(AP) — The Omaha Public Power District isn’t proposing any rate increases for next year even though it still can’t generate power at its Fort Calhoun nuclear power plant.

The utility that serves 13 southeast Nebraska counties says it successfully limited expenses this year while it continued rehabilitating Fort Calhoun.

OPPD’s board reviewed a proposed 2014 budget Thursday. The budget won’t be official until the board votes on it on Dec. 19.

OPPD officials say they were able to negotiate cheaper coal contracts earlier this year. And the cost of electricity the utility had to buy to replace Fort Calhoun’s output will be spread over three years.

OPPD increased electricity rates 6.9 percent last January largely to pay for the cost of repairing the nuclear plant that has been idle since 2011.