Xcel Energy crews are working to restore power in northern Colorado after a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) was implemented in Larimer and Weld counties on Friday morning. The shutoff was put in place to reduce wildfire risk as severe weather, including wind gusts over 65 miles per hour, affected the region. The National Weather Service had issued a Red Flag Warning due to these conditions.
According to Xcel Energy, the weather began improving in some areas around 4 p.m., but high winds that could cause further outages were expected to continue into Friday evening. Crews are inspecting power lines, making repairs, and restoring service where it is safe. Workers are scheduled for extended 16-hour shifts overnight into Saturday and will continue until all customers have power restored, provided conditions remain safe.
The company expects most customers to have their power back by Friday night, though some may not see restoration until Saturday. All lines must be visually inspected before repairs can be made.
“The safety of crew members is paramount. Xcel Energy asks customers to help keep crew members safe by giving them the space they need to do their job safely and efficiently,” the company stated.
Xcel Energy acknowledged that the high winds arrived later than forecasted, with PSPS criteria met between noon and 1 p.m. The company said it continually monitors weather conditions to minimize the impact and duration of any shutoff event.
“Weather systems can shift quickly, and the company determines the public safety risk level based on current conditions and how those conditions are expected to evolve over the coming hours. The decision to enact a Public Safety Power Shutoff Friday was grounded in the best available data and complied with established safety thresholds,” according to Xcel Energy.
Customers are encouraged to report outages or any damage seen on power lines using several methods: through the 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 for automated reporting.
Updates about this weather event will be posted on Xcel Energy’s website. Customers can also check outage maps for real-time information and should ensure their account details are up-to-date in My Account. Social media updates will be available via Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).
PSPS events are used as a wildfire mitigation measure based on factors such as high winds, low humidity, and dry ground conditions. Even neighborhoods with underground power lines or no visible damage may still experience outages depending on how they connect to the larger grid.
Since starting its Wildfire Mitigation program in 2020, Xcel Energy has invested in system improvements including replacing more than 8,000 distribution poles, inspecting nearly 19,000 poles and almost 3,000 miles of transmission lines this year alone. Additional upgrades include completing hundreds of priority repairs on transmission equipment and installing new substation protection relays.
Xcel Energy serves millions of customers across eight states from its headquarters in Minneapolis.
