City Services 101: Utilities, Trash, Libraries and Reporting Issues

Moving to Lincoln means setting up a handful of services, and several of them are run locally rather than by a private company. Electricity comes from a locally owned public power utility, water comes from the city, and the City of Lincoln has its own system for reporting potholes and other problems.

This guide covers the basics a new resident usually needs in the first few weeks: electric and water service, trash and recycling, reporting issues to the city, and getting a library card. Phone numbers, hours and fees change, so confirm details on each organization's website before you act.

Electricity: Lincoln Electric System

Lincoln Electric System, usually called LES, provides electricity in and around Lincoln. It is a public power utility, which LES describes as not for profit and locally owned and governed. LES traces its current form to February 1, 1966, when a single utility began providing electricity in and around the city. In November 1970, Lincoln voters approved a semi-autonomous administrative board of local citizens to oversee its operations.

What you need to know as a new customer:

• Start, stop or transfer service through the LES online account portal, which is available around the clock, or by calling LES customer service during business hours.
• Pay online, by phone, by mail or through the other options listed on the LES payment page. LES also lists budget billing, paperless billing and financial assistance options.
• Report an outage online or by phone. LES also maintains an online outage center.
• LES says its walk-in customer lobby closed permanently on July 31, 2026, so plan on handling account business online or by phone.

LES also runs energy-saving and sustainability programs, including information on solar power and electric vehicles. These change over time, so check the LES site for current offerings.

Water and wastewater

Water service is provided by the Lincoln Water System, part of the city's Transportation and Utilities department. To start or stop service, contact Lincoln Water System customer service during weekday business hours. You can pay online, set up automatic bank payment, pay by mail, or pay in person at the County-City Building. The city's wastewater system is also part of Transportation and Utilities.

The city also posts water quality information and runs a lead service line replacement program, both linked from the Lincoln Water System page.

Longer term, the city is working on what it calls Water 2.0, a project to secure a second water source. The city says Lincoln currently has a safe, reliable and sufficient supply projected to meet its needs for the next 20 to 25 years, and that planning for a second source dates back to 2005, after the 2002 drought. The effort was formalized in a 2014 master plan following the 2012 drought, an alternatives study ran in the second half of 2022, and a plan was selected in January 2023. Watch the city's project page for updates and public input opportunities.

Trash and recycling

Garbage and recycling work a little differently in Lincoln than in cities where one government crew picks up every household's trash. Lincoln has a number of residential garbage collectors, and the city's recycling page links to a directory of garbage and recycling collectors. The city notes that many residential garbage collectors offer weekly curbside recycling for a fee.

If you would rather not pay for curbside recycling, the city runs recyclables collection sites around Lincoln that accept materials at no charge. The city's map shows locations, and the city's "What Bin Does It Go In?" lookup tool explains where specific items should go.

A few rules and resources worth knowing:

• Cardboard: The city's landfill no longer accepts clean and dry corrugated cardboard. Flatten it and take it to a recycling site, or use a curbside recycling service.
• Household hazardous waste: HazToGo, at 5101 North 48th Street, serves residents of Lincoln and Lancaster County with no disposal fee for household hazardous waste. It accepts items such as aerosols, pesticides, solvents, adhesives, mercury and paint other than latex paint. It does not accept ammunition or explosives, large propane grill cylinders, electronics and computers, tires, or latex paint. Hours are limited and vary by season, so check before you go.

Reporting problems: UPLNK

UPLNK is the city's free app for reporting non-emergency issues. It runs on the SeeClickFix platform and is available for iOS and Android or through a web version. You can attach photos to each request.

Typical reports include:

• Potholes
• Streetlight problems
• Downed tree limbs
• Park maintenance issues

City staff handle UPLNK requests during business hours. Requests submitted after hours, on weekends or on holidays are addressed the next business day. The city is clear that UPLNK is not for emergencies. If someone is in danger or there is an emergency, call 911.

Libraries

Lincoln City Libraries operates branches across the city. Library cards are free for residents of Lincoln and Lancaster County. To get one:

• Adults bring a current photo ID showing their name and a current address in Lincoln or Lancaster County, such as a driver's license or state ID.
• If your photo ID does not show your current address, you can bring two forms of identification: one with your photo and name, and one showing your current address, such as a utility bill or bank statement dated within the last 30 days.
• Youth applicants need a parent or legal guardian present to verify their information.

You can also register online. That creates a temporary eCard, good for 60 days, that gives access to online resources. To get a permanent card, visit a library in person with proper ID. People who live outside Lincoln and Lancaster County can get a card for a fee.

A simple first-month checklist

1. Set up electric service with LES before your move-in date.
2. Start water service with the Lincoln Water System.
3. Choose a garbage collector from the city's directory, decide whether you want curbside recycling, and find your nearest recyclables collection site.
4. Download UPLNK so you can report issues on your street.
5. Bring ID and proof of address to a library branch to get your card.

For help getting around without a car, see our guide to getting around Lincoln.

Key takeaways

• Electricity comes from Lincoln Electric System, a not-for-profit, locally owned public power utility; start service online or by phone.
• Water service comes from the Lincoln Water System; pay online, by autopay, by mail or in person at the County-City Building.
• Garbage pickup comes from residential collectors listed in a city directory; free recyclables collection sites are available, and the landfill no longer accepts clean, dry cardboard.
• HazToGo takes household hazardous waste from Lincoln and Lancaster County residents with no disposal fee.
• Use UPLNK for non-emergency problems such as potholes and streetlights, and call 911 for emergencies.
• Library cards are free for Lincoln and Lancaster County residents with proper ID.

Sources

• Lincoln Electric System, Company Information
• Lincoln Electric System, Home and Customer Service
• City of Lincoln, Lincoln Water System
• City of Lincoln, Water 2.0: Securing Lincoln's Second Source
• City of Lincoln, Recycling
• City of Lincoln, HazToGo Hazardous Waste Center
• City of Lincoln, UPLNK
• Lincoln City Libraries, Get a Library Card