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News Releases
8/1/2006
Customers, Xcel Energy employees, media help during heat wave
MINNEAPOLIS - At 4 p.m. Monday, Xcel Energy set a record, unofficial peak electricity demand in its Upper Midwest service territory of 9,031 megawatts, eclipsing the previous record demand of 8,970 megawatts set Friday. Customers' conservation efforts — which were enhanced by the news media's reporting on the situation — and Xcel Energy employees' hard work contributed to the company's ability to meet this unprecedented demand.
"We greatly appreciate those customers who responded to our request to conserve energy," said Cynthia Lesher, president and CEO of Northern States Power Co.-Minnesota, an Xcel Energy company. "With the cooperation of our energy-control customers and those who voluntarily cut back on their electricity use, we were able to supply everyone's needs for energy throughout our service territory."
Lesher noted that power outages during extreme weather conditions are particularly difficult for customers and said that the company scheduled additional crews to work throughout the weekend and Monday to manage heat-related outages.
"Our employees worked hard in extremely hot temperatures to handle any problems that occurred," said Lesher, "and we salute their dedication to our customers."
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