Public Safety Power Shutoff

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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.

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  • Share No Cell, No Internet = No Emergency Communications on Facebook Share No Cell, No Internet = No Emergency Communications on Twitter Share No Cell, No Internet = No Emergency Communications on Linkedin Email No Cell, No Internet = No Emergency Communications link

    No Cell, No Internet = No Emergency Communications

    by Liz Boulder County, 3 months ago

    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.

  • Share Communication was a joke on Facebook Share Communication was a joke on Twitter Share Communication was a joke on Linkedin Email Communication was a joke link

    Communication was a joke

    by EvergreenFarm, 3 months ago

    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

  • Share 96 hours (5 days) without Power on Facebook Share 96 hours (5 days) without Power on Twitter Share 96 hours (5 days) without Power on Linkedin Email 96 hours (5 days) without Power link

    96 hours (5 days) without Power

    by emoes, 3 months ago

    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

  • Share 4 days without power is not okay on Facebook Share 4 days without power is not okay on Twitter Share 4 days without power is not okay on Linkedin Email 4 days without power is not okay link

    4 days without power is not okay

    by dennis d, 3 months ago
    we live in lookout mountain, lost power early wednesday, got it back for a few hours late thursday, lost it again friday, got it back saturday afternoon. Without backups we would have lost all of our food, and we still ended up throwing away most of the vegetables. While I was lucky to have a little bit of backup pwoer, most of my neighbors had nothing and they lost significant amounts of food. Had the weather been colder this would have been catastrophic as my hot water boiler pipes would have frozen and I would have had no heat and... Continue reading
  • Share PSPS shutdown where electric lines underground on Facebook Share PSPS shutdown where electric lines underground on Twitter Share PSPS shutdown where electric lines underground on Linkedin Email PSPS shutdown where electric lines underground link

    PSPS shutdown where electric lines underground

    by Don B, 3 months ago

    Yes I do live in the foothills SW of Golden in Genesee neighborhood. Our power was shut down 10am 12/17, came back on 5:30pm 12/18, off again 1:30am 12/19, back on 5pm 12/20. We recorded one 30 mph wind gust on 12/17. Power was out for a total of 72 hours. Our neighborhood has all underground power lines. During that time, there was either no communication or constantly changing communication of estimates when power would be restored. More importantly we have recorded higher wind episodes over the 19 years we have lived at this residence with no shutdowns. Xcel has... Continue reading

  • Share Dangerous unnecessary outage on Facebook Share Dangerous unnecessary outage on Twitter Share Dangerous unnecessary outage on Linkedin Email Dangerous unnecessary outage link

    Dangerous unnecessary outage

    by Johnny, 3 months ago

    This recent outage was excessive and dangerous. Two days of the electrical outage the winds topped out at 5 mph At my home The notifications of when the outages would start and stop were all wrong. I had a backup generator installed years ago due to the many outages we have always had in Genesee that powers the essentials of the house. My doctor’s appointment for my diabetes was cancelled because they had no electricity. My wife and I work from home but could not complete our work due to Xfinity being down. I have to assume Xfinity’s issues were... Continue reading

  • Share Excessive Power Outage Dec, 2025 on Facebook Share Excessive Power Outage Dec, 2025 on Twitter Share Excessive Power Outage Dec, 2025 on Linkedin Email Excessive Power Outage Dec, 2025 link

    Excessive Power Outage Dec, 2025

    by SaraC, 3 months ago

    I want to start of by agreeing to the strong wind storms the past two days. But leaving homes without power for over 72hrs is ridiculous and inconsiderate. It’s 12/20/2025 the wind storm has passed, there’s no wind and we have yet another delay for our power being out back on. Excel is clearly not working as diligent as they say considering our power was supposed to be back at 10pm tonight after over 48 hrs without it. Now they’re saying we have to wait until tomorrow 12pm for no good or reasonable logical reason. There’s no damage to our... Continue reading

  • Share Communication? on Facebook Share Communication? on Twitter Share Communication? on Linkedin Email Communication? link

    Communication?

    by JamesDoMo, 3 months ago

    This was this morning. These were all sent within 30 minutes of one another. Both text and email. Xcel has no idea what they are doing. Incompetence on steroids.

  • Share System is broken on Facebook Share System is broken on Twitter Share System is broken on Linkedin Email System is broken link

    System is broken

    by sthompso80, 3 months ago

    If this will be the new normal going forward, homeowners should be allowed to source/provide their own energy. This means no limits on energy creation, storage, and use. If xcel can’t be a resource for reliable energy, customers should not be restricted by xcel’s issues. They are responsible for maintaining a reliable grid and maybe being a for profit entity hinders this expenditure. This is clearly a monopoly situation. Customers do not have any other options for no service. We need to be able to provide for ourselves and not rely on an outdated and unreliable network. The complete loss... Continue reading

  • Share Unnecessary outage on Facebook Share Unnecessary outage on Twitter Share Unnecessary outage on Linkedin Email Unnecessary outage link

    Unnecessary outage

    by mkherz, 3 months ago
    I live in Genesee, where there are NO overhead power lines within at least 5 miles. WHY did we even have to deal with this unnecessary power outage? And the outage, at this point, has far exceeded the duration of the high wind event--why does it take Xcel DAYS to restore power? This is completely unacceptable. What happens when they pull the same stunt when it's 10 below?
Page last updated: 09 Mar 2026, 10:38 AM