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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 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
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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
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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
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Lost power Wednesday, right when we had family come in from out of town. Ended up having to put them in a hotel for 4 days, on our dime. Lost all the food we prepped for the holidays. Every day Excel would message an estimated time and never once made that time. We also lost all cell phone coverage in the area, so if there had been an evacuation we wouldn't have known about it. Had to get in the car to drive east to get LTE or 5G. When power finally did come on, we were half a day... Continue reading
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I heard the Poudre REA customers were not affected (except where they depend on poles that were damaged) - they are responsible and care about their clients!
Our neighborhood is in north Fort Collins along Lemay near Tavelli and we were out of power all day Friday. In addition Xcel pruned to the point of destroying all of the trees along our neighborhood (between Conifer and Willox). Our neighborhood is pressing charges. These lines should be underground!
My dear friend lives in southeast Fort Collins and had their power off all day too.
Share INCOMPETENCE AT PUC & XCEL on FacebookShare INCOMPETENCE AT PUC & XCEL on TwitterShare INCOMPETENCE AT PUC & XCEL on LinkedinEmail INCOMPETENCE AT PUC & XCEL link
1. Given the demonstrated incompetence why haven't the PUC members resigned in embarrassment? I suggest reading some of the reports developed by the staff. Truly alarming level of incompetence.
2. Why do rate payers have to support a corporation obviously fixated on providing a horrible product? Xcel is a stockholder company apparently couldn't care less about "public service."
3. Let's put Xcel on a 5 year plan to radically overhaul their antiquated infrastructure. Why, in 2026, is the system so pathetic? Because Xcel is incompetent and not interested in anything other than stealing money from the residents of CO.
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I am a firefighter in the foothills and red flag warning days when fuels are dry keep me up at night. I appreciate Excel trying to mitigate some wildfire caused by electrical hazards but, ultimately, it is merely an indemnity issue for them and does very little to eliminate wildfires. I know this because I responded to numerous fires that day caused by power lines that were "deenergized"...that weren't.
What happens when utility companies kill power is that thousands of people fire up their generators. When there are thousands of generators backfeeding the lines they are carrying just as much... Continue reading
Share Xcellent Job! Thank you! on FacebookShare Xcellent Job! Thank you! on TwitterShare Xcellent Job! Thank you! on LinkedinEmail Xcellent Job! Thank you! link
(My apologies to the moderators! This is the second attempt. I found many typos in the first!)
20 Jan 2026
Xcel Energy handled the recent Wildfire risk with the extreme high winds in an excellent manner. I was surprised to see the complaint from Tammy Story who I follow and do support.
But I feel our culture has unrealistic expectations expecting perfection out of our organizations and government when we cannot expect it out of ourselves.
I feel we could be more realistic with the fact that a large corporation such as Xcel, who has serviced our Foothills home for... Continue reading
Share deliberate power shutoffs to avoid potential lawsuits are life-threatening for thousands on FacebookShare deliberate power shutoffs to avoid potential lawsuits are life-threatening for thousands on TwitterShare deliberate power shutoffs to avoid potential lawsuits are life-threatening for thousands on LinkedinEmail deliberate power shutoffs to avoid potential lawsuits are life-threatening for thousands link
deliberate power shutoffs to avoid potential lawsuits by excel are life-threatening for the thousands of elderly and disabled folks like myself dependent upon CPAP, oxygen concentrators, and other medical equipment, as well as loss of emergency communications and Internet services ... and of course in the dead of winter, freezing in the dark is another potential killer for many.
what is even the purpose of having electrical service if it can simply be cut off at the drop of the hat? ... how is that considered meeting the criteria of delivering reliable service at all times.?
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This is my SECOND "planned" outage experience with Xcell. I did research and it appears that they are currently being sued by multiple States for over a billion dollars for negligence regarding reporting and irresponsible nefarious activity. Hence the shut offsIm an honest and try to be an accurate person. According to the law in CO, Zcel is breaking it in multiple ways. They are shutting off power to homes with out ANY warning, they are givin no uodates, they are doing it when its sub 32 degrees.(illegal) and they are also shuttingit off on non agreed upon or publicized... Continue reading
