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Lincoln adopts revised LES 2025 budget and new rate schedules to meet grid reliability rules
Summary
The Lincoln City Council approved a revised Lincoln Electric System (LES) 2025 budget and new rate schedules, saying the changes respond to Southwest Power Pool reliability rules; council and the utility acknowledged concerns about impacts on low-income customers and described existing assistance programs.
The Lincoln City Council on Monday unanimously approved a revised 2025 budget for the Lincoln Electric System and new LES rate schedules that take effect July 1, 2025.
The council voted 7-0 to adopt the revised LES annual budget and, separately, to adopt the revised rate schedules after public comment and discussion about reliability obligations set by the Southwest Power Pool (SPP). Councilmembers said the changes are intended to avoid potential penalties and to improve grid reliability following events such as Winter Storm Uri.
Emily Koenig, representing the Lincoln Electric System, told the council LES had addressed outstanding questions since an earlier meeting and was available to answer additional questions. “To our knowledge, I think we've addressed all questions that have been outstanding from last time,” Koenig said. A member of the public, Anastasia Finner, urged the council to consider the hardship of rate increases, saying, “All cost is a barrier,” and warning of the effect on people who depend on electricity for medical devices.
Councilmembers pressed LES staff on the utility’s Energy Assistance Program (EAP). Koenig said LES contributes to an assistance fund administered by Community Action Partnership and that the utility refers customers to additional resources and energy-efficiency solutions. “We collect that money every year, and we turn it over to the community action program for them to administer,” Koenig said, describing the program as a long-standing policy the LES board adopted in the early 2000s.
Supporters of the measures argued that joining and complying with SPP rules improves system reliability and that noncompliance could bring larger costs or reliability failures for ratepayers. Councilmember comments referenced a roughly 4% request from LES to address these needs and said failing to act might leave ratepayers worse off.
The council’s roll calls show unanimous support. The council also said it will continue dialogue with LES and Community Action to monitor impacts on vulnerable customers and the EAP’s effectiveness.
The LES budget and rate schedule ordinances were formally introduced by Councilmember Bowers and seconded by Councilmember Beckius before the council adopted them by roll call votes of 7-0.
