Generator — Fall 2022

GENERA OR
a publication of Loup Power District FALL 2022
THIS ISSUE:
Supply Chain Disruptions
Reptiles and Amphibians
in Loup Territory
Public Power and
Cybersecurity Month

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Alan Drozd
Chairman
Steve Heesacker
First Vice Chairman
Robert Cerv
Second Vice Chairman
Jim Donoghue
Secretary
Dick Tooley
Treasurer
Rich Aerni
Mike Fleming
Ross Knott
Chris Langemeier
Larry Zach
EXECUTIVE STAFF
Neal Suess
President/CEO
Walt Williams
Vice President,
Accounting & Finance/CFO
Todd Duren
Vice President,
Corporate Services
Korey Hobza
Vice President, Engineering
Dan Hellbusch
Vice President, Operations
The Loup Generator is
published quarterly
as a service for Loup
employees, families,
friends, and associates.
For feedback, story ideas
and submissions, contact:
Stacy Wemhoff
Communications Coordinator
402-562-5711
swemhoff@loup.com
Protect yourself from cyber
criminals with these tips
In today’s digital world, cyberattacks
are unfortunately nothing new. Cyber
criminals can attack on a multitude of
levels, from large-scale attacks targeting
corporations to smaller phishing attacks
aimed at gaining an individual’s personal
information.
October is Cybersecurity Awareness
Month, but good cyber hygiene should be
practiced year-round. This year’s theme is
“See Yourself in Cyber” – because we all
have a part to play in cybersecurity. When
we hear about massive data breaches, it
can feel overwhelming and lead us to think
we’re powerless as individuals to stop
cyber criminals.
However, there are several practical steps
we can take to safeguard our devices and
data. Here are four easy ways to boost your
cyber hygiene:
1. ENABLE MULTI-FACTOR
AUTHENTICATION.
Also known as two-step verification, multifactor
authentication adds a second step
when logging into an account (to prove
you’re really you), which greatly increases
the security of the account. This second
step could include an extra PIN, answering
See Yourself
in Cyber.
October is Cybersecurity
Awareness Month
Improve your cyber
hygiene by doing
these four things:
1. Enable multi-factor
authentication
2. Use strong
passwords and a
password manager
3. Update software
regularly
4. Recognize and
report phishing
attacks
an extra security question, receiving an email code, or a secure token. Regardless of the type of authentication,
this additional step makes it twice as hard for cyber criminals to access your account. Not every
account offers multi-factor authentication, but it’s becoming increasingly popular and should be utilized
when available.
2. USE STRONG PASSWORDS AND A PASSWORD MANAGER.
Remember, passwords are the “keys” to your personal home online. Your passwords should always be
long, unique and complex. Create passwords using at least 12 characters, never reuse passwords for
multiple accounts, and use a combination of upper- and lower-case letters, numbers and special characters.
If you have a lot of accounts, consider using a password manager app to store them easily and
securely in one place.
3. UPDATE SOFTWARE.
It may seem obvious, but regularly updating software is one of the easiest ways to keep your personal
information secure. Most companies provide automatic updates and will send reminders so you can
easily install the update. If you’re not receiving automatic software updates, set a reminder to do so
quarterly. Be aware that some cyber criminals will send fake updates; these typically appear as a pop-up
window when visiting a website. Use good judgement and always think before you click.
4.RECOGNIZE AND REPORT PHISHING ATTACKS.
Don’t take the bait when cyber criminals go phishing. The signs of a phishing attack can be subtle, so take
the extra time to thoroughly inspect emails. Most phishing emails include offers that are too good to be
true, an urgent or alarming tone, misspellings and poorly-crafted language, ambiguous greetings, strange
requests, or an email address that doesn’t match the company it’s coming from. Most platforms like
Outlook, Gmail, and Mac Mail allow users to report phishing emails. If you suspect a phishing attempt,
take an extra minute to report it.
2 | GENERATOR
Cyber criminals are here to stay, but when we all take a risk-based approach to our cyber behavior, we’re
creating a safer internet for all. Visit www.staysafeonline.org for additional cybersecurity tips.

president’s message
Loup continues to learn about
EVs as they grow in popularity
There has been a lot of discussion over the past
months about electrification in the United States and
the increased use of electric vehicles (EVs) throughout
the country. There have also been several articles and
publications discussing this, with arguments on both
sides regarding the future of electric vehicles.
Electric vehicles are here to stay. The District is seeing
more and more electric vehicles on the road, and
using charging stations throughout Columbus (there
are several) and in other places throughout the State
of Nebraska. Many of these new electric vehicles are
stylish and have a certain flair to them, which makes
them attractive.
One of the big concerns with electric vehicles (especially
those that are all-electric) is the range they can
cover on a single charge. “Range anxiety” is a real
fear for many — owners want to make sure there are
charging stations at intervals needed to recharge the
EV. This is one way in which the federal government is
trying to invest money with the states to install a more
robust EV charging system.
Most all-electric vehicles have ranges from 250–300
miles on a full charge. As mentioned previously,
having charging stations at regular intervals will help
promote more widespread use of these EVs in the
future.
In addition, there are fast charging stations and slow
charging stations. Fast charging stations can recharge
a vehicle in approximately 30 minutes, while a slow
charging vehicle may take four hours or more to fully
charge an electric vehicle. This is one reason that most
EV owners/users restrict their use to day trips, or to
work and back.
Hybrid vehicles can run on an electrical charge and
on gasoline. These vehicles relieve the range anxiety
concerns and are popular for long-distance travelling
because a person does not have to worry about
running out of charge while driving and can charge
the vehicle at night.
The federal government, as well as many other local
government officials, believes electric vehicles are the
wave of the future. They may be correct, and we are
just at the beginning of the wave.
The District has both an all-electric vehicle and a
hybrid electric/gasoline vehicle. Both have provided
benefit to the District and we are learning more about
these each day they are in operation.
District management and the Board of Directors
continue to track ongoing trends and updates to the
electric utility industry to provide many opportunities
to our customers.
Electric vehicles and charging stations are just one of
the many trends we are watching. We would also be
happy to discuss these with you, so feel free to contact
us, and we will inform you the best we can.
NEAL SUESS
President/CEO
Loup Power District installed a ChargePoint
charging station at the Columbus General Office
in 2021.The station is networked and can be
accessed through the ChargePoint app which
also helps EV owners locate nearby stations
and sends notifications when the vehicle
is done charging. Owners pay for the
electricity through the app.
FALL 2022 | 3

Amphibians
&Reptiles
in Loup
Territory
The Loup Power District project brought
power and prosperity to our area in the
1930s. Recreation and irrigation opportunities
soon followed.
But there is another benefit that isn’t as
obvious — the system has created the
perfect habitat for a wide variety of animals,
especially reptiles and amphibians.
The Genoa Headworks, Lake Babcock, the
canal, and the Tailrace have the diverse
features of wetlands, large sandy areas,
and upland sites that are ideal habitats for
turtles, toads, lizards, and snakes.
The canal banks with overlying vegetation
provide optimal feeding, dwelling,
and escape cover for these species known
as herpetofauna. This becomes especially
important during periods of water scarcity
and drought when many other local waterways
run low or dry up.
Frogs, toads, and snakes love sand — and
Loup definitely has plenty of it! They
burrow in the sand to keep cool, hide from
predators, or ambush their prey.
New Century Environmental, a Columbusbased
firm, serves as an environmental
contractor for Loup. Biologists survey plant
and animal species found within the project
area that may be threatened, endangered,
or invasive. They frequently spot a variety of
amphibians and reptiles.
Both are components of aquatic ecosystems.
They serve as both prey and predators,
making them an important part of the
food chain.
The main difference in the two species
is that reptiles are born with lungs
while amphibians are born with gills for
breathing underwater. Reptiles also have
scales, while amphibians have thin, smooth
skin.
Snakes, turtles, and lizards are reptiles.
Frogs, toads, and salamanders are
amphibians.
Within the borders of Nebraska, there are
two species of salamanders, 11 species of
frogs and toads, eight species of turtles,
10 species of lizards, and 29 species of
snakes. Many of these animals are typical
inhabitants of the Great Plains and none are
limited to Nebraska.
There are 13 species of amphibians and 47
species of reptiles in Nebraska, including
one species of lizard recently reported in
Nebraska for the first time.
Although Nebraska has no obvious
geographic barriers within its borders, most
of these species have range limits within
the state.
Fourteen have statewide distributions
and 12 others occur widely over eastern
Nebraska.
So, the next time you’re fishing along the
canal or visiting one of our parks, take a few
minutes to see if you can spot one of these
interesting creatures! u
Associate Biologists Jordan Kort and Seth Gutzmer sample for aquatic
species at the Genoa Headworks. Loup’s hydroelectric license requires that
the District monitor for invasive and endangered species.
Loup has several wetlands within the project boundary that support many
species of amphibians and reptiles. Photos by Michael Gutzmer, New
Century Environmental.
4 | GENERATOR

BULLFROG
• Length: 3.5–6 inches
• Largest true frog in North
America; weighs up to 1.1 lb
• Sex can be determined by size
of tympanum (external ear
located near eye) — males
have much larger tympanum;
in females it is the size of eye or
smaller
WOODHOUSE’S TOAD
• Length: 1.75–5 inches
• Dry, watery skin that is a mix
of grays, browns, greens, and
yellows
• The males have a dark throat
while the females have lighter
throats
• Light stripe on the middle
of the back to the snout
COPE’S TREEFROG
• Length: 1–2 inches
• Color depends on
environment, season and
humidity
• Green colors more prominent
during breeding season and in
yearling frogs
• Lightly covered in warts;
smoother than most toads
SNAPPING TURTLE
• Shell length of 8–18 inches;
tail is as long as the shell
• Adults can weigh up to 50 lb
• Prefer water bodies with
muddy bottoms and abundant
vegetation
• Characteristic tubercules
on neck and legs
• Powerful beak-like jaws;
highly mobile head and neck
PAINTED TURTLE
• Length: 5–10 inches
• Live around permanent bodies
of water
• Dark green shell with bright red
and orange markings
• Yellow and red stripes on legs,
neck, face and head
NORTHERN
LEOPARD FROG
• Length: 2–4.3 inches
• Distinct white fold along the
length of the back extending
from each eye
• White, semi-transparent
belly — intestinal coils visible
through the skin
SIX-LINED RACERUNNER
• Length: 6–10 inches; tail makes up 70% of length
• Velvety skin with six yellow or green stripes from the
neck to tail
• Pellet-like dorsal scales and rectangular ventral
scales; rough rows of scales on tails
• Adult males express bright blue coloration on their
throats during mating season
Photos by Sam Stukel, United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS): bullfrogs, turtles, leopard frog, Woodhouse's toad.
Photos by Nebraskaland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission: Cope’s treefrog, six-lined racerunner.
FALL 2022 | 5

BARRED TIGER SALAMANDER
• Average length: 7.8 inches; can grow to 14 inches
• One of the longest terrestrial salamanders in North America
• Found in a variety of habitats, including forests, meadows, and grasslands
• Use ponds as breeding grounds (sometimes use slow-moving streams)
• Geographic variation in color and pattern; typically a light gray overlain with
scattered black or dirty yellow dots or a network of yellow bars and lines
BULLSNAKE
• Average length: 40–70 inches
• America’s largest snake
• Found in sandy prairies and grasslands;
also inhabit areas with rocky outcrops
• Triangular head with a black band extending from
the corner of the eye to the mouth
PLAINS GARTER SNAKE
• Average length: 15–28 inches
• Mildly venomous, but not to humans
• Found in prairies, open fields, and weedy vacant
lots; prefers low-canopy vegetation
• Feeds mostly on earthworms, minnows,
salamanders, toads, and frogs
Bullsnake and salamander photos by Nebraskaland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Garter snake by Jessica Bolser, USFWS.
Right: Michael Gutzmer,
Principal with New Century
Environmental, and Associate
Biologist Seth Gutzmer,
complete surveys for invasive
and endangered species
throughout Loup’s territory.
The company’s scientists
and engineers also assess
and manage a variety of
compliance and natural
resources issues throughout
the Great Plains.
Thanks to Michael Gutzmer
and Seth Gutzmer for providing
information about the amphibians
and reptiles that live in our
area.
6 | GENERATOR

AMPHIBIANS
No scales
Smooth, moist, soft skin
Lay eggs in gelatinous masses (no protective shell)
Metamorphosis — breathe through gills until lungs develop
Live in and out of water
Whole tongue
REPTILES
Scales
Hard, dry-looking skin
Lay eggs with a shell
No metamorphosis — look like adults when born
Tend to live on land, but may spend time in water
Bifurcated tongue
Top Photos by Sam Stukel, USFWS.
There are nine species of turtles in Nebraska, but only the painted turtle and snapping turtle
are found throughout the state.
Top left: A group of painted turtles sun themselves. Photo by Mike Gutzmer.
Top right: Seth Gutzmer, an Associate Biologist with New Century Environmental,
documents a juvenile snapping turtle. Photo by Mike Gutzmer.
Left: A snapping turtle has a strong, bony beak without teeth. They will eat almost anything
they can catch. Photo by Grayson Smith, USFWS.
FALL 2022 | 7

8 | GENERATOR

Loup among utilities dealing
with supply chain disruptions
Dave Rosno never imagined he’d have such
difficulty purchasing 5/8-inch by 14-inch
bolts.
“It’s something that we use everyday,” he
said. “What normally would be in stock at a
warehouse is taking up to 12 weeks to get,”
he said.
Bolts are just the tip of the iceberg, according
to Rosno, who serves as Loup’s Chief Storekeeper.
The biggest problem is not knowing
what the next problem is going to be.
“You don’t know there’s going to be a
problem with the supply until you go to order
and then it’s almost like a panic,” he said.
Across the country, the supply of critical
equipment and materials is decreasing while
demand continues to grow, widening the
gap between what is available and what is
needed.
Electric utilities are experiencing shortages
of distribution transformers, meters,
conductor materials, and bucket trucks due
to the ongoing economic impacts from the
COVID-19 pandemic.
Delayed investments and expanding lead
times for new equipment caused by a lack
of materials and labor will continue to
compound the problem—possibly for years
to come.
Korey Hobza, Vice President of Engineering,
said Loup’s transformer suppliers forecast
a shortage and alerted Loup which consequently
ordered extra transformers.
“We’ve been able to get the transformers we
need,” Hobza said. “But the lead times and
prices have increased significantly.”
Loup is planning a new Columbus substation.
The timeline for a distribution transformer
increased from 48 to 110 weeks.
Residential transformers have an average
lead time of about 45 months. He said some
companies are offering bids that are subject
to change based on the delivery date.
In a recent survey of public power utilities,
80 percent reported having either padmounted
or pole-mounted distribution
transformer inventories that are lower today
than they were in 2018.
Loup Power District’s supply of residential pole-mount transformers at the Columbus
Service Center. The District has been able to maintain its supply of transformers despite a
nationwide shortage.
Utilities are discussing the issue with
the federal government, working with
manufacturers, and with the entire sector
to encourage additional production and
sharing of transformers.
Shop and Transportation Superintendent
Mark Hanel is feeling the same pressures as
Hobza and Rosno.
He ordered two dump trucks earlier this year
with an estimated delivery date of the first
quarter of 2023. That date has since been
pushed to the end of next year.
Some vehicle orders were simply cancelled
outright. The cost is “uncertain at best” for a
few trucks still on order. On the bright side,
Hanel said his team has been able to access
the parts needed to maintain the District’s
existing fleet.
Rosno's strategy to deal with ongoing supply
chain issues is to shop around and find new
vendors. He is also asking vendors what
they are carrying for other utilities to see if
Loup can adjust and use slightly different
products — maybe a standard pole instead of
a custom-drilled pole.
Hobza said that strategy is working for
engineering as well — purchasing an “offthe-shelf”
transformer with specs that
closely match Loup’s means better price and
availability.
On top of simply finding supplies, Rosno has
to weigh product cost against the delivery
lead time.
“It's not always about price at this point,"
Rosno said. “It's if we will get it at all.”
He has been able to maintain inventory by
shopping around — often getting lucky and
stumbling upon vendors with enough inventory
at the right time. Sometimes he orders
from one vendor while waiting on another.
But, more inventory is always better than not
enough.
“We want to be prepared,” he said. “We
don’t want to run ourselves short in case of a
storm.”
FALL 2022 | 9

Retiree Profile
STEVE
CZARNIK
Steve Czarnik has been a hard worker
his whole life.
And although he has been retired for
five years, not much has changed.
He still raises cattle, harvests for neighbors,
and tackles projects around his farm.
But he can now do those projects on
his own schedule — a schedule that has
more time for his wife, children, and
grandchildren.
“We get to spend more time together,”
he said.
* * *
Back in 1988, Steve heard Loup Power
District had a Maintenance Man opening
at the Genoa Headworks.
He had been working at the same job
for 15 years and was ready for a change.
Plus, he’d heard that Loup was a good
company to work for.
He got the job and immediately enjoyed
the variety of tasks. He worked on the
dredge, steamed ice from the canal intake
gates, cut trees along the canal banks, and
hauled dirt and rock.
Three years later, he was promoted to
Equipment Operator. In 1997, he was named
Dredge Operator and became Heavy Equipment
Operator in 1998, staying in that role
until retirement in 2017.
Throughout his career, Steve continued
to enjoy the variety of working at the
Headworks. Sometimes inside the shop,
others outside. He also liked running large
equipment.
“Loup always had very nice equipment,”
he said. “It was a joy to operate.”
Even so, that part of the job could also be
stressful at times. He had to be vigilant and
careful in his work to be sure his coworkers
remained safe. He had to double check the
rigging, make sure he set equipment in the
right place.
“I was responsible. If something
happens, it’s my fault,” he said. “You had to
pay attention and be very careful.”
But the best part of the job, was definitely
the people he worked with for all his years.
And that’s the part he still misses today.
“It is a family. They’re your brothers,” he
said. “You laugh with them. And sometimes
you even cry with them.”
* * *
During his years at Loup, Steve also
farmed and raised cattle.
There were days when he came home and
wanted to sit and rest, but there was always
10 | GENERATOR
Steve Czarnik retired from Loup Power District in 2017 after
nearly 30 years of service. Today, he can spend more time
with his wife and dogs (above), and taking care of his cattle.
work to do.
Ten years ago, he decided to step away
from farming and rent out his cropland. He
continues to care for 70 head of cattle.
“I gotta have a reason to get up in the
morning and that’s a pretty good reason,”
he said. “They keep me busy from the first of
April to June calving.”
He checks on them 10–15 times a day
during those months. In the winter, he needs
to haul hay to feed them.
In the summer, Steve helps his renter
with irrigation. In the fall, he chops silage
and harvests corn for neighbors.
But that’s not all.
“Then there’s this honey do list,” he said.
“I can’t seem to get it to shrink.”
His wife, Sue, counters that if he wasn’t
getting a little older and slower maybe he’d
have an easier time keeping up.
Their banter continues as Steve talks
about how nice it is to make his own
schedule most days. And take a break on
those really hot or cold days.
“I can take a break at 2 p.m. and go in the
house to get on my wife’s nerves,” he jokes.
Sue just retired in December 2021 and
the couple has really enjoyed having a little
more freedom to go places and spend time
together.
She also really enjoys evening rides
to check cattle with Steve or just relaxing
outside. “One thing we both enjoy doing is
sitting on our deck with the dogs,” she said.
They have a great view to watch the
neighbors farming or catch a glimpse of
wildlife. They also inherited a pair of tame
turkeys who need regular attention.
Overall, it is a great new chapter of life,
Sue said. “We feel more free now.”
Sue and Steve Czarnik have three children:
Heather, Ryan, and Eric. They also have four
granddaughters and one grandson.

Is it safe to eat your food after an outage?
Severe winds, lightning and even squirrels can temporarily cause
the power to go out. We understand power outages of any length can
be frustrating, especially when your fridge is stocked with perishable
foods.
Extended power outages are rare, but when they occur, it’s important
to understand food safety measures to take to avoid illness.
Here are a few food safety tips to keep in mind before, during and
after a power outage.
BEFORE AN OUTAGE
A good rule of thumb is to keep an emergency supply kit on hand.
Be sure to include nonperishable food items like bottled water,
powdered milk, canned goods, cereal and protein bars in your emergency
kit.
If you have advance warning that an outage is possible, fill a
cooler with ice — just in case the outage spans several hours. Having
a cooler ready to go can buy extra time for your refrigerated, perishable
items.
DURING AN OUTAGE
Do not open the refrigerator or freezer unless absolutely necessary.
An unopened refrigerator will keep food cold for about four
hours. A half-full freezer will keep food frozen for about 24 hours and
a full freezer for about 48 hours.
If it looks like the power outage will last longer than four hours,
move your important perishable items to an ice-filled cooler.
AFTER AN OUTAGE
If refrigerated foods have been exposed to temperatures higher
than 40 degrees for more than two hours, the American Red Cross
recommends discarding the items. If any foods have an unusual
color, odor or texture, they should be thrown away.
While most perishable foods should be thrown out after an
extended outage, there are a few items that are safe to consume after
a two-hour exposure to 40+ degrees:
• hard cheeses that are properly wrapped
• butter or margarine that is properly wrapped
• taco, barbecue and soy sauces
• peanut butter, jelly, mustard, ketchup and relish
The best way to avoid illness from spoiled food during or after
an outage is to follow the four-hour rule of thumb. After an outage,
always smell and inspect foods before consuming and remember:
when in doubt, throw it out.
To learn more about food safety after an emergency,
visit ready.gov/food.
FALL 2022 | 11

employee notes
BOB ANDERSON
Dredge Operator
Bob Anderson of
Genoa retired from
Loup Power District
after 25 years of
service.
Anderson joined
Loup in 1997 as
a Maintenance
Man at the Genoa
Headworks. He
was promoted to
RETIRED
Equipment Operator
at the Headworks in 2002. In 2016,
Anderson was promoted to Dredge
Operator and he stayed in that position
until his retirement.
As a Dredge Operator, Anderson was a
member of the team that operates and
maintains the District’s dredge at the
Genoa Headworks located six miles
southwest of Genoa.
Anderson is a graduate of Genoa High
School and attended Wayne State
College. He and his wife, Michelle, are
the parents of two children: Tanner and
Halie.
ANDY WALLIN
Albion Division Crew Leader
Andy Wallin was
promoted to Crew
Leader for the Albion
Division. In his new
role, Wallin will lead
the crew in charge
of construction
and maintenance
of Loup’s electrical
transmission and distribution
system in
the Albion Division.
PROMOTION
Wallin joined Loup
Power District as a Line Technician at
the Columbus Service Center in 2011.
He was promoted to Journey Line
Technician in 2014 and remained in that
position until this promotion.
Wallin graduated from Newman Grove
High School and earned an Associate
of Applied Science Degree in Utility
Line from Northeast Community College
in Norfolk.
ERIC OLSUFKA
Maintenance Technician
Eric Olsufka joined Loup Power District
as a Maintenance Technician at the
Genoa Headworks.
In his new role,
Olsufka is responsible
for maintaining
District parks, facilities,
and equipment.
He will also assist
the Dredge/
Maintenance Canal
Technicians and
serve on the dredge
during the dredging
season.
Olsufka is a graduate of Columbus
High School. He and his wife, Kim, live
in Genoa with their three children —
Mila, Tate, and Jake.
GREG BADSTIEBER
Customer & Energy Services Coordinator
Greg Badstieber
joined Loup Power
District in 2012 as an
Engineering Technician
II in the Engineering
Department.
He was promoted to
Engineering Technician
I in 2015 and
was named Customer
and Energy
Services Coordinator
in 2019.
WELCOME
10 YEARS
Badstieber promotes heat pumps
and energy efficiency to customers,
contractors, engineers, architects, and
distributors. He oversees the EnergyWise
program that Loup offers in
partnership with NPPD. He also works
with key accounts and assists customers
with billing concerns.
Badstieber is a graduate of Columbus
High School. He earned an Associate
of Applied Science degree from
Southeast Community College. He also
has a Bachelor of Science degree in
Business Management from Peru State
College.
He and his wife, Sandi, are the parents
of two daughters, Elle and Ayla.
TIM NOVICKI
Journey Line Technician
Tim Novicki of
Columbus has
retired from Loup
Power District after
33 years of service.
Novicki joined
Loup in 1989 as
an Apprentice
Line Technician
in Columbus and
was promoted to
Line Technician
RETIRED
in 1990. He was
promoted to Journey Line Technician
at the Columbus Service Center in 1994
and remained in that position until his
retirement.
Novicki was a member of the crew
responsible for the construction,
operation, and maintenance of electric
transmission and distribution systems
and substations in the Columbus
Division.
He is a graduate of Columbus Scotus
High School and earned an Associate
of Applied Science Degree in Utility
Line from Northeast Community College
in Norfolk. Novicki and his wife,
Connie, reside in Columbus.
SCOTT SNYDER
Headworks Operator
Snyder joined Loup
in 1992 as a Maintenance
Man at the
Genoa Headworks.
He was promoted to
Dredge Operator in
1998 and was named
Headworks Operator
in 2018.
Snyder is a member
of the team that
operates and maintains
the District’s
dredge at the Genoa Headworks.
30 YEARS
Snyder is a native of Genoa and a
graduate of Genoa High School.
He and his late wife, Rose, are the
parents of a daughter, Tanya, and a
grandson, Easton.
12 | GENERATOR

ALVIN MEYER
Newman Grove Local Superintendent
Alvin Meyer
joined Loup
in 1997 as a
Lineman at
Albion. He was
promoted to
Journeyman
Lineman in
2003 and was
named Newman
Grove Local
Superintendent
in 2020.
25 YEARS
Meyer is responsible for overseeing
the maintenance and construction of
Loup’s electric power transmission
and distribution system in the Newman
Grove and Lindsay areas. He also
directs customer service in the area.
Meyer is a native of Winnetoon, Neb.,
and a graduate of Creighton High
School. He earned an Associate of
Applied Science Degree in Utility Line
from Northeast Community College in
Norfolk.
WHEELCHAIR-ACCESSIBLE PIER AT LAKE
Loup partnered with the Lower Loup Natural Resources District to construct an
ADA-compliant fishing pier along the north shore of Lake North. It extends 30
feet into the lake with a 12'×24' platform and railing. The pier was constructed by
Groundscapes Inc. It is open to the public year-round.
He and his wife, Jenny, have four
children and nine grandchildren.
CONNER LUSCHE
Journey Line Technician
Conner Lusche
joined Loup
Power District
as a Journey
Line Technician
in Columbus.
In his new
role, Lusche is
member of the
crew that is
responsible for WELCOME
the construction,
operation,
and maintenance of Loup’s electrical
transmission and distribution systems
and substations in the Columbus
Division.
Lusche is a graduate of Scotus Central
Catholic High School and earned an
associate’s degree from Northeast
Community College.
He and his wife, Demi, live in
Columbus.
NEW VOLLEYBALL COURT AT HEADWORKS PARK
The March 2019 storm and flooding caused significant damage to the Genoa
Headworks. The park reopened to camping in April 2021 following repairs. A new
60'×30' volleyball court was completed this summer and is open for public use at no
charge.
FALL 2022 | 13

Communities
receive nearly
$1.3 million
Loup Power District officials
recently delivered lease payments
totaling nearly $1.3 million to area
communities. Each of these communities
owns their electric distribution
systems. These payments
compensate them for the use of
those systems for the second quarter
of 2022. Communities use the funds
for a variety of public projects.
The payments were:
Columbus — $996,594.85
Platte Center — $9,830.01
Monroe — $8,684.75
Tarnov — $1,336.92
Creston — $5,544.10
Humphrey — $21,945.08
Lindsay — $45,549.05
Cornlea — $1,631.93
Newman Grove — $15,462.72
Duncan — $14,754.02
Fullerton — $27,420.43
Genoa — $20,498.23
Belgrade — $2,971.07
Richland — $2,265.46
Howells — $17,477.17
Leigh — $13,554.86
Clarkson — $16,463.95
Albion — $39,350.90
Cedar Rapids — $12,756.62
Primrose — $1,297.18
Petersburg — $8,401.92
St. Edward — $15,502.97
Total — $1,299,294.19
Q: What is an
energy vampire?
GHW SETTLING BASIN BANK WORK
Repair work from a 2019 storm that caused flooding and canal breaches is finally
nearing completion.
As flood water spilled over the intake gates, it eroded the north bank of the settling
basin and destroyed the Headgates Operator’s home (bottom photo). Water has
continued to erode fill along the bank, dumping it into the canal’s settling basin.
To fix the problem, a sheet pile wall is being installed. The 30' pilings are driven 20' in
the ground with tiebacks to secure the wall.
A wingwall was built in a similar manner to fix the one that was also destroyed in 2019.
An energy vampire is a device that
continues to use energy and drain
power, even when it is turned off.
They lurk in your home, taking the
form of phone chargers and cable
boxes, computer cords and coffee
pots. These phantom energy suckers
can account for as much as 20% of
your monthly electricity bill.
Q: What is the quickest way
to slay an energy vampire?
As simple as it sounds, all
you need to do is identify the
culprits and unplug them.
14 | GENERATOR

LINE RETIREMENT
Loup retired a 34.5kV line north of Country Club Shores in Columbus at
the end of August. There were two transmission lines on the poles,
but one had not been used for a number of years.
Taking down the extra line reduced load on the poles
and therefore reduces the chance of them going
down in a storm. The crossarms and
distribution lines were raised during
the process to add extra clearance.
The area is typically quite wet. However, the lack of rain dried up
the ground enough that employees could drive trucks to the site.
The entire Columbus team and three local superintendents worked
on the project. The large crew was able to finish the project more
quickly to reduce the outage time for customers in the area.
Above: Line Technician Michael Lange (left) and Arborist Crew
Leader Trent Konwinski.
FALL 2022 | 15

2404 15th Street | PO Box 988
Columbus, NE 68602-0988
PUBLIC POWER MONTH
DID YOU
KNOW?
Nebraska is the only state in the nation served entirely
by public power electric utilities.
Community-owned utilities mean that
NEBRASKANS ARE WORKING FOR NEBRASKANS.
Nebraska’s electric utilities use a diverse mix of fuel
resources to generate electricity, such as wind, water, coal,
nuclear, natural gas, solar and methane.
Nebraska’s electric utilities
are governed by locally elected
or appointed boards and councils.
This means
YOU HAVE A VOICE IN THE
DECISIONS MADE BY YOUR
LOCAL UTILITY.
Public power
electric utilities
are not-forprofit,
meaning
there’s no profit
motive and no
shareholder
pockets to pad —
simply affordable,
cost-of-service
electric rates for
consumers.
Each dollar of a public power employee’s
paycheck circulates through the local
economy an estimated four to five times.
KEEPING LOCAL DOLLARS LOCAL.
Nebraska’s electric utilities pay more than
$100 million
to communities they serve each year in lieu of taxes.
Those dollars stay local, helping
EMPOWER OUR HOMETOWNS.