XCEL Energy Sending Crews to Virginia for Sandy Recovery Efforts

Xcel Energy will send crews from Texas and New Mexico to assist in the recovery from Hurricane Sandy. The energy provider will send 30 employees to Virginia to assist Appalachian Power Company to help restore power to the areas impacted by the storm. The group will leave Amarillo tomorrow morning around 7:30am.

Sandy spawned heavy snowstorms and caused tens of thousands of customers to lose electricity in the area.

Employees assisting in the effort are based in Hobbs, Carlsbad, Clovis, Tucumcari and Roswell in New Mexico; and Levelland, Seminole, Plainview, Canyon, Hereford, Amarillo, Borger, Perryton and Lubbock in Texas.

They will travel more than 1,000 miles over three days to reach their destination. Information on the length of the deployment is not yet available.

AEP made the request through a national mutual-aid network, and specifically asked for Xcel Energy’s assistance.

Riley Hill, president and CEO of Southwestern Public Service Company, an Xcel Energy company, said area line and service personnel have a long history of helping restore power in other parts of the country.

“We feel for the thousands of Virginians who are suffering the impacts of this storm, and we know if we were affected by a natural disaster, other companies would help us. We have some of the best linemen in the nation, and we’re honored to play a role in helping our neighbors, even if they live more than 1,000 miles away.”

The restoration teams from Xcel Energy will include representatives from management, field operations, fleet mechanics, and safety consultants.

“As in any restoration effort, safety is our No. 1 concern, and we’ll meet up each day in safety huddles to share best practices that will keep us sharply focused on performing this work without injuries,” Hill said.