Frazee to Erie Transmission Project

To increase the load serving capability of the existing transmission system between Audubon and Rush Lake in west central Minnesota, Great River Energy and Otter Tail Power Company, in collaboration with other neighboring utilities propose to construct a new 115-kV transmission line and rebuild a portion of the 41.6-kV transmission system in Becker and Otter Tail counties. This project will reduce risks associated with low-voltage and transmission line overloading and ensure continued reliable service to customers in the future.

The proposed project will include constructing a 230/115-kV substation called Erie along the existing Audubon to Hubbard 230-kV line, in Section 31 of Height of Land Township, and a 115-kV transmission line from Erie to Great River Energy’s existing Frazee Substation in Section 35 of Burlington Township.

Specifically, the project will entail:

• Otter Tail Power constructing and owning the new 230/115-kV Erie Substation to connect to the existing Xcel Energy 230-kV line.
• Great River Energy installing and owning new transmission equipment at the Frazee Substation.
• Great River Energy constructing and owning approximately 9.4 miles of 115-kV transmission line, with some distribution underbuild, between the Erie and Frazee substations. Approximately 2.4 miles will be double circuit with existing 41.6-kV line.
• Otter Tail Power relocating an approximate 0.5-mile long 115-kV transmission line, within an existing 41.6-kV line corridor that connects to the Frazee Substation.