COLUMBUS - Gov. Pete Ricketts was in Columbus, signing a proclamation declaring Wednesday Nebraska Public Power District Day to recognize and celebrate a half-century of the organization's service.

"All the innovation and customer service really is a great Nebraska story and has helped us keep low, reliable power here in our state," Ricketts said.

He said other states have public power, but that Nebraska is the one that is mostly run on it.

“That’s what’s led to having some of the lowest utility rates in the country, and the great customer service that we get for our customers here in the state," he said.

Ricketts also highlighted NPPD's partnership with Monolith Materials, a company that converts natural gas into carbon black and hydrogen.

NPPD said that push for alternate sources of power is not stopping.

"There’s certainly a move towards changing to resources that are greener, lower carbon emission, flexible, can adapt and adjust to the needs of our customers and adapt and adjust to the needs of the market," president and CEO Tom Kent said.  "Our resources have been doing that for a number of years, and as we move into the future, we’ll continue to bring in new resources.”

Kent touched on something else Ricketts recognized NPPD for: Ceasing disconnects and late-payment fees for customers during the pandemic.

“It was the right thing to do," he said.  "If they weren’t able to pay their bills for whatever reasons for two or three months, they still got those bills there.  So it’s important for us to be able to work with them and help them and provide them tools and resources, if we can, to be able to get their electric bills, their energy bills back in order."

Customers may be able to breathe another sigh of relief.  Kent said even though NPPD's board will be discussing possible rate increases this month, he's not expecting it to happen.