Nov 20 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Nancy Gaarder Omaha
World-Herald, Neb.
If your electric bill is putting a dent in your wallet, just remember, it
could be worse.
Nebraskans pay, on average, the fifth-lowest rates for electricity in the
nation, according to the Nebraska Power Review Board.
Of the six surrounding states, only Wyoming, rich with coal mines, has lower
average retail rates.
Nebraska, the nation's only all-public power state, traditionally ranks high
on the list.
The figures are contained in a report that annually evaluates for the
Legislature whether there's merit to opening up Nebraska's electric power
system to competition at the customer level. As with the previous seven
reports, the study's criteria indicate that Nebraskans would not benefit
from deregulation of its utilities.
The four states ahead of Nebraska are: Idaho, first; West Virginia, second;
Wyoming, third; and Kentucky, fourth. Iowa ranked 11th on the list.
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