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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 The burden and risk is far freater than imagined. on FacebookShare The burden and risk is far freater than imagined. on TwitterShare The burden and risk is far freater than imagined. on LinkedinEmail The burden and risk is far freater than imagined. link
Lets start off with disconnecting the power disconnects people from emergency services.
This is an actual year world as in has happened scenario. This is what happened around the BrookForest area of Evergreen.
Turning off the power to an area as large as what Xcel did not only cuts power to homes and businesses but it also cuts power to things like broadband internet and cable TV. Now while most people consider those things to be "luxury services" this could not be farther from the truth. Jefferson county uses a phone application in order to let residents know of any... Continue reading
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Single mother of 2 teenagers. I already barely make ends meet, I can’t even buy Christmas gift this year. I had to ask for a pay advance to put food in my fridge and freezer. 2 days before our power was just off. We had no wind. Wind has been 60+ mph gust week before for days. All that food I bought had to be thrown out. Now we have no food for the next 3 weeks. Food banks barely have enough food to make meals. I make $50 to much to qualify for food stamps. There is no insurance... Continue reading
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Share Overreliance on Power Shutoffs and Unjustified Rate Increases on FacebookShare Overreliance on Power Shutoffs and Unjustified Rate Increases on TwitterShare Overreliance on Power Shutoffs and Unjustified Rate Increases on LinkedinEmail Overreliance on Power Shutoffs and Unjustified Rate Increases link
It has become increasingly clear that prolonged shutdowns are not an effective or sustainable approach to fire mitigation. There are proven alternatives Xcel should be prioritizing, including targeted undergrounding of high-risk line segments, aggressive vegetation management, improved sectionalizing and more precise shutdowns, and the development of local microgrids.
Additionally, the proposed nearly 10% rate increase should not be approved. Xcel has not demonstrated sufficient investment in infrastructure improvements to justify such a request. The company earns billions in annual profits, and further increasing rates places a significant financial burden on Colorado families who have no alternative but to rely on... Continue reading
Share Are the Lights, power, AND accountability all out? on FacebookShare Are the Lights, power, AND accountability all out? on TwitterShare Are the Lights, power, AND accountability all out? on LinkedinEmail Are the Lights, power, AND accountability all out? link
I left town for the holidays. My food is spoiled. My cat is scared (lucky enough to have a pet sitter), and when calling Xcel to get clarification on the numerous, contradictory maps (to say nothing of the pushing back of goal pasts that are their emails), all I received back was the general, banal company lines of 'we're sorry, those times are an approximation'. People understand the fire risk and appreciate Xcel taking steps to be proactive. I struggle to see how any single person appreciates the lack of foresight to prevent this, the miscommunication, and the general mismanagement... Continue reading
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In 2024 I wrote to the chief exec of Xcel in Minneapolis - Robert Frenzel - to complain about the frequent power outtages...I never received a reply. I also wrote to the chief exec of Xcel in Denver - Richard Scharf...I never received a reply from him either.
This year they upped their game to tell us we would be without power for a number of days and put it in such a way that they seemed concerned about our safety. In short they were saying, "We're worried a power line will be blown down and cause a fire, therefore... Continue reading
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I propose that a stiff fine is levied against any utility company that makes use of the PSPS function.A certain amount for every customer who is de-energized per hour paid into a fund that is used to compensate those affected for any inconvenience for the utility company failing to provide service.
Otherwise, what’s to stop Xcel from simply turning off the power whenever there is risk to their bottom line? Every other business has to figure out how to manage risk within the confines of the contract with their customers. Why does Xcel get to discharge this responsibility?
Share No Cell, No Internet = No Emergency Communications on FacebookShare No Cell, No Internet = No Emergency Communications on TwitterShare No Cell, No Internet = No Emergency Communications on LinkedinEmail No Cell, No Internet = No Emergency Communications link
In the Lake Valley Estates neighborhood, just north of Boulder, cell service is spotty at best, so many residents rely on WiFi calling, which goes down without power. Without cell service, there is no access to the internet, so emergency texts and emails from Boulder OEM don't necessarily come through, even though many residents have dutifully signed up for BOCO Alert. We have limited escape routes because our neighborhood is surrounded by open space, so reliable emergency communications are critical.
Bottom line: We need reliable cell coverage for our area for emergency communications.
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I don’t even know where to begin with this, but the level of incompetence is simply unacceptable. We were given notice that we would have a planned power shut off from 12pm-6pm on December 17th. It was then changed to 10am and our power was off for 80 hours. This means no water and no heat as well. First of all, for many residents like us that have animals, you can’t prepare for 4 days of no water when you think you’re looking at 6-8 hours. If we had been told we would go 1-2 days without power we would... Continue reading
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On Wednesday, December 17th, at approximately 4:00 PM, our home lost power—just one hour after receiving a notice from Xcel Energy confirming that our address would NOT be affected by the scheduled shutoff on Thursday, December 18th. Nearly 96 hours—or five full days—later, we are still without electricity, leaving us without running water from our well, a reliable way to access the internet (or receive texts or voicemail since we live out of cell reception), and no way to preserve food. We evacuated our home yesterday after receiving yet another missed deadline from Xcel to restore power so... Continue reading
