Minnesota Power Deploys Smart Wires Solutions to Optimize Grid and Save Customers Money

SAN FRANCISCO, March 06, 2017 -- Minnesota Power and Smart Wires completed the installation of a deployment of PowerLine Guardians^® in Little Falls, Minnesota, on a 115 kV circuit. The installation occurred over a three-day period in December and the units were placed into operation in early 2017. Part of the Smart Wires Guardian product family, this technology increases a line’s reactance, pushing power away from that line and onto other underutilized paths on the grid.

Minnesota Power installs Smart Wires PowerLine Guardian® technology in Little Falls, MN. Minnesota Power Deploys Smart Wires to Optimize its Grid and Save Customers Money

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

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“Minnesota Power is committed to delivering security, comfort and quality of life to our customers. The integrity and reliability of the grid is a huge part of that. Smart Wires’ technology is very aligned with the execution of our mission and vision,” said Brad Oachs, who oversees Minnesota Power as President of Regulated Operations of ALLETE.

In-line with their EnergyForward strategy, Minnesota Power is leveraging Smart Wires’ technology to increase the utilization of existing assets and save their customers money. This solution alleviates the need to reconductor the line, a time- and labor-intensive installation of new wires and poles.

“We have a deep commitment to delivering a high-quality product on-schedule, because we understand the external forces that exist on our customers such as weather, outage windows, crew availability, endangered species cycles and more.  The innovation and excellence at all levels within Minnesota Power made the hardware and software installation seamless and easy. We look forward to continuing to meet every expectation in this important partnership,” commented Randy Sprout, Smart Wires COO.

By deploying Smart Wires technology, Minnesota Power joins a group of leading utilities leveraging these solutions to create a flexible, dynamic grid.

About Minnesota Power
Minnesota Power provides electric service within a 26,000-square-mile area in northeastern Minnesota, supporting comfort, security and quality of life for 144,000 customers, 16 municipalities and some of the largest industrial customers in the U.S.

About Smart Wires
Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, with offices in the U.S., the U.K., Ireland and Australia, Smart Wires is the leader in grid optimization solutions that leverage its patented modular power flow control technology. Smart Wires’ technology was developed by utilities for utilities; Southern Company and TVA led a consortium of large U.S. utilities at the National Electric Energy Testing Research and Applications Center (NEETRAC). Driven by a world-class leadership team with extensive experience delivering innovative solutions, Smart Wires partners with utilities around the globe to address the unique challenges of the rapidly evolving electric system.

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