MINNEAPOLIS (June 22, 2020) – As part of its commitment to supporting customers through the COVID-19 crisis, Xcel Energy today announced the donation of over 1.5 million high-efficiency LED light bulbs to Minnesota food banks. The 4-packs of bulbs will be free for food bank patrons. The goal is to help people access high-efficiency light bulbs which use up to 90% less energy than regular incandescent bulbs, reducing energy use and lowering energy bills.

Second Harvest Heartland and Channel One Regional Food Bank will receive three rounds of donations. They will then distribute the bulbs to food shelves in the areas they serve, which include the Twin Cities, St. Cloud area and portions of Southern Minnesota. The first shipment of 124,000 bulbs will go out June 22, followed by a second round in July. Later this fall, the third and largest distribution of 1.3 million bulbs will be distributed to four organizations: Second Harvest Heartland, Channel One, Great Plains and North Country. A total of 600 agencies will receive over 1.5 million bulbs. 

“With so many families facing financial challenges due to COVID-19, everyone is looking for ways to save money, and this is a simple way to reduce your energy use and lower your bills,” says Sherryl Volkert, program manager at Xcel Energy. “An ENERGY STAR® LED bulb lasts at least twelve years and can save more than $55 in energy costs over the life of the bulb.”

  

Xcel Energy partners with various retailers to offer discounts of up to $3 per LED bulb to all of its Minnesota customers. The discounted bulbs are sold on shelves marked with an Xcel Energy discount sticker. Visit xcelenergy.com/lightingdeals to learn which retailers participate.

Xcel Energy also announced recently that it’s offering special recovery rebates and free energy consultations to help businesses repair and rebuild following the widespread acts of property damage in the Twin Cities.

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About Xcel Energy

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ: XEL) provides the energy that powers millions of homes and businesses across eight Western and Midwestern states. Headquartered in Minneapolis, the company is an industry leader in responsibly reducing carbon emissions and producing and delivering clean energy solutions from a variety of renewable sources at competitive prices. For more information, visit xcelenergy.com or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.