Public Hearings Set for JETx Power Line, Local Input Sought

On December 29, 2025 the North Dakota Public Service Commission announced three public hearings in January 2026 on the proposed JETx transmission line that would run from the Jamestown 345 kV substation to the Ellendale 345 kV substation. The hearings are scheduled for January 12 in Ellendale, January 14 in Edgeley, and January 16 in Jamestown. Separate technical hearings will be held in Bismarck on January 8 and January 9.

The project description presented to the commission calls for roughly 92 miles of transmission line capable of supporting two circuits, although it would initially be built as a single circuit with capacity to add a second. The estimated construction cost is about 406 million dollars. Officials describe the line as intended to improve regional electric reliability, connecting central North Dakota infrastructure to the southern system.

For residents of Dickey, LaMoure and Stutsman counties the hearings provide a formal opportunity to address routing decisions, property impacts and construction concerns with state regulators. Route selection can affect agricultural operations, access across land, drainage and farm machinery movement, as well as the location of rights of way that influence future land use. Construction activity could also affect local roads and emergency response planning during build periods. Those local impacts will be weighed against the project objective of enhancing system resilience and reducing outage risks for a wider service area.

The hearings underscore the commission role in balancing utility planning with community concerns and ratepayer protections. The scale of the projected cost raises questions about how expenses will be allocated among utilities and customers, and how long term benefits will be measured against immediate disruptions for affected landowners. Because commissioners are accountable through the regulatory process and public elections, testimony at these hearings can shape both administrative outcomes and broader public debate over infrastructure priorities.

Local civic engagement will be central to the process. Residents who wish to influence routing, mitigation measures and construction timing should plan to present testimony at one of the public or technical sessions or otherwise communicate with the commission during the regulatory docket. The Jamestown hearing on January 16 will be the most accessible session for Stutsman County residents and offers the closest venue for direct participation.