Linda Ceylor <cen20773@centuryinter.net>
July 15, 2001

To all,

Sandy, thank you for expounding on the bad news.  
[See PR firms - July 15, 2001] Now let me worsen it.
Several days ago I was faxed a letter that was sent to ALL town clerks.
The letter is dated July 2, 2001 from Xcel Energy, detailing its
"Hometown Partners" survey.  Let me quote a bit from the cover letter
and you will see the connection. 

"Why did we want to know more about resident perceptions regarding
issues other than electricity and electric utilities?  Simply, because
issues impacting western Wisconsin and the U.P. also have a significant
impact on our company, and visa versa.  Residents of this region,
customers, our employees , retirees, friends and neighbors all live and
work side by side , whether its in La Crosse, Sparta, Eau Claire,
Ironwood, Ashland, Judson, Chippewa Falls or the other communities we
serve..."

In this survey, the towns learn, among other things that  "a solid
majority support electric utilitiy deregualtion", and that "a growing
number of residents were concerned about the continued reliability of
thier area's electrical system, with most focused on cost
considerations."

All were Xcel customers.

And I agree, spin is working overtime from all angles. 

Linda Ceylor

PS  When Bob Ringstat and I were at the Xcel Shareholders meeting, we
noticed on a map of the US that they had projected as part of a power 
point large arrows indicating where they were to expand on energy
projects.  Interestingly enough, to our suprise, one arrow was through
Wisconsin, beginning north by Duluth and headed to Wausau.  That caught
our attention.... 

*** NOTICE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material
is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.