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Irrigation OVerview

End of Control for 2023

Sep 8, 2023

Control has ended for the 2023 irrigation season. There will be no more control messages. Thank you for your cooperation this season! Irrigators may submit 2024 control changes at no cost starting September 11th, 2023 until March 15th, 2024.

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Irrigation Load Management Program

Dawson PPD offers a load management program for irrigation customers. It allows these customers to choose their electric rate by selecting a level of control that suits their needs. Control options range from “no control” to a few days of control up to a Six-Day + Sunday option. Rates decrease as the amount of control increases.

The program is administered by our wholesale power provider, Nebraska Public Power District. During times of high demand for power, NPPD will request that certain utilities control their customers’ electric usage. Dawson PPD uses devices connected to the District’s wireless mesh to turn off the power to wells. Wells can be controlled up to 12 hours per day, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 11 p.m.

By shedding load, Dawson PPD helps NPPD use our energy resources wisely. By eliminating the need to buy power on the open market and postponing the need to build new power plants, we are able to keep rates low.

Dawson PPD started its load management program in 1982. Today, there are over 143,000 horsepower of irrigation wells enrolled in load management.

LOAD MANAGEMENT 101

System load graph during load management

The chart above shows Dawson PPD’s electric load in July 2022. The drop in load occurred during a load management control event, commonly called “Code Red.” The increase in load occurs when producers restart irrigation systems when the system is back in “Code Green” status. 

View Current System Load

Newsletters

2023 Irrigation Newsletter
2022 Irrigation Newsletter
2021 Irrigation Newsletter
2020 Bill Insert
2020 Irrigation Newsletter
2019 Irrigation Newsletter

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR IRRIGATORS

Downgrading load management control options
Dawson PPD allows each irrigation account to downgrade to a lesser level of load management control one time during the irrigation season. The fee for this is $200 per account. The difference in the demand charges and the fee must be paid before the change in control is made. Changes are accepted during regular office hours.
Ending participation in load management during the irrigation season
Customers have the option to end their participation in the load management program. There is a $200 fee for this change, per account. The customer must pay the difference in demand charges between their current control level and the no control option, plus the fee before this change is made. The change to no control can be made during regular office hours.
Reconnecting an irrigation service on standby
There is a $100 charge to reconnect any irrigation well that had been in standby status. This charge is in addition to the horsepower fixed charges. Contact Dawson PPD for rate information.

If you need to opt back in to text messages...

If you have previously signed up for Dawson PPD load management text messages, then cancelled your subscription via text, you must opt yourself back in. Text the word “cancel” to 833-916-3432 to opt back in to receiving load management text messages.

Location

75191 Rd. 433
PO Box 777
Lexington, NE 68850

Call

(308) 324-2386
(800) 752-8305

Hours

Monday – Friday
7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

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Irrigation