Basin Electric’s Large Load Commercial Program marks one year

Adopted in June 2025, Basin Electric's Large Load Commercial Program was created to insulate existing members from costs and potential risks associated with serving new large loads. Under the program, customers requesting service for non-traditional loads must bear the cost of any generation and transmission infrastructure needed to meet their demand.

Developed in collaboration with the Basin Electric membership, the program offers a consistent framework for evaluating and managing large load requests. By working together to manage growth responsibly, Basin Electric ensures reliable, affordable power for all members today and for generations to come.

"One year in, the Large Load Commercial Program is delivering exactly what it was designed to accomplish: creating a clear path for growth while protecting our members," said Daniel Gallagher, vice president of Commercial Operations. "We've established a disciplined process that allows viable projects to advance quickly, ensures project-related costs remain with the large loads driving them, and helps Basin Electric and our members responsibly capture the economic opportunities emerging across our service territory."

The program also provides flexibility to accommodate system growth, reduces the risk of stranded assets, protects Basin Electric's credit rating, and promotes responsible capital investment.

Further underscoring the cooperative's commitment to protecting members' rates, Basin Electric recently signed the Ratepayer Protection Pledge. The pledge promotes a framework in which data center operators fund the energy resources and infrastructure required to support their facilities, helping ensure the costs of new development are not shifted to existing consumers.

Since opening the program on June 13, 2025, Basin Electric has received 26 applications for new large load requests across the cooperative's footprint, 17 of which are currently active. "Active" applications are advancing through the program's three-phase review process, while "inactive" applications have been withdrawn. Applications may briefly be under review or awaiting additional information, but generally, are either progressing or withdrawn.

Customers seeking to submit an application must work with a Basin Electric member. For more information on the program, visit basinelectric.com.