The Wheat Belt Board of Directors and management are pleased to announce that there will be no rate changes for 2025. This news may come as a surprise to many, especially in light of the significant damage caused by the April ice storm. Several factors contribute to this decision:

Tri-State Generation & Transmission: Their anticipated rate increase for 2024 took effect in August instead of the expected March date.

Investment Performance: Interest rates on investments have been higher in recent years.

Prior Planning: Effective rate management in previous years has yielded positive results.

Restoration efforts following the storm in April and May cost the District just over $4.5 million, equivalent to roughly two years’ worth of electric plant improvements. We are actively collaborating with FEMA to recover as much of these expenses as possible. The disaster has been approved for a 75% cost recovery from FEMA, along with an additional 12.5% recovery from the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency. While we do not have a definitive timeline for when we will receive these funds, similar situations have indicated that reimbursements can take 18 months to two years from the date of the disaster.

If you see Kurt Cleveland, Wheat Belt Engineering Technician, or Valerie Richards, Wheat Belt Accounting Specialist, please take a moment to thank them for their hard work in providing essential data to FEMA.