Xcel Energy: Sends more than 100 employees to restore power in Hurricane Helene aftermath

EAU CLAIRE, Wis.  (Oct. 2, 2024) – Xcel Energy is sending employees from across the states it serves to the areas impacted by Hurricane Helene in order to help restore power following the devastating storm, with many already on their way south.

More than 100 Xcel Energy employees from Minnesota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas left for Georgia today. Line workers—along with safety consultants, fleet mechanics and operations leaders—will join their counterparts from other utilities across the country under the industry’s mutual assistance program. Crews are currently assigned to support local power companies in Georgia to restore power to customers.

“We understand the essential role electricity plays in powering our everyday lives and are committed to supporting our fellow Americans when disaster strikes. The impacts on the electrical system in these areas is extensive and unparalleled for this region, and it will take the contribution of all of our nation’s utilities to restore power to these areas. We are committed to doing our part and know they would do the same for our customers,’’ said Bob Frenzel, chairman, president and CEO of Xcel Energy.

Crews from Wisconsin and Michigan’s service territory left late this afternoon and are based in Eau Claire, Menomonie, Hudson, Amery, Rice Lake, La Crosse, Sparta, Manitowish Waters and Ironwood, Mich. A total of about 15 line workers are part of the effort.

Employees are expected to work in parts of Augusta, Georgia with power restoration efforts expected to last roughly two weeks. Earlier this week, Xcel Energy released 230 contractors to help restore power in the region.

Xcel Energy is part of the Edison Electric Institute’s Mutual Assistance program. Following major storms that bring significant outages, electric companies use this program—a voluntary partnership of electric companies from across the country—to help speed restoration. For more about mutual assistance visit EEI.org.

About Xcel Energy

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ: XEL) provides the energy that powers millions of homes and businesses across eight Western and Midwestern states. With its Wisconsin/Michigan headquarters in Eau Claire, Wis., the company is an industry leader in responsibly reducing carbon emissions and producing and delivering clean energy solutions from a variety of renewable sources at competitive prices. For more information, visit xcelenergy.com or follow us on X-formerly known as Twitter and Facebook.