Power has been restored to all Xcel Energy customers in northern Colorado who were affected by the Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) that began Friday morning. The shutoff was implemented due to a severe weather system with wind gusts over 65 miles per hour, which created an extreme wildfire risk in Larimer and Weld counties.
Crews completed restoration work around 9:30 p.m. on Friday. Additional outages caused by the storm outside of the PSPS area are still being addressed, with completion expected Saturday.
Hundreds of crew members and contractors from across Colorado were dispatched once conditions allowed, inspecting power lines and making repairs to restore service. Robert Kenney, president of Xcel Energy – Colorado, said, “We are grateful for the swift work of our crew members, contractors and community partners. We also appreciate our customers’ patience and support as we work to protect the safety of communities and decrease the risk of wildfire.”
Xcel Energy continues to invest in its systems to reduce wildfire risks and limit future disruptions. Since starting its Wildfire Mitigation program in 2020, the company reports several upgrades made in 2024, including replacing more than 8,000 distribution poles, inspecting nearly 19,000 poles and almost 3,000 miles of transmission lines, completing hundreds of priority repairs on transmission equipment, and installing new substation protection relays.
Customers are encouraged to report any damage such as downed power lines or broken poles through various channels including the Xcel Energy mobile app (available via Apple App Store or Google Play), online at xcelenergy.com/out, by texting OUT or STAT to 98936 for outage reporting or status updates, or by calling 1-800-895-1999.
Updates about this weather event will be posted on Xcel Energy’s website. Customers can check outage maps for current information and should ensure their account details are up-to-date in My Account. Updates are also available through Xcel Energy’s Facebook and X accounts.
The company explained that PSPS events help reduce wildfire risks using data such as weather forecasts and ground conditions when deciding on shutoffs. Even areas with underground power lines may be affected depending on how neighborhoods connect to the larger grid.
Xcel Energy serves millions of customers across eight states: Minnesota, Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, New Mexico and Texas.
