DENVER— (April 22, 2026)— To reduce the risk of wildfire and protect public safety, Xcel Energy planned to implement a Public Safety Power Shutoff today, affecting about 7,100 customers in Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla and Rio Grande counties. Due to wind speeds that were lower than forecasted, a Public Safety Power Shutoff was not required, and power lines were not de-energized.
Weather forecasts included strong winds, low relative humidity and very dry conditions, which, coupled with historically low snowpack, resulted in high wildfire risk in parts of the San Luis Valley. As the Xcel Energy meteorology team continued to evaluate weather conditions throughout the day, lower-than-forecasted wind speeds were observed, and, as a result, a Public Safety Power Shutoff was no longer necessary. Weather systems can shift quickly, and risk is evaluated both based on current conditions and how conditions are expected to evolve over the coming hours.
“We take the decision to implement a Public Safety Power Shutoff very seriously, and we only take that step in the most extreme situations,” said Robert Kenney, president, Xcel Energy – Colorado. “We also recognize that customers prepared for a Public Safety Power Shutoff that did not occur, and this may have caused significant disruption to residents and businesses. We appreciate our customers’ patience, understanding and support as we work to protect the safety of our communities and decrease the risk of wildfire.”
The company utilizes weather forecasts and other data sources to help determine the best course of action to protect public safety. High winds, low relative humidity and dry ground fuel conditions are key factors in risk models. Models are regularly updated, and operations are adjusted accordingly to reduce wildfire risk.
Weather conditions in some areas may not match what customers expected to see. Public Safety Power Shutoffs are a vital tool to protect public safety during periods of highest wildfire risk and when other wildfire mitigation methods are not enough. The company is committed to continuing to improve how planned outages are implemented.
Xcel Energy is continuing to monitor a high wildfire risk event in Colorado expected on Thursday, April 23. The company will activate Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings across the state to mitigate against wildfire hazard conditions.
- When Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings are activated, power lines are more sensitive and can instantly stop the flow of energy if an issue is detected, like a tree branch or other object touching the line.
- These settings do not mean the company has proactively turned off a customer’s power. If there is an outage while these settings are activated, it is the result of an issue on the power line.
- In the event of an outage, power will remain off until our crews can visually inspect power lines to make sure it is safe to turn them back on. This may mean that if an outage occurs, it could last longer.
Customers are still encouraged to report any damage, such as downed power lines and broken poles, to Xcel Energy and to stay clear.
Report Outages, Damage
Customers can help Xcel Energy get a jump on power restoration by reporting outages through the following ways:
- Through the 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.
Event updates and tips to prepare, stay safe, report outages and stay informed when severe weather strikes can be found on the Xcel Energy Event Update webpage.
Stay Informed
Xcel Energy will provide updates for this specific weather event on its website. Customers can check the outage map for up-to-date information on outages and estimated restorations times, when available. They should make sure their account information and communications preferences are up to date in My Account.
Customers can also stay informed by following Xcel Energy on Facebook and X.
Wildfire Mitigation
Xcel Energy is continually investing in and building out its systems to reduce the risk of wildfire and limit the size, scale, and duration of potential power disruptions, including system hardening, upgrading electrical components, enhancing vegetation management and expanding technologies like Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings.
Since 2020, the company has invested nearly $1.5 billion in wildfire mitigation activities in Colorado. The 2025-2027 Wildfire Mitigation Plan integrates industry experience, incorporates evolving risk assessment tools, and leverages new technologies to build and improve upon existing efforts to reduce wildfire risk. As part of its mitigation work, in 2025, Xcel Energy:
- Inspected 49,000 distribution poles, replacing 10,414 and repairing 8,390
- Inspected 3,559 miles of transmission line
- Installed 102 proprietary weather stations and 81 PanoAI early wildfire detection cameras
- Achieved a 108% completion rate on planned vegetation management, exceeding its 90% annual goal
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About Xcel Energy
Xcel Energy (NASDAQ: XEL) is a leading energy provider, dedicated to serving millions of customers with excellence. We make energy work better for customers, helping them thrive every day. That means always raising the bar — delivering better service and providing more reliable, resilient and sustainable energy.
We are committed to leading the clean energy transition, meeting our customers’ need for more cleaner power, while keeping bills as low as possible. Because the people we serve depend on us to power their lives.
Headquartered in Minneapolis, we work every day to generate and distribute electricity and gas to customers across eight states: Minnesota, Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, New Mexico and Texas. For more information, visit xcelenergy.com or follow us on X and Facebook.
