheldon Station

Sr. Systems Analyst Steve Chramosta

Aspyn HarrisonShelby-Rising

City H.S. Dau. of CGO

Sr. Planning Analyst Shari Watts

Kacynn JonesAuburn H.S. Dau. of CNS

Materials, Purchasing & Contracts Mgr.

Jeff Jones

Bethany Kiekel Auburn H.S. Dau. of CNS

Electrical Systems Eng. Supv.

Dustin Kiekel

Kayden LandMinden H.S.

Son of Kearney Sub-T & Dist. System

Control Coord. Butch Land

Mady Ludwig Grand Island

Northwest H.S. Dau. of DCC ET System

Control Tech. Mgr. Dirk Ludwig

Brooklyn JakubRock Port H.S. Dau. of CNS

Planner Jeff Jakub

Alexa JonesColumbus H.S. Dau. of CGO Admin. Assist.

Jill Jones

Bret HanisHumphrey H.S.

Son of CGO Corp. Physical Security Ops. Center Leader

Trish Hanis

Alex Clarkson Northeast H.S.

Son of York HR Business Partner

Sherry Clarkson

Sydney RogersAuburn H.S.Dau. of CNS

Assist. Operations Mgr. - Training

Deric Franklund

Carley Rubenking Waverly H.S.

Dau. of Lincoln Training Spec.

Marvin Rubenking

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P O S T G R A D U A T E D E G R E E SP O S T G R A D U A T E D E G R E E S

Tyler BecherWayne State College

Son of CGO Facilities Supv. Mike Becher

Emily Bremer Peru State College

Dau. of CNS Outage Scheduler

Lesli Bremer

Shelby Bremer SECC - Beatrice

Dau. of CNS Outage Scheduler

Lesli Bremer

Alyssa Curry Nebraska

Wesleyan U. Dau. of V.P. of

Customer & Corp. Services Ken & Sr. Systems Analyst

Robin Curry

Alyssa KutaUN-Omaha

Dau. of CGO Admin. Assist. -

Legal Elaine Kuta

Quinn MattesonWayne State College

Son of CGO Sr. Accounting

Analyst Michele Matteson

Robyn MyersM. - School Psychology UN-KearneyDau. of CGO

Sr. Environmental Spec.

Justin King

Abigail NeddenriepUN-Lincoln

Dau. of CNS Procurement, Eng. &

Configuration Mgmt. Supv.

Jesse Neddenriep

Tim NovakDoane U.

CGO Structural/Civil Drafting Supv.

Melanie SlamaPeru State College

Dau. of CNS Maintenance Shop Spec. Bob Slama

Ben Pearson UN-Omaha

Son of PlattsmouthSr. Systems Analyst

Kevin Pearson

Elise RaymondUN-Lincoln Dau. of York

Sr. Environmental Coord.

Jeff Raymond

Aaron Goodman Nebraska College

of LawSon of CNS

QA Mgr. Dan Goodman

Sami Richardson UNMCDr. of

Physical TherapyDau. of CGO

Sr. Systems Analyst Allan & Systems

Analyst Lori Spenner

Holly Hartman Groteluschen

UNMCDr. of Medicine Dau. of CGO

Sr. Systems Analyst Tom & Sr. Auditor

Jane Hartman

Emily Slama Peru State College

M.S. - Organizational Mgmt.

Dau. of CNS Maintenance Shop Spec. Bob Slama

Isabella Ruskamp Beatrice H.S. Dau. of BPS O&M Leader

Dave Ruskamp

Taylor SchultzAuburn H.S. Dau. of CNS

FIN Team Planner Jordan Schultz

Nick StoeckleColumbus H.S.

Son of CGO Corp. Cyber Security

Systems Analyst Matthew Stoeckle

Noah Stoeckle Columbus H.S.

Son of CGO Corp. Cybersecurity

Systems Analyst Matthew Stoeckle

Cameron Stough Auburn H.S. Son of CNS

Work Control Mgr. Jim Stough

Britten Sunneberg Aurora H.S.

Dau. of Aurora Market

Strategies Mgr. Jon Sunneberg

Samantha Tonniges Scotus Central Catholic H.S. Dau. of CGO

Communication Spec.

Ann Tonniges

Christopher Vincent Doniphan-Trumbull H.S.

Son of DCC Transmission System Coord. Craig & DCC

Tech. Training Support Spec. Brook Vincent

Isaac WalnoferAinsworth H.S.

Son of Ainsworth Lead Renewable

Energy Tech. Chris Walnofer

Kaleb Wiese Scotus Central Catholic H.S. Son of CGO Wholesale

Billing Spec. Christi Wiese

Tara Starzec Nebraska College

of LawDau. of Columbus

Land Mgmt. Appraiser Ron and Dir. of Fin. and Fin. Planning

Donna Starzec

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CUSTOMER NEWS

Enjoy a throw-back recipe from the May 1970 issue of The Dispatcher, a predecessor magazine to the Energy Insight. Strawberry pie – it’s perfect for summer. Don’t you agree?

by Bernice Krieger Desserts are the happy endings of our meals. They may be fancy or they may be plain. Some are rich and some are not. But they always have a touch of sweetness. Desserts do have a nutritional place in well-planned meals. However, we eat them for sheer enjoyment.

F

ROM THE

A R C H I VE

S

K I T C H E N K A P E R S

Beat egg whites until foamy; add sugar gradually. Add baking power and continue beating until egg whites are stiff. Blend in saltine crackers which have been rolled fine. Add pecans. Spread meringue into well-buttered 9-inch pie pan. Bake in an electric oven at 300°F for 30 minutes. When ready to serve, top with sweetened strawberries. Serves 6.

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egg whitesC sugart baking powersaltine crackersC chopped pecanspint fresh strawberries, slicedand sweetened to taste

STRAWBERRY MERINGUE PIE

Bruce Clymer retired June 22 as the city of Gothenburg’s

city administrator after almost 30 years of service to the community. His replacement is Gary Greer. Greer brings much experience to his new role, having served as

city administrator to Kearney from 1986-1996; Manhattan, Kansas, from 1996-2000; Grand Island from 2004-2007; and Farmers Branch, Texas, from 2007-2016. Greer has a master’s degree in public administration from Kansas University, a political science bachelor’s degree from Park University, and continuing leadership training from Georgetown University and the University of Virginia. He is also an accredited city manager by the International City/County Managers Association. Greer has been living in Lincoln since 2018, working in the private sector.

Gothenburg is an NPPD wholesale customer.

Gary Greer new Gothenburg city administrator

Matthew Kibbon new North Platte city administrator

Jim Hawks retired as the city of North Platte’s city administrator

mid-May, after 16 years of service. His replacement is Matthew Kibbon. Kibbon brings 20 years of experience as a construction engineer to his position. He received his bachelor’s degree in construction management

in 2001 from Nebraska’s Wayne State College, then became a project engineer for Omaha’s Kiewit Building Group. Since then, he’s helped build many impressive facilities, including the Holland Performing Arts Center in Omaha, St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Lincoln, and educational buildings, including STEM and energy facilities, at the University of Wyoming.

North Platte is an NPPD wholesale customer.

Gary Greer Matthew Kibbon

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from around the state

York / Pam Hoeft, PBX Operator/Receptionist / pahoeft@nppd.com

Columbus / Kathy Fadschild, Communication Specialist / klfadsc@nppd.comPut us right up there with SpaceX because we

just launched a big one! Earlier this year, NPPD officially went live with a tool to support communication efforts with retail customers. A new web portal and mobile application, “NPPD On The Go!,” were introduced in March, bringing customers the best in cutting-edge technology for staying connected.

Smart Energy Water was the vendor selected to bring this vision to reality for both products. The tools provide flexibility, along with a plethora of options to choose from, serving as a one-stop-shop for services and information on customer accounts. Downloading the app delivers options such as viewing hourly consumption history, receiving notification of power outages/estimated times for restoration, viewing billing details, the ability to select a preferred communication channel (email, text, push notifications), paying bills and access to many other available features.

Engaging with customers to encourage and promote the app was a win-win for both NPPD and customers. Just for downloading the new mobile app, two lucky customers now have a Nest thermostat to help them save money and manage their energy usage, and one customer, Brianna Happel of Kearney, was the winner of an iPad. “I have really come to love ‘NPPD On The Go!’ and really like that I can monitor my usage throughout the month and know if I need to cut back on usage to stay within my budget,” says Happel.

“NPPD’s previous mobile app, launched in 2015, was limited on choices, and our team’s goal was to provide a user-friendly, convenient app which allows users to stay connected from all devices, including tablets and cell phones, and from the comfort and safety of their home,” said Columbus Manager of Retail Technology, Billing, and Customer Care Nicole Brumbaugh. “Persistence and teamwork were a huge part of this project, and I can’t say enough about the team who made the result a success, offering in-depth features that can be used today and into the future.”

One epic launch Mobile application and web portal debut in retail space

Kade Wiese, son of Columbus Wholesale Billing Specialist Christi Wiese and her husband, Gerry, broke two of Scotus Central Catholic’s powerlifting records this March during the 2020 State Powerlifting Class B

event at Peru State College, setting a personal best of 585 pounds and 520 pounds in the squat and deadlift categories, respectively. Kade set a personal record benching of 235 pounds. He received the title of “Outstanding Heavyweight Lifter” out of all male heavyweight champions, and earned first place in his weight division. Scotus’ powerlifting team earned second place in both the girls and boys divisions at state, as well as first place in the combined team division for the second year in a row. The Scotus team finished with 10 state champions, and 22 of its 23 competitors won medals.

Tyler Palmer was honored with the prestigious Scotus Male Athlete of the Year award and scholarship May 6. He was also recognized as one of the recipients of the KLIR Male Athlete Prep Club Award and scholarship and was named Male Athlete of the Year by the Columbus Community Hospital. Tyler

broke the all-time career and single game scoring records for football and the single game and career stolen base records for baseball. He was recognized as Academic All-State in football and baseball his senior and junior years. Tyler was selected to play football in the July 10 Nebraska Shrine Bowl. He will be a freshman at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln this fall and play baseball for the Huskers. Tyler is the son of Tami Weber, strategic sourcing specialist.

NPPD received the American Public Power Association’s Safety Award of Excellence for safe operating practices

in 2019. The District earned honorable mention, or fourth place, in the Group G category for utilities with one million to less than four million worker-hours of annual worker exposure. NPPD competed against 13 other utilities within Group G. More than 335 utilities entered the annual Safety Awards, which is the highest number of entrants in the history of the program. They were then placed in categories according to their number of worker-hours and ranked based on the most incident-free records during 2019. The incidence rate, used to judge entries, is based on the number of work-related reportable injuries or illnesses and the number of worker-hours during 2019, as defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. NPPD also earned the designation of Nebraska’s Safest Company Award from the state chapter of the National Safety Council, again signifying our commitment to creating a culture of safety excellence.

Tyler Palmer

Alyssa Gilliland, recent York High School graduate and daughter of Director of Operations Support Matt Gilliland and his wife, Brooke, was recently recognized for her perfect ACT score by Gov. Ricketts in a ceremony at the State Capitol Rotunda. Alyssa is one of only 44 Nebraska high school seniors to receive this honor in 2020 and the first student to represent York High School.

Kade Wiese

Gov. Ricketts with Alyssa Gilliland

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R E T I R E E

Klassy Kilowatts meet the third Monday of every month at 12:30 p.m. CDT. Locations to be determined. Linda Holmstedt, (308) 530-1337, lmholms@gmail.com

Kearney Area Retirees have no meetings currently scheduled this summer/fall. Pat Budler, (308) 627-5266, patdianebudler@yahoo.com

Cooper Nuclear Retirees meet the second Tuesday of every month at 9 a.m. at Cafe Metro in Auburn. Jon Warren, (402) 740-8875, Lnjwarren@gmail.com

Columbus Energizers meet the third Thursday of every month at 8 a.m. at Stack-n-Steak. Marge Prokupek, (402) 564-0348, mkproku@frontiernet.net

Low Voltage Panhandlers meet every other month on the third Tuesday at Perkins Restaurant at 9 a.m. Upcoming meetings are in August and October. Pam Carpenter, (402) 366-7152, evlc_pamc@yahoo.com

Sheldon Station Area Has-Beens meet the third Wednesday of each month at 8 a.m. at Stauffers Cafe in Lincoln (5600 S. 48th St.) Chuck Forsgren, (402) 525-1127, chuckfo@neb.rr.com

NPPD Antiques meet the first Monday of every month at 8:30 a.m. at Country Cooking in Beatrice.

Greg Brewer

of events

SEPTEMBER 3 Customer/Board Forum with Directors Schrock and Freelend, Kearney

7 Labor Day Holiday

9-10 NPPD Board Meeting, Columbus

AUGUST 13 NPPD Board Meeting, Columbus

21 Rate Review Committee/ Power Resources Advisory Board/Customer Meeting (Virtual)

8 NPPD Board Meeting, Columbus

15 Rate Review Committee/ Power Resources Advisory Board/Customer Meeting, Columbus

22 Fall Joint Sub-T Meeting, York

OCTOBER

A life celebration for Joseph Heitshusen

Cooper Nuclear Station Armed Security

Officer II Joseph Heitshusen, 25, unexpectedly passed away June 27. Joseph was a member of team Delta since he was hired by NPPD in January of 2018. His Security Shift Supervisors, Jeff Kuhns and Dan Otto, recall Joseph

as hardworking, intelligent and well-liked by everyone fortunate enough to have worked

with him. To say he will be missed is an understatement.

Joseph is survived by his wife, Jacy; parents, Quentin and Jane; siblings, Carroll (Laura Jean Perry) and Clara; grandmother, Flora; mother- and father-in-law, Troy and Michelle Hendrickson; sister-in-law, Taryn (James) Osborne; brother-in-law, Alec (Ashlee Fish) Hendrickson; Jacy’s grandparents, Ray and Linda Hendrickson and Gerry and LaDonna Waltemath; numerous aunts, uncles and cousins; and many friends.

Joseph Heitshusen

Traci Pettit

Robert Kamber

Verne Abbott

Richard Cruise

Doniphan Senior Systems Analyst Traci Pettit, 65, passed away Jan 15. Traci began his District career in 1990 and retired in 2012.

Columbus General Office Senior Staff Advisor Robert Kamber, 94, passed away March 3. Robert began his NPPD career in 1958 and retired in 1987.

Kearney Lineman Elden “Verne” Abbott, 89, passed away March 18. Verne began his NPPD career in 1951 and retired in 1991.

York Part-Time Inspector Richard Cruise, 78, passed away March 29. Richard began his NPPD career in 1959 and retired in 2019.

Harold Suhr

Sutherland Local Manager Harold Suhr, 83, passed away April 2. Harold began his NPPD career in 1954 and retired in 1996.

Harry Tyson

Cooper Nuclear Station Custodian Harry Tyson, 84, passed away May 7. Harry began his NPPD career in 1987 and retired in 1995.

Beatrice Line Foreman Roy Miller, 95, passed away May 7. Roy began his District career in 1948 and retired in 1987.

Aurora Journey Line Technician Duane Schroeder, 84, passed away May 18. Duane began his NPPD career in 1960 and retired in 1997.

McCook Lead Line Technician John McArthur, 72, passed away May 30. John began his NPPD career in 1966 and retired in 2004.

Gerald Gentleman Station Material Handler Robert Hudson, 77, passed away June 29. Robert began his District career in 1977 and retired in 2001.

Cooper Nuclear Station Temporary Nuclear Instructor Greg Brewer, 64, passed away July 4. Greg began his NPPD career in 1985 and retired to a periodical part-time position from 2017 to 2020.

Roy Miller

Duane Schroeder

John McArthur

Robert Hudson

Les Dean

CNS Utility Service Technician Les Dean, 55, passed away April 4. Les began his District career in 1991 and went on long-term disability in 2011.

Not pictured

Not pictured

Don Goebel

Gerald Gentleman Station Station Operator Don Goebel, 71, passed away April 27. Don began his District career in 1979 and retired in 2011.

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P.O. Box 499 Columbus, NE 68602-0499

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