Our company and Missouri River Energy Services received approval of Facility Permit for South Dakota portion of new transmission line

Big Stone South to Alexandria will help ensure continued low-cost, reliable electricity

On January 28 the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission approved a Facility Permit for the South Dakota portion of the Big Stone South to Alexandria (BSSA) 345-kilovolt transmission line. Our company and Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency, represented through its agent Missouri River Energy Services (MRES) will co-own the approximately 100-mile transmission line.  

Our company and MRES filed the Facility Permit application for the 3.5-mile South Dakota portion of the line on April 15, 2024.  

Investing in grid reliability and resilience

We're leading the BSSA transmission line development and construction. “We’re pleased to reach this significant milestone. The Commission’s approval of this essential project highlights our commitment to maintaining a robust and reliable regional energy grid,” stated the utilities. “This transmission line represents an important infrastructure improvement and demonstrates our dedication to meeting the growing energy needs of our customers in a cost-effective manner.”    

Big Stone South to Alexandria is designed to ensure continued electric reliability, enhance resilience to extreme weather events, reduce transmission congestion, and increase access to low-cost energy. It will connect our existing substation near Big Stone City, South Dakota, with Western Minnesota’s existing substation near Alexandria, Minnesota.  

Our company and MRES filed a Route Permit application with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) on October 22, 2024, for the Minnesota portion of the project. We anticipate a decision from the MPUC in mid-2026 and are currently targeting an in-service date by the end of 2030. For more information about BSSA, visit bigstonesouthtoalexandria.com.