THREAD:

“In the United States, there is one state, and only one state, where every single resident and business receives electricity from a community-owned institution rather than a for-profit corporation.”
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“It is not a famously liberal state like Vermont or Massachusetts. Rather, it is conservative Nebraska... that has embraced the complete socialization of energy distribution.
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In Nebraska, 121 publicly-owned utilities, 10 cooperatives, and 30 public power districts provide electricity to a population of around 1.8 million people. Public and cooperative ownership keeps costs low for the state's consumers.
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Nebraskans pay one of the lowest rates for electricity in the nation and revenues are reinvested in infrastructure to ensure reliable and cheap service for years to come. "There are no stockholders, and thus no profit motive," the Nebraska Power Association proudly proclaims.
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“Our electric prices do not include a profit. That means Nebraska's utilities can focus exclusively on keeping electric rates low and customer service high. Our customers, not big investors in New York and Chicago, own Nebraska's utilities."
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Payments (in lieu of taxes) from the state's publicly-owned utilities exceed $30 million a year and support a variety of social services throughout the state — including the public education system.
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Tired of abusive corporate practices, in 1930 residents and advocates of publicly-owned utilities took a revenue bond financing proposal straight to the voters, bypassing the corporate influenced legislature which had previously failed to pass similar legislation.
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It was approved overwhelmingly — signaling both popular support for publicly-owned utilities in the state and also the beginnings of their resurgence.
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By 1949, Nebraska had solidified its status as the first and only all-public power state.

Local control and the possibility for democratic participation are defining features of Nebraska's publicly-owned electricity system.
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At the ground level, public utilities and cooperatives are run by publicly elected power district boards, cooperative boards, or elected city councils (often through appointed boards). These bodies establish budgets, establish service standards and policies, and set prices.
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Regularly scheduled meetings of power boards and councils are open to public involvement and comment. Should they so wish, every Nebraskan has the opportunity to become involved in the decision making of their local electricity provider.
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One such example relates to the increasing use and proliferation of renewable energy facilities. While the state remains heavily reliant on coal and nuclear sources to provide low-cost energy to consumers, interest in renewable energy... has taken off in recent years.
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In 2003, electricity consumers, many of whom drove more than 100 miles for the event, participated in an eight-hour deliberative polling survey for the Nebraska Public Power District (NPDD).
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The topic at hand was the potential addition of more than 200 MW of wind energy by 2010. 96 percent of the participants supported the wind project, with 50 percent agreeing it was the right size and 36 percent wanting it expanded.
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Public ownership alone is not a fix-all solution. It does, however, provide an opportunity for a community, a city, or even a whole state to become actively involved in economic decision making on important matters affecting their lives, their environment, and their future.
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Nebraska is considered a conservative state, but our progressive ideals continue to set us apart from the rest of the US.

#NebraskaNice

(Source: https://www.publicpower.org/blog/100-percent-public-power-state)

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