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The PUC regulates Black Hills Energy and Xcel Energy, which both have Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) plans that have been or could be implemented, impacting consumers. PSPS events have planned outages for customers and may also have other storm-related outages.
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 Black Hills or Xcel Energy the use of proactive shutoffs; however, the PUC 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 Black Hills and Xcel Energy 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.
Please take a few minutes to give us your feedback through the survey or comment links below.
The PUC regulates Black Hills Energy and Xcel Energy, which both have Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) plans that have been or could be implemented, impacting consumers. PSPS events have planned outages for customers and may also have other storm-related outages.
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 Black Hills or Xcel Energy the use of proactive shutoffs; however, the PUC 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 Black Hills and Xcel Energy 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.
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 No Xcel Consequences on FacebookShare No Xcel Consequences on TwitterShare No Xcel Consequences on LinkedinEmail No Xcel Consequences link
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.
Share Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) on FacebookShare Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) on TwitterShare Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) on LinkedinEmail Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) link
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
Share How to not treat your customers on FacebookShare How to not treat your customers on TwitterShare How to not treat your customers on LinkedinEmail How to not treat your customers link
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
Share Low Density Disregard on FacebookShare Low Density Disregard on TwitterShare Low Density Disregard on LinkedinEmail Low Density Disregard link
I travel quite a bit in countries that are taking on the challenges of developing their economies. A major priority in less developed countries, particularly in remote regions, is access to electricity and internet connectivity. Over the years, I'm consistently shocked to return home and find how little reliable access I have had to these basic public utilities for the past 35 years (enjoying much more sophisticated and reliable connectivity in remote jungles of Central and South America, The Caribbean, The Tahitian Islands, and Savannas of African Countries).
Until 2012, Dial Up Speed was the only option for my home... Continue reading
Share Dr.Kenneth Suslak on FacebookShare Dr.Kenneth Suslak on TwitterShare Dr.Kenneth Suslak on LinkedinEmail Dr.Kenneth Suslak link
We are 82 year old seniors living in the Boulder Foothills. We were informed of the shutoff by XCel but did not expect 6 days. We had to go to a local coffee house to get updates as we had no service or phones and kept getting confusing updates as to when service would be resumed. As a result, we were not only confused but isolated and freightened. I could not contact family or my patients( I am a psychologist) to let them know what was happening. We lost our refrigerated food at a great cost to us.The only heat... Continue reading
Share Our experience of the December 2025 Shut Offs on FacebookShare Our experience of the December 2025 Shut Offs on TwitterShare Our experience of the December 2025 Shut Offs on LinkedinEmail Our experience of the December 2025 Shut Offs link
My husband is 81 and I am 72. We experienced a great deal of stress and anxiety during the shut offs. We lost power overnight on Tuesday, and then for a much longer period beginning Friday morning. Although the temperatures weren't below freezing, it became quite cold in our home, and we were forced to get in bed for warmth early. We had to buy a propane camp stove so we could boil water and do some basic cooking. Xcel let us know by phone and text that there would be an outage, although it wasn't enough time to prepare... Continue reading
Share Some Common Sense Questions. on FacebookShare Some Common Sense Questions. on TwitterShare Some Common Sense Questions. on LinkedinEmail Some Common Sense Questions. link
We live and have a business in the Golden / Jefferson County area with two commercial properties. Here are some simple questions:
1. When building an addition to our one commercial building in Golden CO we were forced to engineer to 150 mph wind loads. If the residents and businesses in the area have to adhere to these criteria is it that difficult to ask that your supporting utilities can carry the same rating? If the City of Golden requires this, why are they not holding Xcel accountable.
2. Does Xcel employees have watches? If you say you are turning... Continue reading
Share Shut down started after winds were dying down on FacebookShare Shut down started after winds were dying down on TwitterShare Shut down started after winds were dying down on LinkedinEmail Shut down started after winds were dying down link
Twenty fours years of Xcel's lack of power line maintenance and poor customer service is just too much. This PSP episode was unforgivable. We lost power due to extreme winds on Dec 9 and Dec 11th. No PSP then but it moved my 7' x 12' shed 16 inches so not a gentle breeze. 85+mph winds in the early hours of the 19th. No shut down then but at 5 am when the winds were dying down they did their PSP. Since Xcel hasn't being doing regular maintenance for years in our area (Xcel repair crews have told us this)... Continue reading
Share Power cut with underground power lines on FacebookShare Power cut with underground power lines on TwitterShare Power cut with underground power lines on LinkedinEmail Power cut with underground power lines link
Our power was cut off twice, on Wednesday and Friday, even though we live in a community that has underground power lines. But here’s the kicker 1/2 our community was dark but just across the street the houses had power. I guess the winds across the street weren’t as strong😡as ours. So stupid! Explain that Xcel!
Share Very stressful on FacebookShare Very stressful on TwitterShare Very stressful on LinkedinEmail Very stressful link
My 3 day power outage was difficult because the was zero communication from xcel. Their website was never up to date. Status reports had no information or estimate as when the power might go back on. Because we were unprepared, we lost everything in our fridge and freezer. One of the nights was absolutely freezing. The lack of updates was very upsetting. We couldn't make plans because of this. My neighbor is on oxygen and had to leave because she had no estimate as to when electricity would be back. There was no need to turn the electricity off on... Continue reading
