Electric Distribution

The GRPUC distributes electrical power to 5,832 city customers, 1,182 rural customers (including the City of LaPrairie), and 375 off-peak customers. One industrial customer is also served.

Minnesota Power (MP) provides wholesale electric service under a contract that expires December 31, 2029, unless prior to that date, a new customer of GRPU with a 15-minute peak of equal to or greater than 10 MW located in the IEDC Eco-Industrial Park, which would then extend the Term of Agreement through December 31, 2034. The contract requires no minimum purchase of power and provides that GRPUC may add new renewable generation capacity up to ten percent (10%) (non-cumulative) of the total GRPUC load, based on the previous year’s average annual billed demand, excluding any existing renewable generation capacity prior to September 1, 2015. In addition, beginning in 2019, the generation capacity charge for each year is based on the previous year generation capacity charge adjusted as determined by the power supply formula rate for capacity, except that the charge will not be more than 2% higher or more than 1% lower, than the previous year’s charge.

Power is received at 115 kV and transformed to 22.9 kV for distribution to 6 major substations, 5 rural step-down stations, or directly transformed to applicable consumer voltages. The main 115 kV to 22.9 kV substation was constructed in 2005 at the cost of $2.3 million dollars and financed through reserves. The electrical distribution system consists of 150 overhead and 222 underground conductor miles. The GRPUC is responsible for all construction, operation, and maintenance of the electric distribution system.