Xcel Energy is communicating with customers in parts of Colorado to raise awareness.
Xcel Energy is preparing for high winds this weekend and is operating the electric system in Boulder County and small sections of Gilpin, Larimer, Douglas, Broomfield and Jefferson Counties in a manner intended to enhance public safety and decrease the risk of wildfire. With the high winds associated with this weather event, damage to electrical equipment and power outages may occur. Outages may be more frequent and last longer than they typically would.
Potential customer impacts
Our top priority is ensuring the safety of our communities, customers, and work crews. In periods of elevated wildfire risk or if we are operating in the vicinity of active wildfires, we may need to temporarily de-energize powerlines, turning off electrical service to customers in certain areas. Turning off customers’ power is not something we take lightly. It is a last-resort step that can prove to be a life-saving measure.
We serve about 1.6 million customers across Colorado and have decided to proactively de-energize lines that impact around 55,000 customers, primarily in Boulder County and small sections of Gilpin, Larimer, Douglas, Broomfield, and Jefferson Counties. Those outages are expected to begin around 3 p.m. Saturday, April 6, extending until at least noon on Sunday, April 7, though outages are likely to persist beyond that timeframe because crews must physically inspect the powerlines. Customers who use medical equipment that relies on electrical service should take steps to prepare for extended outages. Temporarily shutting power off prevents our electric system from becoming the source of a wildfire ignition.
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 update customers and communities through local media, our website, and social media channels. We will also attempt to communicate directly with customers impacted by outages and notify affected customers when power has been restored.
Deciding where we may interrupt electrical service is a highly involved process, accounting for various 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.
With the exceptionally high winds associated with this weather event, damage to electrical equipment and power outages may occur. Outages may be more frequent and last longer than they typically would. While not related to a proactive de-energization, those outages may be more extensive and last longer. Power restoration efforts may extend beyond the duration of the high winds and elevated fire risks.
How customers can stay prepared
To be ready in the event of an electric outage, Xcel Energy recommends keeping phones and other devices charged, and building an outage kit with items that do not require electricity, including a battery-powered radio, flashlights, batteries, a portable charger, a phone that does not require electricity, a non-electric alarm clock, bottled water and non-perishable food, a manual can opener, first aid kit and extension cords for partial outages. More tips for how to prepare for an outage are available here. To receive timely updates and check on an outage status, we encourage customers to update their Xcel Energy communication preferences by logging onto the Xcel Energy app or My.XcelEnergy.com. If you experience an emergency, call 911.
As wildfire risks continue to evolve, so do the tools we use 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.