Opening Nebraska's energy industry to private competition could save ratepayers $250 million

[Omaha Steve]

Consultants told Ralston, NEBR they would be rolling in $ if they built an arena. Now they have huge tax increases to pay for it: http://www.omaha.com/news/metro/ralston-arena-town-s-hope-for-windfall-was-based-on/article_9d718860-80ed-58d4-a120-bd2f90057b98.html

I want my public utilities!


Opening Nebraska's energy industry to private competition could save ratepayers $250 million, consultant says

http://www.omaha.com/news/nebraska/opening-nebraska-s-energy-industry-to-private-competition-could-save/article_c10390e5-9a67-59da-8014-827015dc136e.html

POSTED: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2015 12:30 AM | UPDATED: 12:37 AM, THU SEP 10, 2015.
By Joe Duggan / World-Herald Bureau

LINCOLN — Consultants and executives from the energy industry assailed Nebraska’s public power system Wednesday, saying private competition could save ratepayers millions of dollars.

Opening Nebraska’s retail electrical market to outside competition could save the state’s energy customers $250 million or more annually, said Gary Aksamit with Aksamit Resources Management in Dallas. He was one of several panelists at a Lincoln energy conference who could potentially benefit if Nebraska ended its status as the only public power state.

John McClure, vice president of government affairs for the Nebraska Public Power District, said he couldn’t respond to the estimate without seeing the analysis behind it. But he argued public power has served the state well over the long term and will continue to do so.

“I don’t feel any need to apologize for public power’s performance in Nebraska,” he said. “Rates in Nebraska are very competitive.”

FULL story at link.

[Turbineguy]

1. Their analysis is probably correct

just as it was for California when ENRON was running their grid.

They'll save money because the lights will be out.

[-none]

2. ^^^This^^^

Somehow I don't think any money will be saved by the public by privatizing a public utility. Has it ever happened before... Anywhere?