AUGUSTA, Ga. – An Xcel Energy convoy of linemen that headed from Wisconsin to Georgia to help with the Hurricane Helene disaster on October 2 now has an expandedmission – move to Florida for the even more disastrous Hurricane Milton aftermath. The crew headed for Tampa. The Wisconsin Xcel crew, which assembled in Eau Claire, comprised 40 linemen with a support staff of 50 employees. They debarked with 39 trucks.
Mutual aid. Xcel convoy crews assemble from Eau Claire, LaCrosse, Menomonie, Rice Lake and Sparta. Utilities have agreements to help each other through crises. Minneapolis-based Xcel, with 5.8 million customers, is one of the major contributors to the mutual assistance pact.