Xcel Energy Accelerates Power Restoration in Minnesota After Severe Storms Impact 74,000 Customers

Xcel Energy is actively working to restore power to thousands of customers in Minnesota following severe storms that swept across the state. As of this morning, the company is focused on restoring service to approximately 34,000 customers, a decrease from the initial 74,000 impacted during the peak of the outages last night. The majority of these customers are located in the Twin Cities area, which experienced intense weather conditions, including golf ball-sized hail and winds gusting up to 65 mph.

In the aftermath of the storms, reports indicated widespread damage across Minnesota with substantial tree damage and power lines affected. Xcel Energy technicians have been deploying extensive resources to address the outages and expedite the restoration process. By 5 a.m. Monday morning, the number of outages was reported to be around 1,512, affecting roughly 40,000 customers. The severe weather also included hailstorms with pea-sized hail reported in areas such as New Hope and Plymouth, further complicating repair efforts.

Throughout northeast Minnesota, thousands of homes, particularly along the Iron Range, faced power outages on Sunday morning. The storms resulted in utility disruptions, leaving approximately 10,000 homes in darkness as residents contended with the aftermath. Power restoration efforts have been ongoing, with crews from Minnesota Power and Lake Country Power addressing these outages.

As communities cope with the storm's impact, Xcel Energy has encouraged customers to report outages using various channels, including its mobile app, website, and call-in service. The utility has also provided an outage map for residents to stay informed of the restoration progress.

Meteorologists had warned of additional storms potentially developing later on Monday afternoon and evening, prompting alerts and preparations for further adverse weather conditions. This information comes as part of ongoing weather assessments by local and national meteorological agencies.

Despite the challenges posed by the severe weather events, efforts to restore power continue, with technicians working diligently to ensure service recovery. The fluctuating number of outages reflects both progress and the dynamic nature of storm recovery operations. Communities and utility teams remain vigilant, addressing immediate safety and repair work while monitoring weather conditions closely for further developments.