Public Safety Power Shutoff

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  Un-prepared

  by JackR, 4 months ago
  We got through the outage OK once we retrieved our dormant camping equipment. I have since bought an inverter to work off my truck's battery.

  
  

  Our biggest problem was the closure of my wife's business in downtown Golden. This cost us thousands of dollars.

  
  

  The wind in Golden was light compared to previous wind events. I am hoping these outages will not become the new norm.

  We got through the outage OK once we retrieved our dormant camping equipment. I have since bought an inverter to work off my truck's battery.

  
  

  Our biggest problem was the closure of my wife's business in downtown Golden. This cost us thousands of dollars.

  
  

  The wind in Golden was light compared to previous wind events. I am hoping these outages will not become the new norm.
• Share Utilities must be required to SHARE LIABILITY for their decisions to pre-emptively cut off electrical service on Facebook Share Utilities must be required to SHARE LIABILITY for their decisions to pre-emptively cut off electrical service on Twitter Share Utilities must be required to SHARE LIABILITY for their decisions to pre-emptively cut off electrical service on Linkedin Email Utilities must be required to SHARE LIABILITY for their decisions to pre-emptively cut off electrical service link

  Utilities must be required to SHARE LIABILITY for their decisions to pre-emptively cut off electrical service

  by KM, 4 months ago
  I am a resident of Evergreen, Colorado, a small business owner and rely on medical devices at home.

  
  

  For XCEL to be allowed to unilaterally decide to pre-emptively shut off power in anticipation of an "act of god" without sharing the liabilities and costs of those decisions does not serve communities, businesses, governments, or individuals - it only limits XCEL's legal and financial liability. This system must be changed.

  Utilities should share liabilities with local governments and insurance through new law(s) that allow for limited liability protection for utilities that can demonstrate that they have adopted and maintain technologies (buried... Continue reading

  I am a resident of Evergreen, Colorado, a small business owner and rely on medical devices at home.

  
  

  For XCEL to be allowed to unilaterally decide to pre-emptively shut off power in anticipation of an "act of god" without sharing the liabilities and costs of those decisions does not serve communities, businesses, governments, or individuals - it only limits XCEL's legal and financial liability. This system must be changed.

  Utilities should share liabilities with local governments and insurance through new law(s) that allow for limited liability protection for utilities that can demonstrate that they have adopted and maintain technologies (buried lines, microgrids, "smart" transmission infrastructure, &tc.) for their transmission infrastructure. Such liability protection should be subject to review by governments and PUC regulators on an annual basis, and should only be granted when a government body, subject to political accountability makes a declaration that the utility will be allowed to consider pro-active service shut-downs.

  Utilities MUST be required to share the liabilities and costs of their unilateral decision(s) to pre-emptively-de-energize. Systems that favor customers and communities must be established to allow for claims and prompt payment. These systems must be accessible and put the onus on utilities if they fight or don't pay claims timely, should be overseen by a neutral, 3rd party, and should have significant penalties for utilities that try and game the system or not comply.

  Utilities should be required to pre-plan for outages (see Connecticut PUC regulations) in a way that ensures restoration does not take longer than any "act-of-god" event. Utilities should be heavily-penalized for under-0resourcing or delaying power restoration. Extra time for restoration must cost utilities MORE than pre-planning additional crews, overtime, subcontracts &tc. that would be necessary to restore service in less time than the deliberate outage was maintained.

  I lost hundreds of dollars of food waste. My business was late on deliverables due to inability to perform without power. This caused reputational damage to my business. I was unable to stay and sleep at home due to the outage , as medical equipment doesn't work without electricity.

  Despite all my losses, XCEL had the temerity and gall to pre-announce that they would not entertain any liability for their decision to pre-emptively shut off our service. XCEL posted outrageously-huge profits (billions) for the last several years despite paid settlements and system upgrades, Now XCEL is approaching the PUC to ask for ANOTHER rate increase while customers suffered extensive unreimbursed losses? The system isn't working and this is outrageous.

  Communities, businesses, governments and individuals in Colorado are not well-served by the existing "PSPS" regulations. Utilities' ability to proactively-shut off service should be enjoined until new, customer-focused mechanisms are put in-place that force equitable sharing of liability by utilities if/when they choose to shut off power. The current system only protects utility corporations and their shareholders and must not be allowed to continue.

  
  
• Share CAST AWAY BY XCEL ... in Boulder. on Facebook Share CAST AWAY BY XCEL ... in Boulder. on Twitter Share CAST AWAY BY XCEL ... in Boulder. on Linkedin Email CAST AWAY BY XCEL ... in Boulder. link

  CAST AWAY BY XCEL ... in Boulder.

  by bcarmic35, 4 months ago
  

  I run a photography studio from my home in Newlands. I lost my clients for this period and was plunged into a very primitive survival mode. I've been a professional adventure filmmaker for the majority of my career, and I've done a lot of bivouacking in my day. But to be discarded by Xcel was highly frustrating and scary. I wondered how the less prepared citizens in the sea of darkness were faring. Because this was hard on me. I'm in my late 70s, and this was stressful for everyone around me and for me. I got the Xcel update... Continue reading

  I run a photography studio from my home in Newlands. I lost my clients for this period and was plunged into a very primitive survival mode. I've been a professional adventure filmmaker for the majority of my career, and I've done a lot of bivouacking in my day. But to be discarded by Xcel was highly frustrating and scary. I wondered how the less prepared citizens in the sea of darkness were faring. Because this was hard on me. I'm in my late 70s, and this was stressful for everyone around me and for me. I got the Xcel update website and registered, and then the delays kept coming. I have a cell phone and hearing aids that demanded to be charged. Fortunately, I had friends outside the power-outage areas. I know Xcel is a private company, and profiteering is its business model. But the sheer disregard by this company regarding our isolation and welfare was staggering to me. The company's utter disregard for its clients was apparent during this blackout. We were ON OUR OWN. What if it had been below freezing? The question is, WHY has Xcel avoided under-grounding Boulder's Grid? The answer is clear. They DO NOT want to invest in the community! Xcel must GO! They are NOT the solution; they are a profit-first, out-of-state company that knows its time is limited here. And they run the state's largest coal-fired plant. They are MAJOR polluters! AND they have reaped Billions in profits from our community, and this blackout is what we get? I call for a city-owned and run municipal energy company in Boulder, CO, just like Fort Collins has, with all its lines underground. Bob Carmichael -
• Share Safety Devices on Facebook Share Safety Devices on Twitter Share Safety Devices on Linkedin Email Safety Devices link

  Safety Devices

  by Randal, 5 months ago
  Since the Marshall fire, which started the PSPS's, Xcel has installed and upgraded many power line safety devices such as breakers and re-closers. The new devices can be set to wildfire mode which makes them very sensitive.

  
  

  Rather than shutting down the power to everyone in a PSPS zone, leave the power on and let the safety devices do their job. The safety device pinpoints where the problem is and makes it faster for the crews to find the problems and repair them.

  
  

  In a PSPS situation where the power is shutoff for everyone, if there is damage to the... Continue reading

  Since the Marshall fire, which started the PSPS's, Xcel has installed and upgraded many power line safety devices such as breakers and re-closers. The new devices can be set to wildfire mode which makes them very sensitive.

  
  

  Rather than shutting down the power to everyone in a PSPS zone, leave the power on and let the safety devices do their job. The safety device pinpoints where the problem is and makes it faster for the crews to find the problems and repair them.

  
  

  In a PSPS situation where the power is shutoff for everyone, if there is damage to the power lines, the crews have no idea where the damage is. Then the crews end up wasting so much time inspecting hundreds of miles of perfectly good power lines before they can be re-energized.

  
  

  The PSPS's should be eliminated. It's a really bad policy. The PUC should implement a fine for many millions of dollars everytime Xcel does a PSPS, because right now there is no incentive for Xcel to keep the power on or make it more reliable. And really, I encourage everyone to have their town or city municipalize their electic utilites. Nothing good comes from being forced to buy power from a company that is beholden to their stock holders.

  Xcel claimed to have 200 crews standing by to restore power. I drove around for miles and didn't see a single one. Liars.
• Share PUC Failure on Facebook Share PUC Failure on Twitter Share PUC Failure on Linkedin Email PUC Failure link

  PUC Failure

  by Fredelliott, 5 months ago
  During the recent PSPS OUTAGE we lost all power and telephones. We live in a sub-division with all buried utilities in the City of Arvada.

  Xcel shut down the power on Wednesday Morning, with that shut down the telephone company SLC Huts went down too. We lost ALL access to any emergency services!! Cell phones have very spotty service in our area. (all Carriers that we have had)

  The PUC Failure.

  1. The PUC has failed to see that the local telephone company maintains the batteries in their remote sights, provides generators during outages or anything else to maintain customer... Continue reading

  During the recent PSPS OUTAGE we lost all power and telephones. We live in a sub-division with all buried utilities in the City of Arvada.

  Xcel shut down the power on Wednesday Morning, with that shut down the telephone company SLC Huts went down too. We lost ALL access to any emergency services!! Cell phones have very spotty service in our area. (all Carriers that we have had)

  The PUC Failure.

  1. The PUC has failed to see that the local telephone company maintains the batteries in their remote sights, provides generators during outages or anything else to maintain customer service during power outages or emergencies.

  2. The PUC has failed to have Xcel energy build or repair plant to the weather conditions we have here in Colorado and in Jefferson County! That would include, closer pole spacing, better wire spacing, heavier wire guage, and more insulated wire with more buried plant. Xcel should be required to rebuild all slack spans and under tenisoned spans. The loose spans flop in the wind! All Xcel plant in or near the foot hills needs to be built to withstand 110 miles per hour wind, very normal in this area! Xcel Energy should be required to have automatic switching to restore areas of buried plant.

  Fred L Elliott
• Share Court Cancelled on Facebook Share Court Cancelled on Twitter Share Court Cancelled on Linkedin Email Court Cancelled link

  Court Cancelled

  by coloradogis, 5 months ago

  We had an early morning court hearing in Jefferson County District Court on a Partition Action to sell Real Estate in Golden. We spent the night of the 17th in a dark Hampton Inn. The morning of the 18th the District Court Hearing was cancelled due to no power at the court. We are now waiting for a new hearing date, which will result in us having to pay 2025 property taxes in the amount of $3,600. There were absolutely no updates to be found on Xcel's website. I am on oxygen during the night and without power O2 concentrator... Continue reading

  We had an early morning court hearing in Jefferson County District Court on a Partition Action to sell Real Estate in Golden. We spent the night of the 17th in a dark Hampton Inn. The morning of the 18th the District Court Hearing was cancelled due to no power at the court. We are now waiting for a new hearing date, which will result in us having to pay 2025 property taxes in the amount of $3,600. There were absolutely no updates to be found on Xcel's website. I am on oxygen during the night and without power O2 concentrator only works for two hours. No provisions were made for traveling public who were put at risk.
• Share Traumatized feedback from Boulder area residents--shared with BACES (Boulder Area Coalition for Energy Sovereignty) on Facebook Share Traumatized feedback from Boulder area residents--shared with BACES (Boulder Area Coalition for Energy Sovereignty) on Twitter Share Traumatized feedback from Boulder area residents--shared with BACES (Boulder Area Coalition for Energy Sovereignty) on Linkedin Email Traumatized feedback from Boulder area residents--shared with BACES (Boulder Area Coalition for Energy Sovereignty) link

  Traumatized feedback from Boulder area residents--shared with BACES (Boulder Area Coalition for Energy Sovereignty)

  by Boulder Area Coalition for Energy Sovereignty , 5 months ago

  Traumatized feedback from Boulder area residents--shared with BACES

  Dec. 24, 2025

  Hi. In the following "Resources" sub-page of BACES (Boulder Area Coalition for Energy Sovereignty--https://boulderforpeopleenergy.blogspot.com/), please find a number of feedbacks and ideas, reflecting (in part) the trauma that our Boulder community experienced as a result of Xcel's profit-driven power shot-off:

  - Resources:

  https://boulderforpeopleenergy.blogspot.com/p/baces-resources-page-latest-entry-on-top.html.

  This is the link to the main (summary--mission/plans) page of BACES: https://boulderforpeopleenergy.blogspot.com/p/mission-statement.html.

  PUBLIC utilities should not be for private (Wall Street) profit.

  Moji Agha (Founder of BACES)

  Mini-bio: https://juustwa.org/speakers-and-presenters/brother-moji-agha/
  CONTACT EMAIL: moji.agha@gmail.com

  
  

  Traumatized feedback from Boulder area residents--shared with BACES

  Dec. 24, 2025

  Hi. In the following "Resources" sub-page of BACES (Boulder Area Coalition for Energy Sovereignty--https://boulderforpeopleenergy.blogspot.com/), please find a number of feedbacks and ideas, reflecting (in part) the trauma that our Boulder community experienced as a result of Xcel's profit-driven power shot-off:

  - Resources:

  https://boulderforpeopleenergy.blogspot.com/p/baces-resources-page-latest-entry-on-top.html.

  This is the link to the main (summary--mission/plans) page of BACES: https://boulderforpeopleenergy.blogspot.com/p/mission-statement.html.

  PUBLIC utilities should not be for private (Wall Street) profit.

  Moji Agha (Founder of BACES)

  Mini-bio: https://juustwa.org/speakers-and-presenters/brother-moji-agha/
  CONTACT EMAIL: moji.agha@gmail.com

  
  
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  My family's ordeal

  by Jamann527 , 5 months ago

  My wife and I live in Idaho Springs with our 2 young kids, ages 15 and 8. We received our first text from Xcel around 5:30pm on Thursday the 18 notifying us of the planned outage that would take place the following day. This left us only a few hours to prepare. During the day, there was little to no wind gusts outside. Friday night was spent in a dark and frigid house. Showers were also ice cold because of the electric water heater was out. Meanwhile, Xcel's website constantly changed when the power restoration would happen. First it was... Continue reading

  My wife and I live in Idaho Springs with our 2 young kids, ages 15 and 8. We received our first text from Xcel around 5:30pm on Thursday the 18 notifying us of the planned outage that would take place the following day. This left us only a few hours to prepare. During the day, there was little to no wind gusts outside. Friday night was spent in a dark and frigid house. Showers were also ice cold because of the electric water heater was out. Meanwhile, Xcel's website constantly changed when the power restoration would happen. First it was 6:45pm Friday night, then it said maybe it would happen by Noon on Sunday the 21st. The website later changed no estimation at all, it was simply blank. Power finally came back around 2:30pm. Hundreds of dollars of food in the fridge had to be tossed, including a Christmas ham.
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  Start and Stop—What Xcel needs to take advantage of

  by Ipad2, 5 months ago
  Our power was off aboutv20 hours, on for about 20, then off again for >24 hours. I would rather be without power than have my house burn down. But I sympathize with those who remind us that these stronggwinds have been around hereveverybwinter for many years (ever since I moved here in 1974) and Xcel has done less than enough to harden its infrastructure. ”It’s too expensive” solves nothing. And that kind of rigid thinking might be in the way of finding opportunities.

  
  

  Forvexample, 2 years ago in the Mapleton Hill area and just north of historic district, we endured... Continue reading

  Our power was off aboutv20 hours, on for about 20, then off again for >24 hours. I would rather be without power than have my house burn down. But I sympathize with those who remind us that these stronggwinds have been around hereveverybwinter for many years (ever since I moved here in 1974) and Xcel has done less than enough to harden its infrastructure. ”It’s too expensive” solves nothing. And that kind of rigid thinking might be in the way of finding opportunities.

  
  

  Forvexample, 2 years ago in the Mapleton Hill area and just north of historic district, we endured more than a year of dug up streets while the gas lines were being replaced. What a perfect opportunity to do some joint trenching and bury power lines in all those areas where streets were already dug up. Yes it would have taken communication and planning between utility providers and engineers, and yes there would have been incremental excavationnlabor and materials and inspections. But it could have been “one and done” at a cost far less than digging up separate trenches at different times.
• Share How are we going to get rid of natural gas????? on Facebook Share How are we going to get rid of natural gas????? on Twitter Share How are we going to get rid of natural gas????? on Linkedin Email How are we going to get rid of natural gas????? link

  How are we going to get rid of natural gas?????

  by JJD, 5 months ago
  The thing that really stands out to me is the fact that we are still holding onto the pipe dream of functioning without natural gas in the near future. If the system cannot operate in common front range conditions, how will it support the additional load put on it by our upcoming "green" revolution? The old adage of "putting all of your eggs in one basket" holds abundantly true in this case. The gas service remained uninterrupted during this episode as well as the 2024 shutdown. If the proponents of the natural gas ban would like to chime in, I'm... Continue reading

  The thing that really stands out to me is the fact that we are still holding onto the pipe dream of functioning without natural gas in the near future. If the system cannot operate in common front range conditions, how will it support the additional load put on it by our upcoming "green" revolution? The old adage of "putting all of your eggs in one basket" holds abundantly true in this case. The gas service remained uninterrupted during this episode as well as the 2024 shutdown. If the proponents of the natural gas ban would like to chime in, I'm all ears. If the system can be upgraded for the new load demands, then I would ask, Whats the hold up? I would like to borrow a saying from one of the states to our east. "Show Me" before we gut one of our utilities and become dependent on only one option. This rambling from a lifelong front range resident of 49 years.