Xcel Energy : Crews restore power to nearly all Twin Cities customers affected by weekend storms

MINNEAPOLIS - Crews restored power by 9 p.m. today to 99 percent of the nearly 110,000 Xcel Energy customers in the Twin Cities who lost service during weekend storms.

And crews will continue working through the night to get power back on for the remaining 600 customers affected by the storms. Xcel Energy officials expect all service will be restored by midday Monday.

More than 500 linemen, tree crews, contractors and support staff were involved in the restoration effort that started after storms packing high winds and heavy rain moved through the metropolitan area late Saturday morning. Additional rounds of storms moved through Saturday evening, overnight and early this morning.

Xcel Energy called in additional crews from elsewhere in its Upper Midwest service territory as well as from neighboring utilities and contractors to help restore power.

Company officials thanked customers for their patience during the restoration process.