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Associate MembersNREA presently has six associate members. While most of our associate members have a wholesale power relationship with some of the thirty-five voting members of our association, associate membership is not limited to wholesale power suppliers. We welcome as associate members those other utilities with which we share common goals and with whom we desire a closer working relationship as we face the challenges of a changing electric industry.To learn more about our associate members, please visit the sites listed below, or read on. Nebraska Electric Generation & Transmission Cooperative, Inc.OrganizationThe Nebraska Electric Generation and Transmission Cooperative, Inc. (NEG&T) was incorporated in 1956, with the current twenty-two members joining shortly after its formation. The members of NEG&T are all rural electric distribution systems that are also members of NREA. Their distribution service areas cover most of Eastern and Central Nebraska, and the southwestern corner of the state. Bruce Pontow is the General Manager of NEG&T. It is headquartered in Columbus, Nebraska, at 2472 18th Ave., P.O. Box 548, 68602-0548. Phone: 402/564-8142; Fax: 402/563-4272; e-mail: nebraskaelec@neb.rr.com. Historial Perspective Political and operational concerns of rural distribution systems during the late 50's and early 60's were the catalyst for the formation of NEG&T, and the members' assurance of an affordable power supply for their customers was the goal. About this time, a new power supply was becoming available through the construction of dams along the Missouri River. NEG&T members saw the benefit of acquiring such power, but the only way to access it was to interconnect with the federal (WAPA) transmission grid. The end result was that NEG&T went to the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) and acquired the necessary funds to construct the first 230 kv line in Nebraska from Ft. Randall, South Dakota, to Columbus, Nebraska. As additional federal power became available, further interconnections and transmission facilities were needed. Again, NEG&T acquired REA funds to provide for the construction of 115 kv lines from Mission, South Dakota, to Valentine, Nebraska, Ainsworth, Nebraska, to Thedford, Nebraska, and Hinton, Iowa, to Twin Church Nebraska. Power Supply To allow for the construction of those facilities, and to address the need for a more reliable power supply, the power supply contracts of it's member distribution systems were assigned to NEG&T in 1966, with a consolidation of those contracts into one power supply contract between the Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) and NEG&T in 1972. To convey the benefits to the rural electric systems, power supply contracts were executed with each of NEG&T's members in 1966. Over the years, both the NPPD/NEG&T and NEG&T/Member contracts were revised, most recently in 2002. The actions of those foresighted rural directors and managers provided for the original interconnections that have allowed Nebraska to receive an enviable supply of cost-efficient hydro power consisting of 144 megawatts of year-round firm power, 50 megawatts of summer seasonal firm power, 325 megawatts of summer seasonal peaking capacity, and 95 megawatts winter seasonal peaking capacity. In addition, there is another 50 megawatts summer peaking capacity provided to Nebraska from WAPA. This is designated "Irrigation Pumping Power" and has direct value to the rural members of NEG&T. The 100 megawatts is made available to the rurals through the previously stated contractual arrangements between NPPD, NEG&T, and its members. Historical and Current Activities In 2001, NEG&T sold 3,791,217 MWH to their members with a summer peak demand of 1,096 MW. Average wholesale power purchased costs for NEG&T members was 33.86 mills in 2001.
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