Karian Peterson Power Line Contracting LLC
25 Years of Keeping the Lights On
For over 25 years, Karian Peterson Power Line Contracting LLC has been ready when it matters most — delivering safe, certified powerline construction and 24/7 emergency storm restoration across five states, with the experience and training to get the grid back up and keep it running.
Karian Peterson at a glance
- 25+ yrs building T&D since 2000
- Zero major accidents since 2000
- 50+ on the crew
- 500+ projects delivered
- 5 states across the upper Midwest
- MREA member, required safety meetings
Built from the ground up — and the lines up
We're not the biggest name in the industry. We're the one that shows up, stays safe, and gets it done.
No major accidents since we opened our doors in 2000. We're proud of that record because it isn't luck — it's the result of sharper training, stricter practices, and a culture that treats every job site like it matters. As a member of MREA, we take part in its regular required safety meetings, and we maintain a company-designated safety committee that keeps our practices sharp.
In August 2000, a group of electric cooperatives across western and central Minnesota decided to stop outsourcing and start owning. By merging two respected line-construction companies and backing them with the scale of the cooperatives behind them, Karian Peterson Power Line Contracting LLC was born.
We're investing in the people and specialized equipment to meet whatever comes next.
The people who keep the lights on call us
Electric cooperatives, investor-owned utilities, municipalities, and counties across the upper Midwest — from a single substation to a multi-year transmission rebuild.
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Electric cooperatives
The member-owned systems we were founded by and still build for.
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Investor-owned utilities
Transmission and distribution work to utility spec and schedule.
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Municipalities
City systems, street and field lighting, and underground rebuilds.
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Counties and public agencies
Public infrastructure where the work has to survive an audit.
What we do
From new transmission lines to emergency storm response, we bring the same crew, the same standards, and the same commitment to safety to every job we take on.
New Construction & Upgrades
We build new transmission and distribution lines from the ground up, and rehab or upgrade existing T&D systems to keep aging infrastructure running stronger and longer
Substation Construction
Complete substation builds, including the underground facilities that tie them into the grid reliably and safely
Underground Systems — Municipal & Rural
Underground line installation across town centers and rural service areas alike, where dependability and a clean above-ground footprint matter
Storm Restoration & 24-Hour Response
When the weather hits, we move. Full storm restoration backed by priority 24-hour mobilization — because outages don't wait for business hours
Specialty Services & Equipment
Beyond the line work: specialty services backed by our own heavy equipment — digger derricks, 105′ bucket trucks, pressure diggers, vacuum excavators, and boring rigs. And you don’t have to be a utility to call: field lighting, piers, potholing, and rock breaking too
Join the team
We're always looking for experienced linemen and apprentices who take pride in the work and take safety seriously. If that's you, we want to hear from you.
- View role
Apprentice Lineman
Learn the trade alongside seasoned crews and build real hands-on experience on live powerline work. We invest in apprentices who show up ready to learn and take safety seriously.
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Journeyman Lineman
Certified linemen who can run new construction and 24/7 storm restoration across five states. Bring your experience and your commitment to doing the job right, and safely, every time.
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Mechanic
Keep our trucks and equipment ready to roll — in the yard and out in the field. We’re after a hands-on mechanic who takes pride in reliable, well-maintained gear.
Don't see an opening that fits? Send us your information anyway — when the right role opens up, we reach out to people we already know.
Hiring FAQs
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Do you have an apprenticeship program?
We do — and we’re the only powerline contractor registered with the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry. Designed to meet federal and state Department of Labor requirements, the MREA lineworker apprentice program runs four years, with the potential to test out in one to two. Apprentices learn hands-on under journeyman supervision, and by the end they’re ready to safely construct, operate, and maintain the electric power system.
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What certifications or licenses do I need?
A valid CDL (commercial driver’s license) is required to apply. Our crews drive and operate the trucks and heavy equipment out in the field, so every field position needs one.
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Is there travel, and is it paid?
Travel is required — our work spans five states. Karian Peterson pays for lodging, and per diem is offered on top of it.
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How do I apply?
Start with our online application. Once we have it, we’ll call you to set up an interview. If you’re hired, you’ll complete a drug screening and a five-hour paid orientation before your first day on a crew.
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Do you offer benefits?
Karian Peterson offers health insurance, life insurance, short-term and long-term disability, a 401(k), and PTO.
Frequently asked questions
Some of the questions we hear most often. Don't see yours? Use the contact form below and we'll get back to you.
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What areas do you serve?
We work out of Montevideo, Minnesota, and our crews run across five states in the upper Midwest: Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa, and Nebraska. If you're not sure whether you're in range, call us — we travel for the right job, and we'll tell you straight if we're not the right fit for it.
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Do you only work for utilities and co-ops?
Most of our work is for electric cooperatives and municipal and investor-owned utilities — that's who we were built to serve. But the equipment doesn't care what the job is. We put up athletic-field lighting, drill footings and piers, pothole buried lines before a dig, bore under roads and waterways, and break out concrete and rock for cities, schools, contractors, and private property owners. If it needs height, a big hole, or a clean bore, ask us.
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Will our members lose power while you work?
Wherever the system allows, no. We reconductor and rebuild lines in service, and our crews are equipped and trained for hot work. Where an outage genuinely can't be avoided, we plan it with your operations ahead of time — scheduled, sequenced, and communicated, not a surprise to anyone.
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What's your safety record?
No major accidents since we opened our doors in 2000. As an MREA member we take part in its regular required safety meetings, and we maintain a company-designated safety committee that keeps our practices sharp. It's a record we can hand to your board.
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What do we do if the power goes out after hours?
Call (320) 269-6769 and press 1. Emergency work is the first prompt on our line, and it reaches an on-call responder around the clock — nights, weekends, and holidays. More on storm response.
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How do we get a quote or start a project?
Use the contact form below, or call the office at (320) 269-6769. Send along whatever you have — prints, a route, a scope, or just photos and a description — and we'll get back to you quickly.
Get in touch
Send us a message and any relevant files. We'll get back to you quickly.
- Email karianpeterson@karianpeterson.com
- Phone (320) 269-6769
- Address PO Box 345
4437 Hwy 212
Montevideo MN 56265 - Hours Office — Monday–Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm
Shop — Monday–Friday, 7 am to 5 pm