Sioux Valley Energy plans work to meet members' future needs

Growth throughout the cooperative's service area directs its 2026 work plan.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Sioux Valley Energy, a South Dakota electric cooperative, has a $25 million work plan for 2026 to upgrade and expand its electric infrastructure to meet the growing needs of its members. The plan includes multiple projects across the cooperative's service territory in Minnesota, Brookings County, Lake County, Moody County, and Minnehaha County to rebuild aging overhead lines, add capacity, and connect a new substation.

Why it matters

As Sioux Valley Energy's service area continues to experience steady growth, the cooperative is proactively investing in its electric grid to ensure reliable and resilient power delivery for its members. This work will help the co-op keep pace with increasing electricity demand from residential, agricultural, and commercial customers.

The details

Sioux Valley Energy's 2026 work plan includes the following key projects: - Minnesota: Crews are working on an overhead line build southwest of Hardwick and will follow up with a large overhead project south of Edgerton. - Brookings County: Multiple-mile projects south of Volga and south of Brookings to update aged facilities and increase system capacity. - Lake County: Crews will bury aged overhead lines and complete improvement projects around the rapidly growing Lake Madison area. - Moody County: Sioux Valley Energy will construct new distribution lines to connect a substation being built by East River Electric Power Cooperative west of Trent. - Minnehaha County: Upgrading a main feeder line along 41st Street west of Sioux Falls and working on projects in east Sioux Falls and Brandon.

  • Sioux Valley Energy plans to rebuild 125 miles of electric line each year as part of its overall construction work plan.
  • The cooperative's oldest lines, some dating back 80-90 years, are expected to be fully replaced within the next 15 years.

The players

Sioux Valley Energy

A South Dakota electric cooperative that provides power to members across multiple counties.

Chris Graff

Director of operations at Sioux Valley Energy.

Ted Smith

Vice president of engineering and operations at Sioux Valley Energy.

East River Electric Power Cooperative

A power supply cooperative that is constructing a new distribution substation in Moody County, which Sioux Valley Energy will connect to its system.

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What they’re saying

“We have a lot of work going on all across our system, but we have areas where that growth is coming in a little faster.”

— Chris Graff, Director of operations (siouxfalls.business)

“The new overhead line is more resilient and built to withstand 2 inches of ice.”

— Ted Smith, Vice president of engineering and operations (siouxfalls.business)

“Much of the system was built in the mid-20th century and is going on 80 to 90 years old. Now it is on us to upgrade it.”

— Ted Smith, Vice president of engineering and operations (siouxfalls.business)

“It took us about 75 years to get to 500,000 megawatt hours of sales per year. We got to a million within 20 years after that. We'll cross a million this next year. We're going to get to the next million in 10 to 15 years, doubling again. And then, it's going to double again 10 years after that.”

— Ted Smith, Vice president of engineering and operations (siouxfalls.business)

What’s next

Sioux Valley Energy will continue upgrading aging infrastructure and expanding its electric system to ensure reliable power delivery for its growing membership.

The takeaway

Sioux Valley Energy's proactive infrastructure investments demonstrate the cooperative's commitment to meeting the evolving energy needs of its members across its diverse service territory in South Dakota and Minnesota.