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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 Fire the PUC on FacebookShare Fire the PUC on TwitterShare Fire the PUC on LinkedinEmail Fire the PUC link
Obviously the PUC chair and commissioners are on the side of Xcel, letting XCEL raise the rates and not give us power and doing nothing about it. The PUC is set by the governor and he picked wrong. Eric Blank needs to resign or be fired he makes close to $200k a year gets kick backs from Xcel and has been in charge of holding xcel responsible since he started in 2020 and has yet to do so. We need a new PUC, one that doesn’t take kickbacks from Xcel.
Share Power Outage December 19, 2025 on FacebookShare Power Outage December 19, 2025 on TwitterShare Power Outage December 19, 2025 on LinkedinEmail Power Outage December 19, 2025 link
I certainly don’t have access to the “whole” picture with this outage which adds greatly to the frustration. Companies say the right thing, but what their concerns are profits to the company. Review the grid failure in Texas a few years back, event was larger and maybe more catastrophic but causes of the event are similar. ERCOT only was focused on “standard” days, 60 degree temperatures etc. Facts were different a winter storm did not produce “standard days” that the system design evolved to. New power sources were not winterized for non standard weather, older sources were shutdown and dismantled... Continue reading
Share Stop wasting money on climate hoax on FacebookShare Stop wasting money on climate hoax on TwitterShare Stop wasting money on climate hoax on LinkedinEmail Stop wasting money on climate hoax link
Upgrading the grid to be more resilient to wind and fire risk should be the only thing that the PUC and Excel Power should do for the next several years. Spending billions to swap out gas furnaces with heat pumps made in a coal powered factory in China accomplishes exactly zero for climate change. If the PUC isn’t technically capable of understanding how energy systems works they should quit and be replaced with engineers.
Share Apple Meadows, same old wind, just no more power on FacebookShare Apple Meadows, same old wind, just no more power on TwitterShare Apple Meadows, same old wind, just no more power on LinkedinEmail Apple Meadows, same old wind, just no more power link
I live in north Golden, close to highway 93. I grew up in Colorado in the foothills, and have lived on the west side of town for close to 54 years.
I understand our high winds, dry conditions, fire danger. I live just 10 miles south of Marshall. I even appreciated and prepared for the Planned outage yesterday (12/17/25, from 10am - 6pm), that Xcel warned me about for days on end leading up to the wind event.
I appreciate the precautions due to the fire concern, however, we are now in day 4 of what was only supposed to... Continue reading
Share An absolute nightmare on FacebookShare An absolute nightmare on TwitterShare An absolute nightmare on LinkedinEmail An absolute nightmare link
This was nothing short of an absolute nightmare all to protect Xcel from liability. I feel absolutely take. Advantage of by my public utility company. I live in golden right above the school of mines and had my power shut off for two multiple day stretches beginning on Wednesday and Friday morning. On both days of the shut off the wind wasn’t even that bad, especially for the majority of the day. I have seen way worse in golden and it’s never caused a fire before. My kids had their school and preschool canceled for 3 consecutive days. I pay... Continue reading
Share Unanswered Questions & Lack of Accountability on FacebookShare Unanswered Questions & Lack of Accountability on TwitterShare Unanswered Questions & Lack of Accountability on LinkedinEmail Unanswered Questions & Lack of Accountability link
I'm writing to join the voices of dismay and disbelief at this incredibly disruptive and unproductive shutoff. Very little about this incredibly disruptive shutoff passes the smell test. Why is the power off for so long in neighborhoods with buried power lines? Why did so many schools in non-impacted areas need to be disrupted? Why does it take Xcel longer to restore power from a planned outage than an emergency? And further, why are the Xcel work hours so limited (emergency or not, this is a crisis for many families)?
So many families have had disrupted work & school due... Continue reading
Share Public health and safety study needed on FacebookShare Public health and safety study needed on TwitterShare Public health and safety study needed on LinkedinEmail Public health and safety study needed link
The public health and monetary risks from a wildfire sparked by downed power lines can, and should, to be qualitatively analyzed and compared to public health and monetary risks from extended power outages. Some of these include:
***Health and safety***:
-Fires started by increased use of grills or fire for cooking, and candles and lanterns for lighting.
-Fires and asphyxiation dangers from use of alternative combustion fuel sources for heat or cooking sources.
-Increased spread of infectious disease, especially in vulnerable populations or families with existing illness, due lack of hot water for bathing, washing hands, cleaning soiled (by vomit... Continue reading
Share Kids missing school on FacebookShare Kids missing school on TwitterShare Kids missing school on LinkedinEmail Kids missing school link
I understand cutting power during extreme wind events, however, when it is cut 6+ hours before actual wind arrives, it causes a huge burden for those that have very young children or elderly on oxygen. With technology, we can see real time wind speeds. Why does it need to be cut so early based on a forecast rather than what is actually happening? For me in particular, I have a child on an IEP with an intellectual disability who has missed 3 days of school in a row as well as making it difficult to taking care of my kids... Continue reading
Share United power customer on FacebookShare United power customer on TwitterShare United power customer on LinkedinEmail United power customer link
This is my 14th winter in the same location. I live in Lincoln Hills less than 1000 feet from the united power substation. I have never lost power for more than a few hours before this incident December 2025. I felt safe and comforted with living in close proximity to the UP substation because we rarely lose power in any circumstances. I am aware the surrounding area serviced by Excell energy are frequently without power for days on end. Now excell energy’s problem with their service and infrastructure has now become my problem. I have a family and a my... Continue reading
Share Clear Creek - No Notice on FacebookShare Clear Creek - No Notice on TwitterShare Clear Creek - No Notice on LinkedinEmail Clear Creek - No Notice link
I work for Clear Creek County and was only notified when our head of facilities told us Georgetown was being shut down. Xcel’s inconsistent communication is the core of this issue. They blatantly lied when they said the shutdown was only going to be for 11 hours on Friday (12/19), but could extend into Monday. On top of the rate increases, we will be losing both food and medicine as a result. Will Xcel cover that? Most likely not. If they can’t use their 1.9 billion in profits to make their assets more resilient to weather events, what are we... Continue reading
