Xcel Energy is preparing for severe weather conditions and an increased risk of wildfires along Colorado’s Front Range this week. The company announced that a strong wind event is expected on Wednesday, December 17, bringing very high winds and dry conditions to the area.
To reduce wildfire risk and protect public safety, Xcel Energy is planning for a likely Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) starting at noon on December 17. This measure could affect customers in Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson, Larimer, and Weld counties. Weather forecasts suggest conditions will improve by around 6 p.m. the same day.
If a PSPS or other weather-related outages occur, power restoration will begin only after the high winds and fire risks have passed. Restoration may take several hours or even days because crews must inspect power lines before service can be safely restored.
The company is providing updates and safety tips on its Event Update webpage to help customers prepare for possible outages. Customers can also check if their address may be affected by a PSPS event online.
Robert Kenney, president of Xcel Energy—Colorado said: “The predicted extreme weather has the potential to cause extensive damage to our electric infrastructure, resulting in extended power outages. We are monitoring the situation closely, including the potential for significantly elevated wildfire risk. If needed, we are prepared to perform a targeted Public Safety Power Shut Off as a last resort to protect our customers and communities. As always, our crews will work as quickly and safely as they can to restore power in the event of a PSPS or other weather-related outages.”
Xcel Energy will continue contacting potentially affected customers as the forecasted event approaches and provide ongoing updates during the incident with information about outages and restoration efforts.
Customers are encouraged to stay informed through Xcel Energy’s website outage map or by updating their contact preferences in My Account. Updates are also available via Xcel Energy’s Facebook page and X (formerly Twitter).
To prepare for possible outages, customers should keep devices charged and assemble an emergency kit with items such as battery-powered radios, flashlights, batteries, backup phone chargers, bottled water, non-perishable food items, manual can openers, first aid kits, extension cords for partial outages, instructions for manually opening power-operated doors like garage doors, and important phone numbers for residential or business support.
Customers who rely on medical equipment powered by electricity are advised to make preparations for extended outages; Xcel Energy plans additional outreach for qualifying medical customers.
Outages can be reported through several channels: using the Xcel Energy mobile app available from Apple App Store or Google Play; online at xcelenergy.com/out; via text message by sending OUT or STAT to 98936; or by calling 1-800-895-1999.
Xcel Energy states it continues investing in systems designed to reduce wildfire risks while limiting both the size and duration of potential disruptions.
The company serves millions of customers across eight states including Minnesota, Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, New Mexico and Texas. More information is available at xcelenergy.com.
