By PAUL HAMMEL
Nebraska Examiner
LINCOLN — A proposed merger of two central Nebraska power utility districts is headed for a do-over after the initial application was rejected Monday on a technicality.
The Nebraska Power Review Board, which has to approve such mergers, ruled that it cannot approve the merger of the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District and Dawson Public Power District, based on a technical issue in their charter documents.
The two districts, in press releases Monday, said they plan to update the charter language and reapply to merge the two entities and create the “Platte River Public Power and Irrigation District.”
“Central has always done things the right way and will continue to do so by amending the documents to comply with the technical requirements of our authorizing statutes,” said Central Board President Dave Rowe.
The proposed merger spawned a rebellion by irrigators served by the Central district, who maintain that they’ll lose representation, and clout, with a merger.
Irrigators have opposed the merger, saying that it’s a lopsided deal, that provides little benefit for Central or irrigators.