As we move from summer into fall, I have spent time with our cooperative peers and our wholesale power provider discussing the issues that will shape our industry and, ultimately, how we serve you.
I recently attended the Minnesota Rural Electric Association’s Energy Issues Summit with several members of our board. This is one of the best opportunities each year to hear about industry trends, emerging challenges, and the political landscape surrounding energy. As expected, data centers were a major topic of conversation. Rural electric cooperatives across the country are being approached by data center developers, and we are having important discussions about what that could mean for our systems and our members.
At our August board meeting, our board adopted a position outlining how Crow Wing Power would respond if a data center developer expressed interest in connecting to our system. The bottom line is simple: We would only enter into an agreement if adequate power supply could be confirmed. The data center would be responsible for the infrastructure and planning required to serve its operation, and any agreement would provide fair rates without compromising the reliability of the grid. Most importantly, there would be no financial burden or long-term risk placed on our current members.
I also attended Basin Electric’s Member Managers Meeting and Annual Meeting. As a member of District 9, Crow Wing Power is actively involved in discussions that help guide Basin’s direction. We are at the table, listening, asking questions and helping shape decisions that affect our future power supply. We received updates on major generation and transmission projects, as well as Basin’s upcoming rate increase. While the final amount will not be approved until September, it is expected to be approximately 0.5 cents per kilowatt-hour beginning in 2027. This follows last year’s annual meeting, when members encouraged smaller, consecutive increases rather than one significant increase.
The good news is Basin’s rate forecast is expected to level out after 2027, with much of the increase supporting investments in generation assets, including the Bison Generation Station.
There is a lot happening in our industry, and we will continue to stay engaged, ask the right questions and plan carefully. We are already looking ahead to our 2027 budget and how we can continue to safely, reliably and responsibly serve you, our members.
Your Cooperative, Our Commitment,
Tim Thompson
CEO
P.S. I hope to see you at our Member Appreciation Event on September 19 or 20 for Celebrating YOU at the Zoo!