Xcel Energy crews are working to restore power in northern Colorado after implementing a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) and responding to additional outages caused by severe weather. On Friday morning, Xcel Energy initiated the PSPS in Larimer and Weld counties to reduce wildfire risk and protect public safety. The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning as wind gusts exceeded 65 miles per hour, causing widespread outages beyond the initial PSPS area.
Weather conditions that prompted the PSPS began improving in some areas around 4 p.m., but strong winds are expected to continue through Friday night, which could result in more outages. Hundreds of Xcel Energy employees and contractors are inspecting lines, making repairs, and restoring service as soon as it is safe. Teams will work extended 16-hour shifts overnight from Friday into Saturday until electricity is restored, with operations running around the clock when conditions allow.
The company expects most customers will have power restored on Friday, but some outages may last into Saturday. Before restoring service, crews must visually inspect lines for damage.
“The safety of our workers is paramount. We ask our customers to help ensure worker safety by giving them the space they need to do their jobs safely and efficiently,” said Xcel Energy.
Xcel Energy acknowledged that forecasted high winds arrived later than predicted, with most PSPS criteria being met between noon and 1 p.m. in affected areas. The company monitors weather conditions closely to minimize both the scale and duration of any necessary shutoffs.
Decisions regarding PSPS events are based on current risks to public safety and evolving forecasts. “The decision to implement a Public Safety Power Shutoff on Friday was based on the best available data and met established safety thresholds,” according to Xcel Energy.
Customers are encouraged to report outages or damage via multiple channels: through the Xcel Energy mobile app (available from 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. Updates about this event, preparation tips, outage reporting tools, and information about adverse weather can be found on Xcel Energy’s Event Update webpage.
Customers can also get real-time updates using Xcel Energy’s outage map and should keep their account information current through My Account. Social media updates are available on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).
Public Safety Power Shutoff events aim to reduce wildfire risks by shutting off power during extreme weather such as high winds and low humidity. Even neighborhoods with underground power lines may be affected depending on how they are connected within the broader grid.
Since launching its wildfire mitigation program in 2020, Xcel Energy has invested in system upgrades aimed at limiting both fire risk and outage impacts. Improvements made in 2024 include 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, and installing new protection relays at substations.
“Xcel Energy uses weather forecasts and other data sources to decide how best to protect its customers and communities,” stated the company.
Headquartered in Minneapolis, Xcel Energy serves electricity and gas customers across eight states: Minnesota, Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, New Mexico, and Texas. More information is available at xcelenergy.com or through their social media channels.
