Powering Lincoln’s memorable moments

by Amy Svoboda

Since 1966, Lincoln Electric System has powered Lincoln’s memorable moments. From illuminating the city’s skyline to broadcasting the replay of the winning touchdown, LES is proud to be here for the community every day.

As a not-for-profit electric utility, LES is based on the model of local people serving local people. Because LES employees live here, they want to see the community grow and thrive. Providing Lincoln with reliable yet low-cost electric service is at the heart of LES’ mission and at the heart of the people who carry it out. 

Lincoln is just one of over 2,000 cities and towns in the United States run on public power, meaning that electricity comes from a community-owned and -operated utility. As a public power utility, LES embraces the low cost of service and the importance of local leadership and local ownership. These principles are carried out in a variety of ways:

• High reliability: When you flip the switch, rain or shine, you expect the lights to come on. But if the power does go out, LES works as quickly and safely as possible to restore it. Overall, they continue to maintain a service reliability of 99.99%.
• Affordability: LES keeps the cost of electricity as low as possible. Public power utilities are not-for-profit entities that operate in the community’s best interest. LES continues to outperform other utilities in the nation in affordability, powering everything in the average residential customer’s home for about three dollars per day. 
• Local control: Customers have a voice in decisions made by LES. And because utility board members live in the communities they serve, they carefully consider the input of the decisions they make. They keep the interests of their families, neighbors and friends in mind to best support the community. 
• Community-focused: LES’ daily work is delivering power. With an unwavering commitment to powering the community’s moments, LES ensures that Lincoln continues to be one of the nation’s best cities to live in. LES’ public power history puts people—not profits—first.
• Sustainability: LES wants to see the Lincoln community thrive for generations to come, so the utility set a goal to achieve net-zero carbon dioxide production from its generation portfolio by 2040.

“What’s key as a community-owned utility is that we’re matching the values of our community with the services, programs and education we provide,” said LES Vice President and General Counsel Shelley Sahling-Zart.

A major Lincoln community moment LES proudly powers and transforms the Lincoln Children’s Zoo into one of the largest energy-efficient light shows in the Midwest. In its first five years, Zoo Lights Powered by LES has welcomed nearly 150,000 community members, creating an opportunity for people of all ages to gather, connect and celebrate. 

This signature event features all the community’s holiday favorites, including a 40-foot Christmas tree, a 60-foot light tunnel, holiday train rides, s’mores and hot cocoa stations, more than 30 lit animal silhouettes, a vine show with 190 hanging vines of lights, photos with LES lineworker nutcrackers and more. 

Zoo Lights Powered by LES began as a way for the utility to further engage with its community during the winter and for the Lincoln Children’s Zoo to attract guests during its slow time of year. Open from the day after Thanksgiving through December, all proceeds support the zoo and its animals during the winter months. The event accounts for nearly 15 per cent of the zoo’s total annual attendance.

“Zoo Lights Powered by LES continues the tradition of providing a destination for thousands of Nebraskans to visit the Lincoln Children’s Zoo and celebrate the holidays. We are proud that this community event is supported and powered by our local utility,” said Zoo CEO Evan Killeen.

LES hosts Energy Nights throughout the event. LES staff volunteers engage with the public on energy-saving tips and LES programs, furthering the utility’s model of local people serving local people. 

“LES is committed to investing in the community, and we do so in various ways, including educational outreach programs, events, classroom presentations, sustainability efforts and more. We are grateful to partner with the Lincoln Children’s Zoo to serve the community through this signature event,” Sahling-Zart said. Powering your moments—it’s what LES is all about.”