Xcel Energy announced preparations for a likely Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) on December 17 in response to forecasts of high winds and dry conditions along Colorado’s Front Range. The company said the shutoff is intended to reduce wildfire risk, with the National Weather Service issuing a Red Flag Warning for the area.
According to Xcel Energy, around 50,000 customers in Boulder, Clear Creek, Jefferson, Larimer, and Weld counties may be affected by the PSPS event, which is now expected to begin at 10 a.m., two hours earlier than initially planned. The decision to adjust the timing and size of impacted areas was based on updated weather forecasts, advanced modeling tools, and recent improvements to grid infrastructure.
The utility noted that while weather conditions are anticipated to improve by Wednesday evening, strong winds could persist through Friday and cause outages outside of designated PSPS zones. Restoration efforts will commence after high winds subside and fire risks decrease. Xcel Energy warned that power restoration could take from several hours up to several days because crews must inspect power lines before re-energizing them.
“Xcel Energy’s goal is to limit the impact of a PSPS event as much as possible while effectively managing high wildfire risk,” the company stated. “Xcel Energy will share further updates on the PSPS event tomorrow morning, and through the event.”
Customers can monitor updates about outages and restoration times via Xcel Energy’s website or outage map. The company encouraged customers to ensure their contact information is current in their online accounts and suggested following its social media channels for timely information.
To prepare for potential outages, Xcel Energy advised residents to assemble emergency kits with essentials such as battery-powered radios, flashlights, backup chargers, bottled water, non-perishable food items, manual can openers, first aid kits, extension cords, and manufacturer instructions for manually operating electric doors. Customers who rely on electrically powered medical equipment were urged to make necessary preparations for extended outages.
The company also outlined multiple ways customers can report outages: using its mobile app available in both Apple App Store and Google Play; reporting online at xcelenergy.com/out; texting OUT or STAT to 98936; or calling 1-800-895-1999.
“We are continually investing in and building out our systems to reduce the risk of wildfire and limit the size, scale, and duration of potential power disruptions,” Xcel Energy said.
Xcel Energy serves millions of customers across eight states including Colorado. More details about outage preparation are available on their website.
