Xcel's power outage at Frasier, a senior living facility in Boulder

My name is Barbara Farhar, and I am president of the Resident Council at Frasier, a senior living facility in Boulder housing some 500 residents. Approximately 400 of us live in Independent Living and 100 in Assisted Living, Memory Care, or Health Care. I spent 27 years working professionally in the energy field. Frasier's is a vulnerable population. As I write this, staff and residents are still recovering from the 28-hour power outage this past weekend from Saturday at 3:30 p.m. to Sunday at 7:30 p.m., with not even an hour's notice.

Our staff was incredible in dealing with all of the problems thrust upon them with almost no warning. We do have back-up generators to provide power for critical needs, but we had problems getting diesel delivery for them. Although I can understand the concept of de-energizing, I cannot imagine how Xcel could come to a decision to shut off power to the major senior living facility in Boulder with its many medical-related needs. It boggles the mind they could think such an action would be appropriate. We noticed the power was still on at nearby apartment buildings! In my view, Xcel should never have turned off power to Frasier. I believe that decision reflected poor judgment on their part.