Xcel Energy crews have restored power to more than half of the 89,000 customers affected by severe winds in Colorado, with most remaining customers expected to have service back by 10 p.m. Some areas, particularly in and around Evergreen, may experience outages into Sunday due to extensive damage and difficult locations. Crews are continuing to inspect lines for damage before making repairs.
The extreme weather on Friday increased wildfire risk and prompted Xcel Energy to implement a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) in Boulder, Clear Creek, Gilpin, Jefferson, Larimer, and Weld counties. Additional outages occurred outside the PSPS areas due to the storm.
“This weather event earned the rare National Weather Service’s rare designation of a ‘Particularly Dangerous Situation’ and put our customers and communities at risk of wildfire danger, damage and power outage. We understand the hardship of being without power for any length of time and are proud of the work our crews have performed this week to return service as quickly and safely as possible. The work isn’t finished, and we want our customers to know we’re committed to completing the job,” said Robert Kenney, president of Xcel Energy—Colorado.
Xcel Energy has kept customers informed throughout the week and will continue providing updates as restoration progresses. The company emphasizes safety for its crew members during ongoing repairs and asks that customers avoid work areas.
Customers are encouraged to report downed lines or damaged poles directly to Xcel Energy while keeping a safe distance from hazards.
To support those impacted by outages, Xcel Energy is working with the American Red Cross and local emergency management offices to operate resource centers where affected residents can access phone charging stations and emergency supplies. Locations include Gilpin County Overnight Shelter in Black Hawk (open 24 hours), Jefferson County Fairgrounds in Golden (open Saturday until 6 p.m.), and Evergreen Fire Station (open Sunday from 9 a.m. to noon). Xcel Energy RED Trucks will also be present at these sites for customer support.
Customers needing food assistance can use the Find Food Map tool online to locate Hunger Relief Partners across Colorado.
Outages or damage can be reported through several channels: via the Xcel Energy 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.
Event updates are available on Xcel Energy’s Event Update webpage. Customers are encouraged to keep their account information current in My Account for timely notifications about restoration status.
Public Safety Power Shutoffs help reduce wildfire risks based on factors like high winds, low humidity, and dry ground conditions. Even neighborhoods with underground power lines may experience outages depending on grid connections.
Since starting its Wildfire Mitigation efforts in 2020, Xcel Energy has invested in upgrades such as replacing over 8,300 distribution poles, inspecting nearly 19,000 poles and almost 2,900 miles of transmission lines in 2024 alone. The company also completed hundreds of priority equipment repairs and installed additional substation protection relays.
Xcel Energy serves millions across eight states—including Minnesota, Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, New Mexico, and Texas—and remains focused on reliability while advancing clean energy initiatives.
