Energy Incident Register
Register / Grid infrastructure / EIR-0973
← Back to the list
Grid infrastructureUnited StatesEIR-0973

Explosion at East Grand Forks substation causes outages

Jan 2020Published 17 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor

SignificantElectricalProvisional
Estimated damageEstimated by the register's adjusterHow? Know the real figure?
Figure hidden: shown to subscribersLow confidence
supply cut for about •• daysShown in the record →Full estimate
From the recordRoot cause hidden
Where
substation in East Grand Forks, Minnesota
Operator
EGF Water and Light
What
equipment malfunction caused explosion and outages
Injuries
No one was hurt
Cause
Under investigation

Companies named in the reporting of this entry (being named is not a finding of fault): EGF Water and Light

What happened

Shortly before 21:00 on 2 January 2020, an equipment malfunction at a substation in East Grand Forks led to an explosion and a fire. EGF Water and Light said the blast caused power outages across many parts of the town. Supply was fully restored shortly after 23:00 the same night, and no one was hurt. The utility said the precise cause was still unclear. It noted that it had been raining. Crews spent the next day assessing damage, with Minnkota Power attending to discuss the fault, and hoped to identify the cause by the end of the weekend.

Contributing factors

The operator described an equipment malfunction. Rain was mentioned at the time, but it had not been established as a cause.

Lessons learned

  1. A substation equipment fault can produce an explosion, fire and widespread local outages even when the initiating cause is not immediately known.
  2. Early mutual assistance from a neighbouring utility can help operators assess damage and plan repairs while the cause is still open.
  3. Weather at the time of a fault should be recorded, but it should not be treated as the cause until investigation confirms it.

More lessons on emergency response and public communication, from every incident on the register.

Not yet known

  • Exact cause of the malfunction
  • Equipment type and age
  • Cost of damage and repairs

This entry is updated when these are reported. Get an alert for the next one like it.

Source

valleynewslive.com

Other entries that name Grand

Published 2026-09-17. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.

See the register's stories first in Google: add it as a preferred source.

Chart to reuse with this story: Grid infrastructure incidents in the United States, by year, free with a credit (PNG).

Grid infrastructure incidents in the United States: 450 entries, with a free alert for the next one.

Substation and transformer fires: the counts, the latest entries and a free alert for the next one.

Browse the full register or submit an incident.