MINNEAPOLIS (Nov. 25, 2025) — Xcel Energy is preparing for winter’s first significant snowfall and strong winds across central Minnesota and the Twin Cities overnight, while sharing tips on how customers can save energy and stay safe as temperatures drop.

Weather forecasts anticipate 4 to 6 inches of snow between Tuesday night and Wednesday afternoon in the metro area, with higher amounts in central Minnesota, along with wind gusts of 40-45 miles per hour. Xcel Energy has additional crews available to address any outages. Crews respond to the largest outages first to get the most customers back online as soon as possible. Learn more about the outage restoration process.

Report an outage or get updates

Customers can help Xcel Energy get a jump on power restoration by reporting outages. To report an outage:

Customers can access the most recent updates about an outage using the mobile app or by visiting the Outage Map, which displays the number of customers out and the anticipated restoration time if available.

Prepare and stay safe

  • Keep natural gas meters clear to avoid a dangerous buildup of pressure in gas lines and prevent gas from leaking inside the home. Gently remove accumulated snow or ice by hand and clear a path to the meter for easy access in an emergency.
  • Use space heaters carefully to prevent fires. Read all instructions and warning labels and verify that the heater is listed by a recognized testing laboratory. Avoid using heaters with cracked plugs or worn or damaged components. Never leave a space heater unattended. Turn it off when leaving a room or going to sleep.
  • Maintain healthy air quality indoors by using a range hood for ventilation when cooking with an electric or natural gas appliance. Install detectors for carbon monoxide, which is odorless, colorless and tasteless, but very toxic. Move outside and call for medical help if experiencing symptoms such as headaches, nausea, ringing in the ears and lethargy.
  • Stay away from downed or sagging power lines. Always assume an electric line, even one on the ground, is energized and dangerous. Never touch or move a downed power line; instead, leave the area and report it immediately by calling 1-800-895-1999.
  • Build a home emergency kit to use in the event of a power outage, with items such as:
    • Xcel Energy phone numbers: 1-800-895-1999 for residential or 1-800-481-4700 for business
    • Battery-powered radio or television
    • Flashlights
    • Batteries
    • Backup phone chargers
    • A phone that does not require electricity
    • Non-electric alarm clock
    • Bottled water and nonperishable food
    • Manual can opener
    • First aid kit
    • Extension cords (for partial outages)
    • Manufacturer's instructions on how to manually open power-operated doors (e.g., garage doors)

Save energy and money

Winter heating can account for about half of a typical customer’s monthly energy costs. Xcel Energy has several tips to help customers reduce the impact of cold weather on their energy bills, including:

  • Reducing the temperature on a thermostat by one degree can lower energy bills by up to 3%. A programmable or smart thermostat can automatically lower the temperature based on daily routines.
  • Opening drapes and blinds to maximize heat from direct sunlight during the day and closing them to retain heat when it is dark.
  • Running ceiling fans in a clockwise direction to push warm air down from the ceiling.
  • Ensuring exterior doors and windows are fully closed and latched shut. Using window sealing kits can be a low-cost way to further prevent heat loss.
  • Keeping interior doors open to help circulate air more freely and maintain consistent heating levels.
  • Changing out dirty furnace filters to promote better airflow and reduce the energy the furnace uses. Replacing the filter once a month during the winter can reduce heating costs by 5 to 15%.  
  • Improving the insulation of walls, crawl spaces, floors and heating ducts, which can save up to 10% on a home’s monthly energy bill.

Xcel Energy encourages customers who are having trouble paying their energy bills to reach out to learn about payment plans or energy assistance programs.

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About Xcel Energy

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ: XEL) is a leading energy provider, dedicated to serving millions of customers with excellence. We make energy work better for customers, helping them thrive every day. That means always raising the bar — delivering better service and providing more reliable, resilient and sustainable energy. We are committed to leading the clean energy transition, meeting our customers’ need for more, cleaner power, while keeping bills as low as possible. Because the people we serve depend on us to power their lives. Headquartered in Minneapolis, we work every day to generate and distribute electricity and gas to customers across eight states: Minnesota, Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, New Mexico, and Texas. For more information, visit xcelenergy.com or follow us on X and Facebook.