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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. 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.
This is Xcel's second PSPS, the first being in April 2024. The PUC received extensive public input following the 2024 event, much of it focusing on lack of notice, inadequate communication during the event, poor mapping of impacted areas and insufficient planning to identify and protect critical infrastructure and facilities. Since 2024, the PUC has taken several steps requiring Xcel to improve its actions across each of these areas. These areas of improvement include:
Advance coordination with state and local emergency response agencies including holding practice shut off events (i.e. “table-top exercises)
Work with local governments to develop lists of critical infrastructure and facilities (e.g. hospitals and water treatment facilities) in order to prioritize communication and power restoration
Advance notice (starting as early as 72 hours in advance) to all potentially impacted customers along with regular updates leading up to the outage
Accurate and timely communication to customers during the outage
Tailored and advanced outreach to individual customers that have informed Xcel of dependence on electric-powered medical equipment
Accurate and detailed mapping both to help residential and commercial customers understand the scope of outages
The PUC also committed to create 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 December 2025 event. 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.
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. 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.
This is Xcel's second PSPS, the first being in April 2024. The PUC received extensive public input following the 2024 event, much of it focusing on lack of notice, inadequate communication during the event, poor mapping of impacted areas and insufficient planning to identify and protect critical infrastructure and facilities. Since 2024, the PUC has taken several steps requiring Xcel to improve its actions across each of these areas. These areas of improvement include:
Advance coordination with state and local emergency response agencies including holding practice shut off events (i.e. “table-top exercises)
Work with local governments to develop lists of critical infrastructure and facilities (e.g. hospitals and water treatment facilities) in order to prioritize communication and power restoration
Advance notice (starting as early as 72 hours in advance) to all potentially impacted customers along with regular updates leading up to the outage
Accurate and timely communication to customers during the outage
Tailored and advanced outreach to individual customers that have informed Xcel of dependence on electric-powered medical equipment
Accurate and detailed mapping both to help residential and commercial customers understand the scope of outages
The PUC also committed to create 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 December 2025 event. 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 the December 2025 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 Poor Communication During Extended Outages on FacebookShare Poor Communication During Extended Outages on TwitterShare Poor Communication During Extended Outages on LinkedinEmail Poor Communication During Extended Outages link
I understand taking precautions to prevent wildfire and I was supportive of the PSPS shutdown. However, I feel that Xcel failed to set appropriate expectations for the extent of potential outages and communicated poorly with customers as events unfolded.
We made crucial decisions based on Xcel communications about the timing and length of outages that turned out to be wrong — in some cases, off by not just hours, but days. Power went off without warning, in some cases. We received messages stating that power was restored when it had not been and sometimes received numerous contradictory messages minutes apart... Continue reading
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I was informed that my power would be shut off proactively on both Wednesday and Friday events. Power was not shut off Wednesday proactively, but was later off due to downed lines anyway.
On Friday, power was proactively shut off, then during the event I received emails and text messages containing information that:
the event was actually unexpected,
it would be restored by 6pm,
it would be restored by 10pm,
the Proactive Shutoff event was actually expected but wouldn't be resolved until possibly noon Sunday or possibly Monday,
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I would like to say that I support the decision to turn off power up in my foothills neighborhood on Wednesday. Then the power was back on Thursday at 6:00 pm for 5 hours. The Friday winds were the worst that I have seen in 48 years up here. Lines down, trees falling into houses and terrifying noise were justification for turning off the power. I did not have any communication with Excel due to no service on my phone. In talking to the different companies working to restore power there was a common thread. There was a lack of... Continue reading
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Early on, I was informed that my house was in a potential PSPS area. Later, I received an e-mail saying the PSPS was no longer in effect for my neighborhood. Then, in the late evening of Dec 17, the power to my neighborhood was shut off. I suspect this was a preventative shutoff, since they restored power many hours later, without the normal power line inspection they always do in my neighborhood after an unplanned outage. I received ZERO communication from Xcel regarding the outage, the cause (planned/unplanned), nor estimated restoration time, nor a "power was restored" e-mail. On an... Continue reading
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Why is Xcel not liable for planned outages that greatly exceed the time frames originally communicated? Easily $600 of food lost, over 50,000 people, that’s $30MM. in Genesee, our mobile service only allowed texts, but Xcel sent out emails? when Xcel has no penalty, no consequences to poorly handling a planned outage, of course they will do it again? Hardening their power lines in a hilly, mountainous area should have been happening for decades, not a new 2025-26 program. Colorado President Kenney response is tone deaf. ONLY 50,000 people, how about next time when it’s Denver property.
Share Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) on FacebookShare Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) on TwitterShare Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) on LinkedinEmail Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) link
We were told that our power could have possibly be shutoff as part of the Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) at Noon on the first day of wind in the front range last week. Our power went off at 9:51 am, not noon. Our house on the far east side of Golden on Eldridge never experienced any bad winds that day, but the power stayed off in access of 28 hours. We lost over 50 pounds food from our refrigerator. The next outage, the next morning we were experiencing no wind again, and power went off at approximately 5am. If... Continue reading
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I live in the mountains and rely on power for heat, water and of course power. I have lived in Colorado all my life and have never had to go through what we did this week.
The original notification was for power to go off at 10 am on Dec 17th to 6pm the same day. We then received a notification that power would be back on early at 1:15pm. Little did I know I would not have a shower for the next 4 days. We had just bought a ton of raw dog food for Black Friday. this needs... Continue reading
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I travel quite a bit in countries that are taking on the challenges of developing their economies. A major priority in less developed countries, particularly in remote regions, is access to electricity and internet connectivity. Over the years, I'm consistently shocked to return home and find how little reliable access I have had to these basic public utilities for the past 35 years (enjoying much more sophisticated and reliable connectivity in remote jungles of Central and South America, The Caribbean, The Tahitian Islands, and Savannas of African Countries).
Until 2012, Dial Up Speed was the only option for my home... Continue reading
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We are 82 year old seniors living in the Boulder Foothills. We were informed of the shutoff by XCel but did not expect 6 days. We had to go to a local coffee house to get updates as we had no service or phones and kept getting confusing updates as to when service would be resumed. As a result, we were not only confused but isolated and freightened. I could not contact family or my patients( I am a psychologist) to let them know what was happening. We lost our refrigerated food at a great cost to us.The only heat... Continue reading
Share Our experience of the December 2025 Shut Offs on FacebookShare Our experience of the December 2025 Shut Offs on TwitterShare Our experience of the December 2025 Shut Offs on LinkedinEmail Our experience of the December 2025 Shut Offs link
My husband is 81 and I am 72. We experienced a great deal of stress and anxiety during the shut offs. We lost power overnight on Tuesday, and then for a much longer period beginning Friday morning. Although the temperatures weren't below freezing, it became quite cold in our home, and we were forced to get in bed for warmth early. We had to buy a propane camp stove so we could boil water and do some basic cooking. Xcel let us know by phone and text that there would be an outage, although it wasn't enough time to prepare... Continue reading
