Public Safety Power Shutoff

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  December 2025 shutoff

  by sarn, 4 months ago

  I completely agree that utility shutdowns may need to occur to save our mountain towns from a fire disaster.

  However, our foothills communities received a notice of an 8 hour shutdown, which we all know how to handle. What actually happened was over 4+ days! of silence and blackout - no power, no internet, no phone service. Those of us who are mobile drove to Denver periodically to find out what was happening. We shared the info as best we could. (There was almost none to share until the last day when they put up a very complete website.) Xcel... Continue reading

  I completely agree that utility shutdowns may need to occur to save our mountain towns from a fire disaster.

  However, our foothills communities received a notice of an 8 hour shutdown, which we all know how to handle. What actually happened was over 4+ days! of silence and blackout - no power, no internet, no phone service. Those of us who are mobile drove to Denver periodically to find out what was happening. We shared the info as best we could. (There was almost none to share until the last day when they put up a very complete website.) Xcel is lucky that none of the folks who are ill, old, have babies or are without transportation or resources did not die while this chaos continued. They had no way to reach out for help. I didn't know of resources or safety venues and most others didn't either. Personally I spent approximately $500 on hotels, food loss, heat and lighting resources that was unnecessary with correct planning.

  I'm writing to the PUC to deny a rate increase in our utilities.

  Until the experience of a few weeks ago, I wouldn't have thought twice about it. Xcel management should be held accountable for their failure of planning/communication that any one of us could have done with very little effort. It felt like the bosses had lunch, thought a shutdown would prevent a fire ( hopefully it will), and left without ANY thought of what their customers might need or what else might be needed.

  Although it won't happen, every customer in the shutdown area should receive a substantial credit on their Xcel bill or reimbursement of costs.

  The community paid for Xcel's safety from liability. We should not allow a rate increase of any kind until Xcel demonstrates responsible management and resource use from it's own funds.

  
  
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  Spotty illogical outage

  by SG, 4 months ago

  Hello,

  I am writing to express my extreme dissatisfaction over the power outage that affected northwest Arvada in December 2025. I've waited to write to calm down and gather my thoughts. I feel this outage was a mess.

  The December 2025 Excel power outage was a disaster. Sure it made Xcel comfortable. I had power Wednesday Dec. 17^th and Thursday Dec. 18^th, but then lost power Friday morning Dec. 19^th at 5:45 a.m. when there was not a breath of wind in my neighborhood. The outage continued for the next 28 hours while my neighborhood, the... Continue reading

  Hello,

  I am writing to express my extreme dissatisfaction over the power outage that affected northwest Arvada in December 2025. I've waited to write to calm down and gather my thoughts. I feel this outage was a mess.

  The December 2025 Excel power outage was a disaster. Sure it made Xcel comfortable. I had power Wednesday Dec. 17^th and Thursday Dec. 18^th, but then lost power Friday morning Dec. 19^th at 5:45 a.m. when there was not a breath of wind in my neighborhood. The outage continued for the next 28 hours while my neighborhood, the Whisper Creek development, experienced light wind or no wind at all. While walking in my neighborhood, I met people who lived a block or two away who retained power through the entire outage. And the King Soopers and retail businesses along Indiana and Candelas Parkway, less than a mile away to the west, and closer to highway 93 had power the entire time!!!!!. A storage facility just north of Whisper Creek and residences along highway 128 to the north had power the entire time. I could see dust clouds from my north facing window along 128 that were so large they looked like smoke. But they still had power. A portion of the Candelas development to the west and closer to highway 93 had power the entire time.

  What was the logic? How did my more eastern residential neighborhood have spotty outages when businesses and residences west and north in higher wind areas retained power?? Why did some homes in my neighborhood have power and I did not? My neighborhood is newer and all power lines are buried.

  I called Xcel to get more information and received a bland, useless, courteous response telling me there was an outage in my area and they would update when they had information.

  Communications and status updates were poor. Selection of residential areas to cut power from was spotty, illogical and poorly managed. If Xcel is going to cut power, they should be more selective of the areas chosen instead of applying massive outages to areas not affected by the winds. And they should absolutely cut power to areas to the west near highway 93 that could affect more eastern locations. Again, there should have been no outage in my area. We did not experience the high winds.

  It was lucky the temperatures were so mild. Freezing pipes and inability to stay in homes could have made it so much worse in locations not experiencing wind. The loss of all access to communications was a big problem. We had no way to know what was going on as cell phones died with no power to charge. And computers and television were not available. The financial impact of food loss and cost to stay in hotels would have made it much worse. And the entire time, my neighborhood had light or no wind.

  As a whole, I’m disgusted with this outage. Xcel was quick to shut down, communication was non-existent, and they restored at a snail’s pace. My neighborhood should have never lost power. This was an absolute\ mess with no meaningful justification.

  Is this going to become a norm every time the wind blows??? This felt more like a vengeance and retribution tactic for the Marshal fire and settlement than an effort to provide public safety. Almost four years to the day and the power lines along highway 93 have not been buried. No visible effort has been made to prevent the same situation from recurring. Yet my utility rates are on the rise and my husband just read that Xcel will be raising it’s prices by 10% next August. Xcel is experiencing great profits. Are they trying to recoup their lawsuit penalty on the back of poor consumers who have no other affordable choice for gas and power? Where does this end??? How is this action justified???

  I’m writing to express my extreme frustration and dissatisfaction of how this was managed. We're lucky there was no one in my home with a medical condition requiring electricity. I don’t know how those people managed. I am asking you, as someone with authority and power to make a difference in how this is done, to ensure this kind of activity is better managed and not used as a retribution tool. There has to be improved responsiveness and communications to minimize the impact on Colorado residents. There has to be justification for areas affected by outages, significant improvement in regional outage management, communication of restoration progress, and an enormous improvement in the time to restore utilities and accountability for these activities. How do they justify the cost increase??? Aren’t these approved through you??? It has become so expensive to live here already that we can't afford continued cost increases and the impact power outages. And there seem to be no consequences for these practices. I am still disgusted. There has to be a better way.

  From your website: The PUC is responsible for ensuring the availability of safe, reliable, adequate and efficient electric, gas, steam and water services to utility customers at rates that are just, reasonable, and not discriminatory. To accomplish this, the PUC regulates (or oversees) a range of topics including electric and gas rates charged by utilities, safety investments, clean energy plans, and transportation electrification.

  REALLY?? Higher rates again?????

  Please help the consumer instead of what feels like bending to big business!!

  I am frustrated and feeling helpless! Who really looks out for the consumer?????

  It seems like no one.
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  Both home and business without power

  by RLaurel, 4 months ago
  On Wednesday, December 17th, at 10am, power to both my home and my place of business was shut off. I am a hairdresser, and I was fully booked for hair services during the week before Christmas. I was able to work 4 1/2 hours on that Wednesday, even without power. My salon is in the Dakota Ridge neighborhood, and we have a lot of natural light through two sides of the storefront windows. I brought in an oil lamp in anticipation of the shutdown. People didn’t seem to mind that their hair couldn’t be blown dry. They were just happy... Continue reading

  On Wednesday, December 17th, at 10am, power to both my home and my place of business was shut off. I am a hairdresser, and I was fully booked for hair services during the week before Christmas. I was able to work 4 1/2 hours on that Wednesday, even without power. My salon is in the Dakota Ridge neighborhood, and we have a lot of natural light through two sides of the storefront windows. I brought in an oil lamp in anticipation of the shutdown. People didn’t seem to mind that their hair couldn’t be blown dry. They were just happy to get their hair cut and colored. About 2:30 that afternoon, we ran out of hot water, so I had to call it a day. We touched out the night in a cold, dark house. When I arose in the morning, I realized I would soon be out of cell phone battery charge and without Internet. I was not able to use my phone or email at all to get a hold of my clients to cancel them for the next few days. I packed a bag and drove straight to the Hampton Inn in Gunbarrel, and they took me right in. I was able to reschedule all the clients. Having previously been given an approximate time for power to be restored, I took the chance to reschedule people for Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, the week of Christmas.

  It wasn’t the schedule I wanted to work that week, but I was just happy. I had the space to move people into. When I checked out Sunday morning, I drove straight to the salon and began working. We ended up losing all the food in our refrigerator and freezer. It didn’t occur to me to move the icemaker storage bin from the top of the freezer. So we had a flood in there as well. We had to spend a few hundred dollars at a hotel, but it all worked out. We understand the forced outage. We did see five or six utility poles cracked in half off of 63rd St. Neither my home neighborhood nor my work neighborhood has utility poles, but I understand we were likely on a grid with areas that did have them, so those grids had to be shut down. I just wanted to share my personal story.

  
  

  
  
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  Disabled and disgruntled

  by Trvlnchic, 4 months ago

  I was without power for 5 days and received NO notification of the planned outage. A text message, like the ones sent after the outage was in its 3rd hour, would have been ideal in order to prepare. I was also working on my Master finals and had no power to Starlink.

  
  

  I have a small generator that thankfully pulled enough to keep water, food, and heat on. However, it is a pull start and my fused hands to wrist could NOT get it started. After 4.5 hrs someone arrived to pull start the generator for me. Day 3 it... Continue reading

  I was without power for 5 days and received NO notification of the planned outage. A text message, like the ones sent after the outage was in its 3rd hour, would have been ideal in order to prepare. I was also working on my Master finals and had no power to Starlink.

  
  

  I have a small generator that thankfully pulled enough to keep water, food, and heat on. However, it is a pull start and my fused hands to wrist could NOT get it started. After 4.5 hrs someone arrived to pull start the generator for me. Day 3 it started sputtering and I was told by Generac the portable is not designed to run that long.

  Houses burned down because of generator use. Since Xcel has given themselves a 4% bonus increase and we are now paying 6% more for, perhaps the ethical business practice ought to have put the entire 6% towards updating and renovating infrastructure so "preventative" shutdowns are not necessary.

  Further, your deal with the Colorado and BlackRock to eliminate fossil fuel creating a monopoly, creates quite the predicament for gas operated generators as back-ups because you fail at the job we pay for. Your 4% bonus ought to be redistributed as rebates for a generator contract for residential back up power...because you fail to install equipment modeled after other states with high wind fortitude infrastructure models or renovate to underground cables. You expect consumers to always accept increases for services you cannot reliably provide because you are too busy paying politicians, yourselves, and privately owned corrupt deal making.

  With Excels priorities NOT being about providing safe reliable service, overloading antiquated equipment, misusing funds, this is really an insult to consumers to even ask for input and our experiences.

  Bottom line, I was 5 days without power, over used my gas powered generator to point of shut-down, and nothing is going to change on your end. I didn't receive a refund on my homeowners insurance for the 5 days of preventative power outage either and I am still paying increased power bills with no reliable back up for your reduced liability and lack of responsibility.
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  Xcel needs better planning and communication

  by Robert Bowles, 4 months ago

  The Public Safety shutdown caused considerable inconvenience to our family. It was problematic because of the inconsistency of the information on the shutdown. We initially were told that service would shut down early on Wednesday and resume later in the evening. While inconvenient, it did not require special action. Our refrigerator and freezer would maintain temperature for that amount of time. The hot water tank would stay hot and the in-house temperature would stay habitable for that amount of time. The resumption of service time, however, continued to change throughout the day. By end of day, we knew we would... Continue reading

  The Public Safety shutdown caused considerable inconvenience to our family. It was problematic because of the inconsistency of the information on the shutdown. We initially were told that service would shut down early on Wednesday and resume later in the evening. While inconvenient, it did not require special action. Our refrigerator and freezer would maintain temperature for that amount of time. The hot water tank would stay hot and the in-house temperature would stay habitable for that amount of time. The resumption of service time, however, continued to change throughout the day. By end of day, we knew we would not have power until the next day but there was information about the possibility that power could be out for several days.

  By Thursday morning, power was still out and home temperatures were in the mid 50’s. Since we did not have a firm resumption time, I made the decision to go out and buy dry ice for our freezers and ice for our refrigerator. Other people had the same thought, and it was hard to find in locations near the foothills and near highways. Based on this information, I went to a downtown store that had stock. I purchased what I needed and left for home.

  On the way back, I got a call from my family informing me that power was back but there was notification that power was likely to shut down again on Friday. I left the dry ice and ice in coolers in the event power went out again. Furthermore, I had to use internet for work. Given that there was a limited time I had to work through most of the night. I was still working at 5:40am when the power went out. I loaded the freezers and refrigerators with ice. Again, there was little accurate information on when the power would resume.

  The power did not resume until 1:00pm on Saturday. By the time we had reliable power, we had experienced two 30+ hours outages in three days. Our neighbor, who was checking our home after the power resumed, fell and hurt himself when he was doing so.

  I understand the need for power shutdowns to prevent catastrophic fires. On the other hand, over 50,000 people were not only inconvenienced but, in some cases, people who had medical issues, had to plan for their own health and continued safety. People with wells did not even have access to potable water. Furthermore, because of the lack of reliable phone and internet access in many parts of the foothills, many customers can’t even get critical emergency updates once the power shutdown starts. There must be a balance between the risk of fire and risk of harm to the people in the shutdown area. There is also a loss of economic productivity due to shutdowns.

  The shut down process needs to be reassessed. First, the communication problem must be solved. The utility company also needs to take steps to minimize the down time and to improve their power infrastructure in those areas that are prone to winds and fire.

  Following some of the issues that I believe need to be addressed:

  • There must be a single provider of information, and it should be the utility company. The utility company should not only be sending regular updates to the affected customers but also have an easily accessible online site to get the latest info. At one point, I went online to the Xcel website with my phone to see when I could expect service to restart. I found an Xcel map that showed the front range and the length of the expected outage for different communities. The map was so bad that I couldn’t figure out where my home was and how long until power would resume.
  • Xcel (or someone) must find a way to communicate with customers who lose phone and internet service due to their shutoff. Should a fire have started on the mountain, we would not have known to evacuate. (Our home does not have reliable internet or cell phone coverage, so we must drive several miles to get connectivity).
  • While this was a wind driven outage, there were significant times when the power was out when there were no winds. Xcel needs to be able to turn off and on the power more quickly. Intermittent power is better than no power. If there are issues with being able to do this, they must be solved.
  • Xcel needs to upgrade its power grid in the foothills. Equipment that is prone to starting fires needs to be replaced with safer equipment. It may be that the entire foothills utility system needs to be more robust than other areas of the state. It may take time and be costly to do but it is not unreasonable to expect a reliable power system.
  • The foothills community needs to be told whether shutdowns are going to be an occurrence going into the future. In the past, our system has been very reliable with nearly no shutdowns in the last five years. If this is going to happen every time we have strong winds (which we have often), we need to make decisions on what equipment we need to buy or install to be able to have power when we need it.
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  Unacceptable

  by Ram, 4 months ago
  I am a Larimer County native of 47 years. I have never experienced any power shutoffs similar to Xcel Energy’s PSPS. Colorado is dry and windy. The weather hasn’t changed. Now there have been 2 PSPS “events” in less than a months time! Unacceptable. The head of Xcel Colorado is too risk averse. Xcel clearly needs to update their equipment instead of punishing their customers. I also find it interesting that the wealthy neighborhoods are spared from the shut offs. This is ridiculous. This should not be allowed. Customers should be refunded handsomely for the headaches caused.

  I am a Larimer County native of 47 years. I have never experienced any power shutoffs similar to Xcel Energy’s PSPS. Colorado is dry and windy. The weather hasn’t changed. Now there have been 2 PSPS “events” in less than a months time! Unacceptable. The head of Xcel Colorado is too risk averse. Xcel clearly needs to update their equipment instead of punishing their customers. I also find it interesting that the wealthy neighborhoods are spared from the shut offs. This is ridiculous. This should not be allowed. Customers should be refunded handsomely for the headaches caused.
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  Excel need competition.

  by Nancy M, 4 months ago
  WE lost power on April 24th, and numerous times in December. We lost all of our food in the Freezer in April lost $1000.00 of food and most stuff in refrigerator. They willy nilly shut off the power this December. . No warning given just boom no power . Shut off power numbers times in a day. Could not be sure how to plan holidays and prepare without steady power. Excell needs to stop punishing the Marshall fire people. We could look out our window and see the rest of Louisville with lights. You just gave them another raise in... Continue reading

  WE lost power on April 24th, and numerous times in December. We lost all of our food in the Freezer in April lost $1000.00 of food and most stuff in refrigerator. They willy nilly shut off the power this December. . No warning given just boom no power . Shut off power numbers times in a day. Could not be sure how to plan holidays and prepare without steady power. Excell needs to stop punishing the Marshall fire people. We could look out our window and see the rest of Louisville with lights. You just gave them another raise in rates , yet natural gas is at one of its lowest levels in prices in years. They have billion dollar profits already. Bury the lines along hwy 93, and along broadway in Boulder. They have blown down enough, I am a native of 70 years. We never had these problems until Excel become a monopoly which the PUC allowed.
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  Xcel is horrible

  by Hobbz, 4 months ago
  I was affected by the non communicated April 2024 shut down as well. At least this time, they communicated this shut down using their pre-built notification system. However, unlike April 2024, there was no wind near me that justified this shut down. I had 40-50 mile gusts.

  
  

  These ”safety“ shut downs are clearly used because Xcel has not done the maintenance work to harden their infrastructure.

  the PUC needs to get off its high horse about renewable energy and focus on reliability. Xcel needs to service ratepayers with reliable energy.

  
  

  I was affected by the non communicated April 2024 shut down as well. At least this time, they communicated this shut down using their pre-built notification system. However, unlike April 2024, there was no wind near me that justified this shut down. I had 40-50 mile gusts.

  
  

  These ”safety“ shut downs are clearly used because Xcel has not done the maintenance work to harden their infrastructure.

  the PUC needs to get off its high horse about renewable energy and focus on reliability. Xcel needs to service ratepayers with reliable energy.

  
  
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  Time to Replace Xcel

  by Bonny, 4 months ago

  Xcel should not be allowed to continue to have a monopoly providing energy for the good people of Colorado. For a utility, people have no choice for their power provider. Xcel has proven themselves to be bad at their job and its time to replace them with a non-profit electric and natural gas provider who can get the job done. Xcel is a for-profit entity and I don't believe their focus is in the right place to keep our lights on and our homes heated. They should be re-investing what we pay in to improve the infrastructure. It is unacceptable... Continue reading

  Xcel should not be allowed to continue to have a monopoly providing energy for the good people of Colorado. For a utility, people have no choice for their power provider. Xcel has proven themselves to be bad at their job and its time to replace them with a non-profit electric and natural gas provider who can get the job done. Xcel is a for-profit entity and I don't believe their focus is in the right place to keep our lights on and our homes heated. They should be re-investing what we pay in to improve the infrastructure. It is unacceptable that the power was preemptively turned off for 40 mph wind gusts. When we received the email advising us our power might be turned off the weather forecast was for gusts up to 40 mph. The forecast did not change over the next 3 days but Xcel turned the power off anyway. For 40mph wind. That's just unacceptable. I grew up on a farm in Kansas and can remember straight line winds of 90 mph. The energy company did not preemptively turn off the power. North Dakota experienced extreme wind in December 2025 and Rapid City did not have to suffer through a scheduled power outage. Perhaps whoever provides electricity for Rapid City should be offered the job in Colorado.
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  Poor communication, broader than necessary outage

  by Dave P, 4 months ago
  Inaccurate and conflicting messages kept coming through. For the part of Tennessee in which we live was not affected dramatically by winds and the 120 home community we live in has Underground wiring. Was it really necessary to cut our communities power?

  Inaccurate and conflicting messages kept coming through. For the part of Tennessee in which we live was not affected dramatically by winds and the 120 home community we live in has Underground wiring. Was it really necessary to cut our communities power?