Greater Omaha Economic Development Partnership

                                                                              

greater omaha utilities


Without any compromises in quality, service or availability, businesses and residents in the Greater Omaha area benefit significantly from utility costs that are well below the national average.

Learn more about Electricity Rates, Natural Gas Rates, Water Rates and Waste water & Sewer Information.

Electricity

Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) is the 12th-largest, publicly owned electric system in the U.S., based on the number of customers served. Its diversified generation mix in 2010 included 52 percent coal, 37 percent nuclear, 9 percent oil and natural gas and 2 percent renewable resources. This ensures OPPD is well equipped to accommodate the demands of its commercial, industrial and residential customers throughout its service area of more than 5,000 square miles including Greater Omaha and portions of 13 counties in eastern Nebraska. In addition, OPPD is a “net seller” of electricity. This means the earnings from sales are returned to customers in the form of rate stability and system improvements.

OPPD has maintained an Average Service Availability Index of 99.98 percent or higher for the past ten years. In addition to efficient utilization of base load stations and peaking units, one key to OPPD’s excellent service reliability is the in-state availability of additional power during times of high demand. OPPD assures that availability through it membership in the Southwest Power Pool (SSP), which serves more than 5 million customers in nine states – Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. SPP’s footprint includes 29 balancing authorities, 48,930 miles of transmission lines and 370,000 square miles.

The following table compares OPPD’s rates to other regional utilities for industrial, commercial and residential users.

Regional Electricity Price Comparison
Industrial Average
Company cents/kWh
MidAmerican Energy (IA)
4.09
Union Electric (MO) 
4.61
Omaha Public Power District (NE)
4.83
Nebraska Public Power District
5.17
Minnesota Power          
5.22
Kansas Gas & Electric
5.47
Otter Tail Power (MN)     
5.53
Wisconsin Public Service
5.60
KCP&L Greater Missouri Ops.     
5.62
Lincoln Electric System (NE)
5.84
Kansas City Power & Light (MO)
5.98
Northern States Power (WI)          
6.32
Northern States Power (MN)
6.49
Westar Energy (KS)
6.50
National Average
6.77
Kansas City Power & Light (KS)
7.19
Wisconsin Electric Power
7.20
Wisconsin Power & Light
7.55
Source: Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-861, 2010

Regional Electricity Price Comparison
Commercial Average
Company cents/kWh
MidAmerican Energy (IA)
6.46
Union Electric (MO)      
6.73
Lincoln Electric System (NE) 6.77
Otter Tail Power (MN)
7.14
Omaha Public Power District (NE)
7.54
Kansas Gas & Electric
7.65
Westar Energy (KS)
7.70
KCP&L Greater Missouri Ops.
7.71
Nebraska Public Power District
7.81
Kansas City Power & Light (KS)
7.84
Kansas City Power & Light (MO)
8.04
Northern States Power (MN)
8.24
Minnesota Power     
8.34
Northern States Power (WI) 8.70
Wisconsin Public Service 9.46
National Average
10.19
Wisconsin Electric Power 10.48
Wisconsin Power & Light
10.58
Source: Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-861, 2010

Regional Electricity Price Comparison
Residential Average
Company cents/kWh
Union Electric (MO) 8.15
Otter Tail Power (MN)
8.25
Lincoln Electric System (NE)
8.30
MidAmerican Energy (IA)
8.37
Omaha Public Power District (NE)
9.22
Kansas Gas & Electric     
9.46
Westar Energy (KS)
9.55
Nebraska Public Power District
9.62
Minnesota Power
9.66
Kansas City Power & Light (KS)
9.80
KCP&L Greater Missouri Ops.
9.86
Kansas City Power & Light (MO)
10.09
Northern States Power (MN) 10.79
Northern States Power (WI) 10.90
National Average
11.54
Wisconsin Power & Light
12.41
Wisconsin Public Service
12.91
Wisconsin Electric Power
13.20
Source: Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-861, 2010

Natural Gas

Greater Omaha is served by two natural gas utilities – publicly owned Metropolitan Utilities District (MUD) and Black Hills Corporation. 

The following table shows a breakdown of natural gas rates by state for both industrial and residential users.

Average Natural Gas Prices by State


Average Cost Per
Million BTUs
State Residential Industrial
Alabama 17.59 6.29
Alaska 9.94 3.90
Arizona 17.13 7.95
Arkansas 13.00 8.22
California 9.15
6.38
Colorado 8.54
6.38
Connecticut 14.38 8.19
Delaware 17.27 13.58
District of Columbia 13.51 --
Florida 19.63 9.13
Georgia 12.82 6.03
Hawaii 35.31 18.49
Idaho 10.23 8.28
Illinois 8.72
7.10
Indiana 10.50 6.71
Iowa 9.54
6.05
Kansas 10.78 4.45
Kentucky 11.61 5.87
Louisiana 12.77 4.19
Maine 15.95 8.85
Maryland 12.71 10.39
Massachusetts 14.42 11.72
Michigan 10.94 9.35
Minnesota 8.73
5.49
Mississippi 10.90 6.34
Missouri 12.24 9.28
Montana 9.22
8.80
Nebraska 9.07
5.84
Nevada 12.80 10.89
New Hampshire 14.89 12.48
New Jersey 14.07 8.70
New Mexico 9.25
5.25
New York 14.52 9.24
North Carolina 13.83 8.41
North Dakota 8.21
5.06
Ohio 11.30 8.67
Oklahoma 11.05 12.18
Oregon 14.10 9.42
Pennsylvania 14.14 9.14
Rhode Island 16.56 12.22
South Carolina 14.48 5.89
South Dakota 8.88
5.89
Tennessee 11.81 6.88
Texas 10.86 3.94
United States 11.51 5.17
Utah 8.69 5.46
Vermont 16.79 7.70
Virginia 13.24 6.94
Washington 13.55 11.34
West Virginia 14.32 5.38
Wisconsin 10.44 7.59
Wyoming 9.12 5.62
Source: American Gas Association, 2009

Water

An abundant, low-cost supply of water is available for industrial and commercial users in Greater Omaha. The
current system consists of six reservoirs and more than 2,200 miles of water mains. What’s more, water quality meets or exceeds all current and proposed federal standards.

Following is a breakdown of water rates by state for both commercial and light-industrial users.

Regional Water Rate Comparison
City Commercial/Light Industrial (500 CCF) % Above M.U.D. Rates
Omaha, NE $453.92 --
Huntsville, AL
$523.70 15%
Memphis, TN
$527.50 16%
Tallahassee, FL
$567.41 25%
Little Rock, AR
$682.11 50%
Detroit, MI
$682.96 50%
Cincinnati, OH
$769.36 69%
Springfield, MO
$796.50 75%
Lincoln, NE
$832.05 83%
Columbus, OH
$839.72 85%
Oklahoma City, OK
$853.64 88%
Jackson, TN
$900.20 98%
Dallas, TX
$917.63 102%
Indianapolis, IN
$937.41 107%
Nashville, TN
 $985.63 117%
Louisville, KY $1,077.80 137%
Philadelphia, PA
$1,115.51 146%
Chattanooga, TN
$1,173.71 159%
New York, NY
$1,305.00 187%
Knoxville, TN
$1,342.30 196%
Bellevue, WA
$1,373.51 203%
Phoenix, AZ
$1,435.86 216%
Marietta, GA
    $1,452.12
220%
Seattle, WA 
$1,763.00 288%
Los Angeles, CA
$1,897.00 318%
Austin, TX
$2,198.90 384%
Source: 2010 Utility Bill Comparisons; Memphis Light, Gas & Water

Wastewater and Sewage
Operated by the city, Omaha’s wastewater treatment plants are designed to treat some of the toughest organic wastes including high Biochemical Oxygen Demand wastes. Combined with the city’s EPA award-winning sewage treatment plants, the area is well positioned to accommodate development and growth of existing and emerging industries.

NOTE: The rates listed on this page have been compiled from resources provided by local utilities and are subject to change. Please contact each utility company directly for current price quotes.

               Black Hills Energy
               1102 E. First St.
               Papillion, NE 68046
               (888) 890-5554
               www.blackhillsenergy.com

               City of Omaha
               Public Works Department
               1819 Farnam St. #600
               Omaha, NE 68183
               (402) 444-5220
               Fax: (402) 444-5248
               www.cityofomaha.org/pw

               Metropolitan Utilities District
               1723 Harney St.
               Omaha, NE 68102
               (402) 554-6666
               (800) 732-5664             
                www.mudomaha.com

               Northern Natural Gas
               1111 S. 103rd St.
               Omaha, NE 68124
               (402) 398-7200
               (866) 810-5268
               www.northernnaturalgas.com

               Omaha Public Power District
               444 S. 16th St.
               Omaha, NE 68102
               (402) 536-4131
               (877) 536-4131
               www.oppd.com