Load Management

Like most rural 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 & Sunday Control
• 3-Day & Sunday Control
• 2-Day & Sunday Control
• 5-Hours Daily & 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 to 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 was 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 we hope to maintain this status.

Load Control Schedule Changes Available

Irrigation customers may request to change their load control schedule each year prior to the beginning of the irrigation season. All changes between load control schedules have to be made by May 1st.  To make any changes please notify North Central PPD’s office 402-358-5112 or 800-578-1060 or by email at ncirrigation@ncppd.net.