LINCOLN, Neb. — The Lincoln Electric System’s (LES) Administrative Board’s Finance Committee has proposed a 2026 budget that includes a 3% systemwide increase to retail electric rates. The proposal was made during the LES Administrative Board meeting on September 19, 2025.
“This proposed adjustment is largely driven by rising power costs and transmission expenses — factors that are primarily beyond LES’ control,” said Emily Koenig, LES vice president of Financial Services and chief financial officer. “However, we can control how we manage our internal spending, so we are re-evaluating how we allocate resources within our utility.”
To mitigate the impact on customers, LES is recommending internal budget reductions, including delaying or scaling back non-essential projects. These measures have helped reduce the proposed rate increase from potentially exceeding 4%…