Xcel Energy crews have restored electricity to more than half of the 89,000 customers in Colorado who lost power after strong winds swept through the state. The company expects most customers to have service back by 10 p.m., but restoration for some, especially in and around Evergreen, may extend into Sunday due to severe damage and challenging locations. Technicians are still visually inspecting lines before repairs can be completed.
Extreme weather on Friday led to an elevated wildfire risk, prompting Xcel Energy to implement a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) in Boulder, Clear Creek, Gilpin, Jefferson, Larimer, and Weld counties. The conditions also caused additional outages for customers not affected by the PSPS.
“This weather event received the rare designation from the National Weather Service of ‘Particularly Dangerous Situation’ and put our customers and communities at risk of wildfires, damage and outages. We understand the difficulties of being without electricity for any period of time and we are proud of the work our technicians have done this week to restore service as quickly and safely as possible. The work is not finished, and we want our customers to know that we are committed to completing the job,” said Robert Kenney, president of Xcel Energy—Colorado.
The company has been communicating with customers throughout the week and will continue providing updates as restoration progresses.
Safety remains a priority for Xcel Energy as crews continue repairs. Customers are asked to help keep workers safe during restoration efforts.
Customers are advised to report any damage such as downed power lines or broken poles to Xcel Energy and stay clear of these hazards.
To support those affected by outages from this week’s winds, Xcel Energy is working with the American Red Cross and local emergency management offices to provide resource centers where residents can charge phones and access emergency supplies. These centers include:
– Gilpin County Overnight Shelter –10595 Highway 119, Black Hawk (open 24 hours)
– Jefferson County Fairgrounds – 15200 W. 6th Ave., Golden (open Saturday December 20 until 6 p.m.)
– Evergreen Fire Station – 1802 Bergen Parkway, Evergreen (open Sunday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.)
Xcel Energy’s RED trucks will be present at these locations offering support and information. Those needing food assistance can use an online Food Finder Map to locate Hunger Relief Partners across Colorado.
Customers can report outages using several methods: 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 for automated reporting.
Updates on events and safety tips can be found on Xcel Energy’s Event Updates webpage. Customers should ensure their account information is current in My Account for timely communications. Additional updates are available through Xcel Energy’s social media channels on Facebook and X.
Public Safety Power Shutoff events are used by Xcel Energy based on weather forecasts when there is heightened wildfire risk due to high winds, low humidity, or dry ground conditions. Even neighborhoods with underground lines or no visible local damage may experience outages depending on how they connect to the broader grid.
Since starting its Wildfire Mitigation work in 2020, Xcel Energy has invested in system improvements including replacing over eight thousand distribution poles, inspecting thousands more poles and miles of transmission lines, performing hundreds of priority equipment repairs, and installing new protective relays at substations during 2024.
Xcel Energy serves millions of electric and gas customers across eight states from its headquarters in Minneapolis. More details about their services can be found at xcelenergy.com.
