Residents may notice Xcel Energy crews working around utility poles throughout the city through October as the company tests more than 85,000 wooden electric utility poles across Minnesota as part of its 2026 pole maintenance program.

The work will include inspections of both distribution and transmission poles. Residents may notice crews  digging around pole bases, drilling small inspection holes and evaluating overhead equipment to check for damage or structural concerns.

Contractors with Davey Resource Group and Osmose are performing the inspections on behalf of Xcel Energy. All excavated areas will be restored and inspection holes plugged before crews leave each site.

Customers in affected areas will receive advance notification before distribution pole testing begins, while adjacent property owners along transmission corridors will receive mailed postcards at the start of transmission testing projects.

Residents with questions about the pole maintenance program are encouraged to contact Xcel Energy’s Customer Contact Center at 800-895-4999. Xcel Energy employees and contractors will carry photo identification and use vehicles displaying the Xcel Energy logo.