XTRAJANUARY 1 , 2019 VOLUME 19 • ISSUE 3

A VIEW FROM ABOVEIndustry-first endeavor puts company at forefront of drone use

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Innovator and I Deliver Awards The most recent winners are announced, along with descriptions of their award-winning work.

Zero CarbonXcel Energy aims for zero-carbon electricity by 2050.

Gas Mutual Aid A dozen Gas employees recently headed east to help restore natural gas service after a disaster in Massachusetts.

FAA Approval Drones are now regularly flying beyond the line of sight of operators in an industry-first endeavor at Xcel Energy.

Renewable Connect An energy program for customers is helping Xcel Energy lead the clean-energy transition and enhance the customer experience.

PeopleThe most recent Friends We’ll Miss and Retirements.

On the CoverAt an event this past fall, Xcel Energy leaders joined local, state and federal officials in celebrating the company’s milestone achievement in receiving industry-first approval from the FAA and watching a drone as it inspected transmission lines near Fort St. Vrain Generating Station in Platteville, Colorado. For more information, please see page eight.

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(Editor’s Note: Ben Fowke, chairman, president and CEO, periodically writes a blog on XpressNet, as well as other articles and communications. Xtra features Fowke’s comments on a recurring basis to share his thoughts with a wider audience.)

We’ve made the big announcement. Now it’s time to make it happen. Last month, we became the first major U.S. utility to announce our vision to serve all customers with zero-carbon electricity by 2050. On the way to that ambitious goal, we also accelerated our plans to reduce carbon as quickly as possible at the lowest possible price. By 2030, we expect to reduce carbon emissions 80 percent company-wide from 2005 levels. We already had plans in place to reduce carbon emissions 60 percent by 2030. Additional studies that paint a dire picture about disastrous effects of climate change convinced me that if we can do more sooner we should, particularly if we can do it affordably. And it’s my hope that industry peers will follow our lead. The reality is 2030 is not that far away. We made this announcement now to provide the lead time and runway needed to minimize any disruption to our com-munities and employees. By 2022, once a dozen wind farms come online, nearly 50 percent of our energy will come from renewable sources. Looking into the future, renewable energy sources will comprise the majority of our energy supply, but we must preserve our carbon-free nuclear fleet through their license periods in the early 2030s and use natural gas as a bridge fuel to provide back-up generation needed to integrate large amounts of renewables on the system. While challenging, our engineers believe we can hit the 80 percent target with current technologies

available, but it will take new technologies that aren’t currently available to move from 80 percent to 100 percent carbon free by 2050. Those technologies could include the next generation of nuclear technologies like small modular nuclear reactors, or breakthroughs in carbon capture and sequestration at fossil plants, or other technologies that haven’t been developed. The important thing is to be open to whatever gets us there at the lowest cost, and one of the most important lessons that I’ve learned during my time as CEO is never bet against technology. Clearly, technology is an important part of the equation, but so is regulatory support. As a regulated utility, we can’t make unilateral decisions without approval of our commissions. And for those commis-sions to approve our plans, reliability and affordability are essential. The great news about our Steel for Fuel strat-egy is that it delivers environmental and economic benefits. Not only do large wind farms reduce our carbon footprint, but they provide significant economic development in terms of construction jobs, tax base and lease payments for landowners, plus customer savings. We also earn a return on our investments, which is attractive to shareholders. The most important short-term goal is to develop the best path forward. Our Resource Planning depart-ment will lead this effort, and I’m confident that they will provide various solutions that will allow us to reduce carbon as quickly as possible at the lowest possible cost. I’m proud of our bold carbon vision and know that we have a great team in place to drive the innovative spirit to get the job done. Thanks in advance for your work on this important journey.

A carbon-free vision

CEO Message

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Innovator and I Deliver awards announced

(Editor’s Note: Innovator and I Deliver awards at Xcel Energy reward performance when teams and employees deliver greater-than-expected results. These award opportunities are designed to help fuel collaboration, innovation, continuous improvement and an enhanced customer experience. Xtra is running a series of articles on select winners.)

Innovator Awards

Ashland Project Site An 11-member team employed best-in-class techniques, innovative technologies and a first-of-its-kind strategy over an eight-year period to safely remove impacted lake sediments at the Ashland Project Site in Wisconsin. More than 460,000 hours of work were required, with only one minor injury sustained, to complete the $200 million project. The effort included a unique agreement for cost recovery that effectively managed customer impact. In addition, numerous issues were successfully negotiated and litigated, including the recovery of more than $50 million in insurance and third-party settlements to reduce overall cost. Working closely with state and federal agencies, the team ensured that the project was environmentally sound and economically balanced. Throughout the effort, the team maintained strong community relations with the city, customers, elected officials and local Native American tribes. This significant milestone will allow the Ashland community to move forward with its waterfront-redevelopment plans.

Nuclear Solution Creating a first-of-a-kind remedy for the nuclear industry, a five-member team developed a cutting-edge solution for a longstanding plant and industry licensing issue. Specifically, the team prepared and received an unprecedented exemption for the Monticello Nuclear Gen-erating Station in Minnesota, saving the company $2 million in unnecessary plant-modification expenses.

The solution also eliminated an unnecessary risk to generation output during the now-avoided modification work, and paved the way for similar savings within other areas of the

company’s nuclear fleet and other nuclear facilities. In 2014, Monticello received an NRC violation for failing to address potential problems with valves in a drywell spray system. After researching multiple options, the team looked into the feasibility of changing the licensing by using an innovative and risk-informed approach, coupled with the submission of a License Amendment Change. That approach demonstrated that a modification was not necessary and eliminated the installation project.

Community Solar Gardens The four-member, cross func-tional Community Solar Garden team identified an opportunity for Xcel Energy to own its first solar generation facilities, creating a positive $0.027 per share impact to 2018 earnings. To achieve suc-cess, team members developed innovative solutions in several areas. They organized and

established non-regulated entities to own the assets and control capital contributions. They also identified and qualified appro-priate solar developers and projects, and quantified financial returns including impacts to earnings per share for the solar facilities and related investment tax credits (ITCs). In the end, they negotiated 13 separate build-own-transfer, operations and maintenance, and customer-management contracts. Throughout the effort, the team supported the regulatory group with affiliate commission filings, and obtained executive and board approvals.

Colorado Energy Plan A 41-member team used various outreach measures over a lengthy period of time to inform and work with a myriad of stake-holders – in the end creating the Colorado Energy Plan. Due to that work, the large, cross-functional team garnered the formal support and endorse-ment of scores of communities, chambers of commerce, econom-ic-development organizations,

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Innovator and I Deliver awards announcedenvironmental groups, customers, legislators and the governor’s office. The team’s work led to a successful plan, which was pro-posed through a comprehensive settlement agreement reached with 15 diverse parties. Xcel Energy’s now-approved Colorado Energy Plan will accelerate the retirement and depreciation of 660 megawatts of coal generation, add 2,075 megawatts of wind, solar and battery storage to reach 55 percent renewable energy and 60 percent carbon-dioxide reduction by 2026. The company will own 500 megawatts of new wind generation, 380 megawatts of natural gas generation and transmission improvements, totaling an investment of $1 billion. The Colorado Energy Plan will accelerate the retirement of nearly one-third of Xcel Energy’s remaining coal fleet in Colorado – saving customers more than $200 million versus continuing to operate two coal units.

I Deliver Awards

Gas Transportation Natural gas production in the Denver Julesburg (DJ) Basin has been booming. In 2016, Gas Strategy established a nine-member, cross-functional team to develop a growth plan to evaluate the use of existing company transmission pipelines to respond to the increasing market demand. To compete with established

interstate pipeline companies, the Xcel Energy team considered options with a distinctive competitive mindset about how the company operates its gas transmission facilities. The team then developed a plan to offer cost-competitive transport service to DJ Basin producers, competing with Colorado Interstate Gas (CIG) and Tallgrass Interstate Gas Transmission (TIGT), which have each announced significant pipeline expansions on their respective systems. The revenues generated from the sale of firm Xcel Energy transportation services to DJ Basin producers will total nearly $3.3 million from 2018 to 2021.

PPA Investment Opportunities Xcel Energy uses purchased-power agreements (PPAs) to acquire additional power from suppliers to help serve its customers. Reviewing PPAs can help identify opportunities to reduce costs and deliver value to customers and stakeholders. With a current portfolio of more than 200 PPAs at Xcel Energy, the review process required extensive work and attention to detail to analyze a myriad of variables. A company analyst undertook the task to develop a Mark to Market (MTM) workbook, which needed to be built from scratch. The MTM workbook is an accounting vehicle used to evalu-ate assets, looking at recent market energy prices to identify contracts outside current “fair value.” The workbook uses data from production forecasts in a centralized database to identify PPAs in which Xcel Energy is paying above market value for energy – this due to decreases in market pricing, based on when

the agreements were originally signed. With the workbook now in place, ongoing updates can be done efficiently and with greater speed.

Automated Gas Tool For years, leaders in Cus-tomer Care have collaborated with Gas Dispatch leaders to refine the processes needed to handle gas-emergency calls. These calls can be stressful and require precision in documenting information for the gas techni-cians dispatched to address customers’ concerns. A cross-functional team

recognized the need to simplify and standardize gas-emergency order entry for greater consistency and to improve the speed of order submissions. Working with technical experts, it created an automated gas tool that integrated accounts, questions, safety steps and ticket generation in one location. The new tool is now being piloted by a Customer Care team, which is providing feedback to refine the tool to improve efficiency, response time and accuracy during gas-related calls before it is rolled out more broadly.

Steam-Vault Replacement A vault on the company’s steam system in downtown Den-ver, dating back to 1948, had become a high priority for replace-ment. The steam vault was located five feet from a Regional Transportation District (RTD) light rail line at a busy intersection. The team tasked with replacing the vault determined emergency replacement would require four days, with crews working 24 hours a day. Additionally, the team advised RTD that the repair would disrupt light-rail service throughout the project, creating additional expense. A company engineer developed a more efficient way to re-place the vault without the additional costs or disruption to RTD service. After researching the original 1948 plans, the employee discovered an alternative design that moved the vault 50 feet from the rail line and busy intersection. The new plan also reduced production costs, eliminating overtime work from four days to two weeks, in which repairs were done only during business hours. The new plan also elimi-nated the RTD service interruption and reduced Denver permit fees for the repair work, saving the company a total of more than $250,000.

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ZERO CARBON

Xcel Energy rolled out a clean-energy vision in Denver last month that will deliver 100 percent carbon-free electricity to customers by 2050. As part of this vision, the company also announced plans to reduce carbon emissions 80 percent by 2030 from 2005 levels across its service territory. The new goals are the most ambitious announced to date within the electric power industry. (For more information on the goals, please see Ben Fowke’s comments on page three.) Fowke, chairman, president and CEO, made the company’s official announcement at the Museum of Nature and Science in Denver in front of Colorado Governor-elect Jared Polis, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, several large customers and repre-sentatives from many environmental organizations, who are supportive of the company’s industry-leading efforts to eliminate carbon at the lowest possible cost as quickly as possible. “When I launched my campaign back in 2017, we had a bold agenda for our state to get to 100 percent renewable by 2040,” said Governor-Elect Polis. “Xcel Energy’s exciting an-nouncement today, along with the strong climate goals commu-nities like Pueblo, Summit County, Ft. Collins, Denver and others across the state have embraced, shows we are leading the way

forward right here in Colorado – by committing to a renewable and clean-energy future.” “Xcel Energy’s groundbreaking climate commitment is an act of true leadership,” said Fred Krupp, president of the Environmental Defense Fund. “It is anchored in proven clean-energy solutions that are already delivering healthier air, low-cost electricity, major economic investments and jobs to local communities.” “Congratulations to Xcel Energy and all of its customers for this bold, progressive commitment to reducing and ultimately eliminating carbon emissions,” said Mayor Hancock. “I’m grateful for our partnership with Xcel Energy, the nation’s leading utility, when it comes to building a path toward a clean energy future.” As a leader in the clean energy transition, Xcel Energy’s strong track record includes reducing carbon emissions 35 percent since 2005, as part of its previous goal to cut carbon 60 percent by 2030. “Our goals are ambitious and achieving them requires a long runway,” Fowke said. “We’re starting the conversation now to make sure we can achieve this groundbreaking transition while continuing to keep energy affordable and reliable for customers.”

Xcel Energy aims for carbon-free electricity by 2050

AnnouncementAt top, Ben Fowke addresses the recent gathering of officials and stakeholders at the Museum of Nature and Science in Denver. Others speaking at the carbon-vision event included (from left to right): Alice Jackson, president of Xcel Energy–Colorado; David Eves, executive vice president and group president of Utilities; Jared Polis, governor-elect of Colorado; and Michael Hancock, mayor of Denver.

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Turbines arrive by rail for Hale Wind Project More than half of the concrete foundations are complete for the Hale Wind Project in Hale County, Texas. That timing is good because the turbines and blades are now being delivered from Vestas plants in Windsor and Brighton, Colorado. The 190-foot turbine blades and components are offloaded from rail cars onto specially designed trailers and hauled to the Hale site, about 19 miles southeast of Plainview. Turbine installation began in December. When complete, each turbine will stand about 500 feet in the air, from the base to the tip of the blade. The Hale Wind Project is scheduled to begin generating power by next summer. “The benefits of a project like this are quite large and far reaching,” said David Hudson, president, Xcel Energy–Texas and New Mexico. “We’re excited about bringing this project in on time, so our customers and our area communities can start enjoying these benefits as soon as possible.”

“Our crews are doing a great job keeping us on track with the tight timeline,” said Chris Whiteside, project man-ager. “We’re trenching for 190 miles of underground cable, and we are also building a new 14-mile transmission line to move electricity onto the grid.” Each turbine founda-tion requires 350 cubic yards of concrete and 25 tons of rebar. Work on concrete footings for three 882,000-pound substation transformers is already complete. More than 300 construction workers are helping to build the wind facility. When complete, around 20 full-time employees will operate and maintain the wind farm. The Hale Wind Project will boost tax revenue for the county and local schools, and will benefit landowners through lease payments, adding more outside dollars into the area economy.

News Brief

Bay Front SunsetLacey Johnson, an environmental analyst in Minneapolis, took this photo of Bay Front Generating Station while standing on a public beach near the company power plant in Ashland, Wis. Although not in the area on a work-related visit, she happened to be there before heading out on an Apostle Islands kayaking trip the next day.Editor’s Note: “Photo Op” is a standing feature in Xtra. Each issue, a photo submitted by a reader or produced by a member of Corporate Communications will be published. Please submit high-resolution digital photos to the editor at the email address listed on the back page of this publication. By submitting images for “Photo Op,” employees give Xtra permission to run the photos.

Photo Op

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In the wake of an overpressure event that caused a series of fires and explosions last fall, an entire natural gas distribution system near Boston needed replaced – everything from gas mains to appliances. Residents of three cities north of the metro area were left without gas service for more than five weeks, with winter quickly approaching. The affected utility, Columbia Gas, put out a call for help via mutual aid from other gas companies. A dozen Xcel Energy Gas employees soon joined an army of more than 600 volunteer workers and headed east to help restore natural gas service to those impacted. Over the next three weeks, they assisted in restoring service to the more than 8,000 residences that had been shut off after the disaster. On Sept. 13 in three communities in the Merrimack Valley of Massachusetts – Lawrence, Andover and North Andover – dozens of homes and businesses were scorched or destroyed due to the overpressure event. One person died and at least 25 people were injured. The traveling employees, who hailed from both Minnesota and Colorado, initially thought they would be doing relights and inspections. However, they learned upon arrival that they would be doing more demanding work. They were given one of the more challenging jobs in the business – building multi-meter banks on multi-unit homes and apartments, said Brian Cramer, gas service foreman from White Bear Lake, Minnesota. At times, they would move through a block, going door to door. The work required plenty of pipe-fitting skills and the difficult work of boring through thick foundations to run service lines into the homes. At times, crews were boring through 10 inches of hard wood, plowing through numerous drill bits and completing one hole per meter, he explained. Cramer was in charge of finding and lining up work for the crews, in the confusion that inevitably occurs during a task as demanding as rebuilding a gas system for 8,000 homes. He also recalled the residents the employees helped. “They were very patient, considering the circumstances,” he said. “Imagine how frustrating it would be after weeks with no gas service. “We had plenty of cold-looking kids asking us if we were going to turn their gas on,” he added. “In the end, people were happy with our work and wanted us to stay longer.” Jim Dameron, a working foreman from Arvada, Colorado, also recalled happy customers. “All of them were awesome, very friendly” he

Employees help rebuild gas system outside of Boston after disaster

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In the wake of an overpressure event that caused a series of fires and explosions last fall, an entire natural gas distribution system near Boston needed replaced – everything from gas mains to appliances. Residents of three cities north of the metro area were left without gas service for more than five weeks, with winter quickly approaching. The affected utility, Columbia Gas, put out a call for help via mutual aid from other gas companies. A dozen Xcel Energy Gas employees soon joined an army of more than 600 volunteer workers and headed east to help restore natural gas service to those impacted. Over the next three weeks, they assisted in restoring service to the more than 8,000 residences that had been shut off after the disaster. On Sept. 13 in three communities in the Merrimack Valley of Massachusetts – Lawrence, Andover and North Andover – dozens of homes and businesses were scorched or destroyed due to the overpressure event. One person died and at least 25 people were injured. The traveling employees, who hailed from both Minnesota and Colorado, initially thought they would be doing relights and inspections. However, they learned upon arrival that they would be doing more demanding work. They were given one of the more challenging jobs in the business – building multi-meter banks on multi-unit homes and apartments, said Brian Cramer, gas service foreman from White Bear Lake, Minnesota. At times, they would move through a block, going door to door. The work required plenty of pipe-fitting skills and the difficult work of boring through thick foundations to run service lines into the homes. At times, crews were boring through 10 inches of hard wood, plowing through numerous drill bits and completing one hole per meter, he explained. Cramer was in charge of finding and lining up work for the crews, in the confusion that inevitably occurs during a task as demanding as rebuilding a gas system for 8,000 homes. He also recalled the residents the employees helped. “They were very patient, considering the circumstances,” he said. “Imagine how frustrating it would be after weeks with no gas service. “We had plenty of cold-looking kids asking us if we were going to turn their gas on,” he added. “In the end, people were happy with our work and wanted us to stay longer.” Jim Dameron, a working foreman from Arvada, Colorado, also recalled happy customers. “All of them were awesome, very friendly” he

said. “Anything they could do for us, they did. ‘Here you go,’ they’d tell us. ‘I’m leaving the door open for you and will be back in a couple hours.’” “There was general overall gratitude for us being there,” added Jim Sabean, gas relief trouble foreman from St. Paul, Minnesota. “It went well with the customers, and they really appreciated us being there.” “We were happy with what we were able to accomplish,” said Brett Bell, gas and electric operations manager from Denver’s Gateway Service Center, noting that open trenches were everywhere, with gas mains and services still being installed across the affected area. Tony Engberg, safety and training consultant from Red Wing, Minnesota, was on hand to support safety and hold tailgate meetings in the morning, going over hazards and traffic issues. He also helped with daily travel plans to and from work areas, as well as tracking down needed supplies and equipment. “As with other deployments, we showed up to help,” he said. “And even with challenges, we did what we needed to do to get things done. “It was incredible effort,” he added. “Someone said it entailed a five-year construction project that needed to be compressed down to two or three months.” One new and interesting twist to this deployment involved the use of a cruise ship, which was docked in the Boston’s downtown harbor, and served as room and board for the hundreds of out-of-town workers. Although quarters were tight with two to a small berth, food was plentiful, with everything served from big breakfasts to packed lunches to midnight snacks. Local interpreters for work in largely Hispanic neighborhoods were another interesting facet of the trip. They would explain to residents what was happening, how it would be done and provide updates. Cramer said they became valued members of the crews, and he has stayed in touch with some of them since. Tom Anderson, senior operations manager for Gas Emergency Response in St. Paul, said the crews worked hard to do right by the communities and were very engaged. “It was fun to watch them come together and do a really nice job,” he said. “I’m proud of them. They represented Xcel Energy well.” “It was nice to go out there and help people,” added John Paitich, gas troubleman from St. Paul. “I’d do it again.” Other employees on the mutual-aid mission included: Scott Erickson, Mike Ficcadenti, Tony Wigginton, Glenn Montoya, Aron Yoder and James Swanson.

Employees help rebuild gas system outside of Boston after disaster

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Mutual AidAt top left, Aron Yoder (left) and Tony Wigginton at work in the Boston area. Below from left to right: a thank-you sign in a yard; workers getting on the ship in the evening; and Xcel Energy crew at work on a multi-meter bank, including (left to right) John Paitich, Mike Ficcadenti, Jim Sabean and Scott Erickson (in basement).

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DRONES(Editor’s Note: Innovator and I Deliver awards at Xcel Energy reward performance when teams and employees deliver greater-than-expected results. Xtra is running a series of articles on select winners.)

Drones are now regularly flying beyond the line of sight of operators in an industry-first endeavor at Xcel Energy that is breaking new ground in the use of the technology. The company received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval earlier this year and has since been proving the

technology along stretches of transmission lines in northern Colorado. It hopes to greatly expand the use of drones in other parts of the service territory later this year. “Since mid-summer, we have flown beyond-the-line-of-sight missions every month in the Denver area,” said Eileen Lockhart, program manager. “We have been able to establish the success of our drone operations over more than 50 miles of transmission lines in a designated area.” Eventually, the company could use the technology to survey portions of its more than 320,000 miles of electric and natural gas infrastructure, ensuring the safety and reliability of its

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DRONESenergy system and saving plenty of money. The effort will reduce the number of helicopter flights needed for line inspections, reaping both environmental and safety benefits, she said. It also will save the company about $1.3 million in O&M costs through 2020, with more cost savings to come in the years ahead. For its efforts, a cross-functional employee team recently received the company’s coveted Innovator Award. The team developed a unique partnership with the FAA to help expedite the beyond-line-of-sight waiver. Its efforts entailed an exhaustive process – requiring more than 1,000 miles of test-

flight demonstrations and an 800-plus-page application. At an event this past fall, Xcel Energy leaders joined local, state and federal officials in celebrating the milestone flights and watching a drone as it inspected transmission lines near Fort St. Vrain Generating Station in Platteville, Colorado. Using advanced command-and-control technology, they observed licensed pilots remotely operate a small, 35-pound drone along the lines. Equipped with two cameras, the drone collected data on the condition of the power lines and transmission towers along parts of the 50-mile route. Drones, also known as unmanned aircraft systems (UAS),

Industry-first endeavor under way

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offer the advantage of an aerial perspective controlled from the ground, as well as significant improvements in data quality and gathering, Lockhart said. Drones also can fly slower and get much closer to a line than a helicopter – looking for things like broken cross-arms, vegetation encroachment and other aspects that could affect the health of the transmission system. During inspection flights, a pair of cameras mounted on a drone – one faced forward and one back – takes multiple im-ages every second from pre-set angles. Crews then look at the data to determine possible issues. The drone flies between two vans, spaced miles apart. Each vehicle has a pilot in command and an observer. The pilot positions the drone over the line, then starts it on its way. The second van eventually picks up control at the other end of the flight and lands the drone. “Our sights are now set on a much greater use of drones moving forward,” Lockhart said. “We have flown all parts of the test line to validate the technology, improve operations, and prepare to move beyond Denver and into a larger footprint in our service territory.” The company hopes to eventually set up a series of drone inspection flights, traveling from substation to substation over distances of 30 to 50 miles. Amending the company’s existing FAA waiver to expand uses to rural areas would present a huge opportunity for the company, she said. With an amended waiver, the company could then set out to fly upwards of 2,500 miles of lines in multiple states. FAA approval could come as soon as April or May. However, the company effort also has its long-term sights set on urban areas, as well. Xcel Energy is a key player in the latest effort from the FAA on its National UAS Integration Pilot Program (IPP). This program is an opportunity for state, local and tribal governments to work with private sector entities, such as drone operators or manufacturers, to accelerate safe integration of the technology into the National Airspace System. Through this pilot program, Xcel Energy and the 35 other entities will focus on addressing safety issues and developing protocols for beyond-visual-line-of-sight missions – during flights over people and urban areas, including at night. Ten different states are participating in the IPP program, and dozens of different use cases are being tested and devel-oped. Examples include delivery of packages, delivery of lifesav-ing medical equipment, critical infrastructure inspections and beyond-line-of-sight operations in urban environments. Xcel Energy is a partner with the State of North Dakota, helping develop beyond-line-of-sight requirements within urban environments for critical infrastructure security, inspections and maintenance. “This technology allows us to take many of the benefits of manned aviation and perform operations safely from the ground,” Lockhart said. “It’s a new world that we’re excited to be a part of – and the safety, customer and cost-saving impacts alone are huge. “We anticipate a significant cost reduction from our current inspection methods,” she added. “And we’re getting much more concrete data than before, which will greatly enhance system reliability. “In some ways, it’s the first time we’re getting a really close look at our system,” she said. “This technology will enhance our operations in many ways and transform the utility industry.”

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DronesXcel Energy hopes to greatly expand the use of drones in other parts of the service territory later this year. On pages 10 and 11, a drone is prepared for flight at a media event held to announce the company’s industry-first endeavor with the technology. On page 12, an image caught by a drone shows the power of the technology to find issues. And clockwise from top, the media event, a close-up view of a drone and computer monitors in one of the vans used to complete flights.

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Renewable*Connect – a renewable energy program for customers that is expanding across the service territory – is helping Xcel Energy lead the clean-energy transition and enhance the customer experience. The program keeps bills low for participating customers, while not increasing costs for non-participants. It is self-supporting through subscription fees, so non-participants don’t pay more. “This is a great program model that exemplifies how we are using innovation to meet customer needs amid complex regulated environments,” said Jaclyn Webb, product portfolio manager with Choice and Renewable Programs in Customer Solutions. “It is our long-term green pricing program model that adds solar energy to our current flagship program, Windsource, but adds additional value that makes it even more popular to subscribers.” Through Renewable*Connect, Xcel Energy customers can choose to make their energy more renewable. They can choose from different contract options, such as month-to-month, five-year or 10-year terms. Participating does not involve any equipment installation, and better yet, can follow customers if they move to a new home within the service territory. Customers simply sign into their online account and fill out a form to select the subscription they want. After kicking off in Minnesota, Renewable*Connect sold out quickly in Colorado and is now proposed for Wisconsin. Here are a few more details.

Colorado Xcel Energy quickly sold out the first phase of its Renewable*Connect solar program in Colorado this past summer.

Renewable*Connect opened enrollment in May to residential customers, giving them a chance to choose before large business customers and communities began enrolling in July. Close to 3,200 residential and small-business customers reserved more than 20 percent of capacity in the first phase of enrollment. As expected, high demand from businesses and communities meant the second phase sold out in an hour. In the end, 3,400 customers enrolled in Colorado’s 50-megawatt first offering, she said, and there is strong interest for more than 100 megawatts more. In a new feature, Renewable*Connect integrated into My Account, so customers didn’t have to grab a bill or look up their usage to enroll. “By using ‘My Account’ for Colorado for enrollment, custom-ers were able to automatically choose their subscription size based on their actual historic usage,” Webb said. “We designed an enrollment process to align with our corporate strategy to enhance the customer experience. The easy application process eliminated many calls and questions and meant customers could switch to renewable energy at a low cost in a matter of minutes.” Customers like the new program. “As a company deeply connected to the outdoors, we are committed to working with our local utility partners to bring more renewable energy onto the grids where we operate, said Kate Wilson, director of sustainability for Vail Resorts. “We are thrilled to be a part of Xcel Energy’s Renewable*Connect program and to support bringing this new solar energy facility online.” In Colorado, the program’s energy comes from the Titan Solar facility, produced by a 50-megawatt solar array near Deer Trail, Colo.

New program emphasizes customer choiceRENEWABLE*CONNECT

Titan Solar Facility in Colorado

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Wisconsin In early 2019, Renewable*Connect is planned to expand into the Wisconsin service territory, providing commission approval is received. Wisconsin also could be the first operating company to fully transition from the Xcel Energy’s legacy Windsource program to Renewable*Connect. Historically, wind power has been more economical to offer at scale, but with declining solar costs many customers are also inter-ested in solar if the price is right, Webb said. Renewable*Connect gives customers an economical blend of wind and solar power that brings the best of both renewable options to them in an easy choice. “Through a growing range of innovative solutions like Renewable*Connect, we empower our customers with clean-ener-gy options that match what they want,” said Deb Erwin, manager of Regulatory Policy in Wisconsin. “Renewable*Connect delivers an easy way to switch to solar energy in an affordable and sustain-able manner.”

Minnesota Minnesota’s program, started in 2017, now has 3,000 residen-tial customers, along with 130 commercial customers. This past fall in Minnesota, 3M and US Bank – two of the state’s largest companies – joined Renewable*Connect. Along with these two major customers, the University of Minnesota, the City of Minne-apolis and the State of Minnesota also participate in the program. A new phase of development is now in the works to meet ongoing customer demand. In Minnesota, energy sources include

the Odell Wind Farm and North Star Solar, which will both also be used initially to serve the Wisconsin effort.

Online Tool Another element of customer choice involving the company’s renewable-energy options is the Renewable Advisor Online Tool on the Xcel Energy website. This new tool helps customers choose the most-appropriate renewable energy program for their needs from the beginning of the decision-making process. Last year, it launched to residential customers in Minnesota and Colorado, and now will be available to small to medium busi-ness owners wondering how to use more renewable energy. The tool asks a series of questions, inquiring about a customer’s goals and interests related to renewable energy, and then displays the top three recommended programs, along with information about each program option. “We are reaching customers at this early point of decision making and educating them on all of their choices,” Webb said. Xcel Energy continues to invest in renewable energy, delivering clean energy and more choice to customers. The Renewable*Connect program will likely become the company’s flagship renewable energy program, she said. “We think that this is the program for now and for the future,” Webb said. “Renewable*Connect is one of the main ways we are meeting our customers’ renewable- energy needs.”

New program emphasizes customer choiceRENEWABLE*CONNECT

16 XTRA JANUARY 1, 2019

Xcel Energy has agreed to purchase the 760-mega-watt Mankato Energy Center from Southern Power, a subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Company. The natural gas-fired plant currently provides power to Xcel Energy customers under a power purchase agreement. The purchase saves more than $100 million over the life of the PPA. “Securing the Mankato gas plant is a great value for our customers as it will provide significant cost savings and operat-ing flexibility for the long term,” said Chris Clark, president of Xcel Energy–Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota. “As we continue to transition to cleaner energy sources and reduce reli-ance on coal, this plant will help us continue to deliver reliable electricity while keeping bills low.” Xcel Energy is planning for several power plant retirements and contract expirations in the mid-2020s. Acquiring this plant now provides certainty that energy from these newer generating units will be available and benefit customers over the life of the plant, he said, compared to simply purchasing the output. These benefits include more flexibility as Xcel Energy con-tinues to add renewable energy to its system and analyzes the future of its base-load power plants, as well as reducing the risk from expiring power purchase agreements in the next decade.

“We’re excited to add the Mankato Energy Center and its employees to our local operations, which already include about 100 employees and several facilities,” said Trisha Rosenfeld, community relations and economic development manager. “We’re also building a new transmission line to deliver low-cost power and support numerous community groups,” she added. “We’ve got a long history in southern Minnesota, and this plant gives us the opportunity to deepen our ties to the community.” Xcel Energy has purchased power from the plant’s first unit since 2006 and has an agreement for the energy from the under-construction second unit beginning in 2019. The com-pany agreed to purchase the plant for $650 million, and current employees will be offered jobs with Xcel Energy. The Mankato Energy Center is a natural gas combined-cycle plant. The second unit, now under construction, will bring total capacity to 760 megawatts of electricity. About 27 employees currently operate and maintain the plant, and the facility was originally built by Calpine Corp. and sold to Southern Power in 2016. Xcel Energy’s purchase of the facility is dependent on regulatory approval, expected in mid-2019.

Mankato Energy Center now on

board

17 JANUARY 1, 2019

Mankato Energy Center now on

board

‘You are appreciated for every facet of what each of you do’

Dear Xcel Energy: We need to thank workers every time we turn on a light, hear our refrigerator or washer and dryer running, or rely on a multitude of other “take for granted” conveniences. My father worked as a lineman for a power company in West Virginia when I was a child and was called to other parts of the state and other states when storms debilitated communities. It was tough work and very long hours. For each of you that serve the Texas Panhandle and make sure things run smoothly for us on a daily basis – or work overtime to make sure things are fixed when we

have problems or bad weather comes along – thank you and be safe. You are appreciated for every facet of what each of you do to make lives better for others, and for going away from home when needs or crises arise. God bless you all and keep you safe.

—Donna Shook, Texas

‘A big thank you’

Dear Xcel Energy: A big thank you to the linemen and workers who restored our outage so promptly. And we appreciated the email update that you sent, too.

—Paul Bretall, Michigan

Letters

News BriefsNew transmission line and substation complete for Minot A new transmission line and substation will provide an additional source of electricity to the city of Minot, North Dakota and the surrounding region. Construction on the 20-mile transmission line began in October 2017, and the nearly $50 million project was energized this past fall. The lieutenant governor, community leaders and about 50 others gathered to celebrate outside the new substation. “This new transmission line provides the capacity and electrical reliability the Minot region needs to continue growing its population and economy for decades to come,” said Lieutenant Governor Brent Sanford. “We commend Xcel Energy for its nearly $50 million investment and its commitment to the communities served by this project.” “This project is another example of how Xcel Energy is committed to providing reliable power to the state of North Dakota,” said Greg Chamberlain, regional vice president. “As of the end of 2018, we will have invested nearly $1 billion in infrastructure in the state.” The new transmission line runs between the existing McHenry Substation near Velva and the new Magic City

Substation in Minot. The new single-pole 230/115- kilovolt transmission line replaced the existing line that was built over 60 years ago. “The new single-pole structures take up less ground area than the old double structures, which is beneficial for farmers who can work right up to the structure base,” said Michael Lamb, senior vice president of Transmission. “It is important we continue to update our infrastructure to provide the best possible service for our customers and local communities.” “We are proud to say our crews and contractors worked 100,000 hours safely building the transmission line and substation,” said Joe Samuel, project manager. “We dealt with the North Dakota extreme cold and snow, and worked through it safely.” Xcel Energy collaborated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Partners for Wildlife program to plant 40 acres of pollinator habitat around the new substation. The native plants, which include nearly two dozen different types of wild flowers, are beneficial to pollinators including the monarch butterfly, bees and birds.

Online Xtra subscription available for employees and retirees Employee readers of Xtra can now opt out of re-ceiving the print version of Xcel Energy’s employee and retiree publication, and instead read the online version on XpressNet or via a portal on the company’s website at xcelenergy.com. To complete the opt-out process, employees need to fill out a form on the Xtra homepage of XpressNet, provid-ing their name, employee ID and company email address. Those who choose to opt out will receive an email when a new issue is available for online viewing. The opt-out form and online versions of Xtra can be found by clicking on the “Xtra Online” link, located at the

bottom of the XpressNet homepage. The online edition of Xtra also can be found at xcelenergy.com/Xtra – or from the home page, look under Community/Community Involvement/Retiree Directory. In addition, retirees can opt out of receiving the print version, or request address changes regarding home de-livery of the print edition, by calling the Human Resources Service Center at 800.689.7662. They also are invited to visit the webpage noted above (or xcelenergy.com/Retir-ees) to view the latest issue, as well as a number of back issues of Xtra. As a reminder, Xcel Energy’s main phone number is 800.328.8226. Just hit “0” for an operator to contact various departments and employees.

People

Friends We’ll MissBruce Ables, 65, control specialist, Hydro Operations and Maintenance, Cabin Creek Hydro, Georgetown, Colo., died on Oct. 7, 2018. He worked for PSCo from 1982 until the time of his death.

James Bagley, 61, regulatory administration manager, Regulatory, 790 Buchanan, Amarillo, Texas, died on Nov. 10. 2018. He worked for SPS from 1980 until the time of his death.

Robert Boeding, 77, control center operator, System Control Center, 414 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, Minn., died on Oct. 3, 2018. He worked for NSP from 1961 to 1996.

Clyde Boegeman, 81, lead operator, Substation Operations, Rice Street Service Center, St. Paul, Minn., died on Oct. 7, 2018. He worked for NSP from 1973 to 1999.

Cynthia Bolden, 66, customer contact center representative, Customer Contact Center, Amarillo Call Center, Amarillo, Texas, died on Sept. 12, 2018. She worked for Xcel Energy from 2002 until the time of her death.

Billy Brown, 84, died on Nov. 9, 2018. He worked for SPS from 1957 to 1996.

Marvin Bruxvoort, 81, electrician specialist, Fort St. Vrain Generating Station, Platteville, Colo., died on Nov. 12, 2018. He worked for PSCo from 1960 to 1999.

Jane Clearwaters, 77, industrial counselor, Workers Comp and Health Services, 414 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, Minn., died on Nov. 9, 2018. She worked for NSP from 1964 to 1998.

William Crenshaw, 75, media representative, Media Services, SPS Tower, Amarillo, Texas, died on Sept. 3, 2018. He worked for Xcel Energy from 1982 to 2006.

William Curtis, 85, electric services manager, Energy Services, Renaissance Square, Minneapolis, Minn., died on Oct. 3, 2018. He worked for NSP from 1962 to 1992.

Marjorie Detle, 92, chief clerk, Accounting, Wisconsin, died on Nov. 25, 2018. She worked for NSP from 1951 to 1984.

Lee Dillard, 84, died on Sept. 18, 2018. He worked for SPS from 1952 to 1996.

Roy Downs, 93, plant operations superintendent, Riverside Steam Plant, Minneapolis, Minn., died on Sept. 27, 2018. He worked for NSP from 1947 to 1984.

Donald Eckmann, 91, general manager, Fargo Area Management, Fargo Service Center, Fargo, N.D., died on Aug. 17, 2018. He worked for NSP from 1947 to 1988.

Clarence Ek, 81, lead machinist, Maintenance, Sherco Steam Plant, Becker, Minn., died on Sept. 30, 2018. He worked for NSP from 1964 to 1995.

Gerald Fenno, 84, small volume accounts manager, Commercial Gas Marketing, Rice Street Service Center, St. Paul, Minn., died on Oct. 4, 2018. He worked for NSP from 1957 to 1990.

William Gurley, 88, electric operations supervisor, Electric Operations, Brighton Service Center, Brighton, Colo., died on Oct. 18, 2018. He worked for PSCo from 1957 to 1986.

Gerald Hamberg, 84, yard equipment operator, Red Wing Generating Plant, Red Wing, Minn., died on Oct. 17, 2018. He worked for NSP from 1970 to 1995.

Gerald Hefferman, 83, gas foreman, Gas Construction, White Bear Service Center, White Bear Lake, Minn., died on Sept. 29, 2018. He worked for NSP from 1953 to 1992.

Robert Hofmann, 87, bookkeeping supervisor, St. Paul Customer Service Center, St. Paul, Minn., died on Oct. 10, 2018. He worked for NSP from 1954 to 1988.

Erno Hunter, 80, radio operations supervisor, Information Network Services, Telecommunications Center, Denver, Colo., died on Oct. 8, 2018. He worked for PSCo from 1969 to 1994.

Tommy Hyatt, 92, died on Nov. 5, 2018. He worked for SPS from 1951 to 1986.

Leonard Jacobsen, 88, safety consultant, Safety, Minneapolis, Minn., died on Oct. 5, 2018. He worked for NSP from 1948 to 1988.

William Karn, Jr., 58, geospatial data technician, Distribution Mapping, Lipan Distribution Center, Denver, Colo., died on Nov. 5, 2018. He worked for PSCo from 1992 to 2014.

William Kappes, 61, quality assurance specialist, Operations, Prairie Island Nuclear Plant, Welch, Minn., died on Nov. 13, 2018. He worked for NSP from 1982 until the time of his death.

Francis Kripps, 96, executive vice president, Eau Claire, Wis., died on Sept. 25, 2018. He worked for NSP from 1947 to 1982.

Gerald Lacrosse, 88, stores superintendent, Rice Street Service Center, St. Paul, Minn., died on Nov. 4, 2018. He worked for NSP from 1948 to 1988.

Ronald Lundy, 73, lead splicer mechanic, Electric Operations, Maple Grove Materials Complex, Maple Grove, Minn., died on Oct. 21, 2018. He worked for NSP from 1966 to 2002.

Muriel Magadance, 78, material and equipment specialist, Stores, died on Oct. 12, 2018. She worked for NSP from 1975 to 1996.

Gary Magnuson, 72, senior metallurgic specialist, Fleet Reliability, Materials Distribution Center, Henderson, Colo., died on Sept. 29, 2018. He worked for Xcel Energy from 1977 to 2015.

James McKay, 71, radiation protection specialist, Nuclear Rollup, Monticello Nuclear Plant, Monticello, Minn., died on Oct. 15, 2018. He worked for NSP from 1989 to 2009.

Mildred McKinney, 87, housekeeper, Customer and Field Operations, Cheyenne Office, Cheyenne, Wyo., died on Oct. 30, 2018. She worked for Cheyenne Light, Fuel and Power Co. from 1967 to 1990.

Bernardo Miera, 90, lead fitter serviceman, Western Gas Construction, Mesa County Operations Center, Grand Junction, Colo., died on Oct. 3, 2018. He worked for PSCo from 1958 to 1994.

Joseph Miller, 82, meterman, Electric Operations, Cheyenne Service Center, Cheyenne, Wyo., died on Oct. 8, 2018. He worked for Cheyenne Light, Fuel and Power Co. from 1960 to 1996.

Paul Muccio, 83, line crew foreman, Newport Service Center, Newport, Minn., died on Oct. 11, 2018. He worked for NSP from 1954 to 1992.

Michael Murphy, 72, lead plant equipment operator, Operations, Sherco Steam Plant, Becker, Minn., died on Oct. 9, 2018. He worked for NSP from 1975 to 2000.

Gary Olson, 65, senior balancing authority operator, Transmission Operations-North, Lookout Center, Golden, Colo., died on Nov. 27, 2018. He worked for PSCo from 1979 until the time of his death.

Bruce Palmer, 84, special projects coordinator, General Office, Minneapolis, Minn., died on Nov. 13, 2018. He worked for NSP from 1957 to 1994.

John Pena, 67, warehouseman third year and thereafter, Operations, Amarillo Operations Center, Amarillo, Texas, died on Oct. 20, 2018. He worked for SPS from 1976 until the time of his death.

Linda Pruett, 67, senior verifier, Accounts Payable, Seventeenth Street Plaza, Denver, Colo., died on Nov. 11, 2018. She worked for Xcel Energy from 1975 to 2012.

Richard Rozycki, 93, troubleman foreman, Electric Service, died on Oct. 21, 2018. He worked for NSP from 1947 to 1983.

Joseph Sajdak, 82, lead maintenance repairman, Wisconsin, died on Oct. 17, 2018. He worked for NSP from 1967 to 1993.

Robert Sears, 79, senior specialty engineer, Customer Service and Technical Support, Maple Grove Materials Complex, Maple Grove, Minn., died on Sept. 19, 2018. He worked for NSP from 1967 to 1999.

18 XTRA JANUARY 1, 2019

Harold Sorenson, 88, shipping clerk, Stores, Transportation and Buildings, died on Nov. 14, 2018. He worked for NSP from 1952 to 1986.

Darlene Verner, 87, secretary, Minot Area Management, Minot, N.D., died on Oct. 8, 2018. She worked for NSP from 1951 to 1988.

Janice Wallraff, 78, consumer relations consultant, Energy Management Marketing, General Office, Minneapolis, Minn., died on Oct. 3, 2018. She worked for NSP from 1963 to 1996.

Doris Widman, 93, gas statistical analyst, Western Slope Gas, Colorado, died on Nov. 12, 2018. She worked for PSCo from 1963 to 1983.

Charles Williamson, 88, district representative, Central West, Wisconsin, died on Oct. 31, 2018. He worked for NSP from 1954 to 1989.

James Winter, 80, electric operations supervisor, Northern Division Management, Fort Collins Operations Center, Fort Collins, Colo., died on Nov. 13, 2018. He worked for PSCo from 1959 to 1994.

Leroy Zeller, 99, district trouble-man, Central Division, Wisconsin, died on Nov. 1, 2018. He worked for NSP from 1940 to 1979.

John Zumbrun, 88, district fitter serviceman, Customer and Field Operations, Cheyenne Service Center, Cheyenne, Wyo., died on Oct. 28, 2018. He worked for Cheyenne Light, Fuel and Power Co. from 1960 to 1986.

RetiringRex Avara, electrical foreman, Electrical Department, Harrington Power Plant, Amarillo, Texas, retired on Jan. 8, 2019. He worked for Xcel Energy for 40 years.

William Bickford, operations procedure writer, Procedures and Records Management, Minneapolis, Minn., retired on Dec. 21, 2018. He worked for Xcel Energy for 41 years.

Mike Bruno (mbruno@gmail.com), AMRP project manager, AMRP, Arvada, Colo., retired on Dec. 3, 2018. He worked for Xcel Energy for 27 years.

Jerry Duckworth, functional analyst, IT Account Management – Corporate, 1800 Larimer, Denver, Colo., retired on Dec. 31, 2018. He worked for Xcel Energy for 34 years.

Rose Ann Gonzales, workforce relations specialist, Workforce Relations, 1800 Larimer, Denver, Colo., retired on Dec. 31, 2018. She worked for Xcel Energy for 18 years.

Jeffery Goss (jaggoss@yahoo.com), foreman lineman, Overhead, Eau Claire, Wis., retired on Dec. 5, 2018. He worked for Xcel Energy for 34 years.

Randy Gowdy, senior systems analyst, Transmission, Amarillo Operations Center, Amarillo, Texas, retired on Dec. 14, 2018. He worked for Xcel Energy for 41 years.

Ken Grasso (grassohouse1@gmail.com), supervisor, Substation Construction, Maple Grove Service Center, Maple Grove, Minn., retired on Dec. 31, 2018. He worked for Xcel Energy for 36 years.

Kevin Koecher (koechermn@hotmail.com), steamfitter and welder specialist, Maintenance, Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant, Monticello, Minn., retired on Dec. 3, 2018. He worked for Xcel Energy for 33 years.

Tom Kosloske, lead rigger, Sherco Plant, Becker, Minn., retired on Dec. 28, 2018. He worked for Xcel Energy for 33 years.

Jeff Larson (jplarson88@baldwin-telicom.net), lineman, Hudson, Wis., retired on Nov. 27, 2018. He worked for Xcel Energy for 35 years.

Jeffery Loucks (lafeet2000@aol.com), substation electrician specialist, Lookout Center, Denver Substations, Denver, Colo., retired on Dec. 7, 2018. He worked for Xcel Energy for 37 years.

Dennis Luehman, electrician, Substation Operations and Maintenance, Amery, Wis., retired on Jan. 4, 2019. He worked for Xcel Energy for 27 years.

Ron Lungu, operations manager, Maintenance, Comanche Station, Pueblo, Colo., retired on Dec. 5, 2018. He worked for Xcel Energy for 39 years.

John McCann, operator, Electric Trouble Department, St. Paul, Minn., retired on Nov. 21, 2018. He worked for Xcel Energy for 38 years.

Keith Myhre, garage foreman, Fleet Operations, La Crosse, Wis. retired on Dec. 31, 2018. He worked for Xcel Energy for 27 years.

David Reitz (davereitz@hotmail.com), category manager, Supply Chain, 401 Nicollet, Minneapolis, Minn., retired on Dec. 31, 2018. He worked for Xcel Energy for 12 years.

Robert Stabe (hdbob@charter.net), operations manager, Gas and Electric Meter, Melby Centre, Eau Claire, Wis., retired on Dec. 31, 2018. He worked for Xcel Energy for 33 years.

Valorie Vasquez (valorievasquez222@gmail.com), director, Workforce Strategy and Consulting, Human Resources, 401 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, Minn., retired on Dec. 1, 2018. She worked for Xcel Energy for 40 years.

Alvis Walker, instrument and control specialist, High Bridge Station, St. Paul, Minn., retired on Nov. 23, 2018. He worked for Xcel Energy for 29 years.

David Weinhandl, system relay specialist, Substation Operations and Maintenance, Maple Grove, Minn., retired on Dec. 1, 2018. He worked for Xcel Energy for 32 years.

NoticesEmployees and retirees from all Xcel Energy operating companies are invited to an annual luncheon on Feb. 6, 2019, at 11:30 a.m., at the Junction Café, 11 South Cage, Pharr, Texas. For more information, call Shirley Boerger at (956) 581-8084 or (956) 929- 0110.

19 JANUARY 1, 2019

News BriefsXcel Energy continues to help rebuild in Puerto Rico It’s been more than a year since Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, and much work remains to be done to rebuild and stabilize the electric grid and systems so reliable power can be provided to the island’s residents and businesses. Recently, Transmission’s Bob Staton, senior manager, Control Center, and Tony Martinez, senior training coordi-nator, met with operations staff of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) in San Juan to help them with the task. During their two-day visit, Staton and Martinez dis-cussed system operations, control center design, energy management systems and operator training, among other topics. The pair has years of experience in these areas and

also meet regularly with other utilities to discuss best practices. Along with other Xcel Energy staff, they will provide a detailed report and recommendations to the senior team at PREPA. In a letter to the company, Mireya Rodriguez, senior executive of PREPA Restructuring and Fiscal Affairs, expressed appreciation for Xcel Energy’s willingness to share its knowledge and experience. “PREPA appreciates Xcel Energy’s collaboration in this important planning stage for PREPA’s infrastructure and operations re-design,” Rodriguez wrote. “We are looking forward to the recommendations report that will help us set the path that will bring our Operations Center to new utility standards and a competitive level.”

Whether you rent or own your home, we have ways to help you be smart with your energy use. Like tips you can follow yourself, help from energy professionals, or efficiency rebates on equipment upgrades—they all help you make the best use of your energy.

Find what’s right for you at xcelenergy.com/EnergySolutions.

© 2018 Xcel Energy Inc.

SMART WAYS TO SAVE THIS WINTER

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XTRAPublished by Xcel EnergyKevin Graham, Editor1800 Larimer Street, 9th FloorDenver, CO 80202Phone: 303.294.2417Fax: 303.294.2968email: Kevin.Graham@xcelenergy.com

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