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How Innovation Keeps Electric Service Reliable

September 8, 2026

Keeping the lights on every hour of every day takes more than poles and wires. It also takes innovation.

Great River Energy, wholesale power provider for Stearns Electric Association, is using new technologies and forward-looking projects to make sure electricity stays reliable and affordable, even as demand grows and weather becomes more unpredictable. These tools help spot potential problems sooner, respond faster and make smarter use of the system Stearns Electric already supports.

SEEING POWER LINES IN REAL TIME
One way that Great River Energy is strengthening reliability is by using smart monitoring technology on its transmission system, which is the high-voltage lines that move electricity long distances. Through a project with Heimdall Power, Great River Energy is using sphere-shaped, advanced sensors attached to existing transmission lines to continuously measure real-world conditions, such as temperature and movement.

Why does that matter? Power lines don’t always operate the same way in cool, windy weather as they do on hot, still days. By understanding actual conditions in real time, operators can safely increase or reduce how much electricity flows through the system. This helps prevent congestion on the grid, reduces costs and improves reliability without needing to build new lines. The result is a more flexible system that works smarter, not harder.

MONITORING FOR WEATHER AND OTHER THREATS
Great River Energy is also partnering with Prisma Photonics on a project that uses existing fiber-optic cables to continuously monitor transmission lines for potential problems. Instead of placing sensors directly on the line, this technology turns fiber cables that are already in place into sensitive listeners that detect and alert operators of events on Great River Energy’s power lines.

This system can alert operators to issues such as icing, high winds, wildfire threats and physical damage, such as downed power lines. That early warning gives crews a head start, allowing them to respond more quickly and reduce the length and impact of outages. Ultimately, that means better service for electric cooperatives across Minnesota.

BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE WITH POWERON MIDWEST
Innovation is also about thoughtful planning. That’s why Great River Energy is proud to be one of four utility partners developing PowerOn Midwest, a series of new electric transmission projects anchored by a 765-kilovolt (kV) backbone transmission line. The projects will connect eastern South Dakota, southern Minnesota and the broader region, enhancing grid reliability in the Upper Midwest to meet growing and evolving energy needs in the coming decades. This will be the first 765-kV transmission line in the Upper Midwest.

PowerOn Midwest is being designed to support reliability as electricity use grows, while also helping transport energy from a wide range of sources, including renewables. This modern infrastructure helps ensure that power is available when and where it’s needed, no matter the time of day or season.

WORKING SMARTER, TOGETHER
Reliability is knowing the power is there for our homes, businesses and communities when we need it. That’s why it’s reassuring to see Great River Energy using innovative tools to spot issues sooner, respond faster and get more from the system we’ve built together. From smart monitoring to modern infrastructure, these efforts help keep electricity dependable now and into the future.