Basin Electric: Live Wire


Basin Electric: Live Wire is a blog that features some of the people stories and interesting background information you can't get anywhere else. This blog was started in 2008 on the Wordpress platform and moved here in 2021. Find our archives at basinelectric.wordpress.com. If you have story ideas, you can email editor Kalli Senske.

Recent Posts

Basin Electric celebrates National Intern Day

Interns contribute to our workforce in countless ways. On July 25, our past and present interns reflected on their experiences at Basin Electric.

Basin Electric wraps up 2024 summer internship program

As our summer interns head back to the classroom, they reflect on their experience working for Basin Electric.

The International Peace Garden is grateful for local electric cooperative

The International Peace Garden and International Music Camp are grateful for their local electric cooperative that offers reliable electricity...

How We Serve: Tax Team

By ensuring the financial health, compliance, and future success of Basin Electric, tax analysts are an essential asset to Basin Electric’s member...

Basin Electric’s largest substation will support membership growth

To meet the expected growth of the membership, construction of a new 19.5-acre substation is underway to replace the 345-kilovolt (kV) substation...

Basin Electric's Distributed Generation provides key dispatchable value

As Basin Electric’s membership continues to grow, natural gas generation is proving it’s a critical piece of the cooperative’s all-of-the-above...

Investing For The Future: Member load forecasting

The member load forecast starts and ends with the members. Data is provided by them to produce a forecast result that is then reviewed and approved...

Dakota Gas team goes the extra mile to keep employees safe

Safety and teamwork are two values of Basin Electric, which is why the Dakota Gas fire/rescue team attended an advanced training program.

Investing For The Future: Facility maintenance

Electrical upgrades at a power plant can significantly enhance both reliability and safety.

Investing for the Future: Transmission planning

The need for transmission projects can arise from various factors, including the aging condition of facilities requiring refurbishment or the...

Investing for the Future: Pioneer Generation Station Phase IV construction coordination

Darrell Slavick, Basin Electric construction coordinator III, is responsible for day-to-day oversight of contractor activities, and any...

Laramie River Station electricians are Heimlich Heroes

Safety training at Laramie River Station serves as a continuous reminder of how important safety skills are, on or off the job

Why Basin? Engaging workload, work-life balance, and great people

With over two years under her belt at Basin Electric, ReNee Kline has found a job that checks all of her boxes.

Basin Electric donates to Bismarck chapter of the Sertoma Club to help kids in need

As a commitment to the communities in which its members and employees live and work, Basin Electric recently donated $5,000 to the Sertoma Club for...

Stay Basin! Self-fulfillment, benefits, and a collaborative environment

Finding a job that suits your pace of life can be a difficult task. Thankfully, Joe Ashurst found his at Basin Electric.

How We Serve: Chief Financial Officer

Employees at Basin Electric understand their roles as stewards of service to the members of the cooperative. The “How We Serve” series highlights...

Laramie River Station employee facilitates STEM education activities for third grade classrooms

Michael Petera teamed up with the University of Wyoming's STEM Education Outreach Office to provide education activities for third grade students.

Biles makes Western North Dakota safer one smoke alarm at a time

Dakota Gas' Auston Biles is making a difference in Western North Dakota through the American Red Cross.

A team win at Leland Olds Station maintains emissions compliance

For the team at Leland Olds Station, located near Stanton, North Dakota, a plugged hopper-bottom silo sent them into action on the night of Jan. 23.

Building relationships ensures reliability for members

When contracts expire, it can be a difficult process to gain new easements. Thankfully, the relationships Basin Electric continues to build with...

Why Basin? Great benefits, work-life balance, and supportive coworkers

Ryan Koch may be new to Basin Electric, but he's already found that this is the place for him.

How We Serve through instrumentation technicians

Many processes and systems within a plant happen so automatically that it’s easy to forget someone had a role in getting everything set up just...

How and why do Basin Electric linemen barehand 345,000-volt power lines?

Twice each year, Basin Electric’s Transmission System Maintenance (TSM) crews from across its service area are required to participate in live line...

Basin Electric team increases donations for local charities

A team at Basin Electric created an electronic process for its jeans day program, resulting in an increase in donations.

Keeping electricity reliable through scheduled outages

Dakota Gas and Laramie River Station strive to minimize the duration and frequency of essential scheduled outages.

Stay Basin! New opportunities, great coworkers, and career focused

Cody Schmidt has worked for Basin Electric in the Distributed Generation group for a little over six years, but three months ago he began working...

How We Serve: Treasury Management

Employees at Basin Electric understand their roles as stewards of service to the members of the cooperative. The “How We Serve” series highlights...

Wartsila engines arrive at Pioneer Generation Station

Construction continues at Pioneer Generation Station Phase IV (PGS IV) with the recent arrival of six Wartsila engines.

Laverdure updates Minot Chamber EDC on Basin Electric’s cooperative power supply

Verendrye Electric Cooperative, a Basin Electric Class C member located in Minot, North Dakota, invited Erin Laverdure, Basin Electric project...

Investing in success: Dakota Gas offers Bismarck State College Process Technology students jobs before graduation

Dakota Gas' partnership with Bismarck State College opens opportunity for full time, paid internships for process technology students.

Why Basin? Supportive work environment, opportunities for growth, and a commitment to excellence

Basin Electric prides itself on its culture and commitment to its employees, offering an impressive benefits package, professional development...

How we serve: Transmission

Employees at Basin Electric understand their roles as stewards of service to the members of the cooperative. The “How We Serve” series highlights...

Top Basin Electric stories of 2023

As we’re getting ready to ring in 2024, we tallied up the clicks to see what were the most popular posts and stories of 2023. Grab your hot chocolate.

Cutting-edge energy programs ensure continued reliable electricity

Basin Electric is committed to providing reliable and affordable electricity to its members and the cooperative is dedicated to ensuring there is a...

Iowa Lakes Electric member on move from Germany to Iowa

The Baumanns moved to Iowa to start the second location of HiPer Ceramics, a business Betti’s parents started in Germany in 1995.

Stay Basin! Work/life balance, good pay, and great people

Basin Electric appreciates its employees and works hard to retain its workforce. The cooperative understands employees, with their combined...

Basin Electric generation and transmission infrastructure keeps electricity reliable and efficient

As energy needs continue to grow in Basin Electric’s service area, so does the need for additional generation and transmission resources.

Forming a bond on the lines at Basin Electric

While lineworkers are heroes in the electric industry, they are still human, so performing work on energized lines requires special tools, a...

Basin Electric lineworkers endure harsh weather to keep electricity flowing

When the first snowstorm of the season hit northern North Dakota on Oct. 24, Basin Electric’s lineworkers were out in the snow and ice to repair a...

Serving Basin Electric's members from the warehouse

When you think about the essential roles needed to keep a plant running, a few jobs might pop in your head. Perhaps an electrician or welder, or...

Basin Electric team follows strategic roadmap into 2024

Basin Electric’s strategic roadmap meets member needs, today and tomorrow.

Basin Electric vehicles find new purpose with a local fire department

When Basin Electric's Huron Transmission System Maintenance (TSM) outpost purchased new vehicles, they donated their former side-by-side...

Making shadows on site at Pioneer Generation Station Phase IV

Work in the late summer and fall has been focused on the steel structure and getting it enclosed with sheeting.

Solar energy plays a key role in Basin Electric's all-of-the-above energy strategy

Joe Ibrahim from National Grid Renewables explains how solar works.

Leland Olds Station turns up the heat with employee chili cookoff

At Leland Olds Station, the Safety & Wellness Committee sponsored a 2023 chili cookoff.

Always loved, never forgotten

An unexpected series of events led to a Basin Electric employee carrying out a task her father started more than 30 years ago and form a connection...

Throwback Thursday: November 2001

Recently, the original two turbines from the PrairieWinds Chamberlain Wind Project were decommissioned as they were at the end of their useful life...

Conquering the Maah Daah Hey Trail

This past July, the organization put on a 108.1-mile race starting at the CCC Campground located 15 miles south of Watford City, North Dakota, and...

Why Basin? Salary, benefits, and comprehensive lab equipment

Basin Electric prides itself on its culture and commitment to its employees, offering an impressive benefits package, professional development...

Basin Electric wellness programs ignite a passion for health and fitness

Committed to the well-being of its employees, Basin Electric provides on-site walking paths and fitness centers at most of its facilities, and for...

How we serve: Engineering and Construction

Employees at Basin Electric understand their roles as stewards of service to the members of the cooperative. The “How We Serve” series highlights...

Basin Electric unmanned aerial systems team conducts training

The training course is designed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology as a way for UAS pilots to objectively measure their flying...

Stay Basin! Advancement opportunities, collaborating with others, and improving processes

Basin Electric appreciates its employees and works hard to retain its workforce. The cooperative understands employees, with their combined...

How We Serve: Dakota Gas

Employees at Basin Electric understand their roles as stewards of service to the members of the cooperative. The “How We Serve” series highlights...

Blanket drive at Basin Electric provides warmth and comfort to struggling community members

Basin Electric's Marketing team conducted a blanket and pillow drive for Ministry on the Margins, a local a volunteer-based ministry that supports...

Basin Electric employee receives NRECA Rising Star Award

Basin Electric’s Tony Michlitsch, Leland Olds Station plant superintendent, is one of 20 stand-out cooperative employees to win the National Rural...

Basin Electric attends “Lunch with the Boss” event

Basin Electric was honored at the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) “Lunch with the Boss” event held on Aug. 19.

Seven states represented at electric cooperative key accounts training

Seven of the nine states in Basin Electric’s service territory were represented at the Key Accounts Master Course at Class C member West River...

Why Basin? Learning opportunities, stability, and an impressive benefits package

Basin Electric prides itself on its culture and commitment to its employees, offering an impressive benefits package and professional development...

How We Serve: Human Resources

Employees at Basin Electric understand their role as stewards of service to the members of the cooperative. The “How We Serve” series highlights an...

BE Leaders class at Basin Electric creates new mission statement and values

The 2023 BE Leaders team used their teamwork skills when they were tasked with developing a new mission statement and set of values for Basin...

Check out videos and written summaries available from Basin Electric 2023 Annual Meeting

Find videos, written summaries, photos, and more from Basin Electric's 2023 Annual Meeting of the Membership.

How Basin Electric maintains reliability and stability when the Laws of Physics won't change

The Laws of Physics say that at the very second electricity is being used, it must be generated somewhere.

Montana Free Press: What happened when a Tesla came to Ekalaka

See how two self-proclaimed jerks from California made the front desk laugh at Southeast Electric Cooperative.

Affordable cooperative power supports entrepreneurs

Vess Hurley says he was able to diversify and grow because he was willing to adapt.

West River Electric participates in electric vehicle training

As more and more electric vehicles hit the road, the need for safety training increases. West River Electric Association, a Basin Electric Class C...

Watch Live: Basin Electric 2023 Annual Meeting

Watch Basin Electric's 2023 Annual Meeting live online.

Basin Electric employee, daughter hit the mark on family time

Matthew Weigel coaches his daughter in the Junior Marksmanship Program and participates in shooting sports, himself, as well. Sometimes, they even...

Support Center team at Basin Electric achieves Help Desk International certification

The certification will give the Support Center a common language and help standardize their practices to continue to grow their capabilities.

Hieb selected as one of the 2023 top 20 professionals under 40 by the Bismarck Mandan Chamber EDC

Kayla Hieb, Basin Electric vice president of Human Resources, was selected by the Bismarck Mandan Chamber EDC as one of the 2023 top 20...

How We Serve: Dakota Gasification Company

Employees at Basin Electric understand their roles as stewards of service to the members of the cooperative. The “How We Serve” series highlights...

Get to know the CEO: Interim CEO and General Manager Todd Brickhouse

Todd Brickhouse was named Basin Electric’s interim chief executive officer and general manager in July.

Stay Basin! Workload diversity, flexible schedule, and new challenges

Basin Electric appreciates its employees and works hard to retain its workforce. The cooperative understands employees, with their combined...

It’s nothing to sneeze at

Congestion has always been present on the transmission grid, but it has become increasingly problematic over the past five to 10 years as...

Basin Electric and Powder River Energy Corporation team up with donation to Food Bank of Wyoming

Basin Electric was recently part of a $35,000 donation given to the Food Bank of Wyoming for their September Hungry Awareness Month fundraising...

National Hire a Veteran Day: Basin Electric's commitment to the military and hiring veterans

July 25 is National Hire a Veteran Day, a day created as a call to action for hiring companies, and to encourage veteran job applicants.

A pioneer in power: How Basin Electric has dared to innovate

In honor of Pioneer Day on July 24, we're taking a look back at some of Basin Electric's pivotal decisions, from environmental impacts to new ways...

Basin Electric plans for continued reliability through carbon management solutions

Reliability has ensured Basin Electric’s members can provide opportunities for the breadbasket and energy corridor of America.

Electric cooperatives use solar trailer to educate members on the realities of solar power

Electric cooperatives are using a solar trailer to educate their members by demonstrating how solar power works to help them make educated...

Why Basin? Serving the community, benefits, and a positive work environment

A native of Mandan, North Dakota, Kyren Miller has been with Basin Electric since August 2022, when he started as a training coordinator for...

How we serve through environmental controls

Most of us take clean air for granted as we go about our day, never thinking about what’s in the air we are breathing, while behind the scenes...

In Orange City, Iowa, if you ain’t Dutch, you ain’t much

Whether it’s in their blood or they are just Dutch at heart, some 100,000 people flock to northwestern Iowa for the annual Orange City Tulip...

Teams at Basin Electric collaborate to build strong relationships and improve efficiency

As part of a shared team initiative, the Accounts Payable and Financial Operations groups decided to convert more vendors to electronic payments to...

Nearly 200 contractors onsite building Pioneer Generation Station Phase IV

Construction has begun on Pioneer Generation Station Phase IV. Right now, the main objective is to get the buildings erected prior to the winter...

Four generation family business and Basin Electric member on relationships

The Wills say the reliable electricity and small business feel they receive from Capital Electric mean a lot.

Basin Electric donates to Y.E.S. House

Basin Electric made a $150,000 donation to the Y.E.S. House Foundation in Gillette, Wyoming, to help cover ongoing efforts and program needs,...

How We Serve: Chief Operating Officer

Employees at Basin Electric understand their role as stewards of service to the members of the cooperative. The “How We Serve” series highlights an...

Basin Electric employees attend career fairs at Bismarck schools

Before the school year ended, Basin Electric employees visited schools in Bismarck, North Dakota to give students information about Basin Electric...

Dr. and Mrs. Doolittle’s animal rehab

Linda and Derek Binstock's love for animals has turned their garage into a makeshift animal rehab facility.

Stay Basin! Problem solving, supportive coworkers, and unique challenges

Basin Electric appreciates its employees and works hard to retain its workforce. The cooperative understands employees, with their combined...

Reliable cooperative electricity powers the ethanol industry

Electric cooperatives deliver reliable, affordable, and responsible electricity to rural America fueling economic prosperity. Here, meet our 2022...

NRECA Employees Tour Dry Fork Station and Dry Fork Mine

NRECA employees were recently given the opportunity to tour Dry Fork Station and the Dry Fork Mine to see how Basin Electric facilities differ from...

Throwback Thursday: August 1999

In 1999, Basin Electric invested more than $100 million to build the infrastructure and pipeline that now delivers carbon dioxide produced at...

Kelby Hovey nominated to the Greater North Dakota Chamber list of 15 Women to Know in North Dakota Business

Kelby Hovey, Basin Electric pilot and safety officer, was recently nominated to the Greater North Dakota Chamber’s (GNDC) inaugural list of 15...

Laramie River Station employee educates high school shop students in OSHA 10

Jason Evans, Laramie River Station safety coordinator, recently spent two days at Wheatland High School teaching OSHA 10 to a group of shop...

Dry Fork Station employees volunteer and bring joy to Gillette Senior Center

Every month, employees at Dry Fork Station volunteer to serve meals at the Gillette Senior Center in Gillette, Wyoming, as a way to show their...

Why Basin? Flexible schedule, professional development, and a healthy work/life balance

Mandan, North Dakota, native Tavis Freidt started at Basin Electric five months ago and finds joy in coming to work every day.

Basin Electric employees’ children get a firsthand view of working at Basin Electric

Family is a core component of being a cooperative. That’s why employees’ children ages 9 to 13 were invited to Basin Electric’s Headquarters for...

How We Serve: Strategic Planning and Communications

Employees at Basin Electric understand their role as stewards of service to the members of the cooperative. The “How We Serve” series highlights an...

Come one, come all: Basin Electric celebrates employees and families

Each year, Basin Electric hosts Family Night events for employees at its various locations, but this year, the Family Night event for Headquarters...

Rushmore Electric Power Cooperative hosts first annual Key Accounts Conference

The purpose of the Key Accounts Conference was to bring together the key players in various electric cooperative communities and empower them with...

Basin Electric and Dakota Gas employees have connection to North Dakota film

Basin Electric has several connections to a new film, End of the Rope. The film was shot in North Dakota where several Basin Electric employees and...

National Lineman Appreciation Day: Honoring the backbone of our power grid

In honor of National Lineman Appreciation Day, we asked Basin Electric’s lineworkers to tell us the best parts and the craziest parts of their...

Hail Mary by Basin Electric Procurement team results in millions in lost runtime savings

Procurement's persistence and utilization of industry contacts helped avoid approximately $10 million in lost revenue.

Stay Basin! New challenges, professional development, and great people

Basin Electric appreciates its employees and works hard to retain its workforce. The cooperative understands employees, with their combined...

Basin Electric GIS team instrumental to keeping electricity reliable

Basin Electric’s geographic information systems (GIS) team is charged with organizing project information which allows users to manage the course...

Throwback Thursday: The woman who helped incorporate Basin Electric

On May 5, 1961, 69 people from several states gathered at the Patterson Hotel in Bismarck, ND, to sign Articles of Incorporation for Basin...

Basin Electric works to protect members from volatility

Basin Electric is dedicated to providing reliable, affordable, and responsible electricity to its members.

Basin Electric continues initiative to replace aging transmission infrastructure

As new technology emerges it’s critical to the lifespan of a substation to upgrade equipment before there’s a problem.

Christensen's 'transmission' from rookie to retiree

Throughout his four-decades-long career, Christensen worked in Resource Planning, Transmission, and Marketing and Power Supply before being hired...

Throwback Thursday: The ‘lectric light lady

Life prior to electricity was difficult for both the farmer and his wife. The book, The Next Greatest Thing, detailed how the Country Life...

Winter member managers conference goes virtual

The Member and External Relations team at Basin Electric were faced with last minute changes when the winter member managers conference, usually...

Pioneer Generation Station Phase IV adding mega megawatts

According to the 2023 Basin Electric Member Load Forecast, 92% of Basin Electric's distribution cooperative members are growing.

How We Serve with Human Resources

Human Resources focuses on the development of employees by keeping them trained, engaged, and productive, with an eye on continuous improvement.

Powder River Energy Corporation and Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative employees tour Dry Fork Station

Dry Fork Station hosted a tour of the power plant for employees of Basin Electric Class C member Powder River Energy Corporation and Oregon Trail...

Why Basin? Culture, people, and commitment to community

Basin Electric prides itself on its culture and commitment to its employees, making new hires feel welcome and appreciated from Day 1.

Basin Electric employee helps Pilots for Kids bring holiday cheer to those in need

As a part of the Pilots for Kids program, Basin Electric Pilot Steven Schaffner helped Santa and Mrs. Claus trade in their sleigh and reindeer for...

Deer Creek Station hosts tour for Aurora Volunteer Fire Department

Deer Creek Station hosted a tour with the Aurora (South Dakota) Volunteer Fire Department to grow their working relationship and prepare them in...

Basin Electric donates to youth organizations with Northern Electric Cooperative

Basin Electric recently made donations to community youth organizations in South Dakota through the member match program.

How We Serve: Financial Services

Employees at Basin Electric understand their role as stewards of service to the members of the cooperative. The “How We Serve” series highlights...

Co-ops leverage Basin Electric’s rate to build grid-level battery storage

As more electric cooperatives pursue energy storage, a generation and transmission co-op is offering a trial battery rate to help members deliver...

Basin Electric donation keeps Bismarck-Mandan Homeless Shelter open 24-hours a day for winter

Basin Electric made a $75,000 donation to Missouri Slope Areawide United Way, resulting in the reopening of the emergency homeless shelter during...

Dakota Gasification Company earns valuable certification

A few years ago, the team at Dakota Gasification Company was tasked with obtaining what’s called ISO 9001 certification, a metric that ensures...

Strength and value as a generation and transmission cooperative

Unlike other energy providers whose rates may only include energy, Basin Electric's rates include many other essential services.