Hundreds of Xcel Energy workers are repairing power lines and poles to restore electricity to more than 80,000 customers in Colorado after strong winds caused widespread outages. The National Weather Service has lifted the red flag warning and the particularly dangerous situation designation, as wildfire risks decreased starting at 5:00 a.m. Saturday.
Severe weather conditions created an extreme risk of wildfires, leading Xcel Energy to implement a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) event on Thursday in Boulder, Clear Creek, Gilpin, Jefferson, Larimer, and Weld counties. Additional outages also affected customers outside the PSPS areas.
Power has already been restored for some customers. Xcel Energy expects most service to be back by 10:00 p.m. tonight, though restoration could extend into Sunday in areas with severe or hard-to-access damage. Crews must visually inspect lines before making repairs and restoring power.
Xcel Energy has kept customers informed throughout the week and provided updated restoration timelines this morning through their preferred communication methods. Updates will continue as estimates change and repairs progress.
“Worker safety is paramount while working to restore electric service,” Xcel Energy stated. “We ask that customers cooperate to ensure worker safety as crews strive to restore power as quickly as possible.”
Customers are advised to report any damages such as downed power lines or broken poles and stay clear of affected areas.
The company is partnering with the American Red Cross and local emergency management offices to open resource centers for those impacted by wind-related outages. These centers offer phone charging stations and other emergency household supplies at several locations across the region:
– Georgetown Community Center – 613 Sixth St., Georgetown (8 a.m.–8 p.m.)
– Carmody Middle School – 2050 S. Kipling St., Lakewood (9 a.m.–5 p.m.)
– Gilpin County Overnight Shelter – 10595 Highway 119, Black Hawk (open 24 hours)
– Evergreen Fire Station – 1802 Bergen Pkwy., Evergreen (Saturday from 9 a.m.–5 p.m.)
– Clear Creek Health and Wellness Center – 1969 Miner St., Idaho Springs (Saturday from 9 a.m.–4 p.m.)
– Berthoud Fire Station – 248 Welch Ave., Berthoud (Saturday from 9 a.m.–4 p.m.)
Red Xcel Energy trucks will be present at these sites providing support and information. Customers needing food assistance can use the Food Search Map to find Hunger Relief Partners in communities throughout Colorado.
There are several ways for customers to report outages: through the Xcel Energy mobile app available on Apple’s 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 in under one minute.
Event updates and tips for preparation and safety during severe weather can be found on Xcel Energy’s Event Updates page.
Xcel Energy will provide further updates about this weather event on its website, where customers can check outage maps for real-time information on outages and estimated restoration times. Customers should also ensure their account details are current in My Account.
The company reminds all residents that even those with underground lines or no visible local damage may experience PSPS events due to how neighborhoods connect within the broader grid system.
Public Safety Power Shutoffs help reduce wildfire risk by using weather forecasts and other data sources when deciding protective actions for communities served by Xcel Energy. Factors triggering PSPS include high winds, low humidity, and extremely dry conditions like those seen this week.
Since launching its Wildfire Mitigation work in 2020, Xcel Energy reports ongoing investment in system improvements aimed at reducing fire risk while limiting outage scope and duration. In upgrades completed during 2024 alone, efforts included replacing over eight thousand distribution poles, inspecting nearly nineteen thousand poles, reviewing almost three thousand miles of transmission lines, conducting hundreds of priority equipment repairs on transmission systems, and installing new protection relays at substations.
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“Worker safety is paramount while working to restore electric service,” said Xcel Energy spokespersons. “We ask that customers cooperate to ensure worker safety as crews strive to restore power as quickly as possible.”
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