News

XCEL ENERGY TO IMPLEMENT SPANS JOINT USE NOTIFICATION SYSTEM

Wind Lake Solutions, Inc. - Mukwonago, Wisconsin, is pleased to announce that Xcel Energy has contracted for the implementation of WLS’ SPANS™ (Spatially-enabled Permitting and Notification System). SPANS is a hosted web-based solution designed to electronically and centrally manage inter-company communications associated with joint use pole attachment projects.

WLS will begin working with Xcel in the configuration of SPANS this month and anticipates deployment early in the second quarter. Full implementation will support Xcel’s communication and interaction with joint use partners across its eight-state service territory. Xcel anticipates that SPANS will be used to facilitate inter-company and intra-company communications associated with pole attachment requests, notifications of attachment removals, and attachment transfer notifications associated with pole replacements. SPANS’ configurable managed workflow architecture provides for the effective coordination of interdependent pole owner/attacher joint use activities.

Tom Breuckman, Manager, Facilities Attachments for Xcel stated “We’re enthusiastic that through SPANS we can continue to improvement the effectiveness of our joint use management program. We believe that both Xcel, and the communications and CATV companies that depend on our poles, will gain significant efficiencies through SPANS use. Most importantly, we’re confident that SPANS will allow us to more effectively work with our joint use partners in assuring the continued safety and reliability of our overhead distribution network.”

David Coates, CEO of Wind Lake Solutions said, “WLS is delighted that SPANS will be an important component of Xcel Energy’s joint use management program. We believe that SPANS’ web interface and configurable database architecture will best address Xcel’s need to effectively manage their over 1 million pole attachments. Consistent with our business philosophy and track record, we are very optimistic that this is the beginning of a long-term partnership with Xcel Energy.”

For more information please contact Susan Smith-Lee of Wind Lake Solutions at (262) 363-4800 ext. 225 or via e-mail at ssmithlee@windlakesolutions.com.

ABOUT SPANS

WLS’ SPANS™ (Spatially-enabled Permitting and Notification System) is a hosted web-based solution designed to electronically and centrally manage inter-company communications associated with joint use pole attachment projects. SPANS’ robust configurability allows each system deployment to be tailored to the specific informational and workflow requirements of user companies.

ABOUT XCEL ENERGY

Xcel Energy, based in Minneapolis, MN, is a leading combination electricity and natural gas energy company, providing services to 3.3 million electricity customers and 1.8 million natural gas customers in Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin.