Perennial employees Dustin Arduser (Left) and Chris Stutzman(Right) were awarded the Good Neighbor Award – photo Perennial Public Power
Perennial Public Power Press Release
January 6, 2026 – Dustin Arduser and Chris Stutzman were awarded the 2025 Good Neighbor Award from the Nebraska Rural Electric Association on December 4, 2025.
The Good Neighbor Award program is designed to recognize individuals for outstanding contributions to their electric system, community, or state. Many individuals often go out of their way to do a good deed for someone in their community or provide some exceptional service to the members of their community. The Good Neighbor Award program recognizes these people who strive to make a contribution to their community and others.
Dustin and Chris were selected for their heroism on October 9th. At approximately 11:00 pm on October 9, 2025, Dustin and Chris were returning from an outage call when they witnessed a semi-truck with a load of hay tipping over while traveling on the southbound lane of US Highway 81, not far from the Village of McCool Junction. Chris called 911 and Dustin pulled the bucket truck to the outside southbound lane to give a barrier to traffic. Dustin then turned on the strobes and flashers as they assessed the scene of the accident.
Chris remained on the phone and relayed to the 911 dispatcher that there were two passengers and that an ambulance would be needed. Dustin went back to the truck and grabbed the ground rod driver and then proceeded to break the front windshield of the semi. Once a portion of the windshield was broken, they were able to pull it away and the passengers exited the semi safely. They stayed and helped until McCool Junction Fire & Rescue showed up. Perennial does monthly safety meetings as well as annual first aid and CPR training, so we’re always prepared.
Perennial Public Power District is a Nebraska rural electric utility system that serves York and Fillmore Counties in south central Nebraska. Organized in 1938, Perennial PPD provides service to more than 7500 electric meters and maintains over 2000 miles of transmission and distribution power lines. Perennial PPD also serves several villages including Benedict, Exeter, Grafton, Gresham, Henderson, Lushton, McCool Junction, Milligan, Ohiowa, Strang, Thayer and Waco. To learn more, visit www.perennialpower.com.
Luke Gruber has become a Certified Loss Control Professional.
January 6, 2026 – Perennial’s Operations Coordinator, Luke Gruber, has completed an intensive program in electric utility safety and loss control. The Certified Loss Control Program is a series of workshops offered by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association in conjunction with the National Utility Training & Safety Education Association. The program is designed to instruct participants in many areas related to electric utility industry safety.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, nearly 4 million injuries occur annually in the workplace. One of the goals of a Certified Loss Control Professional is to help ensure a safe work environment for utility workers and the public in general. Avoiding workplace accidents avoids downtime and can ultimately lead to lower utility rates.
Luke Gruber is one of only a few electric utility professionals in the country who will receive this certification this year. The program requires participants to complete a rigorous series of seminars and tests, a 30-hour OSHA course, and a detailed final course project.
Loss Control participants go through four week-long sessions that are designed to challenge and educate participants in new, innovative safety techniques. Participants must also maintain their certificate by attending courses every year in order to stay on top of changes in the industry.
Luke Gruber has been with Perennial for 10 years. He graduated with a degree in Utility Line from Northeast Community College in Norfolk after he graduated from high school as a recipient of Perennial’s Utility Line Scholarship.
