Public Safety Power Shutoff

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  Frail power grid, shareholder greed

  by Cmccall, 5 months ago
  My frustration lies with shut off being the primary source of management for the wildfire risk due to wind and dry weather. I would like to see less money going to shareholders so that Xcel can spend money on burying or improving the frail power grid to make it more robust . Customers without power as the new normal and shareholders still making record profits as our rates increase doesn't make sense. If Xcel truly reports to the PUC, then the PUBLIC should be considered in making the grid more robust, at a cost to shareholders. Not every company makes... Continue reading

  My frustration lies with shut off being the primary source of management for the wildfire risk due to wind and dry weather. I would like to see less money going to shareholders so that Xcel can spend money on burying or improving the frail power grid to make it more robust . Customers without power as the new normal and shareholders still making record profits as our rates increase doesn't make sense. If Xcel truly reports to the PUC, then the PUBLIC should be considered in making the grid more robust, at a cost to shareholders. Not every company makes record profits every year, and more money from Xcel needs to go back into the grid to make it safer from the high winds and dry conditions that aren't going away. I know it will take 20 to 30 years, but make Xcel do it! Otherwise, we are just following the political and financial fraud example of California, Southern California Edison and PGnE. PUC do your job, stop letting Xcel divert money from Colorados infrastructure.
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  Xcel will cut our power, but won't trim our trees

  by jv5280, 5 months ago
  We live in the Green Mountain area and only lost power for 4 hrs. Luckily, we were notified the night before, saying it would be out 5 am - 6 pm the following day so had some time to prepare. However, the next morning after it got cut off, we got another notification saying power would be restored by 10 pm the FOLLOWING day, and then not 2-3 hrs later power was restored. So all in all, not too affected, but communication caused us a lot of uncertainly. Meanwhile, we could look out our window during the outage and see... Continue reading

  We live in the Green Mountain area and only lost power for 4 hrs. Luckily, we were notified the night before, saying it would be out 5 am - 6 pm the following day so had some time to prepare. However, the next morning after it got cut off, we got another notification saying power would be restored by 10 pm the FOLLOWING day, and then not 2-3 hrs later power was restored. So all in all, not too affected, but communication caused us a lot of uncertainly. Meanwhile, we could look out our window during the outage and see neighbors just across a street with power.

  
  

  However, what frustrates us the most is that our back neighbors have a large tree branch that broke and is leaning against an Xcel power line, which we reported in JULY. We got a notification from Xcel on Aug 13 that a crew would be schedule to come. Nothing. We got an email Nov 20 saying that they would be coming to our area. Nothing. Many phone calls and chats along the way, no way to email Xcel, never got any clear input on when this would/will be resolved.

  It's baffling to us how Xcel clearly recognizes there are risks and safety hazards, yet doesn't perform routine maintenance to mitigate risk, that they have acknowledged is their responsibility.
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  United Power Impact

  by tko, 5 months ago
  United Power recently upgraded the power lines in Coal Creek Canyon, but gets it's main feed from Xcel. It seemed that our canyon was "safe" with the Hendrix lines, yet our power was cut off anyway. Lived in this house in the canyon for 20 years and have never had the power off for so long (except maybe the 2013 flood) -- thus never felt the need for a generator. We lost about $400 worth of food in the freezer and fridge and spent one night in a motel due to the intermittent power outages. Our water source is a... Continue reading

  United Power recently upgraded the power lines in Coal Creek Canyon, but gets it's main feed from Xcel. It seemed that our canyon was "safe" with the Hendrix lines, yet our power was cut off anyway. Lived in this house in the canyon for 20 years and have never had the power off for so long (except maybe the 2013 flood) -- thus never felt the need for a generator. We lost about $400 worth of food in the freezer and fridge and spent one night in a motel due to the intermittent power outages. Our water source is a well and we have a gas boiler/ indirect water heater. So without electricity, we have no water, heat (boiler cannot pump to the lines) and no cell service without the wifi, so we could not even be updated about the situation or possible restoration times without cell service. The planned outage seemed unnecessary for our canyon.
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  The burden and risk is far freater than imagined.

  by upsetustomer, 5 months ago
  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

  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 dangers in the area or if they need to evacuate due to a wild fire. Most people that life in the foothills have they cell phone connected to the internet by way of their in home WiFi. Even if a home owner has a backup generator they still do not have internet at their home. This is because the broadband service providers loose power to the equipment that supplies those services. Now you are thinking no big deal right, they can use their cell phone data. NOPE cannot do that either. This is because not all cell towers have backup generators and the ones that do don't have an endless supply of fuel. so as the towers start to drop out the remaining ones pick up the burden. This starts a cascading effect on the data where the load simply becomes too large and the tower basically throws it hands up in the air and the data becomes so horrifically slow it is unusable and or it stops working.
  
  Now you end up with the application that Jefferson county uses to inform people of emergencies becomming a dead stick. A person is not able to get online to twitter or to facebook which is where Jefferson countyalso posts notices of emergencies. No internet no way to monitor those things...
  
  The above is a HUGE problem.
  
  Next issue.
  
  Xcel energy has denied over and over again that their power lines start wildfires. But now they are stating that power is being shut off to reduce the risk of wildfire. This November my honeowners insurance went from 3800 a year ro 9800 a year with the insurance company stating that fire risk was the cause. Now Xcel Energy is publicly admitting that their poorly maintained systems need to be shut off so they don't cause fires. Xcel energy should be responsible for paying for the increased homeowners insurance premiums people are having to pay after all it is their systems that poses a fire risk no? Their lack of proper maintaince and hardening of their systems is a major contributor to the increase in the premiums. The other side of that is the insurance companies now owe people refunds because Xcel turned the power off thus reducing the risk. Do you think the insurance companies are going to send anyone a check because the risk dropped? Well they should be.
  
  
  Generators are not a viable thing to have at homes. This is because of the PUC's recent decision to eliminate the use of natural gas and propane in homes. This is the primary source of fuel for the generators. I don't think it would be smart for people to stockpile gasoline at their home and because of how widespread the power outages are traveling an hour to purchase gasoline to use in the generator is not something a person should have to do. Not to mention the state has been pushing to make internal combustion engines under 25HP illegal. They have already passed a laws where they are not allowed to be used on state property. Not even a lawn mower that uses an ICE engine can be used.
  
  Xcel Energy is using the power shutoffs as a replacement for updating their systems. This should not be allowed if they are not activly burying the distribution lines. in 4 years since the marshall fire what has Xcel done to make sure that their systems cannot start a fire? They have only put wires underground in superior which isn't even where the Marshall fire started. Xcel just replaced the poles and distribution lines that run through my neighborhood. Did they put them undersground? NOPE. I can also tell you that the telephone poles don't go into the ground anywhere near what they should be. only 4' goes into the ground and the majority of the poles are located next to a creek where the ground is always soft. This is down BrookForest street in Evergreen.
  In the 4 years since the Marshall fire Xcel energy has had record profits each year with the gross profits totaling over 32 billion dollars. Yet they are telling the PUC that they don't have the 1.9 billion needed to just perform maintaince on the existing system, no hardening of the system at all is being done with that 1.9 billion.
  
  Xcel Energy has had it's insurance rates go up. They want to pass that additional cost onto consumers in a rate increase. This should not be allowed. It was their decision to not properly maintain and harden the systems that they own and as a result they should have to pay for that out of their record profits. The same thing goes with any money needed to get the grid into a condition where it no longer poses a wildfire threat. They have neglected the grid in order to have record profits year after year after year and decade after decade. Well had they taken some of that profit every year and put it into the grid to upgrade and maintain it the grid would not be in the condition it is in today. It is because of their poor financial decisions over the last 30 years that had caused this. Well they need to now pay for those bad decisions, not the consumers.
  
  The PUC needs to mandate that by the end of 3 years every single distribution line in the foothills needs to be moved underground. While this is being done if there are high winds they will be allowed to turn off the power to reduce the risk of fires. Insurance companies should be made to refund any premium increases that are higher than what the CPI is for home purshase and home repair. Insurance companies should not be allowed to increase rates above what the difference in in CPI from one year to the next. Until the work has been completed to move the distribution lines underground Xcel Enegry should be financially liable. Things they should be liable for include but are not limited to lost wages, lost business revenue, spoiled food, damage to home from things like freezing pipes. hotel costs because of not being able to heat a home, cost for fuel for those people that have backup power generation. If Xcel Energy has not completed the modifications they should be fined no less than 100 million dollars for each and every single month past the completion date. That should give them motivation to not drag their feet and to complete the work by the due date.
  
  All costs associated with the upgrades and financial liability will fall soley on them. They are not to transfer the costs to the consumer. If they had been doing what they should have been doing for the last 30 years it would have spread the costs out over those 30 years. Since they didn't they are not going to be able to. They put the money into their pockets so they should have it to use to do the updates.
  
  If they are unwilling to do the upgrades then they can sell all of the Colorado electric services they provide to a company that is willing to do the work. It's an all or none. Fix it or sell and get out.
  
  
  I am fairly confident in saying that the consumers in colorado have had enough of the corporate greed and we are putting our foot down.
  
  --Kevin
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  Losses

  by Allison , 5 months ago

  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

  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 company that will insure a 1964 manufacturer home, so I can’t file a claim for the loss of food. This miss handling situation by Xcel just made this the worst Christmas ever!!!
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  Insanity

  by Butter, 5 months ago
  How can you possibly be more retarded?

  How can you possibly be more retarded?
• Share Overreliance on Power Shutoffs and Unjustified Rate Increases on Facebook Share Overreliance on Power Shutoffs and Unjustified Rate Increases on Twitter Share Overreliance on Power Shutoffs and Unjustified Rate Increases on Linkedin Email Overreliance on Power Shutoffs and Unjustified Rate Increases link

  Overreliance on Power Shutoffs and Unjustified Rate Increases

  by MountainMom, 5 months ago

  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

  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 this essential service.
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  Are the Lights, power, AND accountability all out?

  by Chito, 5 months ago

  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

  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 on full display. Let's not even factor in how the company is structured...beyond saying what else can one expect when you contract with a for-profit public utility. This is a black eye on power management in Colorado, in Boulder County, and Boulder itself. To be without power for days on end is bad enough in a self-styled developed nation (and county with taxes as high as Boulder), but to have this absolute horrendous communication is what truly elevates this entire situation to another level of frustration.
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  Hidden Agenda - Fess up and Fix it.

  by NIgel, 5 months ago

  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

  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 we're switching the power off to keep you safe."
  
  On the face of it that's considerate behavior. But what they were really saying is that their infrastucture is not designed to withstand the weather in Colorado and so they're turning it off and you'll have to deal with it.
  
  This raises the question that if Xcel's power lines are not designed to handle Colorado weather why did they allow them to be installed like that?
  
  When they inform us that the power will be off for a few hours to replace / update machinery it's a pain. But you deal with it because you understand that they want to improve the service. Informing us they are turning it off for days because of the weather, indicates that the machinery was not designed to cope with storms which is a notable part of the local cliimate.
  
  'Fess up and fix it.
  
  I do 90% of my work at home. With a lot of extra cabling and a Honda generator and frequent visits to fill up my gas can I can make do. All the businesses who've had no power these last 3 days cannot do that and have lost business. This is a scandal. Messrs Frenzel and Scharf (or whoever is in control now) need to get on with their job.
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  Unfair Monopoly of Power

  by BSully, 5 months ago

  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?

  Xcel... Continue reading

  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?

  Xcel needs to be re-investing a large percentage of their profits into hardening the electric grid to be able to function properly in the climate and landscape that it services so that when high winds come again, it is not an emergency where we are forced to choose between electricity for our homes and businesses or a wild fire.

  However, there is very little incentive for Xcel to make these improvements. Xcel, a private corporation, has virtually no accountability, even to their own customers--a luxury no other private business enjoys. If I had a choice in utility companies, I would be dropping Xcel immediately. But I don’t have a choice. And there is something wrong with a system that forces me to subscribe to a private company with no market competition.

  They are even more insulated than our government. If I’m unhappy with my elected officials, I can cast my vote in the next election. I have no choice in my utility company.

  They don’t have to worry about losing their customers if they don’t provide good service like any other normal business must do. There are no checks and balances on Xcel in the market. The only accountable authority is our government

  Let’s just pause for a minute and take stock of what just happened. In the United States, the richest country in the world, in the middle of December, a public utility company voluntarily turned off electricity, including overnight, to tens of thousands of families and small businesses who rely on December spending to make ends meet.

  Xcel has given us lip service, saying that they take this action very seriously. But until they spend their hefty profits to upgrade the grid, we have no choice but to look at their actions and conclude that they in fact, do NOT take that choice very seriously at all.

  As a utility company, you have one job to do: provide electricity without starting a fire. Until Xcel is able to do that reliably, even through challenging weather events, shouldn’t they be reinvesting a huge amount of their profits into their infrastructure so they can fulfill that responsibility?

  I’m sure it’s very complicated to bury electrical supply lines and upgrade power poles. I’m sure it’s very expensive. But so is my electric bill.

  Xcel was able to mobilize crews and finance an upgrade to Smart meters on everyone's property (an upgrade I know I didn’t ask for). So I know they can do it if it benefits their business.

  In my opinion, a fine for using the PSPS function is the only way to incentivize Xcel and other utilities to reinvest their profits and harden the grid in a meaningful and timely fashion.

  Even as a paying customer, I am powerless in this matter. Please represent my concerns and stand up for us.