Crews restore power after multiple rounds of severe storms in Minnesota, Wisconsin
Hundreds of field workers were out in full force to assess and repair damage
Xcel Energy crews have safely restored power to more than 250,000 customers in the Twin Cities Metro and western Wisconsin after multiple rounds of severe thunderstorms brought heavy rain, hail and winds of 60-plus miles an hour last week.
The storms caused widespread damage, including downed trees and power lines. Overnight on Monday, crews worked safely to restore power for 50,000 of the 87,000 customers affected by the first round of severe storms. Around 5 a.m. Tuesday morning, a second round of storms began moving through, pushing outage counts back up across the region.
Xcel Energy anticipated the storm and prepared by pre-staging crews in the Twin Cities. About 700 Xcel Energy employees and contractors were on the ground Tuesday morning to assess damage. By Tuesday afternoon, more than 1,700 team members and contractors had been deployed in the field to restore power. Crews arrived from across the country to respond to the widespread outages in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
In the wake of the storms, crews cleared an estimated 5,000 trees across the Twin Cities metro area that were damaged or destroyed — including 1,700 trees that were large enough to require the expertise of our vegetation contractors. Clearing trees not only allowed our line workers to safely restore power, it also will help prevent these trees from causing additional power outages in the future. By the end of the week, our crews had replaced or repaired more than 250 power poles, replaced more than 125 transformers and replaced over 89,000 feet of wire, the equivalent of 17 miles.
Xcel Energy thanks customers for their patience as crews responded to hundreds of outage jobs following the widespread storm damage.
Staying informed about outages
When outages occur, it’s important for customers to have access to the most recent updates about their power restoration. Customers can stay informed by using the My Xcel Energy mobile app or by visiting the Xcel Energy website. The website hosts an outage map that displays information on the number of customers out and anticipated time for restoration when available.
- Stay away from downed power lines. Always assume an electric line, even one that is on or near the ground, is energized and therefore dangerous. Never, under any circumstance, touch or move a downed power line. If you come across a downed power line, leave the area and report it immediately by calling 1-800-895-1999.
- Build a home emergency kit. Xcel Energy recommends assembling an easily accessible kit that can be used in the event of a power outage. Useful items may include:
- Xcel Energy phone numbers - 1-800-895-1999 for residential or 1-800-481-4700 for business
- Battery-powered radio or television
- Flashlights
- Batteries
- Back up phone chargers
- A phone that does not require electricity
- Non-electric alarm clock
- Bottled water and nonperishable food
- Manual can opener
- First aid kit
- Extension cords (for partial outages)
- Manufacturer's instructions on how to manually open power-operated doors (e.g., garage doors)
- Observe food safety. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, food safety is directly related to the temperature of the food. To maintain refrigerator and freezer temperatures, keep doors closed as much as possible. A full freezer will stay at freezing temperatures for approximately two days and a half-full freezer approximately one day. Visit the USDA website for more information.
- Additional tips are available on our Outage Checklist.