The Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska (MEAN) awarded Dave Hoogestraat, electric utility superintendent for the City of Pierce, Neb., with the Rudy Hultgren Dedicated Service Award March 30 at the 35th Annual NMPP Energy Meeting and Conference in Norfolk, Neb.
The award is presented annually to an individual of a MEAN member community who has displayed commendable efforts in promoting the use of public power and its ideals. MEAN, the wholesale power supply organization of NMPP Energy, serves wholesale power supply to 66 communities in Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska and Wyoming and one joint action agency in Colorado. The award is a memorial tribute to Rudy Hultgren, a utility consultant and well-known and respected citizen of Lyons, Colo., who played an active role in community service and leadership.
Hoogestraat served as Pierce electric superintendent since 1991. The City owns and operates its own electrical system, which includes 51 miles of rural service lines. Under his leadership, the City is working to upgrade its current electrical system infrastructure, including converting portions of the distribution system within the city limits to a newer substation. He also is leading the effort to convert the city to more modern meters compatible with an automated meter reading device.
Hoogestraat is a representative on the MEAN Management Committee and on the MEAN Board of Directors. He also serves on the MEAN Ad Hoc Capacity Compensation Committee. Pierce became a participant of MEAN in 1991 and became a member of NMPP in 1985.
As the recipient of the award, Hoogestraat received $350 to donate to the Pierce Volunteer Rescue Squad.