Xcel Energy crews have restored power to more than half of the 89,000 customers affected by severe winds in Colorado on Friday. The company expects most customers will have their service back by 10 p.m., but restoration may extend into Sunday for some, particularly in and around Evergreen, due to extensive damage and challenging locations.
The extreme weather led Xcel Energy to implement a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) in Boulder, Clear Creek, Gilpin, Jefferson, Larimer, and Weld counties to reduce wildfire risk. Additional outages occurred outside the PSPS areas as well.
“This weather event earned the rare National Weather Service’s rare designation of a ‘Particularly Dangerous Situation’ and put our customers and communities at risk of wildfire danger, damage and power outage. We understand the hardship of being without power for any length of time and are proud of the work our crews have performed this week to return service as quickly and safely as possible. The work isn’t finished, and we want our customers to know we’re committed to completing the job,” said Robert Kenney, president of Xcel Energy—Colorado.
Xcel Energy has been updating customers throughout the week about restoration progress. The company emphasized that safety remains a top priority for both its crews and the public during ongoing repairs. Customers are asked to report downed lines or damaged poles while keeping clear from these hazards.
To support those impacted by outages, Xcel Energy is working with the American Red Cross and local emergency management offices to provide resource centers offering phone charging stations and emergency supplies at several locations: Gilpin County Overnight Shelter in Black Hawk (open 24 hours), Jefferson County Fairgrounds in Golden (open Saturday until 6 p.m.), and Evergreen Fire Station (open Sunday from 9 a.m. to noon). The company’s RED Trucks will also be present at these sites with additional support.
Customers can report outages or damage through multiple channels: via Xcel Energy’s mobile app available on Apple App Store or Google Play; online at xcelenergy.com/out; by texting OUT or STAT to 98936; or by calling 1-800-895-1999 using an automated system designed for quick reporting.
Updates about this event are available on Xcel Energy’s website where customers can view outage maps with estimated restoration times. Account holders are encouraged to keep their contact information current through My Account settings. Social media updates are also provided via Facebook and X.
Public Safety Power Shutoff events are used by Xcel Energy based on factors such as high winds, low humidity, and dry ground conditions—all present during this incident—to help prevent wildfires. Even areas with underground lines or no visible local damage may experience outages depending on how neighborhoods connect within the grid.
Since launching its Wildfire Mitigation program in 2020, Xcel Energy has invested in improvements including replacing over 8,300 distribution poles in 2024 alone; inspecting nearly 19,000 distribution poles; reviewing almost 2,900 miles of transmission lines; completing hundreds of priority repairs; and installing new substation protection relays.
Xcel Energy serves millions across eight states from its Minneapolis headquarters. More information is available at xcelenergy.com or through its social media channels.
