LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) - Lincoln Electric System held a public meeting on Thursday night for its proposed 2026 budget, which includes another 3% rate increase to customers.

Emily Koenig, LES CFO and Vice President of Financial Services, said the proposed adjustment is due to rising power costs and transmission expenses beyond the company’s control.

She adds that previous rate increases, which included a mid-year increase this past summer , were in preparation of the Southwest Power Pool’s new energy generation requirements.

“We really didn’t have a lot of room to work with,” Koenig said. “Most of our expenses being power costs to generate power to bring to the Southwest Power Pool market, and then provide energy to our service area. So there is a little bit of a limited opportunity to

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