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Broken Bow holds first reading on electric rate changes after wholesale provider raises costs
Summary
City staff said the city’s electric wholesaler raised rates 5% in April 2026; Electric Superintendent Blake Waldow requested a 4% overall increase by July and proposed a consistent higher rate for rural customers. Council declined to waive readings and performed the ordinance’s first reading.
The Broken Bow City Council conducted a public hearing on Ordinance 1309, which would establish revised electric use fees, during its May 26 meeting.
Electric Superintendent Blake Waldow told the council that the city’s electric wholesaler increased its rates by 5% in April 2026 and that the utility needs to adjust local rates to reflect higher wholesale costs. Waldow requested an overall 4% increase by July and said the ordinance would address prior inconsistencies by setting a consistent 7.89% higher rate for rural customers.
Mayor Rod Sonnichsen advised against waiving the first reading to preserve public transparency. The council voted not to waive the statute requiring three readings, and City Clerk Jennifer Waterhouse performed the ordinance’s first reading. No final vote on Ordinance 1309 was taken at the meeting; councilors asked staff to continue work and schedule follow-up consideration.
Waldow and administration staff will present further rate design details at a future work session; the council discussed scheduling a utility workshop with MEAN to review rate design and day-to-day utility operations.
