Restoration efforts are ongoing in Colorado as Xcel Energy prepares for another Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) scheduled for Friday. The utility company announced that approximately 67,000 customers across Boulder, Clear Creek, Gilpin, Jefferson, Larimer and Weld counties could be affected starting at 5 a.m. Friday. Weather forecasts predict that high winds and dry conditions may persist through the evening, increasing wildfire risks and potentially causing further outages.
Some customers may experience power outages lasting more than three days due to the cumulative impact of Wednesday’s wind event and the upcoming PSPS. Xcel Energy said crews are working to restore service as quickly as possible but cautioned that restoration times could be extended.
Public Safety Power Shutoffs are implemented to reduce wildfire risk by temporarily cutting electricity during extreme weather conditions. According to Xcel Energy, decisions on these shutoffs rely on data such as wind speed, humidity levels and ground dryness. Wednesday’s weather saw wind gusts exceeding 100 miles per hour, with similar or worse conditions expected Friday morning.
“We recognize the challenges our customers face when being without power for an extended period of time. We appreciate their patience as our crews work tirelessly to restore power. We appreciate their understanding of the public safety necessity of a PSPS. We are aware tomorrow’s PSPS event will impact some of the same customers involved in yesterday’s wind event. Turning off the power is not a decision we take lightly and our crews are working safely and diligently to restore power as quickly as possible,” said Robert Kenney, president of Xcel Energy—Colorado.
More than 585 crew members began repairs last night after about 120,000 customers lost power during Wednesday’s outage event. As of Thursday afternoon, around 26,000 remained without service. Restoration requires inspection and repair of damaged lines before they can be re-energized safely.
Xcel Energy also reminded residents that unplanned outages could occur outside the planned PSPS due to ongoing high winds or enhanced safety settings on powerlines throughout affected areas. The company urged people to avoid downed lines and report any damage immediately.
To assist those impacted by outages, Xcel Energy is partnering with the American Red Cross to open resource centers offering phone charging stations at several locations in Evergreen, Denver, Lakewood and Black Hawk.
Customers can report outages via multiple channels: through 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.
The company encouraged residents to stay informed through its website outage map and social media channels while ensuring their contact information is up-to-date in My Account profiles.
Xcel Energy recommended preparing emergency kits containing items like battery-powered radios, flashlights, backup chargers and non-perishable food supplies. Customers who depend on electric medical equipment were advised to make contingency plans for extended outages (https://co.my.xcelenergy.com/s/billing-payment/energy-assistance/medical-exemption-program).
Since launching its Wildfire Mitigation program in 2020, Xcel Energy has invested in upgrades such as replacing over 8,300 distribution poles this year alone and inspecting thousands more poles along with transmission lines.
Xcel Energy serves millions across eight states including Colorado from its headquarters in Minneapolis.
