Nebraska's Bad Energy Problems
Power Grid Problems Persist
Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) is a strong, capable, and reliable organization but this is a mere reflection of Nebraska where hard work is valued pushing unemployment rates low, and workers demanding more for high quality with their hard earned money. This is what makes Nebraska a remarkable and unique place.
I feel bad for the rest of the country and places which do not have a service as good as OPPD. Yet OPPD still has not done enough to protect the power grid and Nebraskans suffer because of it. This includes failure to educate the public of the dangers posed by derelict softwood trees such as silver maples. There should be campaign against such softwood trees. Perhaps burying important powerlines should be a substantial priority but it does not seem to be important to OPPD. In fact, some of their measures appear to be defensive and to hold off complaints.
For example, the poor quality of the power grid results in numerous power surges. OPPD has an insurance program (https://www.oppd.com/residential/products-services/residential-surge-guard/) you can join and they install a surge protector on your home. It is a good bargain but after five years, you may have been better off paying an electrician to install it for you. Having a permanent surge protector installed increases the home’s value.
Now OPPD may contest how a characterize their program but you are supposedly “renting” the surge protector device, when in reality, you are paying for insurance “backed by a $50,000 repair or replacement warranty” and they are merely trying to reduce what may happen to you with a surge protector device to protect keeping you as a subscriber. Might be good program for some but still smells scammy to me.
Tree in and under power lines is a huge problem. Why OPPD does not require a 30 foot right of way with nothing taller than 8 to 10 feet is beyond comprehension. Asplund has a great deal going on. They run around every 5-7 year rotation through the area with 3-7 people with their pocket knifes cutting switches.They spend days climbing up trees cutting branches at a minimum. Some crews will stand up and tell the tree owner the trees must be cut but relent on taking them to the ground. Then when you tell them to cut them off at the ground they whip out their pocket knives and whittle. Oppd should have a lead person that goes around checking on these crews and contacting the land owner. If the land owner wants the trees whacked to the ground that is what happens. It would save a huge amount of tree trimming time and repairs when wind and snow take trees down. If the land owner refuses taking the trees out, they should be required to have extra insurance to pay for damages to OPPD for parts and labor, in addition cover all expenses to anyone on that line that looses power because of that persons tree falling in the lines. Give them a choice, but put them on the hook not rate payers.
Underground in old neighborhoods would be a nightmare. Cable and phone lines are barely in the ground, a shovel at best and who knows were the crew laid the line. Serious juice like oppd's needs to be 24" in the ground with tape above it to warn you are about to hit the line. I believe new areas are being buried.