Xcel Energy crews have restored electricity to more than half of the 89,000 customers in Colorado who lost power following strong winds on Friday. The company expects most customers will have service back by 10 p.m., though restoration in some areas, particularly in and around Evergreen, may extend into Sunday due to severe damage and challenging locations. Technicians are continuing visual inspections of power lines before repairs can be completed.
The extreme weather prompted an elevated wildfire risk and led Xcel Energy to implement a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) in Boulder, Clear Creek, Gilpin, Jefferson, Larimer, and Weld counties. Additional outages also occurred for customers not directly affected by the PSPS.
“This weather event received the rare designation from the National Weather Service as a ‘Particularly Dangerous Situation’ and put our customers and communities at risk of wildfires, damage, and outages. We understand the difficulties of being without electricity for any period of time and we are proud of the work our technicians have done this week to restore service as quickly and safely as possible. The work is not finished, and we want our customers to know that we are committed to completing the job,” said Robert Kenney, president of Xcel Energy—Colorado.
Xcel Energy has maintained communication with customers throughout the week and will continue providing updates as restoration progresses. The company emphasized technician safety during repairs and asked customers to help keep crews safe while they work.
Customers are encouraged to report any damage such as downed power lines or broken poles to Xcel Energy and stay clear of these hazards.
To support those affected by outages caused by this week’s winds, Xcel Energy is working with the American Red Cross and local emergency management offices to provide resource centers where impacted residents can charge phones and access 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’s RED trucks will also be present at these sites offering support and information.
For food assistance needs, residents can use the Food Finder Map to locate Hunger Relief Partners across Colorado.
Customers can report outages or damages through several channels: via 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 for automated reporting.
Event updates along with tips for preparation, safety advice, outage reporting instructions, and information during severe weather conditions are available on Xcel Energy’s Event Updates page. Customers should ensure their account details are current in My Account for timely notifications. They can also follow Xcel Energy on Facebook and X for further updates.
Public Safety Power Shutoffs aim to reduce wildfire risks using weather forecasts and other data sources. Key factors considered include high winds, low humidity, and dry ground conditions—all present during this event. Even areas with underground lines or no visible local damage may experience outages due to how neighborhoods connect within the broader grid.
Since launching its Wildfire Mitigation efforts in 2020, Xcel Energy has invested in system improvements aimed at reducing fire risks while limiting outage size and duration. In 2024 alone, upgrades included replacing over 8,300 distribution poles, inspecting nearly 19,000 poles and more than 2,800 miles of transmission lines, completing hundreds of priority equipment repairs on transmission systems, and installing new protective relays at substations.
Xcel Energy serves millions across eight states including Minnesota, Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, New Mexico, and Texas from its headquarters in Minneapolis. More information is available at xcelenergy.com or through their social media channels.
