Hastings Utilities, a full-service municipally-owned utility, operates the Electric, Natural Gas, Water and Sanitary Sewer service within the City. Hastings Nebraska residents enjoy some of the most reliable and reasonably-priced utilities in the nation. Hastings Utilities also supplies electricity to many surrounding rural areas, with Southern Nebraska Rural Power District supplying the remainder of Adams County. Hastings Utilities purchases natural gas from numerous suppliers and maintains firm transportation capacity on both the Trailblazer and SourceGas interstate pipeline systems. Having access to two pipelines allows Hastings Utilities the ability to source gas supplies from the most economic alternative available. In addition, Hastings Utilities maintains two propane air "peak shaving" facilities located within its distribution system. These facilities further enhance reliability and can be used as economic hedges during periods in which natural gas price spikes occur.
Besides its standard "bundled" rate offering provided to residential, commercial and industrial natural gas customers, Hastings Utilities offers larger volume commercial or industrial customers the ability to contract for firm or interruptible transportation and gas supplies. At the customer's option, fixed or index supply pricing is available with cost subject to market conditions at the time.
SourceGas, Inc., an investor-owned utility, serves the remainder of Adams County with natural gas service. Natural gas is available without quantity limitations. Rate information is available from HEDC upon request.
Utility Capacities
Service
Current Average Usage
Output Potential
Electricity
49,300,000 kwh/month
143.4 megawatts
Gas
165,000 mmbtu/month
694,000 mmbtu/month
Water
7,840,000 gal/day
34,500,000 gal/day
Sewer
4,000,000 gal/day
6,000,000 gal/day
Natural Gas
Natural Gas Available
Yes
Supplier
Hastings Utilities
Additional sources are in interconnection with Nebraska Public Power District; supply contact with Western Area Power Administration Municipal power tool.
Electricity
Supplier
Hastings Utilities
KW Capacity
143,400
KW Peak Demand
101 megawatts
Source: Hastings Utilities, 2008
Electrical Facilities
Hastings Utilities has an optimum mix of base load, intermediate and
peaking generation facilities. The Whelan Energy Center (WEC), a
77-megawatt (net output) coal fired power plant, was competed in 1982
and is an extremely economical power supply. Hastings Utilities also
has a long term firm purchase power contract with Western Area Power
Administration (WAPA), which provides low cost hydro power from the
Federal dam projects to the city.
During peak consumption periods when the WEC and WAPA power is not
adequate to meet the city demand, Hastings Utilities will select the
most economic alternative and either purchase power from a third party
source or bring a gas fired generation unit on line to handle
additional demand. Hastings Utilities has two dual fuel natural gas
fired (diesel backup) combustion steam turbines to handle intermediate
and peaking load needs and one quick start duel fuel turbine for short
term peaking needs.
Hastings Utilities is partnering with four other public power
electrical utilities to construct an additional 220 MW (megawatt) of
generating capacity on the site of the existing Whelan Energy Center
Unit 1. Hastings Utilities will own an additional 35 megawatts of
production capacity from the new project (WEC Unit 2) which is
scheduled to be online in Spring 2011. This added generation should
secure Hastings Utilities' capacity needs well into the future.
Sanitation
Capacity
6,000,000 gals/day
Present Load
4,380,00 gals/day
Sewer use charge
Yes
Source: Hastings Utilities, 2008
Sewer Facilities
A three-year-long plant modernization and expansion project was
completed in 2004. The $10 million expansion added 2 million gallons
capacity per day. The facility began operation in 1982.
Type of sewage treatment secondary rotating; biological contractor
and trickling filter with anaerobic digestion. All bio-solids are land
applied at agronomic rates meeting the requirements of the EPA 503
sludge rules.
Water
Water supplied by
Municipal
Name of supplier
Hastings Utilities
Source of city water
Underground water
Number of wells
21
Peak consumption
21,000,000 gals/day
System capacity
34,000,000 gals/day
Storage capacity
None
Hardness (ppm)
232 mg/1 as CaCO3
Treated
No
Temperature Range
52-56 degree
Source: Hastings Utilities, 2008
Water Facilities
The water system has been expanded recently raising the total number
of wells to 21. The water is clear and clean, requiring no treatment,
with an average winter tap temperature of 52-54 degrees and average
summer tap temperature of 54-56 degrees. The chemical make-up varies at
different wells. For specific information, contact HEDC.
Telecommunications
Local Capabilities
Two communication companies are located two
miles south of the site: PinPoint with Level 3 and Windstream Communications.
PinPoint and Level 3 have cooperative fiber optic services..
Windstream Communications
Windstream can offer dark fiber but has been
reluctant to do so. They have digital switching and a fully redundant network
with Optical SONET/IP services from OC -12 that is ring protected. The point of
presences for Windstream is located in Lincoln, Nebraska. Fiber can be extended
to the site within the 18-24 months requested. The Hastings retail store
is located at 321 North St Joseph.
Source: Windstream, 2008
Pinpoint with Level 3
Pinpoint Network Services is an regional
intrastate and interstate carrier featuring a diverse, long-haul fiber route
extending from the Denver, CO to Chicago, IL and Chicago IL to New Orleans, LA.
The fully redundant network includes more than 340 fiber miles (lit and dark
fiber) in Nebraska and 2000 fiber miles in the entire route, as well as
connection to on-net facilities with Level 3, AT&T, Qwest, Verizon, Sprint,
360 Networks, Cogent, Paetec, Iowa Network Services, SDN Communications, McLeod
USA, Fiber One and Windstream. Pinpoints Transport Service provides both
SONET and IP based services; OC-n (3-192) and 10Mbps to 10 Gbps are available
in Nebraska, the domestic United States and abroad. Pinpoint will sell dark
fiber, where available, along its fiber route. Fiber can be extended to the
site within the 18-24 months requested.
Source: Pinpoint, 2008
Extremely Competitive Utilities
