MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Anoka County Leads Minnesota in Reported Power Outages as Connexus Energy Responds to Localized Disruptions

ANOKA COUNTY, MN (May 12, 2026) Anoka County recorded the highest number of active power outages in Minnesota on Monday, with Connexus Energy reporting more than 200 customers without service during a series of localized disruptions affecting portions of the north metro area.

According to statewide outage tracking platform PowerOutage.us, approximately 211 customers in Anoka County were without electricity as of May 11, representing nearly 60 percent of the 358 outages reported statewide at the time. The county also recorded the highest percentage of affected customers in Minnesota, with approximately 0.17 percent of customers experiencing service interruptions.

All reported outages within the county were tied to Connexus Energy’s service territory. The cooperative, which serves approximately 138,000 customers across 12 Minnesota counties, reported that the disruptions were concentrated primarily within Anoka County, making it the hardest-hit area within the utility’s coverage region Monday afternoon.

Other major electric providers operating in Anoka County, including Xcel Energy, were not reporting significant outages during the same reporting period.

Connexus Energy had not publicly identified a specific cause for the outage cluster as of Monday evening. However, utilities in the region, including Anoka Municipal Utility, have identified wildlife interference, equipment failures, severe weather, and accidental underground utility strikes from excavation or digging activity as among the most common causes of smaller localized outages. 

The outages coincided with the opening day of Anoka County’s Bike to Work Week observance, scheduled for May 11 through May 15. Despite the service disruptions, no major impacts to traffic signals, transit systems, or public transportation infrastructure had been reported by local agencies as of Monday night.

Connexus Energy advised affected residents to continue reporting outages through the utility’s online outage center and mobile application, noting that smaller secondary or “nested” outages may not immediately appear on public outage maps. The cooperative stated that restoration crews are typically dispatched immediately in response to outage clusters of this size.

The utility also reminded residents using portable generators during outages to operate the equipment outdoors and away from windows, doors, and ventilation systems to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide exposure. Residents experiencing medical emergencies or life-threatening situations related to power loss were advised to contact 911 immediately.

No injuries, fires, or major infrastructure damage connected to the outages had been publicly reported as of Monday evening.

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