Xcel Energy announced on March 13 that it is preparing for a strong wind event and a likely Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) expected to begin around 2 p.m. on March 14, potentially affecting about 18,000 customers in Boulder and Jefferson counties. The company said the National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning due to very high winds and dry conditions along the Front Range, marking what is forecasted to be the warmest and driest day of this period of high fire danger.
The planned PSPS aims to reduce wildfire risk and support public safety as severe weather approaches. Xcel Energy reported it was able to lower the number of customers expected to be impacted by the shutoff. While weather conditions are anticipated to start improving between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m., high winds that could create wildfire risks may persist through the weekend, possibly causing outages beyond the designated PSPS areas.
Restoration efforts will begin once it is safe for crews to patrol power lines after high winds subside. The company cautioned that restoration could take several hours or even days because each power line must be inspected before being re-energized. Given forecasts for continued high winds into Saturday, outages may extend into Sunday.
Xcel Energy said it will continue reaching out to affected customers with updates throughout the event. Customers are encouraged to stay informed via Xcel Energy’s website, outage map, social media channels, and by ensuring their account information is current in My Account. The company also provided tips for building an emergency kit with essentials such as battery-powered radios, flashlights, bottled water, non-perishable food, backup phone chargers, and first aid supplies.
Customers who rely on medical equipment powered by electricity are urged to prepare for possible extended outages. Xcel Energy stated it will conduct additional outreach for qualifying medical customers during this period.
The company emphasized its ongoing investments in infrastructure aimed at reducing wildfire risk and minimizing power disruptions. More information about preparation tips can be found on Xcel Energy’s website.
