News

Xcel Energy received Utilities Service Alliance’s Optimizer Award at the 2018 USA Executive Summit last month. During calendar year 2017, the Monticello and Prairie Island plants saved more than $6 million through use of USA’s programs and contracts while amassing a remarkable $49.53 return on each dollar of their Alliance membership investment! “This was truly a dedicated team effort and proves once again that the more you put into USA, the more value you get from USA” said John Christensen, President and CEO of USA. “Congratulations to everyone at Xcel for earning this award.”

During 2017, Xcel saved $1.03 million through the USA programs and projects including Cyber Security, QA Audit Sharing, and the USA Decay Heat Removal project. They attained an additional $5.16 million savings using the USA group-purchasing agreements. “We have spent the last couple of years working on several initiatives to reduce cost and be competitive to ensure we stay in the long-term energy portfolio for Xcel Energy,” said Pete Gardner, Xcel Energy Corporate VP. “Winning this award is a testimony to that endeavor that we are truly making progress and that was made possible due to our membership and teamwork with the USA! We really appreciate the ability to work as an alliance with our supply chain vendors to realize the budget savings that made this award possible!”

Award Information
USA created the Optimizer Award to recognize the member utility that best leveraged its alliance membership: achieving the greatest net savings and avoided costs through proactive engagement in the various alliance opportunities.