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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 People had no time to prepare and had dangerous radon levels on FacebookShare People had no time to prepare and had dangerous radon levels on TwitterShare People had no time to prepare and had dangerous radon levels on LinkedinEmail People had no time to prepare and had dangerous radon levels link
I wanted to mention that during the last planned power outage the radon levels in my house got above 19 without the two radon fans running on my house. I have an electronic eye radon detector I plugged into a small battery inverter during the outage so I can tell. I have invested close to $3K since then in battery backup systems for them so I can last a couple days now, but we did get a large dose of radon from this past outage. We literally had to open doors and windows and burn as hot of a fire... Continue reading
Share Start-Up Surge on FacebookShare Start-Up Surge on TwitterShare Start-Up Surge on LinkedinEmail Start-Up Surge link
As a homeowner with an electrically controlled heating system, we were, of course, without heating during the recent power outage. Being in the same home for many years (57), we were prepared for such an event and simply brought out the camping lantern for emergency lighting and passed the time reading. It was when the power came back on that our problems started. The initial surge blew out the control circuitry for our home heating boiler. The control board needed to be special ordered and the timing couldn't have been worse. Because of delay resulting from the Christmas holiday, we... Continue reading
Share Excel has EPSS current breaker system that cuts off power instantly, please use to prevent sump pump outage on FacebookShare Excel has EPSS current breaker system that cuts off power instantly, please use to prevent sump pump outage on TwitterShare Excel has EPSS current breaker system that cuts off power instantly, please use to prevent sump pump outage on LinkedinEmail Excel has EPSS current breaker system that cuts off power instantly, please use to prevent sump pump outage link
by Excelneedstolearnaboutpowerlineelectricity,
10 days ago
They cut off power to our home and especially our sump pump, caused the basement to be flooded, ruining many things. No downed lines or emergency in our area, just high winds that lines and maintenance are built to withstand and did. Cut power off for days again, had to move out because of the cold and darkness. Excel needs to be replaced with what it replaced, public service. Their profit needs trump our service needs. For now, they need to learn about fuses and breakers and their own EPSS system, which "detects a "fault" (such as a tree branch... Continue reading
Share Conflicting Information per Shut Off on FacebookShare Conflicting Information per Shut Off on TwitterShare Conflicting Information per Shut Off on LinkedinEmail Conflicting Information per Shut Off link
I was notified that my address was in the Xcel power shut off area via e-mail. As I work from home I got up and worked early to get most of my work done before shutting down. Sometime after 11am a family member asked me to go with them to a store. I saved my work and closed out the work software. I asked the family what about the planned power outage, they said look at the map Xcel provide, it does NOT SHOW Wellington in the shut off area. Great, thus... Continue reading
Share The recent Excel widespread power outage on FacebookShare The recent Excel widespread power outage on TwitterShare The recent Excel widespread power outage on LinkedinEmail The recent Excel widespread power outage link
First, I understand Excel was trying to solve climate change, and wildfire issues. Thank you! Safety first! However, please do a better job of 1) targeting specific high-risk neighborhoods, and 2) warning people that this could be coming, send alerts, monitor the weather closer. "Say what you are going to say, say it, and then say it again!"
Our building was without power yet businesses across the street had power!
Please invest in putting power lines underground! Yes this will take capital to do so.
I own an 8-person business in Lakewood, Colorado and the 4-day power shut-down hurt our... Continue reading
Share High billing on days of no power on FacebookShare High billing on days of no power on TwitterShare High billing on days of no power on LinkedinEmail High billing on days of no power link
Recently, we were reviewing our Xcel bill. We now have the “smart” meter that bills us hour by hour and more between 5-9pm. Quite shockingly, on the 3 days in December when power was completely shut off to our house, we supposedly had one of our highest use days of power both on peak hours and off peak hours. I have reviewed several family members bills as well and am seeing the same thing — Billing for energy use on days power to homes was completely shut off. These meters are supposed to be so accurate that Xcel can tell... Continue reading
Share Tired of 30+ years of Xcel power outages, resent $pending $2.5k on transfer switch on FacebookShare Tired of 30+ years of Xcel power outages, resent $pending $2.5k on transfer switch on TwitterShare Tired of 30+ years of Xcel power outages, resent $pending $2.5k on transfer switch on LinkedinEmail Tired of 30+ years of Xcel power outages, resent $pending $2.5k on transfer switch link
Yesterday January 26 2025 we again lost power on Shanahan Ridge in SW Boulder. Since we happened to have an out of town appointment we observed that the outage, unlike some previous apparently micro-localized outages, this one extended a bit geographically (the traffic signal at Hwy 93 and Eldorado Drive was out).
We've lived in a Shanahan Ridge townhome (80305) for 30+ years. We have NOT been tracking/documenting the many outages we experience. I'll note the 60 hour outage of Sept 2013 during the "flood" and resulting stringing of the above ground "extension cord" as I called across the Shanahan... Continue reading
Share Too similar to COVID with expectation for businesses expected to pivot with 24-hours or less notice on FacebookShare Too similar to COVID with expectation for businesses expected to pivot with 24-hours or less notice on TwitterShare Too similar to COVID with expectation for businesses expected to pivot with 24-hours or less notice on LinkedinEmail Too similar to COVID with expectation for businesses expected to pivot with 24-hours or less notice link
I own a small physical rehabilitation clinic at 125 and Colorado in central Denver. I have 4 employees and we are located in a high rise office building. We lost several days of business, like a lot of other small business owners. We also had a second black out in January that lasted several days, and I still can't get a straight answer as to if this was intentional on the part of X-cel or if it was unexpected. My main issue with intentional power shut-offs, is that like COVID, businesses can't be expected to pivot with 24-hours or less... Continue reading
Share Power Loss in Leyden Ranch on FacebookShare Power Loss in Leyden Ranch on TwitterShare Power Loss in Leyden Ranch on LinkedinEmail Power Loss in Leyden Ranch link
Our family was affected by the planned power shutoff on December 17th and expected shutoff on December 19th. We lost groceries in fridges and freezers, time off of work, and required a hotel for two nights. We recognize we are lucky and were glad Xcel sent people across the area to monitor down lines. I cannot ignore a company that has pocketed too many profits and not invested in our infrastructure.
Is it possible to cap Xcel’s profits? What can we do to ensure our power grid is prepared for future events that prevents families from losing hundreds in food... Continue reading
Share A disaster waiting to happen on FacebookShare A disaster waiting to happen on TwitterShare A disaster waiting to happen on LinkedinEmail A disaster waiting to happen link
I could share a lot of stories about how this affected us. However the main danger that concerns me is the total lack of an emergency plan for this area. We're supposed to be notified by local government when there is a fire or other danger, but that notification will come via text, phone call, or email. How can we receive those when Xcel turns off all power for 5 days including power to cell towers and internet providers? We had no way to communicate or receive any warnings FOR FIVE DAYS. If there had been a fire, nobody would... Continue reading
