Xcel power preemptive power outages unsustainable

Regarding the scheduled power outages during last week’s extreme wind events, I want to be clear that I understand the need for preemptive shutoffs when fire danger is high. Public safety must come first. However, the execution of these shutoffs and, more importantly, Xcel Energy’s communication and restoration process were unacceptable.

Xcel did provide adequate notice for the initial shutoff on Wednesday. After that point, communications deteriorated significantly. Customers received a confusing and often contradictory series of texts, emails, and phone calls that provided little clarity on restoration timelines or next steps. After Wednesday’s power was off for an extended amount of time, Xcel actually went “dark” for hours on Thursday morning. The lack of clear, consistent information created unnecessary frustration and hardship.

Compounding this issue, a second preemptive shutoff occurred before power had even been fully restored from the first event. As a result, many customers experienced four to six consecutive days without electricity. That level of disruption is not reasonable and should not be considered acceptable under any circumstances.

Xcel Energy reported nearly $2 billion in profits last year, with approximately 50% of those profits coming from Colorado customers. At the same time, the company regularly highlights infrastructure improvements and requests rate increases to fund them. Yet the extended restoration times—attributed to the need to manually walk power lines—suggest that system resiliency has not kept pace with those claims. Other utilities employ line sensors and advanced monitoring technologies to reduce restoration times, and Xcel should be doing the same. Additionally, it is past time for serious investment in burying power lines in high-wind, high-risk areas such as the foothills.

Xcel is seeking a 10% rate increase for 2026. Rather than prioritizing shareholder returns, any increase approved by the Public Utilities Commission should be directed toward meaningful infrastructure improvements that reduce outages and improve reliability, including undergrounding lines where appropriate.

High winds in the foothills are not a rare or unexpected event—they are a seasonal reality. If the new norm is multi-day outages following preemptive shutoffs, that approach is simply not viable. Extended power loss leads to spoiled food, no water for those on wells /pumps, business closures, inoperable gas stations, and medical offices unable to serve patients. Many customers do not have the financial means to install generators or battery backup systems, nor should that be an expectation.

Xcel Energy must do better. Improved communication, faster restoration, and serious long-term infrastructure investment are not optional—they are essential.