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Xcel is planning a potential PSPS for parts of Larimer and Weld on Friday January 14, 2026.
On December 17, 2025 Xcel Energy implemented a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) impacting around 52,000 customers in Boulder, Clear Creek, Jefferson, Larimer and Weld counties. Again on December 19, 2025 Xcel Energy implemented a second PSPS event that impacted approximately 69,000 customers in those same counties. Total outages across these days were higher due to damage from this storm and other protective measures implemented by Xcel.
PSPS events are implemented in order to reduce the risk of a wildfire caused by power lines or other utility infrastructure. The Public Utilities Commission does not approve or deny Xcel’s use of proactive shutoffs however, the Agency does have an important role in ensuring that the communication, preparation and coordination of PSPS events is protective of customers.
The PUC is creating a new set of rules establishing permanent requirements and standards for public safety power shutoffs. Staff is currently working to draft these rules and welcomes input from Xcel customers on their experiences with the most recent PSPS events. This information will help ensure that the PUC’s rules are comprehensive.
Please take a few minutes to give us your feedback through the survey or comment links below.
Xcel is planning a potential PSPS for parts of Larimer and Weld on Friday January 14, 2026.
On December 17, 2025 Xcel Energy implemented a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) impacting around 52,000 customers in Boulder, Clear Creek, Jefferson, Larimer and Weld counties. Again on December 19, 2025 Xcel Energy implemented a second PSPS event that impacted approximately 69,000 customers in those same counties. Total outages across these days were higher due to damage from this storm and other protective measures implemented by Xcel.
PSPS events are implemented in order to reduce the risk of a wildfire caused by power lines or other utility infrastructure. The Public Utilities Commission does not approve or deny Xcel’s use of proactive shutoffs however, the Agency does have an important role in ensuring that the communication, preparation and coordination of PSPS events is protective of customers.
The PUC is creating a new set of rules establishing permanent requirements and standards for public safety power shutoffs. Staff is currently working to draft these rules and welcomes input from Xcel customers on their experiences with the most recent PSPS events. This information will help ensure that the PUC’s rules are comprehensive.
Please take a few minutes to give us your feedback through the survey or comment links below.
Have feedback for the PUC about a recent Public Safety Power Shutoff? Feel free to share here. Please note: This info will be public for other users to see.
Thank you for sharing your story with us.
Share Longer Term Plan - Not PSPS on FacebookShare Longer Term Plan - Not PSPS on TwitterShare Longer Term Plan - Not PSPS on LinkedinEmail Longer Term Plan - Not PSPS link
I understand Xcel's turning off the power. We had power lines snapped in half near our house and a fire in those high winds would be devastating. However, PSPSes can not be the long-term plan. Shutting off power to thousands of customers for days isn't a solution.
We need to have the right infrastructure (i.e. buried power lines) that doesn't necessitate shutoff in high wind areas like along the foothills. We will get high winds again. My wife couldn't work for three days (she runs a small business out of our house) and I had to leave town to get... Continue reading
Share The What Ifs... vs the inconvenience. on FacebookShare The What Ifs... vs the inconvenience. on TwitterShare The What Ifs... vs the inconvenience. on LinkedinEmail The What Ifs... vs the inconvenience. link
A prophylactic power outage, while inconvenient, is far better than the devastating alternative of a wildfire destroying an entire neighborhood. Temporarily shutting off electricity during extreme fire conditions can prevent downed lines or faulty equipment from sparking a blaze that spreads uncontrollably in dry, high-wind environments. The discomfort of losing power for a few hours or even a day—no lights, limited air conditioning, disrupted routines—pales in comparison to the permanent loss of homes, businesses, and irreplaceable personal belongings.
A preventive shutdown is a proactive, controlled decision rooted in risk management, not fear. It reflects a commitment to public safety over... Continue reading
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If the wind isn’t blowing keep our power on! do not shut off our power if we don’t have wind. Do not shut off our power 8 hours prior to a forecasted wind event that never happens! Reinforce the grid or bury the power lines. This entire episode was unnecessary and shows your incompetence as a power supplier.
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I understand taking precautions to prevent wildfire and I was supportive of the PSPS shutdown. However, I feel that Xcel failed to set appropriate expectations for the extent of potential outages and communicated poorly with customers as events unfolded.
We made crucial decisions based on Xcel communications about the timing and length of outages that turned out to be wrong — in some cases, off by not just hours, but days. Power went off without warning, in some cases. We received messages stating that power was restored when it had not been and sometimes received numerous contradictory messages minutes apart... Continue reading
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I was informed that my power would be shut off proactively on both Wednesday and Friday events. Power was not shut off Wednesday proactively, but was later off due to downed lines anyway.
On Friday, power was proactively shut off, then during the event I received emails and text messages containing information that:
the event was actually unexpected,
it would be restored by 6pm,
it would be restored by 10pm,
the Proactive Shutoff event was actually expected but wouldn't be resolved until possibly noon Sunday or possibly Monday,
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I would like to say that I support the decision to turn off power up in my foothills neighborhood on Wednesday. Then the power was back on Thursday at 6:00 pm for 5 hours. The Friday winds were the worst that I have seen in 48 years up here. Lines down, trees falling into houses and terrifying noise were justification for turning off the power. I did not have any communication with Excel due to no service on my phone. In talking to the different companies working to restore power there was a common thread. There was a lack of... Continue reading
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Early on, I was informed that my house was in a potential PSPS area. Later, I received an e-mail saying the PSPS was no longer in effect for my neighborhood. Then, in the late evening of Dec 17, the power to my neighborhood was shut off. I suspect this was a preventative shutoff, since they restored power many hours later, without the normal power line inspection they always do in my neighborhood after an unplanned outage. I received ZERO communication from Xcel regarding the outage, the cause (planned/unplanned), nor estimated restoration time, nor a "power was restored" e-mail. On an... Continue reading
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Why is Xcel not liable for planned outages that greatly exceed the time frames originally communicated? Easily $600 of food lost, over 50,000 people, that’s $30MM. in Genesee, our mobile service only allowed texts, but Xcel sent out emails? when Xcel has no penalty, no consequences to poorly handling a planned outage, of course they will do it again? Hardening their power lines in a hilly, mountainous area should have been happening for decades, not a new 2025-26 program. Colorado President Kenney response is tone deaf. ONLY 50,000 people, how about next time when it’s Denver property.
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We were told that our power could have possibly be shutoff as part of the Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) at Noon on the first day of wind in the front range last week. Our power went off at 9:51 am, not noon. Our house on the far east side of Golden on Eldridge never experienced any bad winds that day, but the power stayed off in access of 28 hours. We lost over 50 pounds food from our refrigerator. The next outage, the next morning we were experiencing no wind again, and power went off at approximately 5am. If... Continue reading
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I live in the mountains and rely on power for heat, water and of course power. I have lived in Colorado all my life and have never had to go through what we did this week.
The original notification was for power to go off at 10 am on Dec 17th to 6pm the same day. We then received a notification that power would be back on early at 1:15pm. Little did I know I would not have a shower for the next 4 days. We had just bought a ton of raw dog food for Black Friday. this needs... Continue reading
