News Releases

FARGO - As residents of the Red River Valley prepare for flooding, Xcel Energy reminds customers to take safety precautions with their electric and natural gas service. If your home becomes flooded, please follow these safety tips:

ELECTRICAL SAFETY
Do not touch or attempt to unplug or disconnect an electrical appliance if you have to stand in water or even on a damp floor to do it. Don’t risk your life.

If it appears the water level will rise above the electrical outlets in your basement, notify Xcel Energy immediately at 1-800-895-4999 so your service can be shut off.

To report an electrical emergency or a power outage, call Xcel Energy at 1-800-895-1999.

NATURAL GAS SAFETY
To report a natural gas emergency or gas odor, call 1-800-895-2999. If you smell an odor similar to rotten eggs or a skunk, leave immediately and contact Xcel Energy from a neighbor’s telephone at 1-800-895-2999 for help or in an emergency, call 911.  Do not light a match or turn lights on or off; do not use any electrical switches, including a garage door opener; and do not use the telephone, including a cell phone.

If water has reached the controls on your natural gas appliance, contact Xcel Energy at 1-800-895-4999 to disconnect the natural gas service.

CALL BEFORE YOU DIG
If your flood-fighting efforts include excavating to construct levees or digging trenches, be sure to call 811 to have underground utility lines marked first.  By calling 811, you reach a One Call Center and they arrange to have all buried utility-owned lines in your dig area located by the respective utility companies. Digging without locates can cause property damage, interrupt services, cause personal injury and even death if you accidentally dig into underground utility lines.