Power was restored late Friday night to all Xcel Energy customers in northern Colorado who were affected by the Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS), according to the company. Crews completed restoration efforts around 9:30 p.m., following a shutdown that began Friday morning due to high wildfire risk prompted by severe weather.
A weather system with wind gusts exceeding 65 miles per hour created extreme fire danger, leading Xcel Energy to implement the PSPS in Larimer and Weld counties as a precautionary measure. The same winds also caused additional outages outside of the designated shutoff area. Restoration work for those unplanned outages continued into Saturday morning and is expected to conclude later in the day.
Hundreds of crew members and contractors from across Colorado were dispatched once conditions allowed, tasked with inspecting power lines, making necessary repairs, and restoring service. Robert Kenney, president of Xcel Energy – Colorado, said, “We are grateful for the swift work of our crew members, contractors and community partners. We also appreciate our customers’ patience and support as we work to protect the safety of communities and decrease the risk of wildfire.”
Xcel Energy noted that outages can be disruptive but emphasized ongoing investments in infrastructure aimed at reducing future wildfire risks and limiting both the extent and duration of power disruptions. The company highlighted recent upgrades made as part of its Wildfire Mitigation program started in 2020. In 2024 alone, Xcel Energy replaced over 8,000 distribution poles, inspected nearly 19,000 poles, checked more than 2,800 miles of transmission lines, completed hundreds of priority equipment repairs, and installed new substation protection relays.
The company reminded customers that even neighborhoods with underground power lines or no visible damage could experience outages due to how they connect to the wider grid.
Customers are encouraged to report any remaining issues such as downed lines or damaged poles through various channels including Xcel’s mobile app (available via Apple App Store or Google Play), their website (xcelenergy.com/out), text messaging services (“OUT” or “STAT” to 98936), or by calling their automated phone line at 1-800-895-1999.
Updates on current events can be found on Xcel Energy’s Event Update webpage. Customers can also monitor outage maps online for real-time information about service status or follow Xcel Energy’s social media accounts on Facebook and X for additional updates.
According to the company, PSPS events are determined using forecasts and other data sources; decisions consider factors like wind speed, humidity levels, and ground conditions. These actions aim to minimize wildfire risks during periods when such threats are elevated.
Xcel Energy serves customers across eight states—Minnesota, Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, New Mexico and Texas—and says it remains committed to providing reliable energy while supporting clean energy initiatives.
