Building a brighter future

Every day since 1966, Lincoln Electric System has been committed to ensuring its customers can brew their morning cup of coffee, call a long-distance friend and keep their families warm in their homes, all with the power of affordable and reliable electricity. At the same time, LES continuously predicts and prepares for the energy future.

As the community’s sole electric service provider, LES makes thoughtful decisions that benefit Lincoln today, and for generations to come. Cyber resiliency is always at the forefront, ensuring the security of the electric grid. Sustainability efforts pave the way for greener energy. Community engagement strives to educate and empower customers to feel confident in their energy use.

LES is building a brighter future for Lincoln. How so, one may ask?

By prioritizing safety & security.

LES works to ensure that nothing interferes with providing customers with safe and reliable electricity — a responsibility not taken lightly. 

LES regularly conducts a variety of cyber exercises to maintain vigilance and improve resiliency, including GridEx. As North America’s largest grid security exercise, GridEx offers complex attack scenarios designed to push the limits of the most prepared participants to help prepare responses to contemporary threats and security issues.

Safety is always top-of-mind for LES employees, as all staff, regardless of their department, must attend 12 safety trainings each year. These trainings focus on various topics related to cyber threats and industry-related risks, as well as tips for staying safe and vigilant in their personal lives. LES received the 2023 Nebraska’s Safest Companies award from the National Safety Council, Nebraska Chapter, for prioritizing safety and having impeccable safety records.

LES is proactive, not reactive. When an entire community depends on LES to keep the lights
on, LES can never be too prepared for what’s to come.

By celebrating its surroundings.

Lincoln is LES’ home, and LES is committed to keeping the community sustainable. The impacts of environmental decisions today will still be felt by tomorrow’s LES customers.

LES proudly powers the community with a nameplate resource portfolio — the full capacity of its generation — that is diversified over several categories: natural gas, 35%; coal, 31%; and renewable resources, including wind, hydro, solar and landfill gas, 34%. This mix of power resources provides LES flexibility, adaptability and stability in an ever-changing energy landscape while propelling the utility toward achieving net-zero carbon emissions from generation by 2040. 

LES also celebrates environmental stewardship throughout the year. For instance, in celebration of Arbor Day 2023, LES partnered with Lincoln Parks & Recreation to plant and mulch more than 35 trees at Pioneers Park to restore lost tree cover. For the 18th consecutive year, LES earned a Tree Line USA designation, a program that recognizes best practices in utility arboriculture, demonstrating how trees and utilities can co-exist for the benefit of communities and citizens. During the annual LES Trail Cleanup, employee volunteers collected 582 pounds of waste along the 27th Street bike path just last year, making the city a cleaner and greener place for all.

By preparing the next generation of energy users.

LES’ ongoing partnership with Lincoln Public Schools helps ensure that the next generation of energy users will be informed and engaged with their energy use and local electric utility. As part of this partnership, LES staff visit schools to build wind turbines, giving students real-world examples to discuss electricity resources and engineering concepts. Students also engage with LES at the Zoetis-LPS-Haleon Science Fair to view high-voltage tabletop demonstrations and have energy professionals judge their projects. Hundreds of LPS middle school students also participate in the Solar Car Challenge each semester. Building on basic engineering concepts, this hands-on race allows students to foster communication, critical thinking, creativity and collaboration skills — all necessary for their futures.

LES’ involvement with LPS offers opportunities to share messages about the importance of STEM education, electrical safety and careers in energy. LES employees love what they do and are grateful to share their passions with Lincoln’s youngest residents.

Why is thinking ahead so important at LES? It’s so customers can continue to enjoy each morning, that long-awaited laugh, that quality time with their families. Yesterday’s efforts become today’s actions and tomorrow’s triumphs. LES has proudly powered the capital city since 1966, and while the future is never certain, LES will proudly power what’s yet to come, too.