13,000 Customers in Minneapolis and Suburbs Still Without Power

Released by Xcel Energy at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday

Crews that have finished work in the St. Cloud and eastern Twin Cities areas have been redeployed to join hundreds of linemen and other workers in the west metro area, which sustained the most extensive damage in weekend storms.

All available resources – including 1,000 field workers from Xcel Energy’s service territories and from other utilities across the country – are focused on getting power back on for 13,000 customers mainly in Minneapolis and its suburbs.

Crews have restored service to 592,600 customers- 97 percent of the 610,000 customers affected by the storms, according to Xcel.

"We won’t let up until all power is back on,” said Kent Larson, senior vice president of operations for Xcel Energy. “These remaining outages are in communities where tree, pole and line damage is  extensive. Restoration work in these areas is very labor-intensive: a multi-person crew can work half a day or more to put up a new pole and wires that serve only a handful of customers.”

Larson noted that Xcel Energy is committed to completing power restoration from the weekend storms as quickly and safely as possible; the current estimate is that service will be restored to the vast majority of customers who are still out by late Wednesday night.

Xcel Energy cautions customers to stay away from downed power lines and report their location at 1-800-895-1999. All downed power lines, even if they’re not moving or sparking, are dangerous and should never be approached.

To report an outage, or to receive outage information or restoration estimates, customers are asked to call Xcel Energy's outage line 1-800-895-1999.
Updates on Xcel Energy’s power restoration progress also are being posted on Facebook and Twitter and at www.xcelenergy.com.

If you have a downed tree on your property and need a tree contractor in Minnetonka, check this list. To accommodate the storm damage, the Minnetonka Brush drop-off will be open all days this week (Monday–Saturday) from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 12–6 p.m. for Minnetonka residents only. Learn more on the city's Brush Drop-Off page.

If you are a Minnetonka resident who is out of power, city officials announced Saturday evening that Williston Fitness Center is available for you to use free of charge until power is restored. They encourage people to come in, take a shower or charge your phone.

Also see: 

• Power Outage Costs Ridgedale Businesses Thousands

• Canceled: Minnetonka Summer Festival and Ice Cream Social

• House On Ashborne Road a Total Loss After Lightning Strike

• How Hard Did the Storm Hit You in Minnetonka?