Ensuring electric reliability in Minnesota and the surrounding region

The last major upgrade of the region’s electric transmission infrastructure took place 30 years ago. Since then, not only has the population has grown, home sizes have nearly doubled, and appliance and electronic device usage have increased exponentially. The result: Energy usage has soared. In fact, in its Annual Energy Outlook 2010, the U.S. Department of Energy projects electricity consumption will increase 1 percent annually from 2008 to 2035, despite energy conservation efforts.

For example, in 2007, the average household has 25 consumer electronic products – computers, DVD players, video game consoles, digital cameras and high-definition televisions. In 1975, the average household had less than two (Consumer Electronics Association). Homes with central air have also more than doubled – jumping from just 27 percent in 1983 to 66 percent in 2006 (2006 Xcel Energy Minnesota Home Use Study). And, did you know: A 42-inch plasma television uses two-and-a-half times more electricity than a standard 27-inch tube TV.

The proposed CapX2020 transmission line projects would be built in phases designed to meet this electricity growth as well as to tap into vast wind energy resources in southern and western Minnesota and the Dakotas.

CapX2020 is proposing to build three 345 kilovolt (kV) transmission lines, one 230 kV line and associated substations. The Group 1 projects include:

• A 230-mile, 345 kV line between Brookings County, South Dakota and Hampton, Minnesota
• A 210-mile, 345 kV line between Fargo, North Dakota and St. Cloud, Minnesota
• A 28-mile, 345 kV line between Monticello and St. Cloud, Minnesota
• A 150-mile, 345 kV line between Hampton and Rochester, continuing to La Crosse, Wisconsin
• A 68-mile, 230 kV line between Bemidji and Grand Rapids in north central Minnesota

The regulatory process for these lines is underway. The CapX2020 utilities filed a Certificate of Need application in August 2007 with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MN PUC) for the three 345 kV projects. A separate Certificate of Need application was filed with the MN PUC in March 2008 for the 230 kV line. The MN PUC granted both applications in May 2009 and July 2009, respectively.

Route Permit applications have been filed with the MN PUC for all four projects.

Permits and regulatory approval for the 345 kV projects is also required from North and South Dakota and Wisconsin regulatory commissions. Permits will be filed for each project in 2010.

The CapX2020 utilities are committed to working with all interested parties. Everyone is encouraged to participate in the regulatory process by both attending open houses and public meetings and providing information to the state commissions and the CapX2020 utilities.

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