Eau Claire (WQOW) - Superstorm Sandy disappeared two weeks ago, but it is
far from a distant memory. More than 70,000 are still without power. Today Xcel
energy sent 25 employees, including seven from Wisconsin,
to New York.
Weeks after Superstorm Sandy rocked
the east coast, the midwest is sending in more reinforcements.
"This is an
opportunity for us individually and as a company to get out there and see if we
can lend some aid," said Xcel Energy Master Technician Geoff Groh.
25 Xcel employees from Wisconsin and Minnesota
left Eau Claire for New York Monday.
"What we'll be
doing is basically checking the metering, and checking the regulations to the
house. Once that is proofed out and everything is safe, we'll go light the
pilot lights and they'll be back in service," Groh said.
In a disaster like this, utilities
can reach out to other power companies for help.
"This is pretty
unique as far as going out east. In my career, we've only been out of state
once, and we've never been with another utility," said Groh.
The potential for explosions with
natural gas make it a much different job than a typical outage.
"Restoring
electricity, you can do on a broad-base scale. If you turn the lights on,
either it's on or it's off. With natural gas, we have to do it on an individual
basis, because each customer is served by a specific set of equipment that we
have to check out," Groh said.
Xcel energy doesn't know how many
homes and businesses will need help. The crews could be gone for two weeks.
"We're going to be
gone over the holidays, and that of course is an issue. But I talked this over
with my family, and they're very supportive of it," Groh said.
Since sandy hit, Xcel has sent 230
employees to the east coast.
