Spring is normally a low-use season between heating and cooling months, he said.

The unit is capable of producing 450 megawatts, roughly the same amount being produced at the Garrison Dam powerhouse.

Garrison’s along with electricity produced by four of the other five dams on the Missouri River system is sold through the Western Area Power Administration, which is making and selling surplus electricity at a discount during these extraordinarily high water releases.

Hill said the off-line status isn’t affecting employees, who keep busy with maintenance and odd jobs during the down time. Unit 2, the same capacity, is on line and available.

Hill said the cooperative doesn’t know exactly when Unit 1 will be restarted, or at what level. That depends on demand and will be evaluated day by day and week by week, he said.

In 2005, when water was low on Lake Sakakawea behind the dam, Basin “ran flat out” to cover Western Area Power, Hill said. “Now, the tables have turned.”