Xcel Energy has started restoring power to customers affected by a strong wind event and a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) that occurred on Wednesday. The weather system brought wind gusts exceeding 90 miles per hour and low humidity, creating hazardous wildfire conditions, especially along Colorado’s Front Range. As of 8 p.m., about 120,000 outages were reported, with roughly 50,000 linked to the PSPS and another 68,500 due to severe weather.
Restoration efforts are expected to be complex and could take from several hours up to several days. Crews must wait for dangerous weather and wildfire risks to subside before inspecting and repairing power lines. Xcel Energy crews and contractors are already working along the Front Range to restore service where it is safe.
The company is preparing for another potential PSPS event on Friday, December 19, as forecasts predict a return of high winds, dry ground conditions, and low humidity. This upcoming event could affect mountain communities as well as the Front Range starting as early as 5 a.m., potentially resulting in some areas being without power for more than three days.
“We understand being without power for any length of time is difficult, much less for multiple times in several days,” said Robert Kenney, president of Xcel Energy – Colorado. “We do not take these events lightly, as the safety of our customers and communities are our top priority. We want our customers to know that our crews are working as quickly as possible to safely restore power and hope our customers will give our crews grace as they work through these challenging conditions over the next few days.”
Xcel Energy uses weather forecasts and data sources to determine actions needed for public safety during high-risk periods. Factors such as high winds, low relative humidity, and dry ground play a significant role in their risk models.
To assist those impacted by outages from Wednesday’s wind event in Jefferson County, Xcel Energy is collaborating with the American Red Cross and local officials to open two resource centers on Thursday from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., including one at Belmar Library in Lakewood. These centers will offer phone charging stations and information support via Xcel Energy Red Trucks.
Customers are encouraged to report outages or damage through several methods: using the Xcel Energy mobile app (available via Apple App Store or Google Play), online at xcelenergy.com/out, by texting OUT or STAT to 98936 for outage status updates, or by calling 1-800-895-1999.
For ongoing updates regarding outages and restoration times during severe weather events, customers can visit the Xcel Energy Event Update web page or check their outage map online. Customers should also ensure their contact details are current within My Account settings on the website.
Xcel Energy recommends building an emergency kit with essentials such as battery-powered radios, flashlights, backup chargers, bottled water, non-perishable food items, manual can openers, first aid kits, extension cords for partial outages, manufacturer instructions for manually opening powered doors like garage doors, and important phone numbers including those for residential (800-895-1999) or business (800-481-4700) inquiries.
Customers who rely on medical equipment powered by electricity should prepare for extended outages; additional outreach will be conducted for qualifying medical customers ahead of Friday’s anticipated event.
Since beginning its Wildfire Mitigation work in 2020, Xcel Energy has invested in upgrades aimed at reducing wildfire risk and minimizing disruptions. In 2024 alone these improvements included replacing over 8,300 distribution poles; inspecting nearly 19,000 distribution poles; checking more than 2,800 miles of transmission lines; completing hundreds of priority repairs; and installing new substation protection relays.
The company continues communicating with affected communities throughout these events while striving to limit PSPS impacts wherever possible.
