Lincoln Electric System is proposing a 3% systemwide rate increase within the utility’s 2026 budget.
If the rate adjustment is adopted by the LES Administrative Board, the average LES residential customer would see an increase of approximately $3.22 on their monthly bill. Other rate classes would see adjustments varying from 0.8% to 10% based on the cost of serving each class.
A public meeting on the budget will be held on Oct. 9 at 6 p.m. at the Kevin Wailes Operations Center (9445 Rokeby Road) in Lincoln. The Board is scheduled to vote on the budget at its Oct. 17 meeting. If approved, the proposal will move to the Lincoln City Council for consideration at a public hearing in November. New rates would take effect Jan. 1, 2026.
Customers can view the meeting’s materials at LES.com/Budget.
The proposal follows a 4% mid-year rate jump in July 2025, which LES said was necessary to adhere to new rules from the Southwest Power Pool (SPP), which manages the electric grid across 14 central states.
The Lincoln City Council unanimously approved the increase, 7-0. That adjustment marked LES’ first mid-year rate change in nearly two decades.
“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 & chief financial officer, in a statement. “However, we can control how we manage our internal spending, so we are re-evaluating how we allocate resources within our utility.”
To help minimize the impact on customers, LES is recommending internal budget reductions, including delaying or scaling back non-essential projects. These cost-saving measures have allowed LES to reduce the proposed rate increase from likely being more than 4%.
“As a public power utility, we take our responsibility to our community seriously,” Koenig added. “We’re committed to delivering safe, reliable and sustainable electric service while being mindful of the financial impact on those we serve.”
The proposed budget totals $713.7 million, including the operating budget of $328.8 million and the capital budget of $384.9 million.
Customers can estimate their future bills using the online calculator at LES.com/BillCalculator. For those needing support, payment assistance resources are available at LES.com/FinancialAssistance or by calling LES at 402-475-4211.