Xcel Energy has initiated a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) affecting customers in Boulder, Clear Creek, Gilpin, Jefferson, Larimer, and Weld counties due to severe weather conditions. The National Weather Service has issued a Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) alert for these areas.
The company expects extreme fire risk conditions to persist at least between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Friday night, with strong winds likely causing additional outages that could extend beyond this period. Restoration efforts cannot begin until the weather improves and may take hours or days depending on the extent of damage.
Since Wednesday, Xcel Energy technicians have restored power to more than 200,000 customers. As winds subside late Friday night, hundreds of staff members are prepared to begin further restoration over the weekend. Some customers may remain without electricity for several days.
“Protecting our workers’ safety is our top priority as they work in your neighborhood to restore power,” the company stated. “We ask our customers to help keep our workers safe as they strive to restore electricity as quickly as possible.”
PSPS events are used to reduce wildfire risk and protect public safety. Xcel Energy relies on weather forecasts and other data sources when deciding how best to protect its customers and communities. Key factors include strong winds, low relative humidity, and dry ground conditions—all present during this event.
The National Weather Service’s PDS alert is linked with today’s Red Flag Warning in Colorado, particularly at elevations between 5,500 and 9,000 feet in Jefferson and Boulder counties—an extreme risk category used only in rare meteorological events.
“Turning off power is not a decision we make lightly,” Xcel Energy said. “Restoration will begin as soon as it is safe for technicians to start work.” The process requires visual inspections of lines and equipment repairs before safely re-energizing affected areas.
Customers are reminded that unplanned outages unrelated to the PSPS may occur due to high winds. People should avoid downed power lines and report any such incidents or visible damage directly to Xcel Energy.
Even residents whose electrical lines are underground or who do not see immediate damage can still be impacted by outages based on how their neighborhood connects to the broader grid.
To support affected communities, Xcel Energy is working with the American Red Cross and local emergency management offices to open resource centers where those without power can charge phones and access emergency supplies at various locations:
– Evergreen Fire Station – 1802 Bergen Pkwy, Evergreen
– Gilpin County School – 10595 Highway 119, Black Hawk
– Wellspring Catholic Academy – 1100 Upham St., Lakewood
– Health and Wellness Center – 1969 Miner St., Idaho Springs
Xcel Energy vehicles will also be present at these sites providing information and assistance. Those needing food assistance can use an online Food Finder Map for resources across Colorado.
Customers can report outages through multiple channels: 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 for outage status updates, or by calling 1-800-895-1999 using an automated system designed for quick reporting.
Updates about this event will be posted on Xcel Energy’s website; customers are encouraged to check outage maps for current information and ensure their account details are up-to-date via My Account. Following Xcel Energy on Facebook or X provides additional updates.
Residents should prepare by keeping devices charged and assembling an emergency kit with essentials like battery-powered radios, flashlights, spare batteries, backup phone chargers, bottled water, non-perishable food items, manual can openers, first aid kits, extension cords for partial outages, instructions for manually opening powered doors (such as garage doors), and key contact numbers including those for medical equipment needs dependent on electricity supply.
The company noted ongoing investments since launching its Wildfire Mitigation program in 2020 aimed at reducing wildfire risks—including replacing thousands of distribution poles in 2024 alone along with extensive inspections of infrastructure such as transmission lines—and installing new protective relays at substations.
“As a reminder,” Xcel Energy said,“customers who rely on medical equipment powered by electricity should take steps now to prepare for possible extended outages—even into Friday.”
Xcel Energy serves millions across eight states from its headquarters in Minneapolis; it continues efforts toward cleaner energy while seeking reliability improvements across its service area.
