As colder weather arrives in Colorado, residents are being urged to prepare for potential power outages caused by winter storms. The Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management have outlined steps to help individuals stay safe during these events.
Officials recommend assembling an outage kit ahead of time. Essential items include flashlights, batteries, and a portable phone charger. It is also important to know how to contact your electricity provider, either online or by phone, for updates or to report an outage. More information about preparing an outage kit can be found on the Ready.gov Power Outage Fact Sheet.
After a power outage ends, safety remains a priority. Authorities advise evacuating immediately if you smell gas and calling 911 once you are at a safe distance from the building. Damaged power lines should also be reported by leaving the area and contacting emergency services. Residents are cautioned against entering flooded areas or using electrical equipment that may have been submerged; instead, they should have their electrical system checked by a qualified inspector.
The guidance includes recommendations for handling food and medicines: “When in doubt, throw it out,” officials say, urging people to consult with providers about refrigerated medicines. To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, generators, camp stoves, and charcoal grills should only be used outdoors in well-ventilated spaces at least 20 feet from windows.
Additional advice covers electronic safety measures such as using surge protectors and unplugging appliances during outages to avoid damage from surges when power returns. Turning off utilities is only advised if damage is suspected or local officials instruct residents to do so; gas lines must only be turned back on by professionals. Tripped circuit breakers should be inspected by electricians before being reset.
Utility customers can find more information about outage preparedness from Xcel Energy (https://co.my.xcelenergy.com/s/outage-safety), Black Hills Energy (https://www.blackhillsenergy.com/outages), and through the Colorado Rural Electric Association’s co-op map (https://crea.coop/co-op-map-of-colorado/).
