In August of 1945, the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) laid out the service
area boundaries of Southwest Public Power District including Dundy, Chase, Hayes,
Hitchcock and a small part of Red Willow counties. The average cost of building one mile
of line in 1948 was $825; today the average cost is $15,000.
Southwest provided electricity to electrify town and rural residential services until
the mid-1970s when Southwest experienced the irrigation boom. Southwest was the first
power district in the United States to implement a load-control management system during
the irrigation season, controlling peak loads and keeping rates low.
Today, Southwest has committed itself to providing safe, low-cost, reliable energy and
other services to meet customers' needs, now and in the future.
Southwest Public Power District, located in the extreme southwest part of
Nebraska, serves the areas of Chase, Dundy, Hayes, Hitchcock and Red Willow counties. Our
service area is bordered to the south by Kansas and to the west by Colorado.
Basic economic activities in the District's service territory include farming,
ranching, cattle and hog feeding, oil production and tourism. The economy has been
enhanced by the excellent hunting and fishing in the area. Oil production rapidly
increased during the 1980s and represents a significant part of the areas' economy.
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