Xcel Energy announced on March 14 that crews are working to restore power to customers in Boulder and Jefferson Counties following a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) caused by severe wind and wildfire risk. The company said about 12,000 customers were affected by the shutoff, which was implemented as a safety measure during hazardous weather conditions.
The PSPS was put in place to reduce the risk of wildfires, with Xcel Energy using real-time weather data to determine the extent of the outage. The number of impacted customers was about 40% less than initially anticipated because de-energization was delayed as conditions were monitored. According to Xcel Energy, more than 5,000 customers have already had their power restored, and most others are expected to see service return by tonight. Some restorations may extend into Sunday due to the need for visual inspections and repairs before re-energizing lines.
Customers have been kept informed through their preferred communication methods selected in My Account, and updates will continue as restoration progresses. A Community Resource Center has also been set up in Boulder to assist those affected by the outage. Xcel Energy emphasized that customer cooperation is important for crew safety during restoration efforts.
The company encouraged residents to report any damage such as downed lines or broken poles and provided several ways for customers to report outages: via its mobile app, online at xcelenergy.com/out, by texting OUT or STAT to 98936, or by calling 1-800-895-1999. Event updates and safety tips are available on the Xcel Energy Event Update webpage.
Xcel Energy explained that PSPS events are determined based on factors like high winds, low humidity, and dry ground conditions—all present during this event—to protect public safety. Even areas with underground lines or no visible damage can be affected due to grid connections. Since starting its Wildfire Mitigation work in 2020, Xcel Energy has made system improvements including replacing over 8,300 distribution poles and inspecting thousands of miles of transmission lines.
Looking ahead, Xcel Energy said it remains committed to investing in infrastructure upgrades aimed at reducing wildfire risks and minimizing future disruptions.
