FAQs

What is MMPA?

The Minnesota Municipal Power Agency supplies 12 Minnesota member communities with competitively priced, reliable and sustainable energy. The Agency is owned by its member cities and governed by a Board of Directors with representatives from each community.

 

Who are MMPA’s members?

Our members are the Minnesota cities of Anoka, Arlington, BrowntonBuffalo, Chaska, East Grand Forks, Elk River, Le Sueur, North St. PaulOlivia, Shakopee and Winthrop.

The City of Elk River, Minnesota became the twelfth and newest member of MMPA in 2013. Elk River decided to join MMPA after reviewing a number of power supply alternatives. Elk River began buying its wholesale power requirements from MMPA on October 1, 2018.

 

Who manages MMPA?

MMPA is managed by Avant Energy, an energy management firm based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Learn about our management.

 

What are the benefits for member communities?

Members benefit from reliable, competitively-priced power. In addition, each member community benefits through representation on MMPA’s Board of Directors. The board shapes strategy and makes important policy decisions on energy for your hometown.

 

How does MMPA meet its members’ power supply needs?

MMPA has assembled a diverse portfolio of power supply sources to meet our members needs. The portfolio includes a mix of owned and contracted generation that uses natural gas, wind, solar and bioenergy to generate electricity.These resources are interconnected with the regional transmission system (MISO) and contribute to its reliability.

 

Why do some cities have an electric utility and others don’t?

MMPA’s members decided to build their own electric distribution system and provide electricity to residents and businesses within their communities. Customers in cities that do not have municipal utilities purchase electricity from investor-owned utilities or cooperatives.

 

What is public power?

Public power is the term that describes community-owned electric utilities. People in these municipalities have decided that they are best served by an electric utility owned by the community.

 

What are the benefits of public power?

Because public power systems are locally owned and operated, they emphasize responsiveness to the needs of their communities. System employees live and work in the area and do not have to come from afar to perform emergency work.

 

What is the difference between MMPA and a municipal utility?

MMPA generates and transmits energy to its member utilities. Municipal utilities distribute energy to the retail customers in their communities.

 

What is MMPA doing to protect the environment?

We’re making sure that sustainable forms of energy, including wind energy, bioenergy and solar power have a prominent place among our energy portfolio. Learn how we’re investing in sustainable energy.

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