Xcel Energy has signed a multimillion-dollar five-year agreement with POWER Engineers, Inc. for transmission, substation, communications and protective relay services.

POWER has worked with Xcel Energy on projects such as CapX2020, the largest development of new transmission capacity in the Midwest region in more than 40 years. More recently, POWER worked with Xcel Energy to relocate two underground transmission lines and make way for the largest stormwater project in Denver's history. Other projects with Xcel Energy and its subsidiaries have included upgrading substations to meet NERC critical infrastructure protection standards and supporting cybersecurity upgrades and a significant replacement of communications circuits.

"Xcel Energy is a recognized leader in the U.S. power industry," said Holger Peller, executive vice president for POWER's Power Delivery division. He noted that for the fifth year in a row, Fortune Magazine this year recognized Xcel Energy as one of the World's Most Admired Companies, ranking it second among electric and gas companies.

"One of the values to be found in the new agreement is the ability to onboard new staff to proficiency in Xcel Energy's practices and systems while maintaining the utility's high expectations for quality," Peller said.

POWER is one of two firms to receive a master service agreement contract this year. Peller attributed POWER's success to a unique teaming agreement with HDR, Inc., substation and transmission line engineering consultant.

"Through this agreement, POWER is pleased to support Xcel Energy's goal of consolidating work to achieve the best value for customers, stockholders and the company," he said.

"We look forward to working with POWER," said Michael Lamb, senior vice president, Xcel Energy Transmission. "This agreement will enable us to continue providing safe, reliable, low-cost and increasingly clean electricity to our customers."

Xcel Energy | www.xcelenergy.com

POWER Engineers | www.powereng.com