The Nebraska Legislature’s Natural Resources Committee took testimony Thursday on LB 547 brought by Senator Dan Watermaier. The measure calls for increasing competition for electrical power suppliers and for removing eminent domain authority from the State’s Public Power system. Nebraska Farmers Union President John Hansen testified against the bill saying it, along with two other measures, would dismantle the public power system in the state.

He says the public power program has served rural Nebraska well since its inception in 1933.

Hansen says the major benefits from the public power system include local control, low rates and good service.

Hearings have been held on the three measures but no legislative action taken yet.