1. North Mankato Load Serving study Xcel Energy Great River Energy

2. Study Area:

3. System Characteristics Major loads include Cities of Lesure and St. Peter Only two strong sources from Wilmarth. Long 69 kV lines.

4. Critical contingencies (2012): Contingency Wilmarth – Penelope Wilmarth – Eagle Lake Traverse – St. Peter Branch Overload Cleveland – Jamestown tap Wilmarth –Traverse Jamestown – Cleveland Overload 145 % 109 % 130 % Bus Eagle Lake - Cleveland – St. Thomas Cleveland – St. Thomas St. Peter – Cleveland – St. Thomas Voltage 91.5 % 88 % 86.5 %

5. Critical contingencies continued: Contingency Le Sueur – Le Sueur Tap Loss of Cleveland – Le Center Branch Overload Cleveland – Le Center Traverse – New Sweden Overload 102 % 104 % Bus Le Sueur – Montgomery Le Center – St. Thomas Voltage 88.6 % 90.8 %

8. Preferred Plan: Preferred Plan is option 2. Relatively inexpensive. Scope for future 115 kV line additions from Helena substation.

9. Other Concerns: SPS to trip the Helena – St. Thomas line for the loss of Helena – Wilmarth or Helena – Blue Lake 345 kV lines. The inservice date for this project depends on the inservice date of Helena 345 kV substation. The project schedules has to be coordinated with the Southwest Minnesota – Twin cities 345 kV line.

10. Questions?