Minneapolis, Minnesota (Feb. 15, 2019) – Xcel Energy crews expect that customers who lost natural gas service today in Moorhead will have service restored by late tonight. We have more than 100 employees who are working to make repairs to the damaged equipment and will be going door to door this evening to restore service and relight pilot lights on gas appliances.
“Our customers safety is our top priority,” said Mark Nisbet, principal, Xcel Energy-North Dakota. “We know it’s been extremely cold and are doing everything we can to safely get service restored as quickly as possible.”
In order for crews to relight customers’ pilot lights tonight, someone 18 years or older must be home to allow our crews to enter and to remain until they are finished. If you are unavailable when we come to your home, we will make arrangements to return after we complete our initial visits to all affected customers. To help assist our responders as they work to return service this evening, please turn your porch lights on and clear the area in front of your gas appliances so they are accessible to be relit.
Xcel Energy continues working closely with local officials and responders to manage the situation.
Xcel Energy has also set up a space at Concordia College, Mugaas Plant Operations Center, 901 8th St. S. where customers can pick up a space heater for their home, and company representatives are also available to answer questions. Knutson Campus Center at Concordia, 624 9th Ave. S. has also been opened as a place for people to warm up.
If customers have not heard from Xcel Energy, please call 1-800-895-2999 and provide a phone number where they can be reached.
Snow plow damages gas equipment
After a snow plow struck and damaged gas equipment at 16th Ave. S. and 8th St. S. Xcel Energy crews determined that in order to safely make the repairs, gas service needed to be turned off about noon today to approximately 975 customers in the Moorhead area. Since this afternoon crews have been going door-to-door to turn off natural gas service to affected customers.
As an important safety reminder, if you ever detect a sulfur or “rotten egg” smell inside or near your home, it could be the odorant we put in natural gas to help detect leaks. If you notice that smell, leave your home immediately. Do not turn any electrical devices on or off and never use any phone until you are outside and safely away from the area. Then, call us at 1-800-895-2999. In an emergency, call 911.
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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 www.xcelenergy.com or
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