Transformers on the grow

Transformer sizes, costs increase as farms grow larger

Just as the average farm size has increased in the 50-plus years since Dakota Valley and its predecessors RSR Electric and James Valley Electric Cooperatives first brought electricity to the area, so also has the need for increased electrical capacity grown as farmers use electricity to dry grain, milk cows, and perform a myriad of other tasks on today's modern farms.

While not all transformers are as large as the 150 KVA that serves the Mauch farm southeast of Barney, it is not at all unusual for a typical modern farm to require electric capacity of 75 KVA, or more.These large, modern transformers dwarf the little 3-KVA transformers that served our grandfathers farms, both in size and price.Today, it is not unusual for a typical large transformer to cost $3000, or more.

To help defray the cost of larger transformers, which are above those costs which are recovered in the electric rates, Dakota Valley asks it members to pay an installation charge based on the size of the transformer. These charges vary according to the size of the transformer needed, but typically range from $2.00 to $3.50 per kVA.

For more information about new service construction fees, or if you are planning to enlarge your existing service, please call (800) 342-4671.