Great River Energy uses 10 industry-accepted reliability indices to measure transmission reliability to its 28 member-owner cooperatives. New records were set for eight of those measurement in 2021, resulting in one of the best years for Great River Energy’s reliability on record. “Unusually mild weather in the state and our investments in the grid contributed …
2021: A great year for Great River Energy’s reliability Read More »
Great River Energy, wholesale power provider to 28 member-owner distribution cooperatives in Minnesota, continuously studies the electric power grid to ensure the high-voltage power line system that delivers electricity to local cooperatives is always reliable, and ready to keep the power flowing and the lights on. “Great River Energy works very closely with our region’s …
Planning engineers anticipate more high-voltage power lines Read More »
Recent actions by energy regulators in St. Paul and Washington, D.C., have moved Great River Energy further along in the transition of its power supply portfolio. Approvals by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will help facilitate Great River Energy’s sale of Coal Creek Station and its high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) …
Key approvals advance Great River Energy portfolio transition 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 »
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 »
Whenever you flip a switch, plug in your phone or open your refrigerator, you’re relying on the grid to bring you reliable electricity. At the most basic level, the electric grid is a set of interconnected wires connecting places where energy is produced to where it is used. Over time, the grid has become smarter, …
Great River Energy provided a cooperative voice at the Grid North Partners “Finding Truth North Conference” held June 16. Great River Energy Vice President and Chief Transmission Officer Priti Patel served as emcee and Operations and Transmission Services Director Dick Pursley participated on one of the event’s panels. Grid North Partners is an evolution of …
Great River Energy guides ‘Finding True North Conference’ Read More »
A recent accident near Wanda, Minnesota, left more than 700 cooperative member-consumers without power for several hours after a truck hit a power line and brought down two utility poles. Not only did the incident cause an outage, it also created an unsafe situation. Although crews from Great River Energy and member-owner Redwood Electric Cooperative …
Truck accident calls attention to power line safety Read More »
After 40 years serving Minnesota cooperative members, North Dakota’s largest and most efficient power plant will continue operations under local ownership. Rainbow Energy Center, LLC (Rainbow Energy Center) has reached an agreement to purchase Coal Creek Station from Great River Energy and operate the 1,151-megawatt (MW) power plant using current plant employees they hire. Nexus …
Rainbow Energy Center to purchase Coal Creek Station Read More »
Great River Energy’s system performed well in early June despite the stretch of temperatures repeatedly reaching above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. “We did not experience any overloading on the transmission system, and we did not need to make any special operational changes except for some equipment maintenance work schedule changes,” said Great River Energy Operations and …