Sioux Falls, SD - Xcel Energy today held a groundbreaking ceremony to commemorate the construction of a new electrical power substation on the site of the former stockyards near the Falls of the Big Sioux River in downtown Sioux Falls, SD.

The new substation will replace the existing 90-year-old substation along Weber Avenue by the Falls. The new substation will include space for future expansion and will likely serve customers in Sioux Falls for the next 90 years or more.

"Xcel Energy and its predecessor companies have been providing electrical energy services to South Dakotans for over a century," Gov. Dennis Daugaard said. "By building this new substation, Xcel Energy will be in a position to serve their customers for the next 100 years."

"The electric energy sector is a dynamic industry with many factors that determine its direction," remarked South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Chairman Gary Hanson. "It is interesting to see how Xcel Energy is considering consumer demand, available technology and future needs as they construct this new facility," he said.   
Sioux Falls Mayor Mike Huether also stated, "Sioux Falls is growing in leaps and bounds, and I applaud Xcel Energy for having the foresight to plan for that growth and provide reliable electricity for many years to come."

"We were able to take advantage of the transition of the stockyards site and acquire enough land to provide for a substation that will allow for long-term future growth," said Laura McCarten, regional vice-president Northern States Power Co.-Minnesota, an Xcel Energy company.

The project is part of a $67 million capital investment into the South Dakota economy. The "groundbreaking" is largely ceremonial, as construction is well underway and power feeders from the existing Sioux Falls substation will be completely switched over to the new substation by mid 2015.

If anyone has any questions, please call Jim Wilcox at 605-366-0874.

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Xcel Energy (NYSE: XEL) is a major U.S. electricity and natural gas company with
regulated operations in eight Western and Midwestern states. Xcel Energy provides a
comprehensive portfolio of energy-related products and services to 3.4 million electricity
customers and 1.9 million natural gas customers through its regulated operating companies.
Company headquarters are located in Minneapolis.

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