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Broken Bow hears electric rate changes after 9% wholesale hike; council conducts second reading
Summary
Electric Superintendent Blake Waldow told the council MEAN raised wholesale rates 9% in April 2025 and proposed raising residential and commercial rates 2% and large power/industrial rates 7%; the council held a public hearing, took no public comments and conducted a second reading without waiving remaining readings.
The Broken Bow City Council on Oct. 28 opened a public hearing on Ordinance 1302, which would revise the city's electric use fees following a 9% wholesale rate increase from MEAN in April 2025.
Electric Superintendent Blake Waldow told the council the proposed change would raise residential and commercial customer rates by 2% and increase large power and industrial rates by 7%, reflecting the different wholesale pricing basis for those accounts. Waldow also said some kilowatt (kW) charges were adjusted to account for higher input costs.
There were no public comments during the hearing. Councilmembers voted not to waive the final two readings of the ordinance; City Clerk Jennifer Waterhouse performed the second reading at the meeting. The council did not adopt the ordinance at this session; further readings are required under the council's rules.
Councilmembers and administrators framed the change as a pass-through response to higher wholesale costs rather than a new policy direction. The matter will return to the council for subsequent readings before a final vote.
