DENVER – As the extreme winds affecting portions of Colorado die down, Xcel Energy crews are out repairing damage to the electric system and restoring service to customers.
While many customers will have service restored later today (Sunday), with the significant number outages from this weather event, this restoration process will extend into Monday, April 8 and possibly longer for some customers.
For the first time in Colorado, Xcel Energy conducted a public safety power shutoff. More than 600 miles of lines were proactively de-energized, and before power is turned back on, our crews will need to visually inspect the lines to ensure it is safe to do so. Xcel Energy has more than 400 crew members working to restore power quickly and safely.
As of 5:45 p.m. MT, crews have restored about 63,000 customers today and we have more than 87,000 customers still experiencing outages statewide. In addition to the 55,000 customers whose electric service was turned off Saturday as a public safety measure, about 100,000 additional customers also experienced power outages caused by the high winds. Customers can keep updated on the status of their outage on our outage map, which will be updated with estimated restoration times when they’re available.
With exceptionally high winds and the high risk of wind-driven wildfires starting Saturday afternoon in Colorado, Xcel Energy proactively shut off power to about 55,000 customers in Boulder, Gilpin, Larimer, Douglas, Broomfield and Jefferson Counties. While this step is intended to enhance public safety and decrease the risk of wildfires, we know outages are a challenge for customers, and we want to thank you for your patience.
We also used wildfire safety settings to reduce wildfire risk. Typically, when there is an issue that causes a power outage on a line, such as a tree branch contacting a power line, equipment on the system will attempt to restore power automatically, usually within a few seconds. During this extreme weather event, Xcel Energy changed the settings on those systems in many areas to prevent the automatic restoration of power. Instead, crews will patrol the area to ensure it is safe to restore service before re-energizing the line. This safety measure means power outages are likely to last longer than they typically would.
For customers with power outages, you may want to unplug appliances containing electronic components, such as televisions, microwaves, and computers to prevent damage as power is being restored. If you see downed power lines, stay away and call 911. Also check for damages to your electric service mast, which is a pipe mounted to the house through which the electric service wires run. If there are damages to the mast, you must contact a licensed electrician to make repairs before we can restore service.
We strive to minimize the scale and duration of service impacts, and to provide impacted customers with as much information as possible as early as possible. We will keep customers and communities updated through local media, our website and social media channels. We will also attempt to communicate directly with customers impacted by outages. We will also notify affected customers when power has been restored.
Deciding where we may interrupt electrical service is a highly involved process, accounting for a wide array of factors, including expert analysis of meteorological data, weather conditions, and digital model simulations. We also account for the types of infrastructure present in the area.
As wildfire risks continue to evolve, so do the tools we are using to protect customers, communities, and our work crews. We take our commitment to providing you with safe, reliable service seriously. Xcel Energy appreciates your patience as we work to keep the public safe.
Report your outage
Customers can help Xcel Energy get a jump on power restoration by reporting outages. Customers have several ways to report outages.
- Through the My Xcel Energy mobile app, available in the Apple App Store and through Google Play.
- Online at xcelenergy.com/out
- Via text by texting OUT to 98936 to report an outage, or text STAT to the same number to check the status of a power outage
- By calling 1-800-895-1999 and following the prompts—the automated phone reporting system lets customers report outages in less than 60 seconds. Once the cause of the problem is identified, the system or an Xcel Energy representative will provide customers with an estimated restoration time when available.
Stay informed
If outages occur, it’s important for customers to have access to the most recent updates about their power restoration. Customers can stay informed by using the My Xcel Energy mobile app or visiting the Xcel Energy website. The website hosts an outage map that displays information on the number of customers out and anticipated time for restoration when available. Customers can also stay informed by following Xcel Energy on Facebook and X, formerly known as Twitter.
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