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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 Xcel never seems to know when we have power or not on FacebookShare Xcel never seems to know when we have power or not on TwitterShare Xcel never seems to know when we have power or not on LinkedinEmail Xcel never seems to know when we have power or not link
We lost power as part of the PSPS at 10am on Wed Dec 17th, even though the lines in our neighborhood are underground. Power was not restored until Thu Dec 18th at 12:30pm. Then on Friday we lost power for the next PSPS at 6am, power was restored at 2pm Sat.
Each time, I had to periodically use Xcel's outage checker and report that out outage was still ongoing even though Xcel listed our address as having power. We had the same issue with the PSPS last April.
The estimates Xcel provided as to when power would be restored were... Continue reading
Share Students lost too much school in our area- ahead of 19 days off on FacebookShare Students lost too much school in our area- ahead of 19 days off on TwitterShare Students lost too much school in our area- ahead of 19 days off on LinkedinEmail Students lost too much school in our area- ahead of 19 days off link
I understand the need for wildfire safety when we have these red flag days. I am most concerned with the school impacts that occurred this week. I have lived in this neighborhood for 8 years, and we have never experienced anything like this, despite have days with MUCH stronger and higher wind. It was clear Xcel did no teaming with JEFFCO school district ahead of this, based on the irresponsible blanket closures- some areas absolutely needed the power off and closed buildings- we were not one of them, experiencing literally no wind. Jeffco and Xcel should have exercised delayed starts... Continue reading
Share How does wind affect underground power feed on FacebookShare How does wind affect underground power feed on TwitterShare How does wind affect underground power feed on LinkedinEmail How does wind affect underground power feed link
I find it disgusting that they get away with arbitrary power denials as revenge for lawsuits related to their negligence, even moreso when we are told to prepare for 10 hour power denials that turn into days because they have no plan to turn to power back on. It worse that they blame the weather for their revenge tactics when I live in an area where power lines are UNDERGROUND. We need an alternative to choose and the PUC is the ONLY entity that can regulate competition or at a minimum ALLOW it.
Share Communications weren't great - else everyone should stop complaining on FacebookShare Communications weren't great - else everyone should stop complaining on TwitterShare Communications weren't great - else everyone should stop complaining on LinkedinEmail Communications weren't great - else everyone should stop complaining link
What went wrong - confusing notifications about when and where the shutoffs would start/end
What went ok - having lived in Evergreen for 38 years, we are used to power outages, up to one week long. We have a 2 kw and 5kw generator that we can use to run fridge and even TV. We store plenty of water ahead of storms (we are on well), and make sure we have food that we need. We have a gas stove and fireplace. So are outages inconvenient? Yes. Are they part of living in the mountains? Yes. So if folks can't... Continue reading
Share Xcel Missed the mark on FacebookShare Xcel Missed the mark on TwitterShare Xcel Missed the mark on LinkedinEmail Xcel Missed the mark link
For a public utility that has amassed billions in profit over the past five years, Xcel is more concerned with making profit for its shareholders than improving what quite frankly should be our infrastructure. Public utilities should not be publicly traded commodities. I had over a hundred thousand dollars worth of medicine in my refrigerator to treat my illness, but I had no means to get ice for my cooler. Xcel’s communication was at best poor. While it was plentiful, the information provided was often inaccurate and outright wrong. They need to do better.
Share 4 Day "Planned" Outage, Questionable Fire Risk Reduction on FacebookShare 4 Day "Planned" Outage, Questionable Fire Risk Reduction on TwitterShare 4 Day "Planned" Outage, Questionable Fire Risk Reduction on LinkedinEmail 4 Day "Planned" Outage, Questionable Fire Risk Reduction link
My wife and I live in Morrison, and were without power from Wednesday morning through Saturday evening.
Because my wife is pregnant and could not safely be without heat, we were forced to stay in a hotel the first night of the outage. We were fortunate to find and purchase a generator the following day, but despite that, we still lost most of the food in our refrigerator.
While I understand and support the goal of reducing wildfire risk during extreme wind events, I am concerned that this approach may be creating new risks while shifting the burden almost entirely... Continue reading
Share Alarmingly disorganized on FacebookShare Alarmingly disorganized on TwitterShare Alarmingly disorganized on LinkedinEmail Alarmingly disorganized link
We just got our power back after 5 days. The information shared by the power company was disorganized at best, as I count 31 texts from them and most were inaccurate. Since we had no power, no data service from Verizon, and no wifi access, we were completely cut off. These texts could only be accessed after a 30 minute drive from our home to an area that did have data service.
Equally unhelpful were the maps. They were incorrect and remained almost exactly the same for the duration of the five days! We were left to our own initiative... Continue reading
Share Thankful for the preventive measures being taken by Xcel on FacebookShare Thankful for the preventive measures being taken by Xcel on TwitterShare Thankful for the preventive measures being taken by Xcel on LinkedinEmail Thankful for the preventive measures being taken by Xcel link
I want to thank Xcel for taking safety measures to avoid a catastrophic fire in the foothills of Colorado. Although power outages are frustrating I would much rather deal with it than a fire. I know Xcel is receiving a lot of backlash right now, but you cant' hold them accountable for the Marshall fire and then blame them for trying to prevent another. I was contacted via text, email and phone to warn of the upcoming outage, so I had time to prepare. Maybe they could send out suggestions as to how to do that? Some update messages were... Continue reading
Share Frustrating on FacebookShare Frustrating on TwitterShare Frustrating on LinkedinEmail Frustrating link
This idea of public safety shut off is frustrating and borders on neglect. So many people work from home now, and turning off the power to protect Xcel liability is like stealing from these people. The Friday 12-19 shutoff had no weather event to back it up. I had breezy conditions with gusts less than 15 miles and hour. I believe Xcel is doing this to prime the public for major infrastructure bonds. They have neglected the infrastructure in lieu of CEO bonuses and "green" energy. Wish Xcel did not have a monopoly on electricity in CO.
Share Something needs to change on FacebookShare Something needs to change on TwitterShare Something needs to change on LinkedinEmail Something needs to change link
We lost our power for three days straight, and we live within the city limits of Boulder. I understand that we want to mitigate a wildfire and I am very appreciative that there were no wildfires however it has been four years since the Marshall fire and Xcel energy has invested nothing back into our community to prepare for the inevitable wins that come to Boulder. Their communication was erratic at best and extremely unhelpful. We were given completely inaccurate information about when power would be restored. I lost over $1000 in food which I could’ve preserved if given more... Continue reading
