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Council opens hearing on proposed electric rate increase tied to 9% MEAN wholesale rise; first reading held
Summary
Broken Bow opened a public hearing on Ordinance 1302 after MEAN raised wholesale rates 9% in April 2025; staff proposed a 2% increase for residential/commercial and 7% for large power/industrial rates. Council declined to waive readings and conducted the ordinance's first reading.
The Broken Bow City Council opened and closed a public hearing Oct. 14 on Ordinance 1302, which would raise electric-use fees after a reported 9% wholesale rate increase by the Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska (MEAN) in April 2025.
Electric Superintendent Blake Waldow told the council that because MEAN raised rates by 9% in April, he proposed raising residential/general service and commercial rates by 2% and large power/industrial rates by 7%, noting the latter are tied directly to wholesale pricing. Waldow said the city has not increased large power/industrial rates since 2017 and recommended the change so the city would not fall behind on costs.
Administrator David Schmidt advised the council not to waive the ordinance’s three readings to preserve public transparency. Council voted unanimously to open the hearing, unanimously to close it and unanimously to not waive readings; City Clerk Jennifer Waterhouse read Ordinance 1302 for the first time. The minutes do not record public comment opposing or supporting the rate proposal, nor do they list specific revenue projections or an effective date for any new rates.
Council members did not adopt the ordinance at this meeting; the first reading was performed and further readings will be required before any rate change takes effect.
