Xcel Energy crews are working to restore power in northern Colorado after a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) and severe weather caused widespread outages. The company initiated the PSPS in Larimer and Weld counties on Friday morning to reduce wildfire risk, as wind gusts over 65 miles per hour led the National Weather Service to issue a Red Flag Warning. The same weather system caused additional outages outside the PSPS area.
Weather conditions began to improve around 4 p.m., but high winds may continue into Friday evening, potentially causing further outages. Xcel Energy has deployed hundreds of crew members and contractors who are inspecting power lines, making repairs, and restoring electricity where it is safe. Crews will work extended 16-hour shifts overnight from Friday into Saturday, with restoration efforts continuing until all customers have power again, provided conditions remain safe.
Most customers are expected to have service restored by Friday, though some may experience outages into Saturday. Restoration requires visual inspection of lines before repairs can proceed.
“The safety of crew members is paramount. Xcel Energy asks customers to help keep crew members safe by giving them the space they need to do their job safely and efficiently,” the company stated.
Xcel Energy acknowledged that high winds arrived later than forecasted, with PSPS criteria being met between noon and 1 p.m. in most affected areas. The company emphasized its ongoing monitoring of weather conditions to minimize both the scale and duration of any PSPS events.
“Weather systems can shift quickly, and the company determines the public safety risk level based on current conditions and how those conditions are expected to evolve over the coming hours. The decision to enact a Public Safety Power Shutoff Friday was grounded in the best available data and complied with established safety thresholds,” according to Xcel Energy.
Customers are encouraged to report outages or damage through multiple channels: via the Xcel Energy mobile app (available in the Apple App Store and Google Play), online at xcelenergy.com/out, by texting OUT or STAT to 98936 for outage reporting or status updates, or by calling 1-800-895-1999 using an automated phone system designed for quick reporting.
Updates about this event, preparation tips, outage reporting instructions, and other information can be found on the Xcel Energy Event Update webpage. Customers should also check their account information for up-to-date communication preferences in My Account and can follow updates on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).
The PSPS program is part of Xcel Energy’s broader wildfire mitigation strategy that uses weather forecasts and data sources to guide decisions aimed at protecting communities from wildfires. Factors considered include high winds, low humidity, and dry ground—all present during this event.
Even neighborhoods with underground power lines or no visible damage may still be affected due to how local grids connect with larger systems.
Since launching its Wildfire Mitigation initiative in 2020, Xcel Energy has invested in infrastructure improvements such as replacing thousands of distribution poles, inspecting transmission lines, completing priority equipment repairs, and installing substation protection relays—efforts that continued through 2024.
Xcel Energy 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 or via their social media channels.
