![UPDATE: Xcel Energy Deploys 1,000 Line Workers Into Field](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2012/11/Power-Outage-300x168.jpg?w=980&q=75)
UPDATE: Xcel Energy Deploys 1,000 Line Workers Into Field
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Xcel Energy crews are bringing down the number of customers who remain without power.
Over half a million Xcel Energy customers in Minnesota and western Wisconsin lost power at various points in three waves of severe thunderstorms from early Friday to early Saturday. The Minneapolis-based utility says the number of customers without power was down to around 136,000 by late afternoon Saturday.
Kent Larson, senior vice president of operations for Xcel Energy, says more than 1,000 line workers will be in the field this weekend, including crews from throughout the Upper Midwest and Colorado, and crews from other utilities. He says they'll be working 16-hours shifts until all power is restored," said.
Xcel says it expects to restore power to the vast majority of its customers by Wednesday.
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