Electric cooperatives form the backbone of rural America’s energy infrastructure, serving 42 million consumers across 48 states. Unlike large investor-owned utilities, electric cooperatives operate under a not-for-profit model, meaning every efficiency gain directly benefits their members. However, with increasing energy demand, ageing transmission lines, and growing grid congestion, cooperatives face mounting operational and financial pressures.
Traditional grid expansion is a costly and time-intensive endeavour. Between 2003 and 2023, capital spending on the US electricity distribution system surged by 160%, driven by rising infrastructure costs and growing demand. In 2022 alone, day-ahead grid congestion costs hit $11.6 billion, nearly double the previous year. This is where Dynamic Line Rating (DLR) provides an innovative, cost-effective alternative, allowing cooperatives to maximise the capacity of their existing assets without expensive upgrades.
Electric cooperatives own and maintain vast transmission networks, often covering rural and geographically dispersed communities. This means their customers bear a greater share of infrastructure costs compared to urban areas. On average, co-op service areas span 56% of the US landmass, yet they account for only 13% of total electricity sales, highlighting the unique cost burden.
The rapid rise in demand from electric vehicles, data centres, and AI computing facilities is placing additional strain on grid infrastructure. Some of the highest-growth areas for electric cooperatives include Texas, Tennessee, and the Carolinas, where demand is increasing sharply. However, long permitting timelines and regulatory hurdles slow down traditional transmission upgrades, leaving co-ops searching for more immediate, scalable solutions.
Traditional transmission line ratings are based on conservative, static assumptions regarding temperature, wind speed, and other environmental factors. Real-time conditions often allow for significantly higher transmission capacity. Dynamic Line Rating provides a sensor-driven, real-time approach, allowing transmission operators to safely increase line capacity by up to 40%.
Ampacimon’s DLR technology combines patented sensors, weather forecasting, and AI-driven analytics to deliver accurate transmission capacity assessments. This translates into several tangible benefits for electric cooperatives:
A standout example of DLR deployment in action is Basin Electric Power Cooperative, which serves over 3 million consumers across nine Midwestern states. In 2024, Basin Electric deployed Ampacimon’s DLR technology on a 75-mile 230kV transmission line in North Dakota, operated by the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA).
The results were immediate and substantial. By implementing DLR, the cooperative increased its ability to transmit more power without requiring new infrastructure investments. Given that Basin Electric is simultaneously constructing two new 345kV transmission lines at a projected cost of $500 million, the potential savings from DLR are significant.
According to Jeremy Severson, Basin Electric’s Vice President of Transmission, the benefits of DLR are twofold: "We are aiming to take full advantage of existing transmission capacity, maintain reliability, and reduce congestion costs for our members. Within days of installing the Ampacimon DLR system, we saw significant capacity gains, translating into real savings."
Encouraged by the success of the initial deployment, Basin Electric is expanding DLR monitoring to two additional line segments, covering 50 miles of transmission network.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has recognised the benefits of Dynamic Line Rating and is actively pushing for broader adoption.
FERC 881 (2021 Ruling) requires all transmission system operators to implement Ambient-Adjusted Ratings (AARs) by July 2025. This mandates utilities to consider temperature variations in their line ratings, but it stops short of full real-time monitoring.
ANOPR (Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 2024) proposes a mandatory transition to DLR for congested transmission corridors, incorporating real-time wind speed, temperature, and solar radiation data.
While AARs can improve transmission efficiency by 5-10%, DLR offers up to 40% gains, making it a far superior solution. Cooperatives that act early will be best positioned to meet regulatory requirements while improving service reliability and reducing costs.
With regulatory momentum behind DLR, rising grid congestion costs, and increasing demand for transmission capacity, this data-driven approach enables co-ops to optimise transmission assets without excessive capital investment. DLR isn’t just a compliance move, it’s a way to deliver better service, cut costs, and strengthen infrastructure for the future.
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