North Plains Connector Welcomes Minnkota Power Cooperative as Eighth Member
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jun 01 2026
0mins
North Plains Connector welcomes Minnkota Power Cooperative as the eighth member of its utility consortium. Minnkota has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with North Plains Connector, a subsidiary of Grid United, to secure 150 megawatts of capacity on the 3,000-megawatt, high-voltage direct current transmission line once it begins operations, subject to successful negotiation of definitive agreements. Once completed, North Plains Connector will be the first HVDC transmission line in the United States to connect three regional electric energy markets - the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, the Western Interconnection, and the Southwest Power Pool - improving the reliability and resiliency of the electrical grid across the region while broadening market connections. Grid United and ALLETE are joint developers of North Plains Connector. Other members of the utility consortium with signed capacity MOUs with the project are: Avista (AVA), BHE U.S. Transmission, MDU Resources (MDU) subsidiary Montana-Dakota Utilities, NorthWestern Energy (NWE), Portland General Electric (POR), and Puget Sound Energy.
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Analyst Views on AVA
Wall Street analysts forecast AVA stock price to fall
4 Analyst Rating
0 Buy
3 Hold
1 Sell
Hold
Current: 39.710
Low
36.00
Averages
39.25
High
42.00
Current: 39.710
Low
36.00
Averages
39.25
High
42.00
About AVA
Avista Corp. is an energy company involved in the production, transmission and distribution of energy as well as other energy-related businesses. Its segment includes Avista Utilities and AEL&P. The Avista Utilities segment comprises regulated utility operations in Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Montana. It engages in electric distribution and transmission, and natural gas distribution services in parts of eastern Washington and northern Idaho. It also provides natural gas distribution service in parts of northeastern and southwestern Oregon. Additionally, it supplies electricity to a small number of customers in Montana. Avista Utilities also engages in wholesale purchases and sales of electricity and natural gas as an integral part of energy resource management and its load-serving obligation. The AEL&P segment is a regulated utility providing electric services in Juneau, Alaska that is a wholly owned subsidiary and the primary operating subsidiary of AERC.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Analysis of AVA Stock's 52-Week Range
- Price Fluctuation Analysis: AVA's stock has a 52-week low of $35.50 and a high of $43.50, with the last trade at $39.12, indicating notable price volatility within this range and reflecting market interest in the stock.
- Technical Indicator Observation: The current stock price is below the 200-day moving average, which may suggest short-term downward pressure, prompting investors to carefully assess holding risks to avoid potential losses.
- Market Sentiment Assessment: Despite the fluctuations within the 52-week range, the current price remains above the low point, indicating a degree of market confidence in AVA's fundamentals, which may attract value-seeking buyers.
- Industry Comparison Perspective: AVA's performance may be influenced by overall industry trends, and investors should monitor the performance of nine other energy stocks that have recently crossed below their 200-day moving average for a more comprehensive market assessment.
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- Increased Public Attention: The company noted that while it has historically served large load energy customers, the unprecedented scale of data center requests and public interest necessitates new planning and coordination considerations.
- Analyst Perspective: Bank of America analyst Ross Fowler rated Avista as Underperform, stating that the pause represents a setback for what was one of the company's more visible large-load growth opportunities, and he expects investors to treat it as effectively canceled until community and regulatory concerns are resolved.
- Economic Impact: Avista emphasized that its large load customers are crucial for the economic health of its coverage areas, but the changing dynamics of project scale and public interest may impact future business development and investor confidence.
See More
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- Customer Feedback Valued: CEO Heather Rosentrater stated that feedback from customers and community members indicates a need for broader coordinated planning, which Avista will actively participate in to ensure transparency and long-term benefits.
- Multiple Stakeholders Involved: Large data center projects involve multiple stakeholders, and as an electric provider, Avista must consider regulatory reviews, infrastructure planning, and community input when evaluating projects.
- Clear Service Principles: Avista emphasizes that existing customers will not bear the costs of new customers, system reliability and regulatory approval are prerequisites for service provision, ensuring that large projects deliver net benefits to customers.
See More
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- Project Impact: This initiative will be the first HVDC transmission line in the U.S. connecting three regional electricity markets, expected to significantly enhance grid reliability and resilience while broadening market connectivity to meet evolving energy demands.
- Economic Benefits: The North Plains Connector project is projected to create over 800 jobs during construction in Montana and North Dakota, reflecting a positive economic impact while also enhancing Minnkota's competitive edge in the electricity market.
- Construction Timeline: The project is expected to commence construction in 2028 and begin operations in 2032, marking a significant advancement in power infrastructure investment and further enhancing Minnkota's flexibility and responsiveness in electricity supply.
See More
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- Cost Reduction: This microgrid system will enable the MLK Center to lower its standard energy bills, allowing for the reallocation of more resources into critical community programs, thus amplifying its service capacity and community impact.
- Emergency Response Enhancement: During outages, the microgrid's batteries will maintain power flow, with natural gas backup available if outages extend beyond a few hours, ensuring the center stays open during emergencies to meet community needs.
- Funding and Policy Alignment: The project is supported by Avista's Named Communities Investment Fund and grants from the Washington State Department of Commerce, reflecting Avista's commitment to the Clean Energy Transformation Act and its aim to assist communities facing challenges related to extreme weather and socio-economic inequities.
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- Improved Financial Performance: Avista Corporation reported Q1 2026 earnings per share of $1.11, exceeding analyst estimates of $1.03, reflecting a robust revenue growth momentum as it increased by 13.3% compared to $0.98 in Q1 2025, indicating enhanced competitiveness in the market.
- Capital Expenditure Plans: The company expects capital expenditures for Avista Utilities to reach $615 million in 2026, up from a previous estimate of $585 million, with a total projected capital expenditure of $3.4 billion from 2026 to 2030, which will support investments in renewable energy and infrastructure, driving long-term growth.
- Customer Agreement Progress: Avista is negotiating with a prospective data center developer for a memorandum of understanding that could add up to 500 megawatts of incremental load, targeting an agreement by May 31, which would provide new revenue streams and strengthen its market position.
- Earnings Guidance Confirmation: The company reaffirmed its non-GAAP utility earnings guidance for 2026 at a range of $2.52 to $2.72 per share, despite an expected $0.10 negative impact from the energy recovery mechanism, while still anticipating a 4% to 6% growth in earnings over the coming years, demonstrating management's confidence in future performance.
See More
Analysis of AVA Stock's 52-Week Range
- Price Fluctuation Analysis: AVA's stock has a 52-week low of $35.50 and a high of $43.50, with the last trade at $39.12, indicating notable price volatility within this range and reflecting market interest in the stock.
- Technical Indicator Observation: The current stock price is below the 200-day moving average, which may suggest short-term downward pressure, prompting investors to carefully assess holding risks to avoid potential losses.
- Market Sentiment Assessment: Despite the fluctuations within the 52-week range, the current price remains above the low point, indicating a degree of market confidence in AVA's fundamentals, which may attract value-seeking buyers.
- Industry Comparison Perspective: AVA's performance may be influenced by overall industry trends, and investors should monitor the performance of nine other energy stocks that have recently crossed below their 200-day moving average for a more comprehensive market assessment.
See More
Avista Pauses 500 MW Data Center Negotiations, Shares Drop
- Negotiation Pause: Avista announced a pause in energy service negotiations for a proposed 500 MW data center, citing the need for more time to align with government agencies and community stakeholders, resulting in a 3.6% drop in shares on Monday.
- Increased Public Attention: The company noted that while it has historically served large load energy customers, the unprecedented scale of data center requests and public interest necessitates new planning and coordination considerations.
- Analyst Perspective: Bank of America analyst Ross Fowler rated Avista as Underperform, stating that the pause represents a setback for what was one of the company's more visible large-load growth opportunities, and he expects investors to treat it as effectively canceled until community and regulatory concerns are resolved.
- Economic Impact: Avista emphasized that its large load customers are crucial for the economic health of its coverage areas, but the changing dynamics of project scale and public interest may impact future business development and investor confidence.
See More
Avista Pauses Energy Requests Evaluation for Large Data Centers
- Evaluation Process Paused: Avista has announced a pause on evaluating energy requests from new large data center developers, aiming to collaborate with governmental agencies to create a clear planning process in response to community concerns regarding a 500MW data center.
- Customer Feedback Valued: CEO Heather Rosentrater stated that feedback from customers and community members indicates a need for broader coordinated planning, which Avista will actively participate in to ensure transparency and long-term benefits.
- Multiple Stakeholders Involved: Large data center projects involve multiple stakeholders, and as an electric provider, Avista must consider regulatory reviews, infrastructure planning, and community input when evaluating projects.
- Clear Service Principles: Avista emphasizes that existing customers will not bear the costs of new customers, system reliability and regulatory approval are prerequisites for service provision, ensuring that large projects deliver net benefits to customers.
See More
Minnkota Joins North Plains Connector Utility Consortium
- New Member Addition: Minnkota Power Cooperative becomes the eighth member of the North Plains Connector utility consortium, signing a memorandum of understanding with Grid United's North Plains Connector LLC to secure 150 megawatts of capacity on the HVDC transmission line, indicating a proactive approach to future electricity market positioning.
- Project Impact: This initiative will be the first HVDC transmission line in the U.S. connecting three regional electricity markets, expected to significantly enhance grid reliability and resilience while broadening market connectivity to meet evolving energy demands.
- Economic Benefits: The North Plains Connector project is projected to create over 800 jobs during construction in Montana and North Dakota, reflecting a positive economic impact while also enhancing Minnkota's competitive edge in the electricity market.
- Construction Timeline: The project is expected to commence construction in 2028 and begin operations in 2032, marking a significant advancement in power infrastructure investment and further enhancing Minnkota's flexibility and responsiveness in electricity supply.
See More
Avista Launches First Community Microgrid in Spokane
- Microgrid Launch: Avista has initiated the first community-based microgrid in Spokane, integrating solar power, battery storage, and natural gas to ensure the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Family Outreach Center remains operational during power outages, thereby enhancing reliability during extreme weather events.
- Cost Reduction: This microgrid system will enable the MLK Center to lower its standard energy bills, allowing for the reallocation of more resources into critical community programs, thus amplifying its service capacity and community impact.
- Emergency Response Enhancement: During outages, the microgrid's batteries will maintain power flow, with natural gas backup available if outages extend beyond a few hours, ensuring the center stays open during emergencies to meet community needs.
- Funding and Policy Alignment: The project is supported by Avista's Named Communities Investment Fund and grants from the Washington State Department of Commerce, reflecting Avista's commitment to the Clean Energy Transformation Act and its aim to assist communities facing challenges related to extreme weather and socio-economic inequities.
See More
Avista Corporation Q1 2026 Earnings Call Insights
- Improved Financial Performance: Avista Corporation reported Q1 2026 earnings per share of $1.11, exceeding analyst estimates of $1.03, reflecting a robust revenue growth momentum as it increased by 13.3% compared to $0.98 in Q1 2025, indicating enhanced competitiveness in the market.
- Capital Expenditure Plans: The company expects capital expenditures for Avista Utilities to reach $615 million in 2026, up from a previous estimate of $585 million, with a total projected capital expenditure of $3.4 billion from 2026 to 2030, which will support investments in renewable energy and infrastructure, driving long-term growth.
- Customer Agreement Progress: Avista is negotiating with a prospective data center developer for a memorandum of understanding that could add up to 500 megawatts of incremental load, targeting an agreement by May 31, which would provide new revenue streams and strengthen its market position.
- Earnings Guidance Confirmation: The company reaffirmed its non-GAAP utility earnings guidance for 2026 at a range of $2.52 to $2.72 per share, despite an expected $0.10 negative impact from the energy recovery mechanism, while still anticipating a 4% to 6% growth in earnings over the coming years, demonstrating management's confidence in future performance.
See More
