Basin Electric’s new line in North Dakota
Basin Electric Power Cooperative energized a transmission line in western North Dakota in December.

Image for illustration purposes.
USA, North Dakota: Basin Electric Power Cooperative energized a transmission line in western North Dakota on December 17. The 33 mile, 345 kV Roundup-to-Kummer Ridge transmission line connects the Roundup substation near Killdeer and the Kummer Ridge substation near Johnson’s Corner. The line, which started construction in April 2024, was energized five months ahead of its target date, with reclamation work around it scheduled to continue into 2025.
The project was motivated by increased load in the region and aims to boost reliability and reduce the risk of load loss due to line failure. It also addresses congestion and cost levelization in the grid, benefiting local businesses and residents. The line uses an aluminum-encapsulated carbon core conductor, which is light and efficient.
“We appreciate Basin Electric’s commitment to the reliability of our region to include this much-needed Roundup-to-Kummer Ridge transmission line. The strength this line adds to McKenzie County and the surrounding region will increase existing member reliability and voltage strength and will help accommodate future load growth,” commented Jeremy Mahowald, general manager of Upper Missouri Power Cooperative.
“The completion of the Roundup-to-Kummer Ridge transmission line bolsters the reliability to a significant amount of McKenzie Electric’s membership by closing the path on what was previously a radial line. It also provides an additional feed into the McKenzie Electric service area, providing contingency benefits to both McKenzie Electric and other surrounding utilities,” said McKenzie Electric Cooperative CEO Matt Hanson.
“The Roundup-to-Kummer Ridge transmission line has been a challenging and rewarding project. The terrain presented unique complexity for design, construction, and access. The efforts and collaborations between the Right-of-Way, Permitting, and Engineering teams at Basin Electric and the construction contractor, Forbes/Timberline, were critical to the project’s success,” added Bobby Nasset, supervisor of civil engineering at Basin Electric.
Source: Basin Electric Power Cooperative
#Basin Electric#Basin Electric Power Cooperative#North Dakota#Roundup-to-Kummer Ridge transmission line#transmission line#USA