City Council Listens To Discussion To Join Municipal Electric Group

The Minden City Council met at 6:00 p.m. on January 7, 2013, in the city chambers for the first regular meeting of the year.

 

In the first order of business after the consent agenda, the council discussed the Municipal Electric Interests Group and whether Minden should become a member.

 

MEIG’s purpose is “to provide municipalities a forum for the discussion of common interests, and advocacy of those interests, relating to rate setting and policy decisions made at [Nebraska Public Power District].”

 

City Administrator Matt Cederburg informed the council that the membership fee was not yet set, and that it would likely start out at $1,000 but could be upwards of $5,000 dependent upon consultant fees.

 

Council member Ted Griess asked, “Would that give us any leverage, or anything to that effect, with NPPD?”

 

Cederburg explained that the group’s goal was to try to better understand the rates that NPPD sets, which have been rising for the past six years.

 

In looking over the agreement, council member Larry Evans expressed concern about being locked into the group until 2026.

 

Cederburg, however, pointed out that Minden should be able to pull out at any time, and a clause in the agreement to that effect was noted.

 

Tom Lieske, City Attorney, said he had a similar experience when researching natural gas rates for clients of his.

 

The full article can be found in the January 16, 2013, edition of the Minden Courier.