Irrigation/Load Management

For the most up-to-date load control information call

North Central PPD's Irrigation Hotline Service at:

402-358-7025

North Central PPD's Irrigation Hotline Service provide irrigation customers with the most up-to-date load control information available. Two different messages can be accessed when calling this number. The first message is a forecast and the second message is North Central's actual Load Control hours. The forecast message is posted at the beginning of each day indicating what North Central is anticipating for load control. Keep in mind that this is only a forecast and may change at anytime. The second message is also posted daily, indicating North Central's Load Control hours. This message will also be updated with any early release messages North Central receives. The Irrigation Hotline Service can be accessed as many times as necessary to stay informed of North Central's current load control status. You may also go to the Demand Waiver Status link for load control information. The irrigation hotline service will be available during North Central's Load Control Season, June 1 to September 15.

Click here to check the demand waiver status

Like most rural power power district in Nebraska, North Central PPD's system peak increases through the summer months June through September. A large amount of this increase can be attributed to irrigations. For this reason North Central PPD requires irrigation customers with larger than 15 horsepower services to participate in North Central PPD's Load Management Program. The District's Load Management Program offers four different control schedules:

• Anytime Control & Sunday Control
• 3-Day Control & Sunday Control
• 2-Day Control & Sunday Control
• 5-Hours Daily Control & Sunday Control

Irrigation customers can save on their annual horsepower billing depending on the control schedule they select. Click on the irrigation rate schedules to see a list of the irrigation rate schedules.

The District's Load Management Program requires radio control switches be installed on the irrigation wells. These switches respond to the District's load management equipment that monitors the system's load. As the load increases the load management equipment sends signals to the switches shutting off power to the irrigation wells to reduce the load. This process continues until the desired system load level is achieved. Irrigation wells will be subject to this load shedding process Monday through Saturday depending on the control schedule they have selected and depending on North Central's non-waived (control) hours. The District's non-waived (control) hours are determined by our wholesale supplier Nebraska Public Power District NPPD). In 2008 Sunday load control is being implemented. When Sunday load control is in effect the window of control hours are the same as during the week (Monday through Saturday) 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. with the exception that no irrigation service will be controlled more than 6 consecutive hours.

North Central offers some of the lowest rates in the nation and with the assistance of the Load Management Program hopes to maintain this status.

Load Control Schedule Changes Available

Irrigation customers who have fullfilled the Agreement for Electric Service contract and maintained service for a five year period with the District under the same load mangement schedule, may request to change their control schedule each year prior to the beginning of each irrigation season. All changes between control schedules have to be made by May 31.

Secondary Power Correction (Low Voltage) Capacitors

North Central Public Power District requires all irrigation services with 30 horsepower or larger be equipped with a power correction (low voltage) capacitor. A capacitor is an important piece of equipment necessary to maximize the efficiency of the irrigation system's operations. A capacitors installed on an irrigation system's motor provides the following benefits:

• prevents low voltage situations during startup
• prolongs the life of the irrigation motor
• assist in keeping the irrigation system's voltage at a correct level
• prevents the dimming of your lights and the neighbor's lights when startup of motor occurs
• it corrects the power factor while the motor is operating, and
• helps reduce line losses*

  *In this case line losses are an affect of a poor power factor, which a capacitor will assist in correcting. When an irrigation system has line loss the customer is paying for energy (kilowatt hours) and not receiving their full benefits.

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Below is a chart of North Central's irrigation rates associated with the following control schedule:

• Anytime Control & Sunday Control
• 3-Day Control & Sunday Control
• 2-Day Control & Sunday Control
• 5-Hours Daily Control & Sunday Control

The chart above displays the control hours for the 2007 Irrigation season by Schedule. In the chart below is a break down of the individual control schedule's control hours.