Planning Power for Tomorrow: Basin Electric's IRP Team

When Basin Electric talks about planning for the future, it’s not just about keeping the lights on – it’s about making sure every member, from the smallest rural home to the largest industrial load, has reliable, affordable power for decades to come. That’s where the Integrated Resource Plan, or IRP, comes in.

An IRP is essentially the cooperative’s long-range roadmap: a detailed look at how Basin Electric will meet future electricity needs while balancing cost, reliability, and regulatory requirements. It’s the tool that helps protect members from unnecessary financial risk while ensuring the system can handle everything from rapid growth to extreme weather.

“Basin Electric has historically completed an IRP every five years,” Ben Hertz, Basin Electric manager of power supply planning, says. “Our last IRP was developed in 2023, but with the pressures we’re seeing and the dynamic growth environment, we see value in doing them more frequently – maybe every three to four years.”
Between major IRP cycles, Basin Electric performs annual updates to track progress, adjust action plans, and document what has changed since the last baseline. But the upcoming 2027 IRP marks a shift in both timing and approach.

“One of our biggest goals with the 2027 IRP is increasing member communication and feedback along the way,” Hertz says.

To support that goal, Basin Electric recently launched a dedicated IRP page on its members’ website. The page houses materials, updates, and opportunities for members to interact directly with the IRP team.

“Members are often curious about what Basin Electric is planning for the future,” Hertz says. “This webpage gives them a place to start. It provides a focused and transparent way to understand what we are working on without having to track down individual conversations.”

Hertz leads a multidisciplinary team of analysts, modelers, and planners who study load forecasts, market trends, and regulatory shifts. Their work is equal parts data science and strategy, and every decision they make is rooted in protecting members from risk while preparing the cooperative for the future. Hertz describes the team as collaborative and analytical, a combination he says is essential as Basin Electric navigates rapid growth and an evolving energy landscape.

“The energy landscape is changing quickly, and our members deserve clarity about how we’re preparing for that,” Hertz says. “This IRP is our opportunity to show the work behind the decisions and demonstrate how we’re positioning the cooperative for the future.”

The IRP is more than a regulatory requirement. It is a living strategy that shapes the cooperative’s future. As Basin Electric navigates unprecedented load growth, evolving energy markets, and shifting federal policies, the IRP will help ensure that every decision made today supports a reliable tomorrow.