Great River Energy owns or co-owns more than 100 transmission substations, and our system includes about 525 distribution substations. In addition, Great River Energy owns more than 4,500 miles of transmission power line. Great River Energy provides load-serving transmission to our 28 members, whose service territories cover about 60 percent of Minnesota. Great River Energy also owns transmission lines in North Dakota and Wisconsin.

Here’s how the transmission system works:

Electricity generated at Great River Energy facilities is carried over Great River Energy transmission facilities and facilities of other utilities. Great River Energy has long-standing agreements with Xcel Energy, Minnesota Power, Otter Tail Power, Alliant Energy and other neighboring utilities for joint use of their transmission facilities on a cost/revenue sharing basis. These companies coordinate on the planning, construction, operations, and maintenance of transmission facilities that are commonly used to serve customer load in local areas. These practices of joint planning and least-cost planning ensure that the most efficient and cost-effective transmission facilities are built, thereby providing the highest quality of service at the most reasonable rate for consumers.

Great River Energy’s transmission system is part of an overall regional transmission grid operated on a coordinated basis. More information about the state’s transmission network and plans can be found on the Minnesota Electric Transmission web site. This integrated regional operation was expanded with the formation of the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator (MISO) in 2002. The Midwest ISO is an independent, nonprofit organization that supports the reliable operation of the transmission system in 15 U.S. states and the Canadian province of Manitoba. MISO acts as the Regional Transmission Organization, overseeing the operations, planning, and improvements of the wholesale bulk electric transmission system in the upper Midwest. MISO has furthered its reliability reach through the administration of a centralized energy market, ensuring that the growing demand for power is served in an efficient and effective manner.

When it is necessary to purchase energy from outside of Great River Energy’s service territory, Great River Energy utilizes our access to the MISO energy market, providing the most economical and reliable energy supply to our Members.

Great River Energy is working with other Minnesota utilities in developing and implementing a vision for transmission infrastructure investments needed in the state. The effort is called CapX 2020, short for Capacity Expansion by the year 2020. CapX 2020 is a joint initiative of 11 transmission-owning utilities in Minnesota and the surrounding region to expand the electric transmission grid to ensure continued reliable service to 2020 and beyond. The CapX 2020 utilities include cooperatives, investor-owned, and municipal utilities. More information on the CapX 2020 initiative, planning studies, proposed projects, and public input process can be found on the CapX 2020 website.

The safety and reliability of the bulk electric system is further managed by the North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC). Under the regulation of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, NERC serves as the Electric Reliability Organization. NERC develops and enforces reliability standards; monitors the bulk power system; assesses future adequacy; audits owners, operators, and users for preparedness; and educates and trains industry personnel. NERC further coordinates with eight regional reliability organizations for the local oversight and implementation of compliance standards. Great River Energy and other utilities in Minnesota work with the Midwest Reliability Organization (MRO) to further ensure the reliable operation of the bulk electric system in this region.

The transmission lines carry wholesale electrical power to distribution substations.

Once the electricity reaches the distribution substation, it becomes the property of our member cooperative. Electrical voltage levels are then lowered and the electricity is delivered to the distribution system. Then the member cooperative moves the electricity over distribution lines to homes, farms, businesses and industry in the area it serves.

To learn more about how reliable electricity is transmitted to you, view our brochure.

You’ll find helpful information about planting trees near power lines in our Right Tree brochure (2 MB pdf file).