News Releases

Xcel Energy crews helping restore power in Oklahoma 

AMARILLO, TEXAS - Xcel Energy electric line crews from Texas and New Mexico are helping restore power to thousands of consumers in tornado-ravaged communities in central Oklahoma.

Xcel Energy dispatched more than 50 men early this morning to assist Oklahoma Gas and Electric crews working to restore power to homes, businesses and industries that lost service following the Thursday, May 8 tornado that carved a path of devastation through south Oklahoma City, Moore, Midwest City, Choctaw, and other communities in Oklahoma County.

Electric distribution and transmission personnel from Xcel Energy field offices in Amarillo, Borger, Dumas and Levelland, and from Roswell, Carlsbad, Hobbs, Tucumcari and Clovis, New Mexico, will assist in restoring power at least throughout the weekend, supervisors estimated.  The company also sent service trucks, pole hole diggers and big boom trucks to the disaster area.

At the peak of the storm Thursday, OG&E reported more than 37,000 OG&E homes and businesses were without power.  Early estimates indicate that OG&E lost up to 500 distribution poles, 100 transmission structures and a substation located at the General Motors Oklahoma City Assembly plant.

Some OG&E crews worked through the night to clear roadways and secure the electric system to ensure public safety. Others were sent home with instructions to resume the restoration this morning.

More than 500 OG&E employees were to be working the restoration project today, with about 100 additional personnel, including those from Xcel Energy, on the way to assist.

Xcel Energy will be reimbursed for the emergency assistance, which will be provided under a mutual assistance pact it maintains with OG&E and other utilities across Southwestern, Western and Midwestern states.