Nebraska

Inertia is a third-party commercial energy broker of natural gas and solar services and would be happy to help you navigate the maze of deregulation and making the best choice for your natural gas energy service.

 

Unlike some other states, Nebraska has not undergone significant deregulation of its electricity and natural gas markets. The state has maintained a largely regulated energy market, with a few exceptions.

In 1996, the Nebraska Legislature passed the Electric Restructuring Act, which allowed for the creation of the Nebraska Power Review Board (PRB) to oversee the regulation of electric power in the state. The PRB is responsible for regulating the rates and services of public utilities and ensuring that they are providing reliable service to customers.

Under the Electric Restructuring Act, electric utilities in Nebraska were required to offer customers the option of purchasing power from alternative suppliers, known as retail wheeling. However, this provision was largely unutilized due to the state's strong reliance on public power, which is owned and operated by local government entities.

The state has also made limited strides towards natural gas deregulation. In 2003, the Nebraska Natural Gas Choice Act was passed, which allowed customers to choose their natural gas suppliers, but only in certain areas of the state. However, natural gas deregulation has not been widely adopted in Nebraska, and the majority of customers still receive natural gas service from regulated utilities.

One of the reasons for the limited deregulation in Nebraska is the state's strong emphasis on public power. The majority of electricity in Nebraska is generated by publicly-owned utilities, which operate as non-profit entities and are overseen by locally-elected boards. These public power utilities are exempt from federal income taxes, which allows them to provide lower rates to customers.

While Nebraska has not undergone significant deregulation of its energy markets, there has been some interest in expanding competition in the state. In recent years, there have been proposals to allow third-party renewable energy developers to sell power directly to customers, but these efforts have not yet gained significant traction.

Overall, the lack of deregulation in Nebraska has led to a relatively stable energy market with consistent pricing and reliable service. However, it has also limited consumer choice and the potential for innovation and competition in the energy industry. As the state considers its energy policy moving forward, it will be important to weigh the benefits of maintaining a regulated energy market with the potential advantages of deregulation.

 

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