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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 Frail power grid, shareholder greed on FacebookShare Frail power grid, shareholder greed on TwitterShare Frail power grid, shareholder greed on LinkedinEmail Frail power grid, shareholder greed link
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
Share Xcel will cut our power, but won't trim our trees on FacebookShare Xcel will cut our power, but won't trim our trees on TwitterShare Xcel will cut our power, but won't trim our trees on LinkedinEmail Xcel will cut our power, but won't trim our trees link
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
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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
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?
