Xcel Energy has sent $500 payments to about two-dozen households in a north Fargo neighborhood that experienced a power surge in August that caused about $100,000 worth of property damage.
In making the payments, the company said it could have responded better to inquiries from the neighborhood in days following the incident, but the company stressed that the payments, which it called "service quality payments," were not intended as compensation for any damages customers may have experienced.
Xcel also offered affected customers a free home energy audit valued at more than $300.
The North Dakota Public Service Commission has been reviewing the incident at the request of customers, and agency staff issued a report late last year stating Xcel Energy was at fault "to some degree" for a power surge and outage on Aug. 27.
The report stated that tree trimming the utility did in the neighborhood in 2008 was inadequate to prevent a tree branch from contacting a power line and contributing to the surge that damaged appliances and electronics.
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Public Service Commissioner Tony Clark said Friday the agency's proceedings in the matter remain open and the board has not yet decided whether to pursue a formal complaint.
Clark said the commission has sent letters to Xcel customers asking them how they feel about the company's efforts. Customers have until Jan. 21 to comment.
Xcel said it has installed new power lines in the neighborhood using an insulated and "lashed" line, which the company said is stronger and more resistant to tree-related incidents.
The company has also done additional tree pruning in the affected neighborhood.
Xcel said its own review of the incident found that the system serving the affected area was built and maintained according to company standards and that under general service rules, utilities are not liable for damages resulting from the type of power disruption that occurred last summer.
