Public Safety Power Shutoff

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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.

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  • Share Can Xcel Energy shut off my power legally? on Facebook Share Can Xcel Energy shut off my power legally? on Twitter Share Can Xcel Energy shut off my power legally? on Linkedin Email Can Xcel Energy shut off my power legally? link

    Can Xcel Energy shut off my power legally?

    by JianYao, 18 days ago

    I've been paying Xcel Energy bills on time for a decade. Recently, they would like to upgrade the electric meter from the existing one to a smart meter. However, our cables are tight so that there's no easy way to do this upgrade. We have to replace the whole power panel, which is extremely costly. Since the existing electric meter works perfectly fine so far, can we keep it as is? Can Xcel Energy legally shut off the power to my house because of this upgrade issue? It's fine if they want to charge a bit more, but I don't... Continue reading

  • Share I have tried to work with this monopoly, and they act with impunity… Extracting double billing from me at will. on Facebook Share I have tried to work with this monopoly, and they act with impunity… Extracting double billing from me at will. on Twitter Share I have tried to work with this monopoly, and they act with impunity… Extracting double billing from me at will. on Linkedin Email I have tried to work with this monopoly, and they act with impunity… Extracting double billing from me at will. link

    I have tried to work with this monopoly, and they act with impunity… Extracting double billing from me at will.

    by mengelcooks, 28 days ago
    I take issue with Xcel Energy and their business practices. They are deceitful and act with impunity, knowing that they are monopoly for a service that people must have in the state in order to live.. I have had solar panels installed onto my house and they reduced the rate at which they purchased electricity back from solar panels mitigating the impact that makes on my bill. I asked for my bill to be averaged out. And then followed their advice on how to cut power usage and cost. It’s been a record or mirror. I have not needed to... Continue reading
  • Share "True Landline Service" goes down with the electrical grid! And Xcel's processes still lacking on Facebook Share "True Landline Service" goes down with the electrical grid! And Xcel's processes still lacking on Twitter Share "True Landline Service" goes down with the electrical grid! And Xcel's processes still lacking on Linkedin Email "True Landline Service" goes down with the electrical grid! And Xcel's processes still lacking link

    "True Landline Service" goes down with the electrical grid! And Xcel's processes still lacking

    by RLR, 28 days ago
    I have "true" landline service, not VOIP. I have it because I want a way to get and place calls should there be cell service or power disruption. In years past, I don't recall - when the electricity went out - that I had disruption of service. In fact, I'm pretty sure I didn't. But now that is what happens.


    Why isn't CenturyLink/Lumen being required to have an electrical back-up for this essential service? For those who only have landline service, this is beyond vital. I don't know what kind of generator (what kind of capacity) it would need to... Continue reading

  • Share 19th Century infrastructure on Facebook Share 19th Century infrastructure on Twitter Share 19th Century infrastructure on Linkedin Email 19th Century infrastructure link

    19th Century infrastructure

    by BeyondFrustrated, about 2 months ago

    Why are we being serviced by 19th century infrastructure in the 21st century?

    Xcel has spent at least 5 years replacing an antiquated power delivery system on the lookout mountain area instead of bringing it up to today’s Standards. They spent millions replacing poles and cross ties in this area, and then turned right around and replaced those same poles again because someone had mistakenly specified an incorrect preservative treatment, all at the customer’s expense.

    After all of which they still proceeded to just flip the switch, even though the winds were never nearly as strong as we’ve experienced previously... Continue reading

  • Share Xcel restored our power PREMATURELY on December 20, 2025 on Facebook Share Xcel restored our power PREMATURELY on December 20, 2025 on Twitter Share Xcel restored our power PREMATURELY on December 20, 2025 on Linkedin Email Xcel restored our power PREMATURELY on December 20, 2025 link

    Xcel restored our power PREMATURELY on December 20, 2025

    by RealPDF, about 2 months ago
    We lost our power as scheduled by Xcel on the morning of December 19, 2025. There are NO COMPLAINTS from us about this safety measure.

    However, our power was restored during the afternoon of the next day (December 20) while there were still extremely high winds in the Gunbarrel area.

    In our opinion, the power restoration in our area was PREMATURE and left us at high risk of wildfire because the power lines near our house are still mounted on wood poles.

    We have the distinct impression that Xcel staff did not know what they were doing that day. We... Continue reading

  • Share Transportation safety impacts on Facebook Share Transportation safety impacts on Twitter Share Transportation safety impacts on Linkedin Email Transportation safety impacts link

    Transportation safety impacts

    by Wit, about 2 months ago

    Introduction
    I appreciate Xcel Energy’s efforts to improve system reliability; however, it is critical to recognize that Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) are primarily a liability mitigation strategy—not a comprehensive public safety solution. While the Superior fire was a tragic event, historical data over the past 50+ years shows that such fires are extremely rare when proper maintenance of power distribution infrastructure is performed. The probability of another Superior-type fire remains very low under standard maintenance practices. The December 17 PSPS also started at 5AM, but it didn’t really get high wind gusts in Lakewood until the afternoon. The PSPS... Continue reading

  • Share I would vote a resounding yes for a publicly owned energy company on Facebook Share I would vote a resounding yes for a publicly owned energy company on Twitter Share I would vote a resounding yes for a publicly owned energy company on Linkedin Email I would vote a resounding yes for a publicly owned energy company link

    I would vote a resounding yes for a publicly owned energy company

    by ktdora, about 2 months ago

    I live in Evergreen. Our power lines are underground. Whenever my electric (along with 6 others neighbors) goes out my neighbors' 4 houses up the street from me have power. For some reason we are on a different grid? In November our electric was turned off due to Xcel update/repairs. Obviously, these repairs and updates did not factor into our electric being shut off in December.

    December rolls around and the following:

    We are advised of a potential power outage.

    Dec 17 - power turned off for a few hours and then comes back on.

    Dec 18- late MORNING power... Continue reading

  • Share No cell service for emergencies without power on Facebook Share No cell service for emergencies without power on Twitter Share No cell service for emergencies without power on Linkedin Email No cell service for emergencies without power link

    No cell service for emergencies without power

    by Michael Drewek, about 2 months ago

    We live on Lookout Mountain and have absolutely no cell coverage without Internet calling. Without power we have no way of receiving emergency messages about fires or evacuations. We also cannot call for an ambulance or the fire department if needed.

  • Share "Schedules" Power outages in Boulder on Facebook Share "Schedules" Power outages in Boulder on Twitter Share "Schedules" Power outages in Boulder on Linkedin Email "Schedules" Power outages in Boulder link

    "Schedules" Power outages in Boulder

    by EllenC, about 2 months ago
    Greetings,


    These "scheduled" power outages in Boulder are not done very well. On the map, my neighborhood was not listed to be out of power. However, we did not have power for 26+ hours. The "updates" we received from excel were: late, not correct in timing. not very informative (ie, said our power would be restored in a few hours, then less than 5 minutes later, said the power will be restored, but not time given, said they could not give an estimate of time, no reasons). Since the first "shut off power to save from litigation" we have lost... Continue reading

  • Share Preventive Electrical Outage, Dec. 2025 on Facebook Share Preventive Electrical Outage, Dec. 2025 on Twitter Share Preventive Electrical Outage, Dec. 2025 on Linkedin Email Preventive Electrical Outage, Dec. 2025 link

    Preventive Electrical Outage, Dec. 2025

    by Pat and Jack, about 2 months ago
    To Whom It May Concern,

    First of all, for the past 56 years in our home in the foothills of Jeffco, we have always appreciated the services from IREA/now CORE. I don't think we have ever had a serious complaint. And, even now we understand the need for the outage in December of 2025 because of the high winds and we still appreciate the fact that they were preemptive. Our feedback is that we needed more on-going information. We received the initial email about the coming outage but once it happened we had no idea how long it was going... Continue reading

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