Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District, Courtesy
HOLDREGE— The Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District’s board of directors approved its budget for the 2026 fiscal year at their monthly meeting on Monday (Dec. 1).
The 2026 budget year beginning in January anticipates total revenues from various business operations, including $13.1 million from the sale of hydroelectric power, $4.8 million from irrigation delivery service and $1.58 million from lake lot lease fees. Additional revenue from grants related to the E65 siphon project and a potential irrigation automation project were also included in the budget.
Anticipated standard operations and maintenance expenditures for the district in 2026 totaled nearly $22 million. A number of large capital expenditures were included in the budget as well.
Those included $15 million towards the E65 siphon project and $3 million for the initial phase of a lateral automation project. Among the other larger capital projects that are budgeted include provisions for a concrete bridge replacement for $3 million, $800 thousand for continued Kingsley Dam refacing engineering and studies and $450 thousand for FERC boundary land acquisition.
Prior to finalizing the budget, the board took action on approving the irrigation water rates for the 2026 season.
The board voted to increase the rates by 2.5% for the 2026 season. The rate for a base allotment of 9 inches per acre will be $44.96, which is $1.10 increase from the previous year. The board approved increase is 0.8% below the regional rate of inflation of 3.3% as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics over the past year. The new rate of $1.56 per acre/inch above the base allotment was also approved. Rates for non-incremental price program 12” contracts is set at $49.66 per acre and $59.07 for 18” contracts.
Also at Monday’s board meeting:
• The board included in the budget approval of a 3.3% CPI increase to the District wage scales starting in 2026.
• Directors gave staff authorization to conduct necessary replat and lease updates to the extension of Lots 11-25 in the Northeast Cove Area at Johnson Lake and to sell leasehold interests at a rate of $2.00 per square foot.
• Directors approved a construction work order in advance of a potential land purchase from the City of North Platte for area near the CNPPID Supply Canal Diversion Dam which will aid the District in its operations. A finalized contract will need approval from the board.
• Tyler Thulin reported that Lake McConaughy’s elevation is 3,227 feet, or 47% of maximum volume. Current inflows are around 1,150 cubic feet per second (cfs) and outflows are 500 cfs to meet the FERC diversion requirements. Thulin said outflows increased since the committee meeting as Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) began taking water into their system again after being down for maintenance.
• Thulin also said water elevations at all District lakes will be lowered to their normal winter operation levels.
