UTILITIES

GENERAL

Electric, natural gas, steam, and water services are administered by the Virginia Public Utilities Commission. 

The Department of Public Utilities can be reached at (218) 748-7540 or at www.vpuc.com.

ELECTRIC POWER

The electrical distribution system serves approximately 5,800 customers in the City of Virginia and certain area of Mt. Iron.  The system consists of 80 miles of overhead distribution cable and 17 miles of underground cable.   The electrical distribution plant consists of a combination of 2400 Volt distribution and 13.8 KV distribution systems.

In addition to the Virginia Department of Public Utilities, Lakes Country Power and Minnesota Power offer electric power to the areas surrounding Virginia.

WATER SUPPLY

Virginia takes advantage of an abundance of natural spring water which accumulates in a reservoir east of town.  The city's water treatment plant has a design capacity of approximately 5 mgd., with an average daily demand of two million gallons.  The distribution system is comprised of 67 miles of city-owned main lines; 100 miles of customer-owned lines; 1,175 valves; and 400 fire hydrants.

NATURAL GAS

Virginia has been supplying natural gas to its customers since 1965.  Currently the system provides natural gas to approximately 1000 residential and commercial customers.

DISTRICT STEAM HEAT

Virginia's steam heating system serves approximately 2,600 customers with approximately 22 miles of steam main lines and 18 miles of steam service lines.

HEATING COST COMPARISON

WASTE TREATMENT

Virginia is served by sanitary sewer mains and interceptors ranging in size from 8 inches to 24 inches with ten lift stations.  The City has primary, secondary, and tertiary waste treatment systems using an activated sludge process.  The plant has a design capacity of 2.7 million gallons per day (mgd) with peak flow of approximately six mgd.  All plant's effluent meets and exceeds Minnesota Pollution Control Standards.  All sludge is disposed of at a land application facility on the outskirts of Virginia.  The City also has a separate storm and a separate sanitary sewer.

REFUSE

Virginia uses dumpsters and a volume-based system of special plastic bags for trash pick-up.  A curbside recycle system is also used.

Click HERE to view the City of Virginia Recycling Brochure!

TELEPHONE

US West Communications serves Virginia with basic local phone service.  The area is also served by the major cellular carriers such as:   Airtouch, Cellularone, and Cellular 2000.  A new digital PCS system has been launched in this area.  This system is built with GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) technology.

VIRGINIA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
City Hall, 327 First Street South
Virginia, Minnesota 55792
TEL: 218-748-7535
FAX: 218-749-3580
email: veda@virginiamn.us

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© 2001 Virginia Economic Development Authority
most photos courtesy of Lauren Nelson