Great River Energy hosts landmark transmission conference

Great River Energy welcomed utility professionals from across North America in September as the cooperative hosted the 50th Anniversary Transmission & Distribution Maintenance Management Association (TDMMA) conference in downtown Minneapolis.

The conference brought together 156 utility professionals representing 28 companies from the United States and Canada. The week began with a technical tour at Great River Energy's Elk River Peaking Station where attendees received a welcome from Transmission Services Director Mary Hvistendahl and a power supply overview from Cole Funseth, manager of generation engineering. Participants rotated through four stations featuring a plant tour, temporary emergency tower demonstrations, specialty equipment and unmanned aircraft systems drone technology.

Great River Energy Manager of Transmission Construction and Maintenance Matt Reule served as master of ceremonies for the conference. He introduced Great River Energy Vice President and Chief Transmission Officer Priti Patel, who delivered the opening keynote. Her presentation highlighted the cooperative, its member-owners, and the organization's role in supporting regional growth and expansion.

Throughout the week, attendees participated in panel discussions covering safety, major system events and challenges, emerging technology, lessons learned, and operational successes and failures.

Afternoon workshops provided opportunities for deeper discussion on topics including safety, fleet operations, workforce development and retention, wildlife mitigation, asset management, control center operations and artificial intelligence. Great River Energy Manager of Safety and Human Performance Chelsey Wildman facilitated the conference's mental health workshop while Reule moderated a panel featuring mental health advocates and suicide prevention specialists.

The conference theme "Stronger Together" reflected a shared understanding across the industry that collaboration is essential to meeting the challenges facing the electric grid. Utilities exchanged operating practices, technologies and lessons learned while building relationships that support stronger, more resilient systems.

"Hosting TDMMA's 50th anniversary conference was an incredible opportunity for Great River Energy to showcase the talent and expertise of our employees while learning from some of the best utility professionals in North America," Reule said. "The conversations, ideas and partnerships formed during the week will help all of us continue improving reliability, safety and workforce development as our industry evolves."