More than 5,000 still without power in north Mpls

Published 11:58 am Wednesday, May 25, 2011

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Xcel Energy says 5,105 north Minneapolis customers are still without power Wednesday morning.

Spokesman Tom Hoen (HOE’-ehn) says the company expects the “vast majority” of the remaining outages to be repaired Wednesday, but some customers will have to wait until Thursday for power.

Hoen says the company couldn’t get crews into damaged areas immediately on Sunday because of debris left by the tornado. Law enforcement also restricted the area.

Xcel Energy didn’t realize how devastating the damage was until Monday. In some areas, employees had to consult their maps to determine where utility poles used to be.

The company has 475 employees working in the area and has called in people from neighboring states to help. The work can’t be done in heavy rain, so the weather is being closely monitored.