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Welcome to SWPPD

Located in Palisade serving five counties in Southwest Nebraska including: Chase, Dundy, Hayes, Hitchcock, and Red Willow. Servicing 2,585 miles of line, 6,452 meters, and over 109,000 Horsepower of irrigation load.

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Latest News


Our main concern is servicing you to the best of our ability and being part of this great community. Here we will keep you informed about current news and things happening at SWPPD including widespread outage situations.
22 Feb, 2024
Southwest Public Power District has an opening for the position of Journeyman or Apprentice power line worker. Duties include, but are not limited to, maintenance and construction of overhead and underground distribution and sub-transmission facilities. The District operating hours are a compressed work schedule with every other Friday off. After-hours and on-call duty are required. This position requires heavy lifting, pole climbing, and other strenuous activity and working well with other crew members. Must be able to complete associated written and electronic documentation. Must possess a valid Class B CDL and pass a pre-employment drug and alcohol test.  Southwest Public Power District offers an excellent wage and benefit package, including paid vacation, sick leave, paid health insurance, and funded retirement plan. Southwest Public Power District’s headquarters office is in Palisade, Nebraska. The region’s schools, small communities, and recreational opportunities make it a great place to live and raise a family. Interested individuals must email a resume, including job training and three references to: Jim Dyer – jimd@swppd.com . Southwest Public Power District is an equal opportunity employer. Position will be open until filled.
By Frank Bonini 26 Apr, 2023
Southwest Public Power District is proud to announce the Frank & Betty Potthoff Memorial Scholarship Program! Frank and Betty Potthoff were both formerly employed by SWPPD, and the Potthoff family has generously offered to fund this scholarship as a memorial to them. This $500 per semester scholarship will help a student attend the Utility Line Program at either Northeast Community College or Western Nebraska Community College. To qualify for the scholarship students must be a high school senior or graduate and reside in the border territory generally served by SWPPD and all towns therein. The applicant must have already applied to be admitted to the Utility Line Program at either college and have been accepted or placed on a waiting list. To apply for the scholarship, the student must submit a personal essay to SWPPD not more than 350 words in length explaining why they are interested in the Utility Line Program as their course of study. They must also provide their class rank and GPA. If the applicant has graduated high school and is attending college, they must submit college transcripts with their essay. Applicant essays will be forwarded to a selection committee. SWPPD would like to award the first scholarship for the Fall semester of 2023. Applicants must have their essays submitted by May 31, 2023 in order to be eligible. Please contact Frank Bonini at (308)285-3295, or frankb@swppd.com, with questions.
11 Aug, 2022
As the country continues to recover from the many recent global and national events, the supply chain issues are going to remain a challenge for at least the next 12 to 24 months. The inventory SWPPD requires to build and maintain new and existing services has been strained. Today, the current order lead time for transformers used in our industry are estimated to be approximately 52 weeks out. Unfortunately, transformers are not the only inventory item of concern. Everything from the raw materials used in our conductor wire to the poles, cross-arms and bolts used in construction have been impacted. The trade associations and organizations we belong to have been proactive in working with the federal government and with manufacturers to make sure we have what we need to serve our customers. SWPPD has adapted by ordering supplies further in advance and in larger quantities when the manufacturer allows. We also continue to recycle and reuse materials where possible. Materials ordered by SWPPD are also subject to change based on several unexpected events such as national and local storm restoration needs, transportation costs and availability, raw material interruptions and many other possible unexpected scenarios. These circumstances have been substantial enough that we can no longer guarantee that new services will be completed prior to the summer of 2023. More specifically, no new irrigation service requests that are not already in our que will be built before the summer of 2023. Therefore, any new service requests for the rest of the year will be put on a waiting list on a “first come, first serve” basis. The Board and Management at SWPPD felt strongly that it was better to communicate this delay to our customers as far in advance as possible to make the necessary adjustments in your plans if you are considering a new service in 2023. We apologize for any inconvenience. Please reach out to SWPPD if you have any questions.
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EnergyWise℠ Tips


Saving energy is something we all strive to do. Here we have a complete blog dedicated to energywise tips regarding the electric industry.
13 Mar, 2024
By: NPPD Energy Efficiency Program Manager Cory Fuehrer First introduced in the 1950s, recessed lighting or “can lighting” is still a popular choice for residential and commercial lighting. Traditionally, these fixtures consist of a cylindrical or square-shaped metal housing that extends above the ceiling so only the trim or baffle is visible on the ceiling surface. A lamp or bulb is screwed into a socket mounted inside the top of the housing. When switched on, the fixture provides a streamlined and unobtrusive appearance that complements various interior design styles. Despite these benefits, recessed can lights have a reputation for being inefficient. Though they can be fitted with an energy-efficient LED bulb, many still use less-efficient incandescent bulbs. Recessed fixtures with housing that is not sealed can also lose costly heated or cooled air from the space below. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, these energy losses can account for up to 50% of a ceiling’s total thermal loss. Though customers can install a more expensive, sealed can light or retrofit existing fixtures with seals, they now have another choice: canless recessed lights. Canless recessed lighting refers to a type of fixture installed directly into the ceiling. They do not have a recessed can or housing that extends above. Moreover, canless recessed lights are self-contained units that integrate the housing, trim, and light source into a single fixture. They are an ideal option for existing homes and facilities as they do not require any large holes in the ceiling and can be easily retrofitted to existing can lights. Compared to traditional recessed lights, canless recessed lights are generally more compact, allowing for quick and easy installation. This makes them suitable for installations in areas with limited space between the ceiling and other structures, like ductwork or pipes. They also have better energy efficiency since they eliminate the need for separate housing that is prone to air leakage and heat loss while utilizing solid-state LED lighting technology which produces the most amount of light per watt of electricity. Since LEDs produce very little heat compared to other bulb options, customers also save on cooling costs. Much like their predecessors, canless recessed lights offer multiple trim options, like baffle, pinhole or eyeball trim, to suit different design preferences. Perhaps the best surprise customers find is that canless fixtures typically cost 25% to 50% less when compared to their canned cousins. Like many other high-performing lighting products, manufacturers can submit their canless recessed fixture products for ENERGY STAR® recognition. Those displaying the ENERGY STAR® label on their packaging are the easiest way customers can assure they are selecting a quality, energy-efficient light. In partnership with Nebraska Public Power District, Southwest Public Power District wants to help their customers gain the most benefit from the electricity they provide. For additional ideas on ways you can make cost-effective efficiency improvements to your home or business, contact Southwest Public Power District or visit www.energywisenebraska.com for more information.
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We Value Your Opinion


Southwest Public Power District is committed to providing the best possible customer service. We value input from our customers and invite you to use the Contact Us form to share your comments, concerns, questions and suggestions. Compliments are accepted as well! Rest assured that all correspondence will be reviewed and handled with professional confidence and courtesy.
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Board of Directors


In March of 1945, the Southwest Electric Membership Corporation was born and electric light took its first steps to become an active part of life in southwest Nebraska. At the time nine men were elected to the board of directors. Many things in the electrical industry have changed over the years but one thing remains the same, continued leadership and dedication to the electrical needs of southwest Nebraska.
Meet The Board

A tour of Southwest Nebraska….our home.

We live in a very special place with proud and hard working communities. This video is a small peak into the places we call home in the southwest corner of Nebraska. Southwest Public Power District is proud to be a part of these communities. If you are not able to see our video here visit YouTube.

Stay Informed


Manager's Articles


General Manager Colyn Suda will keep you updated with monthly articles from SWPPD about industry news, safety tips, and ways to save you money. Also, this is your direct link to the Nebraska Rural Electric Association. Here you will find information about industry and political events and you can also sign-up for notifications.
27 Mar, 2024
Nothing spoils a fun day of Easter egg hunting like an accident involving electricity. Here are eight tips for hiding eggs safely: · If you’re hiding some of the eggs indoors, steer clear of electrical outlets, plugs, light sockets and extension cords. · Outdoors, avoid placing eggs near air conditioning units, low-hanging overhead wires or in trees near electric lines. · Pick up anything on the ground that the children could trip on. They’ll be focusing on finding eggs, not their footing. · Same goes for holes and uneven patches of ground in your yard. · Place eggs well within the boundaries of your lawn. Don’t put them close to the street or driveways. · Bushes are great hiding places for eggs—and also for bees, snakes and other critters that you won’t want your children near. · Avoid bushes that are thorny or have recently been sprayed with pesticides. · Hide your eggs no more than two hours before the hunt so they don’t spoil.
20 Mar, 2024
Spring is a great time to save energy at home when most days are neither cold nor hot, so you don’t need to turn on either the heat or air conditioning. Take advantage of the nice weather to use less energy now and prepare your home to be more efficient this summer. Some tips: 1. Open the windows—all of them—to create a cross-breeze all over the house. This keeps the home cool without air conditioning. 2. Call an HVAC service tech to inspect your air conditioning system. A springtime check will give you a chance to repair any problems before the weather gets hot and a poorly maintained system leaves you without cool indoor air. 3. Switch your ceiling fan blades so they rotate counterclockwise. This will create a downward breeze, which will keep anyone in the room comfortable. 4. Use a caulk gun to seal cracks and openings on the indoor side of exterior walls—like around cable and phone lines and electrical outlets. 5. If you don’t have a programmable thermostat, now is a great time to install one. This device can save you 5% to 15% on heating and cooling bills, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, because it adjusts the temperature for times when the family is sleeping or away from the house.
13 Mar, 2024
As you open the windows and start spring-cleaning your home, add another item to your to-do list: Clean your lawn tools. Your electric lawnmower, weed trimmer and hedge trimmer have been cooped up and unused for months. And you’ll need to do more than knock the dust off of them. Cordless lawnmowers and power tools need regular cleaning and maintenance, so they operate properly. Good news: They’re easier to take care of than gas-powered tools. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning your specific models. Generally: · Remove the tool’s battery before you get started and slip on a sturdy pair of gloves to protect your hands. · Use a dry cloth to wipe down the device and remove cobwebs, dust, loose dirt and dead bugs. · With a plastic scraper or a bristle brush, scrub off dried mud and grass all over the device, even underneath. · Damp-clean the machine all over with a wet cloth, but steer clear of the motor. Take extra care around the blade. · Look for cracks on the casing and determine if the tool is still usable. Check that the handle is tight and sturdy. Inspect the blade for rust. · Fully charge the tool, replacing the battery if it has gotten damaged over the winter.
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