OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — As Nebraska’s utilities decide whether to sign new long term deals with power suppliers, they have new options that didn’t exist the last time they decided where to buy electricity.

A handful of local utilities in the northeast corner of the state are switching from the Nebraska Public Power District to a different supplier to take advantage the flexibility offered by the region’s power grid today.

The utilities making the switch — South Sioux City, Northeast Nebraska Public Power, Wakefield and Wayne — believe they will save some money. But mainly they wanted a shorter contract and more flexibility to buy renewable energy from other providers.

All 75 of NPPD’s wholesale customers are weighing their options this fall because the state’s largest utility wants them to sign new 20-year contracts.