FARGO, N.D./SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (January 18, 2024) – Xcel Energy’s customers in North and South Dakota will soon see the benefits of an improved, high-tech electric grid as the company begins installing smart electric meters at their homes and businesses.
Installation work begins this week as part of a multiyear project to bring customers cleaner, safer and more reliable energy through advanced grid technology while giving customers more options to manage their energy use.
“We’re excited to take this next step in building a smarter, more resilient and efficient energy grid and making it easier than ever for customers to understand and manage their energy use,” said Ryan Long, president of Xcel Energy—Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. “Smart meters are the starting point for this advanced grid, boosting reliability and providing new tools and technology to help customers lower costs.”
The first meters will be installed in Fargo and West Fargo, North Dakota, and Sioux Falls, South Dakota, starting this week as Xcel Energy sets out to install the new devices for its 100,000 North Dakota customers and 100,000 South Dakota customers this year and into 2025.
Xcel Energy has made significant investments in the power grid serving North and South Dakota customers over the past decade, primarily by boosting the capacity and reliability of the system through new and improved lines and substations. The next step in this modernization includes new tools and technology such as smart meters that empower customers to manage their energy use better while improving reliability and helping Xcel Energy restore power more quickly after an outage.
Smart meters will give customers near real-time energy use data that they will be able to access through the company’s My Account app, or via xcelenergy.com. Customers will also have access to programs and services that will help them better understand their energy usage and how to improve efficiency and find more savings.
Xcel Energy’s customers will start to receive notifications three months in advance of receiving a new smart meter. More information on Xcel Energy’s Advanced Grid initiative can be found at xcelenergy.com/SmartMeter. See the installation schedule for North Dakota here and the schedule for South Dakota here.
###
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 X, formerly known as Twitter, and Facebook.