Great River Energy’s member-owner cooperatives have something new to be proud of: 96% of the meters in Great River Energy’s service area are now smart meters, which is ahead of the curve for co-ops nationally. All of Great River Energy’s 27 member co-ops are nearly finished installing advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) to replace traditional analog …
Grid North Partners utilities, including Great River Energy, recently announced 19 transmission upgrade projects primarily in Minnesota that will reduce congestion on the system. The projects can be implemented over the next three years and will be paid for by the individual utilities. “Market congestion is an issue right now and big transmission projects take …
Co-op takes the lead on congestion-relief projects Read More »
Great River Energy Vice President and Chief Transmission Officer Priti Patel recently participated on a panel discussion with other industry leaders at the LIUNA Laborers Training Center in Lino Lakes, Minnesota. The event, known as the Minnesota Infrastructure Summit, focused on the energy transition that is taking place in the state from fossil fuels to …
Patel promotes local labor in clean energy transition Read More »
Great River Energy Vice President and Chief Power Supply Officer Jon Brekke recently visited the cooperative’s Cambridge Peaking Station where he met with employees to speak about mindfulness and safety. Great River Energy leaders regularly visit worksites to gain a better understanding about work happening in the field, provide an opportunity for employees to share …
New report shows economic impact of electric co-ops in Minnesota, nationally A new analysis finds that electric cooperatives have a wide-ranging economic impact in the United States, supporting nearly 623,000 jobs with $51 billion in pay and benefits each year while contributing hundreds of billions of dollars to the economy over a five-year period. According …
Contract change recognizes growing interest and opportunities for local renewable energy Most of Great River Energy’s member-owner cooperatives now have an increased opportunity to self-supply renewable energy following the approval of an amendment to their wholesale power contracts. What was previously an option for members that receive all their wholesale power from Great River Energy …
With less than two months left in 2023, Great River Energy’s board of directors recently met to determine the cooperative’s budget and wholesale electric rates in the year ahead. Great River Energy’s average 2024 wholesale rate is projected to increase by an average of 2.2% from the 2023 budgeted rate. “Our rates remain nearly 20% …
Cooperatives are known to be motivated by people, not by profit. Among the business model’s guiding principles is “concern for community,” and at the heart of every community is the people who live, work and spend time there. Great River Energy encourages its employees to act as an extra set of eyes and ears in …
Great River Energy’s commitment to plant and restore pollinator habitats across its eligible sites continued this fall as several late fall plantings were completed the last several days of October. The plantings are part of Great River Energy’s Pollinator Strong initiative, a pledge to environmental sustainability by creating food and nesting space for animals and …
A member of Great River Energy’s board of directors was recently presented with an award that recognizes her outstanding contributions to advance cooperative philosophy and ideals. Audrey Hjelle, who sits on the Runestone Electric Association board of directors and also serves as secretary for Great River Energy’s board, was chosen to receive the Cooperative Network …