SIGN: I Oppose OPPD’s Unfair Fixed Fee Increase
Nebraska State Senators Ken Haar, Heath Mello and Ernie Chambers sent a letter to CEO Tim Burke and the board members of Omaha Public Power District (OPPD), expressing concerns over OPPD’s “regressive” fixed fee increase proposal, from $10.25 to as high as $35.
Senators Haar, Mello and Chambers write that OPPD’s fixed fee increase proposal:
- Penalizes low-income customers
- May violate state law that require energy rates by “fair, reasonable, nondiscriminatory”
- Disincentivizes and penalize customers’ investments in energy efficiency
- Discourage investment in renewable energy, like home rooftop solar
- Make it more difficult for Nebraska to comply with Clean Power Plan emissions targets
Bold Nebraska launched a petition opposing OPPD’s fixed rate increase that has already gathered nearly 2,000 signatures, and is supported by local organizations including Sierra Club, Nebraskans for Solar, Energy Rescue, and Nebraska 350.
Groups aligned against OPPD’s plan will deliver the petition signatures during OPPD’s scheduled Board Meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 15th. A press conference and rally is scheduled for 8:30 a.m., and petition delivery to OPPD board at 9:00 a.m.
The OPPD Board is currently scheduled to vote on the proposed fixed fee increase during a meeting on Thursday, Dec. 17th at 10:00 a.m.
