Pleasant Valley-North Rochester-Hampton 345 kV
Overview
Xcel Energy, Dairyland Power Cooperative, Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency, and the City of Rochester have partnered to construct, own, and maintain the proposed North Rochester to Hampton 345 kV project, which would add a second circuit to the existing Hampton-Rochester transmission line built as part of the CapX2020 project. This project is a part of the Midcontinent Independent System Operator's (MISO) Long-Range Transmission Planning (LRTP) Tranche 2.1 portfolio, a regional effort to modernize the electric grid and meet growing energy needs.
Key milestones
PowerOn Midwest must undergo a comprehensive state regulatory review led by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC), this includes two key approvals:
- Certificate of Need (CON) - anticipated to be filed in early 2026
- Route Permit application - anticipated to be filed in 2027
More information will be shared on this page as the project develops.
Upcoming events
In November 2025, we are holding open house meetings in the study area in preparation for the Certificate of Need (CON) regulatory process with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC).