New Richmond Load Serving Study

2. New Richmond Load Serving Study Northern MAPP Subregional Planning Group August 16, 2006 Daniel Kline

3. Outline • Description of Area • Various Load Serving Problems • Study Methodology & Initial Alternatives • Final Alternatives Considered • Final Recommendation & Initial Project Schedule • Questions

4. Description of Area • Located in Western Wisconsin • St. Croix County • Just across Minnesota border, near I-94 • Area fed by 161 kV sources and 69 kV subtransmission • Load belonging to Xcel and DPC • Lines belonging toXcel and DPC

5. Description of Area • Area Xcel Loads (2011): • New Richmond (9.1 MW) • Somerset (7.7 MW) • Kinnickinnic (4.4 MW) • Osceola (15.4 MW) • River Falls (30 MW) • Area DPC Loads (2011): • New Richmond (15 MW) • Houlton (5.4 MW) • Farmington (8.1 MW) • Roberts (4.6 MW) • Hammond (3.2 MW)

6. Description of Area

7. Description of Problems • Low voltage at New Richmond during outage of Pine Lake – New Richmond 69 kV line • Low voltage at Osceola during outage of Osceola – Osceola Tap 69 kV line • Overload of River Falls 115/69 kV transformer during outage of Osceola – Osceola Tap 69 kV line • Overload of Pine Lake 161/115 kV transformer during outage of King – Willow River 115 kV line • Normal Overload of Pine Lake – Rush River 69 kV line

8. Description of Problems • High load growth throughout area • Installation of Chisago Line Project will require extended outage of Osceola – Osceola Tap 69 kV line • No room for expansion at New Richmond Substation • No room for expansion at Rush River Substation

9. Study Methodology • 2006 MAPP Series Cases • 2011 Near-Term • 2016 Out-Year • Study Group Asked to Review: • Jerry Iverson, DPC • Bob Roddy, DPC • Dave Krause, KPE • Jeff Haas, Xcel • Walt Grivna, Xcel

10. Study Methodology • Assumptions and Adjustments made • Assumed Chisago Line Project not in service in 2011 (In-service in 2016) • New City of New Richmond Substation in service • Xcel’s Somerset Substation in service • Added DPC N-60 line upgrade (477 ACSR)

11. Study Methodology • Base Case Results

12. Study Methodology • Base Case Results

13. Initial Ideas • Multi-Faceted Approach • 5.4 MVAR Capacitor at Osceola • 10.0 MVAR Capacitor at New Richmond • New 69 kV switching station south of New Richmond that would tap DPC N-60 line • 115/69 kV Transformer near Kinnickinnic Substation • 161/69 kV Transformer at Clear Lake Substation • 69 kV line from Somerset to new substation north of New Richmond • 69 kV line from Cylon to new substation north of New Richmond

14. Initial Ideas • Options investigated with and without Chisago project • Necessity of Poplar Lake Substation and 161/69 kV transformer investigated

15. Final Alternatives • Three options tagged for detailed review • Alternative 1, Step 2A – Three Lakes 115/69 kV Substation, Stanton 69 kV Substation, & Somerset to Stanton 69 kV Line • Alternative 1, Step 2B – Three Lakes 115/69 kV Substation, Stanton 69 kV Substation, & Cylon to Stanton 69 kV Line • Alternative 2, Step 1 – 115/69 kV Substation south of New Richmond

16. Final Alternatives - 1

17. Final Alternatives - 1

18. Final Alternatives - 2

19. Final Alternatives - 2

20. Final Alternatives - 3

21. Final Alternatives - 3 • Voltage Violations too numerous to mention

22. Final Recommendation • Alternative 1 Recommended • 10 MVAR Cap Bank at New Richmond – ASAP • Three Lakes Substation – ASAP • 5.4 MVAR Cap Bank at Osceola – May 31, 2009 • Rebuild Osceola to Sand Lake 69 kV Line – May 31, 2009 • Relocate Rush River Substation and cut over to 161 kV – May 31, 2010 • Construct Somerset Sub – May 31, 2010 • Construct Stanton Sub – December 31, 2010 • Construct Somerset to Stanton 69 kV Line – May 31, 2011 • Complete installation of Chisago Line Project – May 31, 2011 • Construct Poplar Lake Sub & 161/69 kV Transformer – May 31, 2011

23. Next Steps • Currently compiling necessary information for business case • Will have more meetings with Study Group prior to any filings