Complaints

Pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. section 70-1017, the Power Review Board is authorized to receive formal complaints filed by Nebraska ratepayers and take administrative action in two circumstances. Subject to certain limitations, the Board has the authority to conduct hearings and render a determination under the following circumstances:

1) If a Nebraska electric supplier will not furnish service to a ratepayer located in the supplier's service area when it is economically feasible to connect service and supply the applicant, and

2) When the applicant alleges that the electric power supplier is not treating all customers and applicants within the same rate class fairly and without discrimination.

Nebraska law provides that any Nebraska supplier of electricity at retail must furnish service to any person who applies for service, if the person is located within the supplier's service area, and if it is economically feasible to establish and maintain service to the person. The electric supplier must furnish service within a reasonable amount of time after the application is made to establish the service. If the applicant and the electric supplier cannot agree on the terms under which service is to be furnished, the matter will be submitted to the Power Review Board to hold a hearing and make a determination.

Although electric suppliers cannot discriminate against customers in the same rate class, a supplier may have many different rate classes available to its customers. As long as the categories are based on factors such as type of service required, load volume, peak demand requirements, or similar criteria, an electric supplier may establish as many different rate classes as are necessary to serve its customers' needs.

The Board's authority to hold hearings is limited to the areas described above. The Board does not have the authority to investigate or hold hearings on any matters relating to rates, late payments or overdue accounts. These include procedures for disconnecting service due to overdue accounts, charges for late payments, or fees for reconnecting service shut off due to nonpayment, and similar issues.

In Nebraska, ratepayers wishing to express concerns about how their electric supplier conducts its operations are able to contact their elected representatives serving on the public power district board of directors, the city council or village board, or their cooperative's board of directors. These individuals ultimately are responsible for the operation and policies of their respective electric power suppliers.