MINNEAPOLIS - More than 500 linemen, contractors and support staff are working today to restore electricity service to about 8,000 Twin Cities customers who were among 106,000 Xcel Energy customers who lost power in this weekend's storms.

Crews have restored power to 92 percent of customers affected since storms packing high winds and heavy rain began moving through the metro area late Saturday morning, toppling trees and branches onto power lines. Additional rounds of storms moved through Saturday evening, overnight and early Sunday 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, and crews worked throughout the night.

Barring additional outages caused by high winds or more storms, Xcel Energy officials expect service will be restored by the end of today to 98 percent of customers who lost power since Saturday and all power will be back on by midday Monday. Company officials assured customers that all available resources are dedicated to restoring power as quickly as possible and thanked them for their patience during this restoration process.

Xcel Energy reminded customers to check the electricity service masts on the side of their homes. Since homeowners own the masts, if the mast is damaged a licensed electrician must be hired to make repairs before service to their house can be restored.

The company 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 at 1-800-895-1999.

Xcel Energy will post updates on Twitter, Facebook and at xcelenergy.com

Tips for Extended Outages

Customers with Special Medical Needs

  • In any emergency call 9-1-1. In serious situations during extended power outages, customers who use electrically-powered life support equipment may need to seek medical assistance or to relocate to a public shelter that has back-up power generation. During large-scale storm restoration efforts, Xcel Energy crews focus first on restoring service to operations affecting public safety and health, and to the largest groups of affected customers. When crews begin to restore service to individual customers, Life Support Designation customers have higher priority. Xcel Energy will work to support the needs of households where life-support equipment is used. Customers should call 1-800-895-4999 for a Life Support Designation form. Ask your physician to fill it out, and return it to Xcel Energy.

General Tips

  • Don't call 9-1-1 to report a power outage, as this unnecessarily ties up critical emergency phone lines. Customers experiencing an outage should contact Xcel Energy at 1-800-895-1999.
  • If you own or plan to buy an emergency standby generator, for safety reasons Xcel Energy suggests that you plug appliances into the generator or have an electrician wire the generator into your home's electrical system. Improper use of a standby generator can severely injure or kill you, your neighbors and the people who are working to restore your power.
  • Leave one light switch turned on so you'll know when electricity service has been restored.
  • Turn off other appliances such as the television, refrigerator and range. If they are left on during the outage, there's a chance of electrical overload when power is restored.
  • Check on your neighbors, especially the elderly.

Cooking Tips

  • If you have a natural gas stove or oven without an electric ignition, you will be able to use it for cooking during an outage.
  • Avoid opening a refrigerator or freezer during an outage. The less you open the doors, the longer your food will stay cold or frozen.
  • If you need to cook during an outage, use a properly vented fireplace, a camp stove or a can of Sterno. Be sure, however, that there is adequate ventilation. Never use charcoal indoors.
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