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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. 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.
This is Xcel's second PSPS, the first being in April 2024. The PUC received extensive public input following the 2024 event, much of it focusing on lack of notice, inadequate communication during the event, poor mapping of impacted areas and insufficient planning to identify and protect critical infrastructure and facilities. Since 2024, the PUC has taken several steps requiring Xcel to improve its actions across each of these areas. These areas of improvement include:
Advance coordination with state and local emergency response agencies including holding practice shut off events (i.e. “table-top exercises)
Work with local governments to develop lists of critical infrastructure and facilities (e.g. hospitals and water treatment facilities) in order to prioritize communication and power restoration
Advance notice (starting as early as 72 hours in advance) to all potentially impacted customers along with regular updates leading up to the outage
Accurate and timely communication to customers during the outage
Tailored and advanced outreach to individual customers that have informed Xcel of dependence on electric-powered medical equipment
Accurate and detailed mapping both to help residential and commercial customers understand the scope of outages
The PUC also committed to create 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 December 2025 event. 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.
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. 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.
This is Xcel's second PSPS, the first being in April 2024. The PUC received extensive public input following the 2024 event, much of it focusing on lack of notice, inadequate communication during the event, poor mapping of impacted areas and insufficient planning to identify and protect critical infrastructure and facilities. Since 2024, the PUC has taken several steps requiring Xcel to improve its actions across each of these areas. These areas of improvement include:
Advance coordination with state and local emergency response agencies including holding practice shut off events (i.e. “table-top exercises)
Work with local governments to develop lists of critical infrastructure and facilities (e.g. hospitals and water treatment facilities) in order to prioritize communication and power restoration
Advance notice (starting as early as 72 hours in advance) to all potentially impacted customers along with regular updates leading up to the outage
Accurate and timely communication to customers during the outage
Tailored and advanced outreach to individual customers that have informed Xcel of dependence on electric-powered medical equipment
Accurate and detailed mapping both to help residential and commercial customers understand the scope of outages
The PUC also committed to create 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 December 2025 event. 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 the December 2025 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 Public health and safety study needed on FacebookShare Public health and safety study needed on TwitterShare Public health and safety study needed on LinkedinEmail Public health and safety study needed link
The public health and monetary risks from a wildfire sparked by downed power lines can, and should, to be qualitatively analyzed and compared to public health and monetary risks from extended power outages. Some of these include:
***Health and safety***:
-Fires started by increased use of grills or fire for cooking, and candles and lanterns for lighting.
-Fires and asphyxiation dangers from use of alternative combustion fuel sources for heat or cooking sources.
-Increased spread of infectious disease, especially in vulnerable populations or families with existing illness, due lack of hot water for bathing, washing hands, cleaning soiled (by vomit... Continue reading
Share Kids missing school on FacebookShare Kids missing school on TwitterShare Kids missing school on LinkedinEmail Kids missing school link
I understand cutting power during extreme wind events, however, when it is cut 6+ hours before actual wind arrives, it causes a huge burden for those that have very young children or elderly on oxygen. With technology, we can see real time wind speeds. Why does it need to be cut so early based on a forecast rather than what is actually happening? For me in particular, I have a child on an IEP with an intellectual disability who has missed 3 days of school in a row as well as making it difficult to taking care of my kids... Continue reading
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This is my 14th winter in the same location. I live in Lincoln Hills less than 1000 feet from the united power substation. I have never lost power for more than a few hours before this incident December 2025. I felt safe and comforted with living in close proximity to the UP substation because we rarely lose power in any circumstances. I am aware the surrounding area serviced by Excell energy are frequently without power for days on end. Now excell energy’s problem with their service and infrastructure has now become my problem. I have a family and a my... Continue reading
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I work for Clear Creek County and was only notified when our head of facilities told us Georgetown was being shut down. Xcel’s inconsistent communication is the core of this issue. They blatantly lied when they said the shutdown was only going to be for 11 hours on Friday (12/19), but could extend into Monday. On top of the rate increases, we will be losing both food and medicine as a result. Will Xcel cover that? Most likely not. If they can’t use their 1.9 billion in profits to make their assets more resilient to weather events, what are we... Continue reading
Share Why just us? on FacebookShare Why just us? on TwitterShare Why just us? on LinkedinEmail Why just us? link
My power went off at 5:50 AM this morning. It’s now 10 PM and the power here is still off. The latest communication from Xcel, a text message, says that it might be off for days. Yet I can walk about three minutes to the west of my home, across one street and the lights are on. If I go south a couple blocks the lights are on. Essentially, we are a small island of perhaps 50, maybe 100 homes that are dark surrounded by a sea of homes that have power.
The expressed reason for these “public safety power... Continue reading
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We were without power for 25 hours Wed - Thursday but did have high winds. Today without power from about 09:00 and projected to last til late night 20th or 21st. We had no high winds in my area today, so why no power? No one to give an explanation, just hit or miss checking websites given to us for info. Unacceptable to have power outage for so long with no explanation why our particular area and no person to talk to.!
Share Zero Trust in PUC and Xcel - focus on climate hoax and profits has compromised our infrastructure on FacebookShare Zero Trust in PUC and Xcel - focus on climate hoax and profits has compromised our infrastructure on TwitterShare Zero Trust in PUC and Xcel - focus on climate hoax and profits has compromised our infrastructure on LinkedinEmail Zero Trust in PUC and Xcel - focus on climate hoax and profits has compromised our infrastructure link
We rely on Xcel to provide reliable power, ALWAYS. We also rely on PUC to appropriately regulate public utilities. We understand during a storm that sometimes power is lost but that is not this situation. Their infrastructure should be hardy enough that the power is NEVER turned off. They make billions of dollars a year. Their executives make double digit millions between salary and bonuses. What is PUC doing that this is acceptable especially since you rubber stamp their rate increases every year? It tells me that you are all in bed together and you could care less about the... Continue reading
Share Inconsistent and asinine on FacebookShare Inconsistent and asinine on TwitterShare Inconsistent and asinine on LinkedinEmail Inconsistent and asinine link
This PSPS is absolutely asinine and inconsistent. Here in Georgetown half of the town is without power. Walk across the street and they have power. Less than 12 hours notice to prepare for three days without power is ridiculous given the circumstances.
Georgetown isn’t even in the fire danger zone maps provided by NWS and 9NEWS. It’s the calmest it’s been all week. My weather station shows an avg wind speed of 7mph and peak gusts of 24mph. This shutoff is uncalled for here. Three days when just across the street there’s power.
Share Xcel wasted millions that could have undergrounded our wires on FacebookShare Xcel wasted millions that could have undergrounded our wires on TwitterShare Xcel wasted millions that could have undergrounded our wires on LinkedinEmail Xcel wasted millions that could have undergrounded our wires link
Xcel spent millions that we paid them for electricity to fight Boulder's attempt to become energy independent. All that money could have been spent to underground the power lines that started the Marshall fires and forced the shutdowns today and Wednesday. And they plan to spend billions more anne even more power lines, when excel's president told Boulder city council that 2/3 the cost of electricity was for transmission and distribution. A non-parasitic electric utility would instead incentivize home solar, which reduces or eliminates the need for any more power lines! This was a giant success in Germany which is... Continue reading
Share Seize Xcel energy's assets, shut them down on FacebookShare Seize Xcel energy's assets, shut them down on TwitterShare Seize Xcel energy's assets, shut them down on LinkedinEmail Seize Xcel energy's assets, shut them down link
This company is obviously and clearly retaliating against the areas near the marshall fire. They've expanded the area to pretend they're not doing so this time, but I'm not buying it. They were sued, because instead of spending the BILLIONS in taxpayer subsidies they've been given on upgrading infrastructure, they paid their executives and shareholders more. Public services should not be profitable, especially when taxes subsidize them. Since wind has been an ongoing problem forever here, this company should've put the lines underground DECADES AGO when they were GIVEN OBSCENE AMOUNTS OF MONEY out of our TAXES to do so.... Continue reading
