Cooperative Power Supply
Customers of utilities in eastern South Dakota and western Minnesota that receive their power through East River Electric Power Cooperative obtain their electricity via a non-for-profit power supply network.
Through the Cooperative Power Supply Network (and most utilities in the United States) electricity is produced and delivered to homes, businesses, industries and farms through a three-step process: generation, transmission and distribution.
Generation
70% of East River's power supply comes from Basin Electric Power Cooperative, who generate and purchase wholesale power for 124 member electric cooperatives in parts of nine states:
|
One of Basin Electric's generating plants, the Antelope Valley Station |
These 124 member cooperatives own Basin Electric and receive their electricity at cost.
Basin Electric uses a mix of generating plants fueled by coal, natural gas and fuel oil, along with a growing share of renewable resources. These generating resources produce cost-competitive, reliable electricity for cooperative members 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
30 % of East River's power supply comes from the Western Area Power Administration, who sell and deliver federal wholesale power from eight dams and power plants on the Missouri River system to electric cooperatives and municipal utilities in the region. This renewable energy is delivered across Western transmission lines to wholesale customers, including East River. |
Gavins Point Dam in Yankton, SD |
Transmission
An Integrated Transmission System delivers the power from the generators to East River via local substations. Parts of this coordinated high-voltage transmission network, containing nearly 13,000 miles of transmission lines in the region, are owned and operated by:
East River Electric delivers wholesale power to 21 member distribution systems in eastern South Dakota and western Minnesota through a 2,600-mile transmission system. |
East River Electric's transmission lines |
At its more than 214 substations, power voltage is reduced and this electricity is delivered to cutomers by the distribution cooperatives.
These 21 member cooperatives are owners of East River and receive power at cost. Their service areas total 36,000 square miles, covering parts of 41 counties in eastern South Dakota and 9 counties in western Minnesota.
Distribution
At local substations, voltage is reduced. Local Touchstone Energy® distribution cooperatives and municipal utility systems deliver this electricity through low-voltage distribution lines to the homes, farms, businesses and industries of its members and customers. In eastern South Dakota and western Minnesota, 20 Touchstone Energy Cooperatives and one municipal utility (owners of East River) deliver electricity to more than 85,000 customers/member-owners at cost. Any surplus revenues are returned to cooperative members through capital credits. |
Whetstone Valley Electric in Milbank, SD, one of East River's 21 member systems |
