Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Staff photo: Kevin Wilson David Hudson, president of Xcel Energy for New Mexico and Texas, makes the first clip during a ribbon cutting ceremony for the expanded center in Clovis.
Staff photo: Kevin Wilson
David Hudson, president of Xcel Energy for New Mexico and Texas, makes the first clip during a ribbon cutting ceremony for the expanded center in Clovis.
Staff Writer
Nearly nine months after Winter Storm Goliath plowed through eastern New Mexico, leaving more than 7,500 Clovis customers with power outages, Xcel Energy is still recognized locally for its power restoration efforts.
Mayor David Lansford praised the company for this and more during his speech at Xcel Energy’s grand opening event on Thursday, when the local branch unveiled its $2.4 million expansion and renovation of its operations service center in Clovis.
Besides Lansford, civic leaders and state officials — including State Rep. Randy Crowder, County Commissioner Chet Spear and City Manager Larry Fry — and representatives of the Clovis / Curry County Chamber of Commerce were among the group invited to the tour and ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“Being all things to all people is something we hear said oftentimes, and none of us can really do that,” Lansford said. “But I think this company comes closer to doing that than anyone ... They rose to the occasion during Goliath. They fixed the utilities, and we were able to get our lives put back together because of them and their people.”
David Hudson, president of Xcel Energy New Mexico / Texas, also recognized Supervisor Jim Daly for his servicemen’s handling of the December blizzard.
“It was a rare occasion where Clovis was isolated from the rest of the world, physically,” Hudson said. “The highway crews could not keep the roads open ... The people that work in this building were on their own. I just want to congratulate everybody.”
Xcel Energy completed its yearlong expansion and renovation at 401 S. Norris St. in June, according to Facility Services Manager Jeremy Melton, allowing the company to create a more efficient workspace and combine its two local operations into one location.
Hudson said the company plans to sell its former building on Pile Street.
“We’re preparing,” Hudson said. “We’ve hired a Realtor and all that.”
Employees at the company’s former office have relocated to the renovated facility, where it now employs about 30 people.
The renovation expanded the space by 4,200 square feet for a total of 18,000 square feet — including departments for relay technicians, meter readers and meter maintenance personnel, substation operations, linemen and servicemen, design engineers and community service representatives.
The facility also includes a larger fleet operations center to better fit the service trucks, plus energy-saving lighting and HVAC equipment. The service center even offers a “hotel” room, a space for out-of-town workers to lounge and use the computer.
Hudson said the building is “largely a 24/7 operation,” but that doesn’t reflect in the cost it takes to run it.
“Our operating cost, even with this building being bigger,” Hudson said, “is less than it was before because it has more energy-efficient lighting, heating and air. Even with more people here, it’s more efficient.”
Hudson announced in his speech the company’s new advertising campaign slogan, “It’s always delivering.”
“That’s what this facility is right here,” he said. “This is where the people operate out of that keep the lights on in Clovis and the region: Portales, Clovis, Tucumcari, Texico. We are very privileged to serve you.”
