XTRAA P R I L 1 , 2 0 1 6 V O L U M E 1 6 • I S S U E 6

WOOD POLE HEALTH

Crucial asset maintained via

data-driven program

4

7

8

12

15

20

22

24

26

Safety StartCompany starts year off right, safety-wise.

Community SolarWisconsin program provides customers more options.

Wood Pole HealthProgram determines how poles are faring over the years.

Security ServicesWork helps keep communi-ties safe and prevents theft.

Lineman Safety“Like father, like son” has special signifi cance for lineman.

Step-Up AchieveEffort trains students to become the next generation of employees.

WindsourceProgram allows customers to easily tap renewable-energy resource.

Training CenterNew state-of-the-art facility home to year-round training.

PeopleThe most recent Friends We’ll Miss and Retirements.

On the CoverXcel Energy’s Wood Pole I&T program is aimed at maintaining the company’s more than 1.5 million wood poles in the fi eld. Here, crews work to replace poles via helicopter in a remote line location southwest of Denver in the Hayman Fire burn area near Cheesman Reservoir. For more information, please see page 8.

Content

7

4

8

12

17

15

22

(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.)

Xcel Energy was honored in March with two EPA Climate Leadership Awards. The � rst was for excellence in greenhouse gas management. The second was for our Clean Energy Partnership with the City of Minneapolis and CenterPoint Energy to help the city and its residents – our customers – meet aggressive climate and energy ef� ciency goals. I am incredibly proud of our teams for this recognition. Thanks for all you do every day to help us achieve a bright – and clean – energy future. More than a decade ago, we began the journey to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and integrate the increased use of renewables, primarily wind and solar, into our system. We did it because it was the right thing to do to help protect the environment, and it made good business sense. We also anticipated our customers and communities would want a path to cleaner energy from us, and it would also help us meet or even exceed future regulatory guidelines. Our Minnesota resource plan and our Colorado energy future plan are both great examples of how we continue to take a responsible approach to clean energy that balances the needs of our customers and communities. I’m proud that Xcel Energy has led the industry for years, and that we’ve done it while keeping customer costs in check.

In our business, big plans never move past blue-prints without stakeholder support. To that end, Chris Clark and I recently traveled to central Minnesota to meet with several key stakeholders regarding the Minnesota energy plan – including elected of� cials, business clients, education leaders and employees at our Sherco Generating Station and Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant. I was impressed with the stakeholder support for our long-term plans to eventually retire two coal-� red units at Sherco and build a gas unit onsite. Our power plants are signi� cant assets that drive the economies of the communities we serve. Any changes to those assets require thoughtful transition plans and dialogue. Historically, we’ve done a great job of planning and executing coal-to-gas transitions. Our stakeholders understand the changing nature of our industry, but want to make sure we are smart in terms of our approach and execution. A thoughtful transition plan begins by starting early and providing ample time and runway to manage change – effec-tively explaining the plan and answering questions directly to ensure a thorough understanding. That takes time, effort and commitment. I also was impressed with the level of employee engagement, and the depth and variety of questions from our employees. I’ve always believed that strong stakeholder engagement is the key to success. These plans are great opportunities to put that philosophy to work.

Our environmental commitment

CEO MESSAGE

CEO MESSAGE

4 XTRA APRIL 1, 2016

2016 Calendar

Safety Start

Coming off eight straight years of best-ever safety performance, Xcel Energy kept at it and kicked off 2016 off in record fashion. January was the company’s best month ever for safety, with just two OSHA-recordable injuries. The best previous months were April 2015 and December 2014, when only four OSHA-recordable injuries occurred. “I want to congratulate all of our employees on completing the best month ever for safety at Xcel Energy to start 2016,” said Ben Fowke, chairman, president and CEO. “We had nine fewer employees go home injured in January compared to the year before. That’s incredible progress on our Journey to Zero.” In addition to the “best safety month ever,” the company extended its longest streak without an OSHA-reported injury to 27 days, topping the previous record of 21 days. Employees also posted the longest start to the year without an OSHA-recordable injury – 26 days. Before January, Xcel Energy had never gone more than � ve days from the start of a calendar year without an OSHA-reported injury. “To complete our Journey to Zero, we must � rst experience

a zero-injury month,” said Bert Flynn, interim director of Safety. “We came close reaching that milestone in January, and it would be great if we could accomplish it by the end of this year. Still, our employees continue proving how amazing they are in staying safer and safer over the last eight years.” Leaders across the company were asked to host a safety kickoff event to ensure 2016 started off safely. That effort certainly helped, he said. “One of the keys to our success the last few years has been getting off to a strong start each year for safety,” Flynn said. “Building on our past success, we asked each leader to host a safety kickoff with a message that worked best for their individual work groups and our workers de� nitely stepped up and delivered a great month” Supporting materials also were provided for the kickoff events, including: a Strong Start Video, featuring employees from across the company sharing the safe practices that have made a difference in how they work; the “Find Your Path” presentation, which asked each individual to chart a path to complete their own personal Journey to Zero in 2016; Work

Record safety performance logged to kick off 2016

5 APRIL 1, 2016

Injury Helpline stickers; Rules to Live By calendars; and a Strong Start XpressNet message from Gary Lakey, vice president of Workforce Relations and Safety. “We’ve developed a strong safety culture since we set out on our Journey to Zero – strong enough that nearly 80 percent of our work groups completed their journey to zero in 2015,” Flynn said. “We need to keep building on this strong foundation in 2016.” The company’s OSHA Recordable Incident Rate (ORIR) has steadily dropped every year since 2008, when 279 employees were injured. In 2015, there were 111 employee injuries, meaning 700 fewer employees went home hurt these past eight years. The company’s 2015 safety performance makes Xcel Energy a top safety performer among peer utilities, Lakey said. “You can really see how the changes we’ve made to our safety culture since 2008 have resulted in steady progress on our Journey to Zero,” he said. Over the past eight years, a series of programs have been implemented to keep the focus on overall safety, while breaking out different facets of taking personal responsibility for safety at work and at home. Each year, new programs have built on themselves to help employees work more safely and build a safety culture. Some of the successful company-wide programs instituted since 2008 include: Safety Leadership Training Program, 24/7 Safety, Ergonomic Safety, Rules to Live By, Safety Intervention and Stop Work Responsibility, Managing Safety Performance, and the Work Injury Helpline. “It’s not just one thing,” Flynn said. “Looking in the rearview mirror, we have been able to systematically – through a series of efforts – help employees do their jobs more safely. The commitment of our employees, leaders, safety champions and contractors continues to bring us closer to completing our Journey to Zero.” In the 2016 Strong Start safety video played during safety kickoff events, Fowke said, “I’m incredibly proud of the progress we made, but there’s still more to do. Ensuring the safety of ourselves, our co-workers and the public is a responsibility we take very seriously here at Xcel Energy.”

Xcel Energy tops insafety in Midwest For the second consecutive year, Xcel Energy led Midwest combination utilities in safety performance in 2015. The North Central Electric Association’s (NCEA) 2015 Accident Prevention Report is the � rst indication of how the company fared compared to other utilities last year.

According to the recently released report, Xcel Energy’s OSHA Recordable Incident Rate (ORIR) was the lowest among combination utilities, despite it being the largest employer among NCEA members. Xcel Energy’s ORIR of 0.90 means that one out of 110 employees were injured. Xcel Energy also had the lowest DART Rate (Days Away or Restricted Time) among NCEA’s combination utilities in 2015. DART is a measure of injury severity – a higher DART rate indicates injured persons were not able to return to work to perform their normal job duty, or they were prescribed days off of work. “Each year, we continue to raise the bar for safety performance,” said Gary Lakey, vice president of Workforce Relations and Safety. “Results like these show that we are making progress on our Journey to Zero, and most impor-tantly, fewer employees are going home injured.” Managed by the North Central Electrical League, an industry-wide trade association representing all divisions of the Upper Midwest’s electric industry, the NCEA provides education, networking and information exchanges designed to help its members create a stronger, safer and more reliable electric industry.

6 XTRA APRIL 1, 2016

News Briefs

Gas Summits focus on benchmarking

With a focus on public safety, gas utilities like Xcel Energy make benchmarking a priority. In its move to a more proactive culture, Xcel Energy’s gas employees continually benchmark with other gas utilities in order to ensure the safety of the public. And during the pair of recent annual Gas Summits, employees once again had this opportunity. The Gas Summits, held in Colorado and Minnesota, included representatives from Consolidated Edison Co. of New York (ConEd), who provided an overview of their gas utility and created an opportunity for benchmarking. Speci� cally, the ConEd employees discussed an explosion that occurred within their service territory in East Harlem, N.Y., on March 12, 2014, killing eight people and injuring at least 70 others. As a result of this incident,

ConEd has had to change its culture and work processes to manage risk on the system. While sobering, discussions like this are critical to ensure that all gas employees know they play an important role in protecting the public, said Cheryl Campbell, senior vice president of Gas Operations. Xcel Energy’s culture change is about proactively making changes before an event occurs and before changes are mandated by regulatory agencies, she said. “ConEd had to make signi� cant changes after the East Harlem event,” Campbell said. “At Xcel Energy, we are working proactively to make changes on the front end to reduce the likelihood of a serious event.” The Gas Summits also entailed a celebration of how far Xcel Energy’s gas utility has come since the inception of its PIPES culture-change program. PIPES, which stands for Proactively Improving Pipeline and Employee Safety, continues to lead the charge for change, as does Operational Excellence.

New solar facility delivering power to Xcel Energy

The 50-megawatt Hooper solar photovoltaic power plant in Colorado’s San Luis Valley recently achieved commercial operation. Xcel Energy is purchasing the power generated by the plant at cost-competitive rates under a power purchase agreement with SunPower. “This expansion of our renew-able portfolio in Colorado is yet another example of how Xcel Energy brings solar power to its customers,” said David Eves, president of PSCo.

“We are adding large-scale solar that competes with and surpasses other forms of generation alterna-tives in terms of price over the life of the project. This bene� ts all of our customers – both environmentally and economically.” SunPower designed and con-structed the plant, and is now operat-ing and maintaining it, and monitoring power production. More than 150 jobs were created at the project site during peak construction. “Xcel Energy is providing leader-ship in the promotion of large-scale solar power development, and demonstrating how renewable technologies are part of the solu-

tion to ensure the health of our economy and our environment,” said Jorg Heinemann, SunPower ex-ecutive vice president. “SunPower’s high-ef� ciency solar technology is competitively priced for power-plant applications and reliably delivers clean power, particularly during peak demand hours.” SunPower constructed two other solar power plants in the San Luis Valley that are also generating power for Xcel Energy. The 19-megawatt Greater Sandhill plant has been operating since 2010, and the 30-megawatt San Luis Valley Solar Ranch began delivering energy in 2011.

CFO Madden announces retirement plans

After an accomplished, 36-year career, Teresa Madden recently announced her

decision to retire from Xcel Energy during the second quarter of 2016. “While a loss for our company, I am happy for her as

she embarks in this exciting new chapter in her life,” said Ben Fowke, chairman, president and CEO. “Teresa has been a valuable part of my team and has made many contributions to the company over her career. “She will be leaving us with a strong balance sheet, an exceptional track record in meeting or exceeding earnings guidance, and a � rm commitment to delivering

on our value proposition for investors and customers,” Fowke added. Equally important, Madden has been in� uential in guiding the company’s strategy, and mentoring and developing new talent across the organization. She leaves a lasting mark on Xcel Energy that will be felt for years to come, he said. “On a personal level, I am extremely grateful for her partnership and dedication to the company’s success, and will miss working with her every day,” Fowke said.

Madden and the rest of the leadership team are committed to a seamless transition, he added. The company has retained an executive search � rm to support recruiting efforts for her replacement, and will be considering both internal and external candidates.

Teresa Madden

Wisconsin’s largest community solar-garden program in works

7 APRIL 1, 2016

Solar energy is taking a sig-ni� cant step forward in Wisconsin, as Xcel Energy recently announced plans to create the state’s largest community solar-garden program. As part of Solar*Connect Commu-nity, Xcel Energy plans to purchase up to three megawatts of electricity from community solar arrays – the � rst two megawatts of which are planned for Eau Claire and La Crosse counties. Once suf� cient customer interest is demon-strated, the � rst two solar gardens will be built by San-Francisco-based Pristine Sun, a leading developer of small utility-scale solar projects. “Our customers have told us they want more options when it comes to their energy, and Solar*Connect Com-munity allows them to support local solar energy,” said Mark Stoering, president of NSP-Wisconsin. “The program is easy and � exible, and lets customers choose their own subscription level and receive a monthly credit based on the solar energy production. This is a great way for customers to support solar without having to install it on their property.” Xcel Energy customers are excited about having community solar gardens in their area.

“We are enthusiastic that Xcel Energyis developing solar gardens in western and northern Wisconsin,” says Jeff Rich, executive director of GL Envision-Gundersen Health System. “The goal of providing clean, carbon-free electricity in local communities is commendable.” Over the next few months, Xcel Energy will work with the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) to host up to 10 town-hall-style meetings throughout western and northern Wis-consin. At these “Solar Power Hours,” customers will learn more about the bene� ts of community solar and be able to sign up for subscriptions. “Since 1990, the association has worked to educate and demonstrate the bene� ts of solar power, and we are very excited to partner with Xcel Energy to promote their Solar*Connect Community program,” said Doug Stingle, develop-ment director with MREA. “The program will offer affordable solar-power options to all electricity customers in the service area, and we look forward to working with Xcel Energy to grow solar in Wisconsin.” Last fall, Xcel Energy proposed to further transform its energy system away from coal to even cleaner energy

sources, investing in additional solar, wind and natural gas. The result will be a 60 percent reduction in carbon emissions and a 63 percent carbon-free energy mix by 2030. For the solar gardens to be built by the end of the year, Xcel Energy will need to receive a strong showing of customer interest through subscrip-tions by mid-April, Stoering said. The size and number of solar gardens built will depend on customer subscriptions. In addition to these two solar gardens, Xcel Energy may opt to build up to one megawatt of additional community solar generation that could be operational in 2017. The company currently has solar garden programs in Colorado and Min-nesota. Both of those programs were created by law and have a number of features speci� c to those state require-ments. The solar program approved by the Wisconsin commission is a voluntary offering and one the company believes will work well as a pilot program in Wisconsin. For more information, including FAQs, an application and a calculator, please visit xcelenergy.com/SolarCon-nectCommunity.

8 XTRA APRIL 1, 20168 XTRA APRIL 1, 2016

Maintaining more than 1.5 million wooden poles – set in landscapes as diverse as swamps, sand dunes, dense woods, mountaintops and dog-protected backyards– is clearly a daunting task. And that challenge is full of potential pitfalls, running the gamut from employee safety to customer outages.

Thankfully, Xcel Energy has a program in place to determine how those poles are faring over the years and replacing those that are not compliant. Pole health starts with inspection and treatment, followed by the remediation of non-compliant poles. The Wood Pole Inspection and Treatment (I&T) Program is a data-driven, condition-based and predictive-maintenance effort.

WOOD POLE INSPECTION AND TREATMENTEffort focuses on employee safety and customer reliability

9 APRIL 1, 20169 APRIL 1, 2016

WOOD POLE INSPECTION AND TREATMENTSince debuting in 2009, it has aimed at keeping � eld employees and the public safe, minimizing electric reliability issues, meet-ing compliance requirements and maximizing the lifecycle of the company’s wood-pole assets. The program entails a working relationship between the Ancillary Programs part of Vegetation Management and the com-pany’s Distribution and Transmission business areas – operating in the various jurisdictions spread across parts of eight states. “The I&T program pays close attention to and monitors

the health of our wood poles,” said Fletcher Johnson, director of Vegetation Management and Ancillary Programs. “It takes a proactive approach to this important asset at Xcel Energy, help-ing provide our customers with safe reliable service and keeping our employees safe.” Steeped in wood science and a myriad of analytics, the effort begins with a discussion between company groups to determine which areas of the service territory to focus on for pole inspections.

10 XTRA APRIL 1, 2016

Once areas and budgets for the work are determined, Geographic Information Systems (GIS)-based pole data is produced and books of work given to contractors, who then take the information and perform tens of thousands of pole-inspections each year. The contractors then create an Xcel Energy-speci� c database, he said, verifying certain data at each pole site, and recording their inspection results, strength inputs and calculations. The inspection work can require an extensive set of hand tools. Poles are excavated to varying degrees based on their condition, Johnson explained. Decay that is detected is carefully measured, modeled and input into a strength-calculation engine. This software-based analytical work then models decay and damage, if any, and assigns a percentage of remaining strength for each pole. Poles are classi� ed as either able to continue in service as National Electric Safety Code-compliant for remaining strength, or in need of replacement or reinforcement. They are denoted as P1, P2 or P3 poles. The calculations also take into account height, class and species. All non-compliant poles receive priority or “P” designa-tions. They are tagged for safety and identi� ed for remediation. P3 poles have between 40 and 70 percent strength remaining, while P1 poles have less than 25 percent strength remaining. All non-compliant poles are slated for replacement or re-mediation, said Jeff Goodson, manager with Ancillary Programs. They also are tagged to warn utility crews that the pole should not be climbed. Goodson noted that all poles should receive a pre-climb inspection per Xcel Energy safety rules. The replacement portion of the overall effort is managed and performed by the Distribution groups of Xcel Energy’s oper-

ating companies. Some poles require a helicopter to replace them and present various unique challenges for the workers involved. Another unique challenge involves “water-skip” poles, Goodson explained. This set of poles is in water at the time of attempted inspection, and crews return when � ood waters have receded or in the winter when thick ice allows for safe access in the inspector’s judgment. In addition, some poles can be trussed instead of replaced, said Scott Zima, manager of Distribution Business Plans and Operational Performance. They can be reinforced at ground level at about a third of the cost via trussing, which attaches curved sheets of metal around the base of a pole to meet code requirements. “We’re working with a lot of dedicated and sharp people to get this work done,” Zima said. “It’s important in terms of safety, customer-service reliability and due-diligence compliance. We don’t want a pole that is not compliant.” Along with reliability and safety factors, the program also works well in terms of operational excellence and the Strategic Call to Action, Johnson said. The effort reduces the overall life-cycle costs of wood poles by increasing longevity. The program also involves intervening in the decay process with treatments when necessary and reducing the non-compli-ant percentage of poles over time. “The I&T program makes for an overall ef� cient process that helps our operations on many levels,” Johnson said. “It’s to our advantage to replace poles that pose problems with scheduled replacements and repairs – and maintain reliability across the system.”

11 APRIL 1, 2016

Wood ScienceXcel Energy’s Wood Pole I&T program is steeped in wood science in maintaining the company’s more than 1.5 million wood poles in the � eld. At upper right, three different tags are used to inform employees about the condition of non-compliant poles, while the other photos show the work done to deter-mine the percentage of strength remaining in poles. On pages 8 and 9, a crew prepares to airlift personnel and equipment to a remote line location southwest of Denver in the Hayman Fire burn area near the foothills, while on page 10, a lineman is lifted for repair work and a crew changes out a pole in tight quarters in the Twin Cities.

12 XTRA APRIL 1, 2016

Security Services‘Bait operations’ and other work helps secure assets and keep communities safe

Placing GPS units in company equipment is proving a boon to law enforcement and Xcel Energy – and a bad deal for thieves attempting to haul the equipment away. Last year, there were 22 company-related felony arrests in the Amarillo area alone, primarily for copper theft. And those arrests are having an impact, said Chris Shelton, senior protec-tion services consultant with Security Services in Amarillo. “They send the message that Xcel Energy isn’t such an easy target,” he said. “When they go to jail, they tell their friends and let them know we are protecting our sites in new and different ways.” For example, during the construction of Rolling Hills Sub-station in Amarillo, “bait” in the form of copper wire reels was placed in the older and adjacent Cherry Avenue Substation to pre-empt theft. “We want them to steal what we want them to steal,” Shelton said. “It works kind of like a mousetrap.” In these “bait operations,” a GPS unit is set to send a noti� cation to both law enforcement and the company when a

silent alarm is triggered by movement. In one case, a suspect was found parked a mile down the road, even though he had hidden the copper outside the substa-tion in some bushes. He had broken apart the wooden reel and found the GPS unit in a false compartment. “The ping was going off right in his vehicle,” Shelton said. “He had found the GPS unit and thought it was expensive, so kept it.” This is just one example of the work done by Security Services in conjunction with law enforcement to help keep communities safe and prevent theft. For instance, company personnel are part of a new task force in Amarillo that now includes � ve agencies instead of just the state police. “Both Chris and Brett Harbert [protection services consultant] are reserve police of� cers and came from law-enforcement agencies in the Amarillo area,” explained Jeff Imsdahl, director of Security Services. “When we brought them on, our law enforcement partnership changed overnight. “Word spread quickly and not just in Amarillo, but in Dallas

13 APRIL 1, 2016

and Houston,” he added. “Then Chris and Brett were asked to give presentations on what we’re doing to combat theft. We’ve changed the culture of working with these agencies so we’re seen as more than just private security.” “We’re there to support our communities and help keep them safe,” Shelton said. “By supporting law enforcement’s mis-sion, they in turn help us. And together we keep employees safe and our property secure.” One recent example of working together drew praise from a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) special agent from the Dallas Division, who works regularly with Shelton. “Typically, this contact involves an FBI investigative need to have technical equipment installed and supplied with the appro-priate electrical voltage,” wrote the FBI’s Bill Hoffmann. “These cases include sensitive criminal investigations and national security investigations. “Chris Shelton has consistently demonstrated his pro-fessionalism in that he always strives to accommodate our requests within the bounds of corporate policy with a clear and concise plan of action,” he added. “I consider the ongoing rela-tionship I have observed between Xcel Energy and the FBI to be a model example of corporate/government cooperation.” (Please see the entire letter on page 19.) The technical equipment noted in the letter is placed on utility poles to support law enforcement efforts, Shelton explained, which can vary in urgency and requires the help of company lineman. The equipment can involve various

technology – from GPS to video to cellular. “We are committed to providing service to our federal part-ners,” Imsdahl said. “And that involves getting the right people involved in a timely fashion.” The overall effort also has been aided by building part-nerships with the Amarillo Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety by jointly holding drills. “By doing these drills at our locations, we’re also testing security equipment,” Imsdahl said. “They allow us to test gaps with our security systems. “The drills provide us with great insight into what our equipment can and cannot do, and they also provide insight into how law enforcement will respond to certain situations – and this reduces risk overall to our employees and assets.” Every time the company works with various law enforce-ment agencies, it showcases the program Xcel Energy has built in Security Services, he said. In a recent industry review by the U.S. Transportation Se-curity Administration, the company had no de� ciencies and was noted for having 8 to 10 best practices. “That’s a testament to our employees – the folks in our se-curity department who work hard to make that happen and come up with innovative ideas to help us secure our assets,” Imsdahl said. “It’s built on Chris and Brett’s hard work in that area, and I can’t speak highly enough of the whole Security Services Department.

Security ServicesThe work done by Xcel Energy’s Security Services in conjunction with law enforcement helps keep communities safe and prevents theft. Pictured on page 12 (from left to right) are: Kyle Irlbeck, security systems specialist); Brett Harbert, protection services consultant); Chris Shelton, senior protection services consultant); and Shannon Henderson, special agent with the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Criminal Investigations Division.

14 XTRA APRIL 1, 2016

Mountain WorkKelsey Lightfoot, a lineman patrolman with Transmission and based out of Salida, Colo., took this photo of “high-wire” work being done near the Climax molybdenum mine on the 8174 line near the mountain town of Leadville, the highest incorporated municipality in the United States.

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.

News Brief

Photo Op

Campbell testi� es before Congressional committee

Cheryl Campbell, senior vice president of Gas Opera-tions, recently testi� ed before the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials. She stressed the im-portance of safety programs set forth in the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty and Job Creation Act of 2011.

Campbell testi� ed on behalf of the American Gas Association (AGA), which represents more than 200 local energy companies that deliver natural gas through-out the United States to nearly 68 million customers. AGA is urging

Congress to stay on course with existing policy rather than adding new legislation. Following this path would allow for the development of comprehensive, risk-based rules to comply with current legislation, AGA states, and provide the regulatory certainty

essential to ensuring a safe and reliable natural gas distribu-tion system. “Safety is our No. 1 priority,” Campbell said. “Through an effective partnership between America’s natural gas utilities, state regulators, Congressional and state legislators, gover-nors and other key stakeholders – who are working together to advance important safety policies – we have been able to enhance system integrity and support increased access to natural gas service for homes and businesses. “Our commitment to safety extends beyond just govern-ment oversight,” she added. “Safety is our core value – a source of pride and a matter of corporate policy for every (AGA company.” From a regulatory perspective, the past 10 years have easily included more signi� cant pipeline safety mandates and rule-makings than any other decade since the creation of the federal pipeline safety code in 1971, according to AGA. Xcel Energy has been an industry leader in the renewal of outdated materials and use of new technology to improve overall system safety and emission reductions, Campbell said, while keeping costs competitive for customers.

15 APRIL 1, 2016

A Safe Lineman The adage “like father, like son” has special – and unexpected – signi� cance for Greg King. For more than 30 years, King has worked as a lineman, currently at the Alamosa Service Center and traveling throughout Colorado’s expansive San Luis Valley. And much to his surprise, three of his four sons have followed in his footsteps. Two are linemen in Alamosa and another works as a lineman with SPS in Texas. “I honestly don’t know what happened – why three of my sons decided to become linemen,” King said. “My wife and I had encouraged them to become doctors. “It makes me proud that they are doing this work,” he added. “But it also makes me worry because the job de� nitely has its risks, and the hazards are real.” In that sense, King is outspoken about wanting his three linemen sons to follow his example. He recently was recog-nized for his impressive record of more than 30 years without an injury. During an event celebrating that achievement, he publicly issued a challenge to his three linemen son to beat his record. “All of us to date have been accident free, and I certainly want it to stay that way,” he said. “Yes, I’m proud of having accomplished more than 30 years of this work without a single accident. But what’s more important to me is that my sons be safe.” To beat his notable record, his sons will need to follow all of the safety rules, avoid complacency and make sure they focus on best practices to stay safe for years to come. In Alamosa, his son Keith has been a lineman for 10 years, and his son Jordan has put in seven years. At SPS, his younger son Tate has just three years under his belt. “We are a support group for each other,” Greg said. “We regularly share stories about incidents, and pound into each other’s heads the importance of following all safety rules and staying on our toes.” Two serious incidents initially impacted Greg King’s intense awareness of safety. While starting out as an ap-prentice at Public Service Co. of New Mexico in 1976, two of the apprentices he worked with – both of whom he was close to – had fatal accidents on the job. “So I learned very early on that I needed to take this work very seriously, and that following safety procedures was liter-ally a life-and-death issue,” King said. “And I saw other things happen on the job that reminded me of that. “My foreman was badly burned while changing a bolt in an insulator on a 46,000-volt line, and somehow he touched a wire,” he said. “The charge went in through his thumb, across his chest and seriously burned his arm. It was a miracle he survived,” he added. “And every time I saw the scars on his arm, I was reminded of that incident.” King stressed the importance of maintaining clear con-centration on all aspects of a job. He said it’s critical never to

King’s sons follow his lead – safely

16 XTRA APRIL 1, 2016

be in a hurry when approaching a problem. “That can be dif� cult, because if people’s electricity is out, there’s a tendency to want to rush to get them back on as soon as possible,” he said. “But safety always needs to come � rst, regardless of the situation.” The � rst thing that King does when he arrives at a job is to take a deep breath, assess the situation and consider all of the possible things that could go wrong. He then thinks of the best strategies for avoiding each of those potential risks. Finally, he re� ects on safety procedures, safety equipment and protective gear that need to be used. However, he pointed to something less tangible, as well. “Everyone has a feeling at times – a sense, a gut reaction,” he explained. “You need to stop and listen to those voices and feelings. Not heeding them can be very dangerous.” He also noted that Xcel Energy’s “Journey to Zero” safety program is excellent and effective. It is essential in keeping

people aware of potential problems that can be encountered in the � eld, and is important for both apprentices and seasoned linemen alike. Keeping safety policies and procedures at the forefront of linemen’s minds at all time is critical, he said. “Sometimes we get distracted – we all do. It may be some-thing at home or a situation at work that is eating at you,” he said. “Or maybe we don’t understand every variable or potential problem on a speci� c job. Particularly with new linemen, they might be hesitant to ask a question, thinking that they should know the answer.” So King offers the following advice to linemen new and old: Know the safety rules and know all aspects of the job. And always ask plenty of questions to clarify situations. King said he felt honored to be acknowledged for his safety success. And beyond feeling good about his safety record, he was grateful to see management present and sincerely inter-

ested in employee safety. “From my supervisor to my manager and on up – in addition to recognizing my safety record – it was clear that they want to see others achieve the same,” he said. “It was gratifying to see that they really care about these issues.” “Greg is a model employee,” said John Valdez, man-ager of Gas and Electric Field Operations in Alamosa. “He looks over a situation, assesses what needs to be done and goes about it safely. And if something feels unsafe, he steps back, calls for assistance or opens up a discussion.” King, who has been working by himself for 13 years, now has 30 years of proof that he has never become complacent. “When you � rst start out, you’re scared of electricity,” he said. “The problem comes later when you’re not cautious. “One little mistake and you can get hurt or killed, so you need to listen to your gut feeling when something’s not right,” he added. “I want to go home in the same shape I arrived – just a little more tired.”

Essential SuiteNew software for tracking, managing and reporting environmental compliance is now in place at Xcel Energy. The package replaced more than 70 applications, databases and tools previously used at the company. Pictured above is Justin Gable, environmental analyst, using the software.

Greg King’s sons appreciate their father’s safety record over more than three decades of work and plan to follow his lead in their careers as Xcel Energy linemen. “I think it’s commendable,” Keith King said of his father’s safety legacy. “He has always encouraged us to think of the job we need to do, the possible dangers, and what to be careful about in certain situations.” In terms of safety, his father has provided his sons with a good life lessons, Keith said of his work as a lineman in the San Luis Valley. Tate King is the youngest of the three linemen sons, and is working as a fourth-year apprentice in Borger, Texas.

“It makes me proud and happy about what he’s done,” Tate said. “He’s taught me to take a second look at things, and to think things through before going up and starting to do the work.” “It’s a great accomplishment,” added Jordan King, who also works as a lineman in the San Luis Valley. “He’s always had that focus. Even growing up, when we were riding motorcycles, we wore helmets, and always had ear and eye protection when we were shooting. “We’ve all learned that it’s important to follow the safety rules,” Jordan said. “It’s what gets you home safely.”

Sons following in father’s safety footsteps

Greg King

Tate Kingat the SPS Lineman’s Rodeo

17 APRIL 1, 2016

Bird Cam Memories The 2016 Bird Cam nesting season has begun, absent Bob Anderson, its originator and � xture of the power-plant nest-box program for nearly three decades. Anderson died last July, but his presence lingers in memorials created at the end of 2015. At King Generating Station in Oak Park Heights, Minn., where the � rst nest box and Bird Cam were placed, a memorial bench and sculptured plaque now stand at the plant’s entry, next to a sculpture of Mae, the � rst peregrine falcon to nest at the site. Plaques also have been created for other power plants around the system that hosted nesting sites for a variety of birds: peregrine falcons, eagles, owls, kestrels and herons. The Xcel Energy Foundation also has made a memorial contribution to the Raptor Resource Project, the organization that Anderson founded and led for many years. “We received many touching tributes, but I want to give a special shout-out to Xcel Energy,” stated Amy Ries in the orga-

nization’s 2015 raptor banding report. “Bob began working with the company in 1988 and was close friends with people at its power plants around the country. We appreciate Xcel Energy’s support and its wonderful recognition of Bob’s work.” “The partnership that Bob created with Xcel Energy is unique and one of a kind,” added John Howe, new Raptor Resource Project director. “I can speak on behalf of our board of directors in saying that we are pleased to carry on that partnership.” Meanwhile, the � rst birds are back in the nest – a pair of bald eagles at Fort St. Vrain Generating Station in Platteville, Colo., have laid three eggs. There should be activity in the nest through July, as other nests in the company Bird Cam system also populate with new offspring. Here’s where and when to watch those other Bird Cams:• Peregrine falcons – The King plant and Sherco Generating

Station, Becker, Minn., through early July. Adult falcons have recently been seen at the nest box.

As 2016 nesting season begins, Anderson’s presence felt

18 XTRA APRIL 1, 2016

• Great blue herons – Riverside Generating Station, Minneapolis, through late July.

• Kestrels – Pawnee Generating Station, Brush, Colo., through late July.

An avid falconer, Anderson started his work in raptor conservation in 1971, while working for the Science Museum of Minnesota. At that time, raptors were in trouble. Many species were in decline, and several, including the peregrine falcon and bald eagle, were threatened with extinction. Anderson began by breeding peregrine falcons for release and recovery efforts. He helped produce many of the � rst peregrine falcons to be released in the Midwest. The peregrine

falcon eventually was removed from the endangered species list in 1999. “The peregrine’s near extinction and recovery sends a message that we can make a difference,” Anderson said at the time. “I can’t imagine a more important message to give people today, especially young people.” Anderson went on to pioneer a program to attract falcons to utility stacks as director of the Raptor Resource Project. By 2011, more than 1,000 young peregrines had been produced at Midwest power plants.

Letters

Nesting SeasonWith another nesting season under way, the company’s Bird Cam effort will be absent Bob Anderson, its originator and a � xture of the power-plant nest-box program for nearly three decades. Anderson died last July, but his presence lingers in memorials created at the end of 2015.

19 APRIL 1, 2016

Humble, can-do attitude appreciated by FBI special agent

Dear Xcel Energy: I am a special agent in the FBI Dallas Division’s Technical Investigative Unit. Our area of investigative responsibility includes Amarillo, Texas. For the past year, I have had several opportunities to work with Chris Shelton, a senior protection services consultant in Amarillo.

Typically, this contact involves an FBI investigative need to have technical equipment installed on a utility pole and supplied with the appropriate electrical

voltage. These cases include sensitive criminal investiga-tions and national security investigations. Chris Shelton has consistently demonstrated his professionalism in that he always strives to accommodate our requests within the bounds of Xcel Energy corporate policy with a clear and concise plan of action. A investigative matter recently required the prompt installation of technical equipment on a utility pole in Amarillo. I called Chris and explained the situation and the nature of our request. Despite being on a family outing, he was able to quickly make arrangements to accomplish our request the next morning as I had requested. I drove to Amarillo the next morning and met Chris and an Xcel Energy lineman. The installation was accomplished and aided an important investigation. Chris has a humble, can-do attitude, backed up with a broad range of professional experience that is well suited

for a private/public liaison. I consider the ongoing relation-ship I have observed between Xcel Energy and the FBI to be a model example of corporate/government coopera-tion. I do not take this relationship for granted and wanted to convey my appreciation.

—–Bill Hoffmann, special agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Dallas, Texas

Call stirs memories of a company romance

Dear Xcel Energy: What a pleasant surprise it was to hear the voice of “your” Alyssa Tibbits (customer contact center associate, Eau Claire, Wis.) on my answering machine in reference to the note I included with my payment. She informed me that the late charge was being cancelled. This was especially appreciated because my very dear hubby, who died two years ago, and I were an NSP romance – out of the old Fifth and Wabasha of� ces in St. Paul. We met in Electric Distribution – he an electrical engineer and I a secretary/stenographer – in an of� ce of 42 guys and one other “gal.” (I had the best job at NSP.) We were married for 52 years and lived in the same house in Roseville. Thought you’d like to know.

—–Joanne Erickson, Roseville, Minn.

Letters

News Brief

Marketing becomes Customer Solutions to better represent mission

“Compete for Customers/Deliver What Customers Value” is one of the Four Pillars supporting Xcel Energy’s

Strategic Call to Action. It is a vital part of delivering on the company’s vision to become customers’ trusted and pre-ferred energy provider. To align with this strategic pillar and better re� ect the full scope

of its work, Marketing has changed its name to Customer Solutions. “We felt it was important for us to identify directly with the needs of our customers and to our strategy,” said Dan Nygaard, vice president of Customer Solutions. “To reinforce the need to be customer-focused, we needed to have ‘Customers’ in our name. “As we assessed what our teams do, Marketing was only a subset of the value we provide customers and our company,” he added. “When we thought about the range of activities our team performs, we realized that we are

the team that investigates, develops and provides competitive solutions to our customers. “As a whole, our team is responsible for not only un-derstanding our customers and what they want from us,” Nygaard said, “but also in assessing what needs we are not meeting, and developing new products and services to meet them. “Ultimately, our team is responsible for end-to-end customer solutions,” he said. “We felt that this name then accurately describes what we do. It also has the bene� t of putting the customer front and center, which is what we all need to do as we compete for customers. “Our governing thought here is to focus our team on delivering what customers value in order to build loyalty,” Nygaard said. “That loyalty is important as the utility indus-try continues to change and become more competitive. “Increased competition is changing the traditional model of a regulated monopoly,” he explained. “There are businesses and special-interest groups advocating for policy changes, and our customers are being provided with choices for energy generation that do not come from us. “We can’t predict when the competitive landscape will fundamentally shift,” he added. “But we need to move ahead of these changes and build loyalty so that when customers have even more choices, they choose us.”

20 XTRA APRIL 1, 2016

v

Step-Up Achieve When 16-year-old Ayub Mohamud interviewed for a summer internship at Xcel Energy last spring, he wasn’t sure what to expect. Even though he lives a few miles away and attends South High School in Minneapolis, he had never been downtown and hadn’t worked in an of� ce setting. Yet after a successful interview, Mohamud soon found him-self on the job as a Step-Up Achieve intern, contributing to the workforce of a Fortune 500 company as one of 13 young people who participated in the program at Xcel Energy during 2015. Mohamud was so successful that he was invited to stay on as he began his junior year at South High last fall and also took courses at Minneapolis Community and Technical College (MCTC). He currently works be-tween � ve and 10 hours a week during the school year and plans to work 40 hours a week over the summer. His career goal is to become an engineer. “Step-Up Achieve is one of the greatest opportuni-ties I’ve ever been offered,” Mohamud said. “Coming in to Step-Up at Xcel Energy, I knew essentially nothing about any of the companies in Minneapolis, or how the corporate system works. So the opportunity is not only bene� cial to me now, but also in my future once I enter the workforce after college.” For 13 years, Xcel Energy has been active in the Step-Up Achieve program and was named “Company of the Year” in 2015 for its commitment to the on-the-job training initiative. Underscoring the company’s support of the program, Ben Fowke, chairman, president and CEO, recently challenged all Xcel Energy managers and supervisors to double the company’s 2015 participation in the summer initiative this year. “We have really stepped up with Step-Up,” Fowke said.

“We don’t want to stop there, however; we want to double that commitment this year. The program itself has a goal of 20 percent improvement, but we want to get closer to 100 percent, and that means going from 13 to 26 interns.” Founded by former Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak in 2003, Step-Up aims to train high school students to become the next generation of corporate employees in the Twin Cities. Rybak partnered with Achieve Minneapolis to create the current partnership and more than 18,000 young people have already participated. “If you look at the raw demographics in Minneapolis, if we don’t do something to disrupt the current system of how many people we get through the education system and quali� ed to do

jobs, we will be desperately looking for people,” Rybak told a recent gathering of manag-ers. “Now we have 22,000 young people, 86 percent kids of color, 30 percent from immigrant families and an incredibly diverse new wave of employees who have all been through Step-Up. This is about building the next wave of employees in this community.”

Fowke acknowledged the company’s commitment to the program and thanked those managers who have contributed to its success at Xcel Energy. “We have a workforce that is changing, and we need to � nd the skilled workforce for the next generation,” he said. “And frankly, if we don’t use the workforce coming out of the Twin Cities that is increasingly of color, then we are going to miss out. Our assets are in the community, and if our communities aren’t strong, it’s pretty hard for Xcel Energy to be strong.” In addition to business reasons for participating in Step-Up Achieve, Fowke mentioned another reason to hire these interns. “I can also tell you there are all the personal reasons to

Intern initiative invaluable to youth

Natural gas emergency drill ensures strong response

Practice makes perfect, and when it comes to ensuring public safety, practice it is also essential. To that end, more than 20 employees from several departments recently took part in a natural gas, emergency preparedness training exercise with agencies from the city of St. Paul. “A critical component of these drills is build-ing relationships with our community partners and emergency responders,” said Tom Anderson,

manager of Gas Emergency Response. “Those relationships will help us preserve public safety and follow protocols if an emergency like a natural gas leak were to actually occur.” The drill, which took place in downtown St. Paul, simulated an accidental hit to a natural gas main, which could put residents in immediate danger. Winter weather would add additional challenges as the cold hinders evacuation and mitigation efforts. Thanks to coordination across departments and with the St. Paul Fire Department, Police De-partment, Water Department and other emergency responders, the drill was a success, Anderson said.

Xtra publishingschedule changing

Xtra is moving to a publication schedule of every six weeks, instead of every month. However, each issue will feature additional pages, so overall news content will remain the same, while cutting costs. As a reminder, employee readers of Xtra can now opt out of receiving 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 � ll out a form on the Xtra homepage of XpressNet, providing 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.

v

21 APRIL 1, 2016

do it,” he said. “I guarantee you if you commit, you’re going to create a rewarding experience. And we also provide training to supervisors to make sure they know the best ways to handle this.” David Brown, supervisor with Learning Services, serves as one of Mohamud’s supervisors. He has been impressed by the work ethic of the young people in the Step-Up program and how it has provided a develop-ment opportunity for students, as well as Xcel Energy employees. “Because of this program, leaders have a tremendous opportunity to provide youth with valuable experience,” Brown said. “We would love to have more employees join the Step-Up program and bring an intern on at Xcel Energy. “It’s very easy to do,” he added. “We will help you through the entire process, and it’s a rewarding experience for the youth we have here in Minneapolis and our employees.” One of the country’s premiere youth-employment programs, Step-Up Achieve places 800 Minneapolis youth (ages 16-21) each year in paid internships with 160 top Twin Cities companies, nonpro� ts and public agencies. It provides work-readiness training, on-the-job experience, professional mentors, advanced career opportunities and ongoing support. More than 200 students from Minneapolis Public Schools recently attended training for the internship program. Held at MCTC, the all-day training required students who are part of the program to take such classes as professionalism and professional persona; time and task management; teamwork; diversity in the workplace; ethics; interview skills; � nancial literacy; and con� ict management. Students and corporate volunteers also participated in a networking challenge during lunch, where students practiced an “elevator speech,” learned how to create professional links with others and learned tips on maintaining work relationships throughout a career. Mark Sauerbrey, consultant with Inclusion and Engagement, led a class on con� ict management. Students learned why managing con� ict is important, what the positive and negative results are, strategies they should use to resolve con� icts through hands-on learning, and con� ict resolution strategies. “It was an energetic group of students who really enjoyed learning about how to resolve con� ict,” said Sauerbrey. “They really liked the topic and said this was something they can use every day.” Other Xcel Energy volunteers on hand were Brown, Blia Xiong, analyst with Talent Management Analyst, and Amanda Packer, analyst with Inclusion and Engagement. Anyone interested in hosting a Step-Up Achieve intern this summer should contact Mark Sauerbrey or Mandi Sirek for more information.

News Briefs

Step-UpPictured above (from left to right) are: R.T. Rybak, former mayor of Minneapolis; Mark Sauerbrey, consultant with Inclu-sion and Engagement; Ben Fowke, chairman, president and CEO; Ahmed Isaq, Ayub’s father; Ayub Mohamud, intern; and David Brown, supervisor with Learning Services.

22 XTRA APRIL 1, 2016

WindsourceOngoing program allows customers to easily tap renewable-energy resource

A gust of wind is more than just nature’s way of pushing air through the atmosphere. A refreshing breeze in the summer, followed by the blistering wind in the winter, goes far beyond the � ve senses. For many residents and businesses in Colorado, Minnesota, New Mexico, Michigan and Wisconsin, gusts of wind supply 100 percent of their electricity thanks to Xcel Energy’s Windsource program. As the No. 1 wind energy provider in the nation for the past 11 years, Xcel Energy continues to further its efforts to produce clean power and provide ways for customers to acquire renewable energy to power their lives. Xcel Energy started Windsource in 1997 as an easy and affordable way for customers to obtain renewable energy and reduce their carbon footprint. Customers can have some or all of their electricity come from wind power supplied by company resources. “This is a great opportunity for customers to go above and beyond, and choose renewable energy as their energy choice,” said Jaclyn Webb, Windsource product portfolio manager with the Customer Solutions organization. Wind power has been used to make life more comfortable for people for thousands of years, according to the U.S. Depart-ment of Energy. The energy source dates back to 5,000 B.C. to push boats along the Nile River.

Between 500 and 900 B.C., the Persians developed wind power to pump water and grind grain, which eventually led to the invention of the windmill, which spread throughout the Middle East to assist in the production of food. Centuries later in 1890, North American farmers used wind power to pump water and produce electricity to assist in irrigation and the powering of operations of local businesses and homes. Today, residents and business owners can easily tap this renewable energy resource. In 2005, for example, Minneapolis fair-trade and organic coffee roaster, Peace Coffee, decided to sign up for 100 percent Windsource to meet its electric needs. “We strive to be as ef� cient and earth-friendly as pos-sible,” said Melanee Meegan, director of marketing at Peace Coffee, in a case study about Windsource. “Being 100 percent wind powered is a tangible way for us to do the right thing for the environment, and it’s completely in line with what we do.” Four years later, Denver’s Sweet Action Ice Cream also had no hesitation in subscribing to 100 percent Windsource power to bene� t its already environmentally aware ice cream shop. The ice cream maker also uses 100 percent compostable serving containers made from corn. And its shop is equipped with high-ef� ciency lighting to reduce energy consumption. “We learned about Windsource after learning that solar panels just weren’t in the budget,” said owner Sam Kopicko

23 APRIL 1, 2016

Windsource

in a similar case study. “We liked the idea of opting in without having to change or install anything structurally. “When we tell customers about it, they’re excited and confused because they expect to see a windmill,” he said. “It’s not about marketing to us – it is about doing a good thing for the environment. “It’s such a worthwhile program and an easy way to help the environment,” he added. “I encourage everyone to do it.” Hundreds of other small businesses have since subscribed to 100 percent Windsource. And the effort is now a major supplier to larger organizations, as well. Having so many businesses subscribe to 100 percent Windsource not only bene� ts their own companies by using re-newable energy, but also is a great way to promote Xcel Energy and Windsource – without the company having to go to great lengths to promote the program, Webb said. In 2015 alone, more than 95,000 residential homes and 1,150 businesses used Windsource to purchase more than 340,000 megawatt hours of renewable energy. And in August 2015, the Minnesota program reached an enrollment milestone with 25,000 customers participating in Windsource. Customers can purchase energy in increments of 100 kilowatt-hour blocks and acquire up to 100 percent of their en-ergy from Windsource, Webb explained. The cost of each block varies from less than $1 to $4 per block, depending on the state.

“Through Xcel Energy’s leading voluntary green power program, customers not only receive renewable energy in the most energy ef� cient way possible, they also get to be a part of some-thing that goes above and beyond for the planet,” Webb said. Due to Windsource’s continuing success and ongoing customer desire for renewable energy, Xcel Energy recently proposed a program in Minnesota called Renewable*Connect, which lets customers bene� t from a mix of wind and solar energy. The proposal should be considered by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission later this year. If passed, the program would allow customers to purchase subscriptions and power their homes or businesses with a mix of wind and solar resources. Using the same basic concept as Windsource, it would feature no-up-front costs and � exible terms. Other programs involving just solar power are under way or being considered by the company, as well. “In the future, we see Windsource as a part of a more broad, renewable-energy portfolio at Xcel Energy, where we can offer more choices for customers, based on their desires and needs,” Webb said. “It has served our customers well and our renewable energy options will continue to do so for years to come.” Employees can support Xcel Energy’s own renewable energy product Windsource for less than the cost of a coffee-shop latte each month. Enroll at xcelenergy.com/windsource.

24 XTRA APRIL 1, 2016

MDC Training CenterTraining CenterTraining

New state-of-the-art facility home to year-round trainingNew state-of-the-art facility home to year-round trainingNew state-of-the-art facility

Since opening last year, a state-of-the-art training center in Denver has been home to year-round training of the company’s nearly 200 gas and electric apprentices in Colorado, as well as more than 1,000 employees who require other forms of training. “The Materials Distribution Center [MDC] Training Center has been everything we hoped for and more, with a lot of learn-ing and growing in the training programs,” said Betsy Rogers, manager of Technical Training. “Instructors have more space and equipment for additional hands-on activities to support our growing training population, and they don’t have to compete for classroom and storage space anymore.” The 45,000-square-foot training center boasts classrooms, labs and of� ce space. It offers important advantages to make training more ef� cient, she said, while also providing trainees invaluable opportunities for hands-on training in safe and con-trolled environments. The facility houses spacious, modern, and professional classrooms and lab facilities with cutting-edge simulation training. Training provided includes safety, compliance and operator quali� cation.

Since opening its doors, more than 1,000 people have attended some kind of training or event at the facility. Trainees from Electric Line, Substations, Transmission, Gas Opera-tions, Utility Services and others have participated in training programs. The computerized Gas Flow Lab, for example, allows hands-on training for gas personnel in a realistic and real-time, but controlled, setting. “Our Gas Flow Lab is made up of seven different runs with gas-regulating equipment exactly like we have out in the � eld, and we’re able to blow air through all of them,” said Dennis Skubal, technical training supervisor. “And they are all con-nected to SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) equipment and automated valves, so the scenario that trainees work with is very realistic. I can go out there and shut down a valve, and trainees can watch the pressure drop, and then it’s, ‘OK, what are you going to do to salvage this situation?’” “The Gas Lab allows us to control a simulated gas distribution system in a safe environment,” Rogers added. “With the new training center, we’re able to instruct apprentices in regulator operation, and disassembling and reassembling regulators and testing them for safe

25 APRIL 1, 2016

operation, which we were not able to do before. The MDC Training Center also boasts a welding shop, gas training shop, overhead and underground electric labs, and a computer classroom for online training. Some classroom features, for example, include driving simulators for equipment that trainees will end up using in the � eld. “We have the latest technology that helps people learn to operate heavy equipment – with the big bene� t of allowing people to become familiar with the controls and equipment they’ll be working with before they get into the � eld,” Rogers said. “The simulators not only enhance learning through hands-on practice, they also allow us to help trainees understand how to handle problems in the � eld.” The training center has much improved outdoor facilities, as well, allowing for critical year-round training. For instance, the all-weather pole-training yard is the site for the “Hot Stick School, a two-week course in how to work safely on energized conductors while in full safety gear and using various attach-ments on the long, insulated sticks – used by to protect electric workers from contact with live sources. Mastery of “hot sticks” is required of all underground and overhead electric line workers.

In addition, the MDC Training Center is home to the Transmission Technical Training group and the Safety Depart-ment, so safety coordinators are onsite and regularly work with the trainers. All classes open with safety brie� ngs, and there is ongoing training regarding safety regulations and how to stay safe in a wide variety of work situations, Skubal said. “The biggest advantage, and the most important thing that the new training center provides, is hands-on training in real-life and real-time situations – all in a controlled and safe atmo-sphere,” he said. “Whether the trainee is a lineman, gas � tter or any other worker, the best way to learn is by doing. “And instructors are continuing to � nd new ways to add more activities and expand their current programs,” Rogers added. “For example, we recently worked with Transmission to accommodate more equipment, such as new heavy-equipment operating simulators. “And last year, in partnership with Gas Operations, we put together a proposal to build a specially designed ‘gas village’ on existing MDC property,” she said. “We are still in the design phase, but the intent is to create a facility that can serve as both an emergency-response and technical-training facility.”

MDC Training CenterJay Smith, manager with Distribution Operations, captured this scene on one of those rare foggy mornings in Colorado. The employees pictured are apprentices practicing climbing skills in the MDC training yard. The photos above are various scenes of the training facility.

26 XTRA APRIL 1, 2016

People

Friends We’ll MissCarl D. Asnicar77, lead programmer analyst, Fi-nance Information Services, Ana-conda Tower, Denver, Colo., died on Dec. 20, 2015. He worked for PSCo from 1956 to 1994.

William C. Autrey88, marketing representative, Colorado, died on Jan. 5, 2016. He worked for PSCo from 1949 to 1986.

Morris Bakken102, groundman, Central Divi-sion, Wisconsin, died on Jan. 30, 2016. He worked for NSP from 1945 to 1976.

Dwaynne C. Bettger71, meterman, Electric Meter Shop, Materials Distribution Center, Henderson, Colo., died on Oct. 22, 2015. He worked for PSCo from 1970 to 2004.

Edward P. Bieging79, street light inspector, Rice Street Service Center, St. Paul, Minn., died on Jan. 15, 2016. He worked for NSP from 1968 to 1998.

Merlin G. Brant78, Minnesota, died on Dec. 17, 2015. He worked for NSP from 1958 to 1993.

Jarl B. Brokaw93, plant operations and mainte-nance superintendent, Nuclear Generation, Minnesota, died on Jan. 13, 2016. He worked for NSP from 1946 to 1984.

Theola A. Broste94, secretary, General Of�ce, Minneapolis, Minn., died on Dec. 4. 2015. She worked for NSP from 1954 to 1985.

Thomas Carroll68, electrician working foreman, Construction Operations & Maintenance, Seminole Service Center, Seminole, Texas, died on Dec. 21, 2015. He worked for SPS from 1968 to 2012.

Richard A. Christianson85, Information Management, Minnesota, died on Jan. 9, 2016. He worked for NSP from 1950 to 1988.

Joseph L. Comer87, trouble supervisor, Electric Service, Rice Street Service Center, St. Paul, Minn., died on Aug. 12, 2015. He worked for NSP from 1948 to 1986.

Ronald E. Conda78, lead rigger, Maintenance, Riverside Plant, Minneapolis, Minn., died on Dec. 11, 2015. He worked for NSP from 1980 to 1996.

James Dearborn78, control center operator, System Control Center, Chestnut Service Center , Minneapolis, Minn., died on Oct. 15, 2015. He worked for NSP from 1962 to 1994.

Walter Eavenson90, associate engineer, San Luis Valley Engineering, Alamosa, Colo., died on Jan. 26, 2016. He worked for PSCo from 1947 to 1986.

Kenneth L. Falk88, system technician appren-tice, Maintenance & Testing, Chestnut Service Center, Min-neapolis, Minn., died on Dec. 16, 2015. He worked for NSP from 1950 to 1983.

Patricia Follows57, administrative aid, Workers Compensation, General Of�ce, Minneapolis, Minn., died on Dec. 12, 2015. She worked for NSP from 1983 to 1987.

William J. Frederick90, 414 Nicollet, Minneapolis, Minn., died on Dec. 22, 2015. He worked for NSP from 1956 to 1988.

Bobby Gill77, serviceman, Construction Operations & Maintenance, Southwest Service Center, Amarillo, Texas, died on Oct. 27, 2015. He worked for SPS from 1959 to 1999.

Wynn M. Gill69, credit inquiry supervisor, Credit Call Center, 990 Bannock, Denver, Colo., died on Jan. 3, 2016. He worked for Xcel Energy from 1968 to 2002.

Laverne Glawe61, mechanic specialist, Mainte-nance, Hayden Station, Hayden, Colo., died on Oct. 27, 2015. He worked for PSCo from 1979 to 2009.

Mary K. Goulette72, combination meter reader, Meter Reading Northwest, Shorewood Service Center, Min-netonka, Minn., died on Dec. 22, 2015. She worked for NSP from 1979 to 2001.

Clare Grover82, Plant Accounting, Min-nesota, died on Dec. 16, 2015. She worked for NSP from 1959 to 1988.

Marion J. Hansen85, maintenance supervisor, Colorado, died on Jan. 16, 2016. He worked for PSCo from 1961 to 1986.

Robert R Henke72, supervisor, Maintenance, Sherco Plant, Becker, Minn., died on Jan. 7, 2016. He worked for NSP from 1965 to 1999.

Vernon Hentz66, system �eld technician, Breaker Maintenance, Chestnut Service Center, Minneapolis, Minn., died on Dec. 26, 2015. He worked for NSP from 1969 to 2002.

Raymond Herold85, �eld supervisor, Gas Construction, Minnesota, died on Jan. 14, 2016. He worked for NSP from 1951 to 1987.

Max N. Huffman76, electric equipment repair specialist, Electric Operations, Seventh Avenue Service Center, Denver, Colo., died on Dec. 28, 2015. He worked for PSCo from 1965 to 1994.

Naomi M. Ingram95, died on Nov. 14, 2015. She worked for SPS from 1952 to 1984.

Debra K. Kearns57, database manager, Utilities and Corporate Services, General Of�ce, Minneapolis, Minn., died on Oct. 13, 2015. She worked for Xcel Energy from 1978 to 2014.

Corwin G. Kindelberger94, accounting services supervi-sor, Minnesota, died on Jan. 16, 2015. He worked for NSP from 1951 to 1980.

Everett Koopman92, division meterman, Central Meter, Wisconsin, died on Jan. 14, 2016. He worked for NSP from 1950 to 1982.

Armand A. La Motte79, relay specialist, Metro East, Rice Street Service Center, St. Paul, Minn., died on Dec. 11, 2015. He worked for NSP from 1962 to 1994.

Douglas E. La Pash86, janitor, Minnesota, died on Dec. 11, 2015. He worked for NSP from 1964 to 1991.

Paul Lee80, senior environmental aid, Minnesota, died on Jan. 20, 2016. He worked for NSP from 1958 to 1991.

Rudy L. Lohman61, mechanic classi�ed , Substa-tion Shop , Lipan Distribution Center , Denver, Colo., died on Dec. 30, 2015. He worked for PSCo from 1985 until the time of his death.

Merlyn G. Matz89, groundman, Transmission, Minnesota, died on Dec. 26, 2015. He worked for NSP from 1949 to 1980.

Robert M. Meddles89, Colorado, died on Dec. 23, 2015. He worked for PSCo from 1960 to 1986.

Theron J. Messer87, died on Jan. 6, 2016. He worked for SPS from 1951 to 1990.

Norris G. Netz86, Colorado, died on Dec. 26, 2015. He worked for PSCo from 1961 to 1929.

Sharon Olmscheid79, Customer Operations, Min-nesota, died on Dec. 22, 2015. She worked for NSP from 1976 to 1996.

Marshall Pharr84, died on Dec. 29, 2015. He worked for SPS from 1979 to 1996.

27 APRIL 1, 2016

Charles T. Porteus40, lineman, Sterling Service Center, Sterling, Colo., died on Jan. 21, 2016. He worked for PSCo from 2012 until the time of his death.

Richard F. Rossi87, supervisor, Gas Marketing, Minnesota, died on Jan. 2, 2016. He worked for NSP from 1951 to 1988.

Glenn R. Sina59, service technician, Gas Construction, La Crosse Service Center, La Crosse, Wis., died on Jan. 12, 2016. He worked for NSP from 1985 until the time of his death.

Charles Smith82, shift supervisor, Tolk Station, Earth, Texas, died on Dec. 5, 2015. He worked for SPS from 1960 to 1993.

Roderic Smith88, commercial development representative, Gas Utility, Min-nesota, died on Jan. 21, 2016. He worked for NSP from 1950 to 1988.

Harvey H. Sutherland99, lineman, Construction Line Section, Minnesota, died on Jan. 4, 2016. He worked for NSP from 1952 to 1970.

Joann M. Swenson81, administrative specialist, Cen-tre Pointe, Minneapolis, Minn., died on Jan. 7, 2016. She worked for NSP from 1962 to 1994.

Terry Thorstensen63, account manager, Juris-dictional Management, Fargo Service Center, Fargo, N.D., died on Jan. 26, 2016. He worked for Xcel Energy from 1988 to 2016.

Roger E. Van Valkenburgh89, water resources coordinator, Electric Production, Belleview Service Center, Colorado, died on Dec. 30, 2015. He worked for PSCo from 1949 to 1984.

Betty Wilson83, died on Jan. 28, 2016. She worked for SPS from 1971 to 1997.

RetiringGeorge Aandahlprincipal engineer, Nuclear Fuel Supply, Marquette Plaza, Min-neapolis, Minn., retired Jan. 15, 2016. He worked for Xcel Energy for 41 years.

Martin Bauer(mdbauer5@msn.com), control specialist, Operations, Cherokee Station, Denver, Colo., retired Jan. 8, 2016. He worked for Xcel Energy for 34 years.

Daniel Baumgartnerline crew foreman, Overhead Construction, Wyoming Service Center, Wyoming, Minn., retired Jan. 31, 2016. He worked for Xcel Energy for 35 years.

Tim Cleary(timcleary@comcast.net), techni-cian, Engineering, Arvada, Colo., retired Jan. 29, 2016. He worked for Xcel Energy for 36 years.

Linda Clintonadministrative assistant, Supply Chain, Marquette Plaza, Min-neapolis, Minn., retired Jan. 8, 2016. She worked for Xcel Energy for 42 years.

Joe C. Copelandworking foreman, Gas Emergen-cy Response, Lipan Distribution Center, Denver, Colo., retired Feb. 1, 2016. He worked for Xcel Energy for 37 years.

Mike Davisonservice tech, Fleet, Mesa County Operations, Grand Junction, Colo., retired Feb. 2, 2016. He worked for Xcel Energy for 43 years.

Darrell DeJong(darrelldejong@icloud.com), foreman lineman, Overhead, Shorewood, Minn., retired Jan. 29, 2016. He worked for Xcel Energy for 35 years.

David Dennispower house maintenance fore-man, Production Maintenance, Arapahoe Station, Denver, Colo., retired Jan. 29, 2016. He worked for Xcel Energy for 37 years.

Michael Dolanelectrician specialist, Electrical Maintenance, Cherokee Station, Denver, Colo., retired Feb. 29, 2016. He worked for Xcel Energy for 31 years.

Tim Forsytherigger, Maintenance, Becker, Minn., retired Feb. 1, 2016. He worked for Xcel Energy for 37 years.

Wayne Foxmaster tech, Operations, Brain-erd, Minn., retired Feb. 5, 2016. He worked for Xcel Energy for 36 years.

Bobby Gravesaccount manager, Managed Accounts, Roswell, N.M., retired Jan. 29, 2016. He worked for Xcel Energy for 24 years.

Vincent J. Haberkornlineman patrolman, Transmission Lines, Leadville, Colo., retired Jan. 4, 2016. He worked for Xcel Energy for 37 years.

Haven Hadlersupervisor, Maintenance, Prairie Is-land Nuclear Plant, Welch, Minn., retired Jan. 15, 2016. He worked for Xcel Energy for 34 years.

William Haleshift operator, Production, Cabin Creek Hydro, Georgetown, Colo., retired Jan. 31, 2016. He worked for Xcel Energy for 45 years.

Randy L. Hamacheyard supervisor, Sherco, Becker, Minn., retired Jan. 29, 2016. He worked for Xcel Energy for 34 years.

Dennis Herling(herling@charter.net), rotational position, Fukushima Project, Prairie Island, retired Feb. 1, 2016. He worked for Xcel Energy for 40 years.

Jim Jimnak(jgreggj@comcast.net), line crew foreman, Overhead, Chestnut Service Center, Minneapolis, Minn., retired Jan 31, 2016. He worked for Xcel Energy for 31 years.

Richard Kohamasenior meterman, Electric Meter, Evergreen, Colo., retired Feb. 3, 2016. He worked for Xcel Energy for 38 years.

Steve Logan(itp@zirkel.us), machinist, Maintenance, Hayden Station, Hayden, Colo., retired Feb. 26, 2016. He worked for Xcel Energy for 35 years.

Stanley Millerwork force supervisor, Outdoor Lighting, Denver, Colo., retired Jan. 31, 2016. He worked for Xcel Energy for 15 years.

Ted L. Niemi(teddebniemi@hotmail.com), manager, Rates and Regulatory Affairs, 1800 Larimer, Denver, Colo., retired Feb. 12, 2016. He worked for Xcel Energy for 38 years.

Jenna Parishadministrative assistant, Energy Supply, Plant X, Earth, Texas, retired. She worked for Xcel Energy for 31 years.

Linda Quintela(lindaquintela@yahoo.com), administrative assistant, Energy Supply, Cunningham Station, Hobbs, N.M., retired Feb. 2, 2016. She worked for Xcel Energy for 38 years.

Jack Ramm writer, Procedures, Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant, Mon-ticello, Minn., retired Jan. 11, 2016. He worked for Xcel Energy for nine years.

James E. Simpson(colhobbs@comcast.net), control specialist, Operations, Arapaho/Cherokee Stations, Denver, Colo., retired Jan. 31, 2016. He worked for Xcel Energy for 34 years.

Randall E. Tollefsondistrict troubleman, Line, Blaire, Wis., retired Jan. 15, 2016. He worked for Xcel Energy for 31 years.

Dave Vigness(davevigness@gmail.com), substa-tion electrician, La Crosse, Wis., retired Jan. 29, 2016. He worked for Xcel Energy for 36 years.

Stan Zubermechanic specialist, Hayden Sta-tion, Hayden, Colo., retired Dec. 31, 2015. He worked for Xcel Energy for 35 years.

USE US to save on CFLs and LEDs .

Right now, Xcel Energy is partnering with participating retailers to offer special discounts on ENERGY STAR® certi�ed CFL and LED light bulbs. Start swapping out your old incandescent bulbs today…you’ll �nd CFLs and LEDs for every �xture in your home, available now at discount prices.

ResponsibleByNature.com

© 2015 Xcel Energy Inc.

414 Nicollet Mall,GO-7Minneapolis, MN 55401xcelenergy.com

XTRAPublished monthly by Xcel EnergyKevin Graham, Editor1800 Larimer Street, 16th FloorDenver, CO 80202Phone: 303-294-2417Fax: 303-294-2968email: Kevin.Graham@xcelenergy.com

Contributors: Kelly Stone Cramer, Jordyn Johnson, Curt Vaughan, Chris Kelleher, Tim Dicks, Tom Bullington and Liz Wolf Green

Design: Steve Berry