Xcel's unreasonable response to being sued.

I'd like to comment on the preemptive power shutoffs. First, high winds in the front range are NOT new. My personal experience only goes back to 1969 when the Anemometer at NCAR broke due to over speed at something over 130 MPH, however, the foothills topography that drives these winds hasn't changed! Yes, some power lines did break, however, Public Service of Colorado fixed them quickly. (Service, not huge corporate profit).

Secondly a combination of Xcel's unreasonable shutoff policies combined with Century Link/Lumen's lack of a decent backup power source renders many residents totally without emergency (or other) communication. This leads to the things that have changed since 1969. These are greatly increased population in the foothills and decreased moisture due to climate change. Now we are marginally served by utilities driven by primarily by stockholder profit margins, that keep reducing service while continually demanding rate increases.

Because I had the means to do it, we avoided losing hundreds of dollars worth of food and maintained communications capabilities through use of a propane fueled generator and satellite (Starlink) internet. Many people do not have this capability. The neighbors were forced due to stay in a hotel since they lost water (no pump power), heat, light and phone service.