Xcel Energy crews have restored power to more than half of the 89,000 customers affected by severe winds in Colorado on Friday. The company expects most customers will have service restored by 10 p.m., but repairs in areas with significant damage, particularly around Evergreen, may continue into Sunday. Crews are conducting visual inspections of lines before completing repairs and restoring power.
On Friday, extreme weather conditions created a high wildfire risk, prompting Xcel Energy to implement a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) in Boulder, Clear Creek, Gilpin, Jefferson, Larimer, and Weld counties. Additional outages occurred outside the PSPS areas due to the storm.
“This weather event earned the rare National Weather Service’s rare designation of a ‘Particularly Dangerous Situation’ and put our customers and communities at risk of wildfire danger, damage and power outage. We understand the hardship of being without power for any length of time and are proud of the work our crews have performed this week to return service as quickly and safely as possible. The work isn’t finished, and we want our customers to know we’re committed to completing the job,” said Robert Kenney, president of Xcel Energy—Colorado.
The company has kept customers informed throughout the week and will continue providing updates as restoration efforts progress. Xcel Energy emphasizes safety for both its crews and customers during ongoing repairs. Customers are urged to report downed lines or broken poles while staying clear of damaged equipment.
To support those impacted by outages, Xcel Energy is collaborating with the American Red Cross and local emergency management offices to operate resource centers offering phone charging stations and emergency supplies at locations in Black Hawk, Golden, and Evergreen. The company’s RED Trucks will be present at these sites for additional assistance.
Customers can report outages or damages using several methods: through the Xcel Energy mobile app available on Apple App Store or Google Play; online at xcelenergy.com/out; via text by sending OUT or STAT to 98936; or by calling 1-800-895-1999.
Updates about this weather event are available on Xcel Energy’s website where customers can check outage maps for current information. Customers are encouraged to keep their account details up-to-date in My Account for timely notifications. Information is also shared via Xcel Energy’s Facebook page and X account.
PSPS events are used by utilities like Xcel Energy to reduce wildfire risks during dangerous weather conditions such as high winds combined with low humidity and dry ground. Even neighborhoods with underground lines may experience outages depending on how they connect to the larger grid.
Since launching its Wildfire Mitigation program in 2020, Xcel Energy has invested in system upgrades aimed at reducing fire risks and minimizing disruptions. In 2024 alone, improvements included replacing over 8,300 distribution poles, inspecting nearly 19,000 poles and almost 2,900 miles of transmission lines, completing hundreds of priority repairs on transmission equipment, and installing new substation protection relays.
Xcel Energy serves millions across eight states from its headquarters in Minneapolis. The company focuses on delivering reliable electricity and gas while advancing clean energy initiatives.
