Public Safety Power Shutoff

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Power outage graphic

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.

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  • Share Un-prepared on Facebook Share Un-prepared on Twitter Share Un-prepared on Linkedin Email Un-prepared link

    Un-prepared

    by JackR, 3 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.

  • 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, 3 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

  • 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, 3 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

  • Share Safety Devices on Facebook Share Safety Devices on Twitter Share Safety Devices on Linkedin Email Safety Devices link

    Safety Devices

    by Randal, 3 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
  • Share PUC Failure on Facebook Share PUC Failure on Twitter Share PUC Failure on Linkedin Email PUC Failure link

    PUC Failure

    by Fredelliott, 3 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

  • Share Court Cancelled on Facebook Share Court Cancelled on Twitter Share Court Cancelled on Linkedin Email Court Cancelled link

    Court Cancelled

    by coloradogis, 3 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

  • 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 , 3 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


  • Share My family's ordeal on Facebook Share My family's ordeal on Twitter Share My family's ordeal on Linkedin Email My family's ordeal link

    My family's ordeal

    by Jamann527 , 3 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

  • Share Start and Stop—What Xcel needs to take advantage of on Facebook Share Start and Stop—What Xcel needs to take advantage of on Twitter Share Start and Stop—What Xcel needs to take advantage of on Linkedin Email Start and Stop—What Xcel needs to take advantage of link

    Start and Stop—What Xcel needs to take advantage of

    by Ipad2, 3 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

  • 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, 3 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
Page last updated: 09 Mar 2026, 10:38 AM