Minneapolis Shocked by Mysterious Power Outage

Minneapolis Shocked by Mysterious Power OutageMinneapolis Shocked by Mysterious Power Outage A massive power outage plunged Minneapolis into darkness on Monday evening, leaving thousands of residents without electricity for hours. The outage began shortly after 8 p.m., affecting a large swath of the city, including downtown and the University of Minnesota campus. Traffic lights went dark, businesses closed, and homes were left without power. Xcel Energy, the utility company responsible for providing electricity to Minneapolis, said the cause of the outage was still under investigation. However, they ruled out a cyberattack or other malicious activity. “We are working diligently to restore power as quickly as possible,” Xcel Energy spokesperson Mary Jo Harvey said. “We understand the inconvenience this outage is causing, and we apologize for the impact it has had on our customers.” As of Tuesday morning, power had been restored to most of the affected areas. However, some customers were still without electricity, and Xcel Energy estimated that it could take several more hours to fully restore service. The outage caused widespread disruption across the city. Public transportation was suspended, schools were closed, and businesses were forced to close early. Residents expressed frustration and concern over the outage. Many reported having to throw out food that had spoiled in their refrigerators and freezers. Others worried about the safety of their elderly or disabled family members who relied on electricity for medical equipment. “This is really a nightmare,” said Emily Carter, a resident of downtown Minneapolis. “I have no way to cook or get warm. I don’t know what I’m going to do.” City officials urged residents to stay informed and to report any downed power lines or other hazards. The city also set up warming centers at several locations for those who needed shelter. The cause of the outage remains a mystery, and Xcel Energy said it would provide updates as they became available.