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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 Alarmingly disorganized on FacebookShare Alarmingly disorganized on TwitterShare Alarmingly disorganized on LinkedinEmail Alarmingly disorganized link
We just got our power back after 5 days. The information shared by the power company was disorganized at best, as I count 31 texts from them and most were inaccurate. Since we had no power, no data service from Verizon, and no wifi access, we were completely cut off. These texts could only be accessed after a 30 minute drive from our home to an area that did have data service.
Equally unhelpful were the maps. They were incorrect and remained almost exactly the same for the duration of the five days! We were left to our own initiative... Continue reading
Share Thankful for the preventive measures being taken by Xcel on FacebookShare Thankful for the preventive measures being taken by Xcel on TwitterShare Thankful for the preventive measures being taken by Xcel on LinkedinEmail Thankful for the preventive measures being taken by Xcel link
I want to thank Xcel for taking safety measures to avoid a catastrophic fire in the foothills of Colorado. Although power outages are frustrating I would much rather deal with it than a fire. I know Xcel is receiving a lot of backlash right now, but you cant' hold them accountable for the Marshall fire and then blame them for trying to prevent another. I was contacted via text, email and phone to warn of the upcoming outage, so I had time to prepare. Maybe they could send out suggestions as to how to do that? Some update messages were... Continue reading
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This idea of public safety shut off is frustrating and borders on neglect. So many people work from home now, and turning off the power to protect Xcel liability is like stealing from these people. The Friday 12-19 shutoff had no weather event to back it up. I had breezy conditions with gusts less than 15 miles and hour. I believe Xcel is doing this to prime the public for major infrastructure bonds. They have neglected the infrastructure in lieu of CEO bonuses and "green" energy. Wish Xcel did not have a monopoly on electricity in CO.
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We lost our power for three days straight, and we live within the city limits of Boulder. I understand that we want to mitigate a wildfire and I am very appreciative that there were no wildfires however it has been four years since the Marshall fire and Xcel energy has invested nothing back into our community to prepare for the inevitable wins that come to Boulder. Their communication was erratic at best and extremely unhelpful. We were given completely inaccurate information about when power would be restored. I lost over $1000 in food which I could’ve preserved if given more... Continue reading
Share Xcel power preemptive power outages unsustainable on FacebookShare Xcel power preemptive power outages unsustainable on TwitterShare Xcel power preemptive power outages unsustainable on LinkedinEmail Xcel power preemptive power outages unsustainable link
Regarding the scheduled power outages during last week’s extreme wind events, I want to be clear that I understand the need for preemptive shutoffs when fire danger is high. Public safety must come first. However, the execution of these shutoffs and, more importantly, Xcel Energy’s communication and restoration process were unacceptable.
Xcel did provide adequate notice for the initial shutoff on Wednesday. After that point, communications deteriorated significantly. Customers received a confusing and often contradictory series of texts, emails, and phone calls that provided little clarity on restoration timelines or next steps. After Wednesday’s power was off for an extended... Continue reading
Share Fix this by fining Xcel for each outage on FacebookShare Fix this by fining Xcel for each outage on TwitterShare Fix this by fining Xcel for each outage on LinkedinEmail Fix this by fining Xcel for each outage link
The disruption to our lives was absolutely unacceptable, even for those of us who didn't lose power but were near the outage area. First, Xcel's maps changed multiple times which made a fun game of trying to figure out if you were going to have power. Then, the school district canceled school *district wide* on Wednesday when it was totally inappropriate to do so. My child's school was canceled for on Friday because we were "too close" to the projected outage boundary. I get that it was the last week before break, but pulling kids out of school is detrimental... Continue reading
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As someone who worked in Louisville and had to evacuate during the Marshall Fire, I know how important it was to shut off the power because of similar extreme wind/drought to prevent another disaster. That being said, it has been 4 years since the Marshall Fire and that has been plenty of time to reinforce or update high risk areas. With over 200 BILLION dollars in profits, why has Xcel not taken care of their customers that fund their profits and paychecks? These weather events and conditions are not going away, it is time for action! Just having power shut... Continue reading
Share Ambiguity Causes Wasted Time and Energy on FacebookShare Ambiguity Causes Wasted Time and Energy on TwitterShare Ambiguity Causes Wasted Time and Energy on LinkedinEmail Ambiguity Causes Wasted Time and Energy link
I want safety for everyone, but Xcel is taking limiting their liability over the top. This entire event should be a case study in CYA gone awry.
Xcel overcommunicated and WAY overestimated the areas that would be included in the PSPS in their original communication causing our family and probably others to needlessly worry and spend our time prepping for what their communications made seem like a certainty but never materialized. I spent my time prepping and stressing about something that became a non-event. I have enough other stuff in my life to deal with rather than worrying about an... Continue reading
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Communication is never going to be perfect. Communicate an outage too early and the weather forecast might change. However, we live in an area that is defined as a "high wind" area. So what is the criteria for an outage? 75 mph winds and high fire danger as defined by the NWS and then agreed to by Xcel lawyers? I get 75 mph winds at my house 6 times a year and it is dry every fall. What is the plan going forward to alleviate a 3-day outrage for 6 hours of wind? The NWS already has wind monitors up... Continue reading
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There is no discussion that turning off power in these instances is a good idea. What is wrong with the system is that it is being used to an extreme. In north Loveland, we received a notice on Wednesday that it would be shut off, then not more than 30 minutes later a notice that "power has been restored". It had never been off and never was on Wednesday during a much higher wind event than Friday. Then received a note that power would go off Friday at 5am, which it did. However, the wind subsided here mid-day and Xcel... Continue reading
