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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 Inbox Documents Clear Pattern on FacebookShare Inbox Documents Clear Pattern on TwitterShare Inbox Documents Clear Pattern on LinkedinEmail Inbox Documents Clear Pattern link
My inbox documents a clear pattern: frequent outages, shifting restoration forecasts, and customer communication that’s reactive rather than informed.
The timing is troubling. On December 9th, I received a rate-hike notice justified by “billions spent on infrastructure improvements.” Minutes later, the first of many outage alerts arrived — the start of nearly continuous service instability.
My husband and I are retired and go south during the winter. We have different people checking on our house. However, they cannot do anything about spoiled food when Ccel Keri’s shutting down
The power. I had to throw out two freezers and a fridge full of food and get MOLD out between the doors of my fridge two years ago. Now they have shut our power down twice in the last two days. In my opinion they are just covering their own Axxes! please stop this nonsense and make them put the lines underground!! And or be respectful of... Continue reading
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We were first told power would turn off at 20:00 AM and be back by 6:00 PM. It actually turned off earlier. Then later in the afternoon restart time was moved to 7:30 PM. That time came and went with no power. Finally we were informed it would return at 6:00 PM the next day. By that time the outage map on the internet had failed. Power was finally restored around 2;00.
As if to compensate for the lack of communication about the Wednesday shutdown, we received multiple and conflicting texts emails and calls about Friday’s shutdown, with anticipated restoration... Continue reading
Share Xcel’s greed ruins Christmas on FacebookShare Xcel’s greed ruins Christmas on TwitterShare Xcel’s greed ruins Christmas on LinkedinEmail Xcel’s greed ruins Christmas link
There is allot of messed up things that happened because of this power outage that did not need to happen and the PUC needs to wake the F up and do something about xcels profit greed. Xcel wants to raise rates on us again when their ceo made $12.6 million last year and the Colorado head Robert Kenny made close to $10 million. Monopoly public utilities should not be for profit and should not strive to make money for its shareholders while neglecting & frankly ripping off their customers. We all know this power shut off is not for “safety”... Continue reading
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It took acres of fires, destroyed homes, and untold misery for the PUC to take any action. What will it take next?
The PUC and Xcel Energy lie to us. Based on population figures, the numbers simply don't add up. How can a power outage that harmed Boulder, a city of over 250k people, only affect 50k customers? The vast majority of the city did not have power. I am not even accounting for the surrounding areas. Their metric is egregiously flawed. Does a grandmother living with her family, who's oxygen machine suddenly turned off escape measurement simply because her... Continue reading
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This planned power outage, done "for my safety", has been one of the most unbelievable things I've ever experienced. Wind has existed since the beginning of time, and Colorado has had a power grid for over a century. Yet not until 2024/2025 has the power ever been intentionally shut off because it is windy.
I work from home full time and not have any power was extremely disruptive. I lost almost two days of work during 27 hours without power. My mom, who lives with us, has neck and back issues and, due to the temperature of the house decreasing... Continue reading
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My name is Sam. I use a medical device to breathe for me while I sleep. Without this device I will die.
While not overly complicated in design this device does require power to use. For emergencies I have a battery that can handle the requirements of the machine but only for a couple of days. I would buy a better one but I can't really afford it.
I was given roughly a days notice by text regarding the outage. Which is long enough to charge the battery, but not necessarily long enough to prepare other things in our home... Continue reading
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On Dec 16 we heard of the possible power outage on local news without any communication from Xcel whatsoever. On the morning of Dec 17 close to 10 AM the power was cut with very little to no wind blowing. In fact I went outside for a few hours because it was so nice and calm. When I checked the Xcel website soon after the outage started it indicated the outage was unplanned. This was a lie. They planned it. At about 4 PM the wind finally started picking up. Not horrible for the front range but blustery. Normal for... Continue reading
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We were told we MIGHT have a power outage by 11:00 A.M. We lost power at 10:30 while we were trying to get things done before the outage MIGHT happen.
Excel knows where and when these planned outages are going to take place. It is their responsibility to let customers know way in advance. They can't just say power MIGHT be shut off in Weld County - where in Weld County?
Excel needs to explain the process of which areas are chosen and why. Why are some houses on a block shut off while houses on the same block still... Continue reading
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We live in Berthoud 80513. we received voicemails indicating we MIGHT be impacted from Noon until 6PM on Wednesday. Power was shut off at 9:56 am. and was not turned back on until 11:50 PM (14 hours?!!!) Our neighborhood was the ONLY houses without power! We could see less than 1 mile in both directions unaffected neighbors with their lights on (their power had not been shut off at all). Power was also on in both Loveland, Longmont and the rural areas in between.
Why is a power company allowed to force a shutdown because something “might” happen? Excel should... Continue reading
