Xcel Energy to support microgrids under commercial, industrial business-focused resiliency program

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission this week approved the Empower Resiliency program proposed by Xcel Energy – the state’s first to support microgrids and other resiliency projects for large commercial and industrial businesses needing uninterruptible power supplies.

“Delivering safe, reliable energy to our customers is at the core of our business,” said Emmett Romine, vice president of customer solutions and innovation for Xcel Energy. “This program greatly reduces the upfront cost for customers who would benefit from resiliency assets and provides our extensive support to operate and maintain these systems, so they are available if they are needed.”

As a result, these larger customers will be able to seek upfront funds from Xcel Energy to pay for improvements over time, working to design, construct and interconnect systems such as battery storage, renewable energy arrays, and backup generators at sites of their choosing. The customers will be able to set their own goals and needs, and Xcel Energy will work to help them achieve it. On Xcel Energy’s end, ownership, installation, operation, and maintenance could all be on the table.

According to the company, its customers already benefit from a system with 99.9 percent power reliability, but efforts like these backups would allow customers such as water treatment facilities, hospitals, and manufacturing facilities peace of mind through guaranteed reliability.