Brenizer Library · Photo: Ammodramus · Public domainLiving in Merna, NE: what to set up and who to call
The Village of Merna water system has a clean five-year EPA record, but its latest lead result, 7.9 ppb, was higher than 96% of similar systems’ (the action level is 15). Power in Merna comes from Custer Public Power District, a political subdivision utility rather than a private company.
I’m new in town
What to set up in Merna, and who provides it. Tap an answer for the details and where they come from.
Power, water and internet
Who to call to start service at a new address in Merna.
Power comes from Custer Public Power District
Custer Public Power District (Custer Public Power District), a political subdivision utility, serves all of Merna. Its homes paid an average of 13.1¢ per kWh in 2025, about $174 a month (its average across Nebraska).
Start or move service: www.custerpower.com · (308) 872-2451
Service territory: HIFLD Electric Retail Service Territories (map dated Aug 2023). Prices and customers: EIA-861, 2025.
Water comes from Village of Merna water system
The Village of Merna water system supplies almost all of Merna. It draws ground water and serves 363 people in all.
No health-based violations reported to EPA in the five years to October 2026, like 77% of the 15,074 systems serving 101–500 people.
The latest lead result on file, the 90th percentile of homes sampled in Jan–Jun 2026, was 7.9 ppb, below the 15 ppb action level that applied. That’s higher than 96% of similar systems’ latest results.
The system’s full record: EPA ECHO report
EPA SDWIS via Envirofacts (violations pulled Oct 9, 2026) and ECHO (lead samples, 2026Q3); service area: EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3.0 (EPA’s estimate). Violations are counted by the start of their compliance period. NE3104108.
3 home internet providers serve Merna
100% of 188 addresses can get 100/20 Mbps; 100% can get fiber.
| Provider | Technology | Addresses | Fastest (Mbps) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consolidated | Fiber | 100% | 200/200 |
| T-Mobile | Fixed wireless | 61% | 25/3 |
| Verizon | Fixed wireless | 19% | 300/20 |
FCC National Broadband Map, as of December 2025. Availability as providers report it, not speeds people get.
We don’t have Merna’s trash rules yet
Pickup rules, the dump and recycling in Merna.
Where your child goes to school
Public school districts and the school path by grade.
Merna is in Anselmo-Merna Public Schools.
Test scores and every school: see Schools →U.S. Department of Education, NCES Common Core of Data, 2024–25. Enrollment rules and registration are the district’s.
Town hall and registering to vote
Who to call, and how to register.
Election office: FVAP local election office directory, updated Jun 2023; jurisdictions: EAC EAVS 2024. Registration rules and links: vote.gov, updated Sep 30, 2026.
Merna is in ZIP code 68856
ZIP codes where Merna residents live, with the share of the town in each.
| ZIP | Post office name | Share of Merna | ZIP’s residents in Merna |
|---|---|---|---|
| 68856 | Merna, NE | 100% | 57% |
Census 2020 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, by census block; post office names: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). ZIPs created since 2020 are missing.
Getting around, the ER and the library
One line each; the subject pages have the rest.
ER: CMS hospital data. Library: IMLS Public Libraries Survey, FY2024.
Questions about living in Merna
Who supplies Merna’s drinking water, and has it had violations?
The Village of Merna water system (EPA ID NE3104108). It reported no health-based violations to EPA in the five years to October 2026; 77% of systems its size had none. Its latest lead 90th percentile was 7.9 ppb (Jan–Jun 2026), against a 15 ppb action level.
Who provides electricity in Merna?
Custer Public Power District (Custer Public Power District), a political subdivision utility. Its homes paid about 13.1¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA).
What internet providers serve Merna?
Consolidated, T-Mobile, Verizon (FCC, as of December 2025).
What ZIP codes are in Merna?
68856. Census 2020 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas.
What school district is Merna in?
Anselmo-Merna Public Schools.
How do I register to vote in Merna?
In Nebraska you can register online until 18 days before Election Day, in person until 11 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 18 days before). Elections here are run by the Custer County Clerk. Check your registration at votercheck.necvr.ne.gov.
Sources & dates
Every answer above names its source. Here they are with their dates.
- Water: EPA SDWIS (Envirofacts, pulled Oct 9, 2026), ECHO SDWA 2026Q3, EPA CWS Service Area Boundaries v3.0.
- Power: HIFLD Electric Retail Service Territories (map Aug 2023); EIA-861 final 2025.
- Trash: OpenStreetMap, Geofabrik extract of Oct 9, 2026. © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
- ZIP codes: Census 2020 ZCTA relationship files; GeoNames postal codes (CC BY 4.0).
- Schools: NCES Common Core of Data, 2024–25.
- Registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 30, 2026 (read Oct 10, 2026). Official sites and area codes: Wikidata.
- Election office: FVAP local election office directory (fetched Oct 10, 2026; each record dated), EAC EAVS 2024 jurisdictions; registration and lookup links from vote.gov’s state data, checked Oct 10, 2026.
- Internet: FCC National Broadband Map, as of December 2025.