News Releases

Xcel Energy urges caution during flooding

FARGO, N.D. - 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.
• If you think your electric meter or other parts of the electric system in your house were submerged in a flood, contact a qualified electrician and the appropriate electrical inspector, even if your power did not go out.

NATURAL GAS SAFETY

• Appliance control manufacturers recommend that a trained service professional replace all controls that have been submerged in water. Manufacturers warn that these appliance controls will corrode over time, causing gas valve failure and dangerous natural gas leaks. Appliance controls are often at the bottom of the appliance, and the appliance itself does not have to be submerged for appliance controls to be submerged. If water has reached the appliance controls, contact Xcel Energy at 1-800-895-4999 to disconnect the natural gas service.
• To report a natural gas emergency or gas odor, call 1-800-895-2999. If you get faint whiffs of natural gas, investigate. If possible, follow the scent to its source, which could be a burned out pilot light or a burner valve that’s only partially turned on. Both are problems that you can easily and safely correct. However, if the odor persists and you can’t locate the source, get everyone out-of-doors immediately.
• Do not use light switches, electrical appliances or telephones, including cell phones. Do not light a match, and extinguish cigarettes immediately. Get a safe distance away and call to report the problem. Do not re-enter your home until an Xcel Energy representative or your local emergency responders say it’s safe.

AFTER A FLOOD

• Call in a qualified heating professional to check your furnace and any natural gas appliances that were submerged. Never attempt to turn the natural gas back on yourself. Your natural gas utility will do it for you to make sure your service is safe and reliable.
• Before using any electricity after a flood, have a qualified electrician check the wiring and related equipment to make sure it’s safe. If your power was out because of a flood, you will be required to have a certified inspector check your electrical wiring and equipment before Xcel Energy can restore power to your house.