When severe winter weather threatens the power line system, Great River Energy’s system operators, line technicians and field services crews work quickly to prepare for what may come and restore the system when power lines or substations are damaged. The night of Dec. 15, a rare December thunderstorm rolled in. It caused damage to Great […]
Historic holiday wind damages power poles, substations Read More »
Electric cooperatives do more than just provide a necessary service to their members; they also have a vested interest in the success of the communities they serve. They show a commitment to these communities in various ways, including monetary donations to nonprofit organizations. Between Great River Energy and one of its member-owner cooperatives, 20 food
Co-ops donate year-end dollars to fire departments, food pantries Read More »
Two-and-a-half years after the retirement of the Elk River Energy Recovery Station, the power plant site now resembles how it likely looked a century ago. The Elk River Energy Recovery Station began operations in the early 1950s using coal as the fuel source. In the early 1960s, the site hosted a federal nuclear reactor, which
Elk River demolition nearly complete Read More »
The end of the year is a time for reflection. For Great River Energy, that means looking back and taking stock of all the ways it upheld the founding principles of what it means to be a cooperative, including “concern for community.” The world needed to adjust and adapt for another year due to the
Co-op focuses on community year-round Read More »
Demitria Leigh Hartl was driving on a rain-and-snow-slickened Highway 37 outside Hibbing, Minnesota, on Nov. 11 when she suddenly lost control of her car. Next thing she knew, she was trapped upside-down as her vehicle sank into a rain-filled ditch and icy water rushed in. Luckily, Lake Country Power (LCP) lineworkers Tim Rasmusson, Cody Vredenberg,
Co-op crew saves young mom after car crash Read More »
More than 80 Great River Energy employees were engaged in a crisis management exercise organized by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) in November. The two-day exercise, named GridEx VI, was designed to enhance the coordination of cyber and physical security resources and practices within the industry, as well as communication with government partners
GridEx puts energy industry to the test Read More »
While temperatures are dropping and snow is starting to fall now, Great River Energy has already taken steps to prepare for whatever impacts this weather may bring. “Resilience” has become a common focus for electric cooperatives and utilities around the country as extreme weather events, such as this year’s polar vortex, become more common. “The
Ensuring the electric grid can bounce back quickly Read More »
Great River Energy came in at No. 57 in National Cooperative Bank’s recently released NCB 100® listing of the nation’s top 100 revenue-earning cooperative businesses. This annual list showcases the advancement of cooperatives as they play an increasingly influential role in the national and global economy. While similar in some respects to other business models,
Great River Energy makes ‘Co-op 100’ list Read More »
Most Great River Energy member-owner cooperatives will see wholesale rates decrease in 2022 At a time when prices are rising on many products and services, Great River Energy is holding its wholesale electricity rates relatively flat into 2022 and projecting rate stability into the future. “We spent over a decade transitioning to a portfolio of
Great River Energy clean energy transition brings era of rate stability Read More »
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in major changes to the way Great River Energy conducts its business. What has not changed is the importance of engaging member-owners in the cooperative’s projects. Great River Energy has found new ways to gather stakeholder input while keeping the public safe and healthy. Great River Energy recently held a
Transmission project kicks off during virtual open house Read More »