DENVER— (December 19, 2025)— Xcel Energy enacted a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) for customers in Boulder, Clear Creek, Gilpin, Jefferson, Larimer and Weld counties. Weather conditions are expected to be severe, and the National Weather Service has issued a Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) designation.

Due to the latest forecasts, extreme fire weather conditions are now expected to persist until at least 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday evening, with high winds, causing additional outages, persisting beyond 10 p.m. Even though the high winds will end, power will not be restored immediately. Xcel Energy expects this to be a very severe weather event with unplanned outages expected to significantly exceed the number of customers affected by a PSPS.

Restoration activity cannot begin until weather conditions improve, and includes crews visually inspecting lines, assessing and remediating damage, repairing equipment and safely reinitiating power. This process can take hours and days depending on the full and actual scope of damage.

Since Wednesday, Xcel Energy crews have restored power to over 200,000 customers. As the winds subside late Friday night, hundreds of crew members will be ready to begin restoration through the weekend. Customers may not have power restored for several days. The safety of our crew members is paramount as they work in your neighborhood to restore power. We ask our customers to help keep our crew members safe as they work diligently to restore power as quickly as possible.

PSPS events reduce the risk of wildfires and protect public safety. Xcel Energy uses weather forecasts and other data sources to decide how to best protect the customers and communities it serves. Key factors in calling for a PSPS event include high winds, low relative humidity and dry ground conditions and all are present today.

Particularly Dangerous Situation

The National Weather Service issued a Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) alert associated with today’s Red Flag Warning in Colorado. Conditions are expected to be especially dangerous at elevations between 5500 and 9000 feet in Jefferson and Boulder Counties. This is the most extreme categorization for risk the NWS has, and it is used in rare weather events.

Turning off the power is not a decision made lightly, and restoration will begin as soon as it is safe for crews to begin working. This effort could take several days to complete. Crews must inspect power lines and repair damage before they can be safely re-energized. As crews restore power, the public is reminded to give them the space they need to do their job safely and efficiently. 

Xcel Energy reminds customers there will be unplanned outages outside of the PSPS event due to high wind. Customers should stay clear of any downed power lines and report them, as well as any damage they see to Xcel Energy.

Customers who live in areas where power lines are underground, or do not see damage in their immediate area can still be impacted by a PSPS or power outage due to how their neighborhood connects to the larger grid.

Resource Centers 

Xcel Energy is working with the American Red Cross and local offices of emergency management to open resource centers for customers impacted by power outages caused by today’s severe wind event. Customers impacted by outages will have access to phone charging and other home emergency supplies at the following resource centers:

  • Evergreen Fire Station – 1802 Bergen Pkwy, Evergreen, CO 80439 (Open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.)
  • Gilpin County School – 10595 Highway 119, Black Hawk, CO 80422 (Open until further notice)
  • Wellspring Catholic Academy – 1100 Upham St., Lakewood (Open from 3 p.m. until further notice)
  • Health and Wellness Center – 1969 Miner St., Idaho Springs (Open Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

The Xcel Energy Red Trucks will also be at the resource centers providing support and information to customers. Individuals who need food assistance can use the Find Food Map to find a Hunger Relief Partner in communities across the Colorado.

Report Outages, Damage  

Customers can help Xcel Energy get a jump on power restoration by reporting outages and are encouraged to also report any damage to power lines that they see.

Customers have several ways to report outages:

  • 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.

How customers can prepare, stay safe 

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. 

Build a Home Emergency Kit   

Customers are encouraged to be prepared for an electric outage by keeping phones and other devices charged and building an outage kit with items that do not require electricity, including:    

  • Battery-powered radio     
  • Flashlights    
  • Batteries    
  • Backup phone chargers    
  • A phone that does not require electricity    
  • Non-electric alarm clock    
  • Bottled water and non-perishable food    
  • Manual can opener    
  • First aid kit    
  • Extension cords (for partial outages)    
  • Manufacturer’s instructions on how to manually open power-operated doors (e.g. garage doors)    
  • Xcel Energy phone numbers – (800) 895-1999 for residential or (800) 481-4700 for business    

As an important reminder to customers who have medical equipment that relies on electric service, please take steps to prepare for potential extended outages, including on Friday. https://co.my.xcelenergy.com/s/billing-payment/energy-assistance/medical-exemption-program.

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. Since beginning its Wildfire Mitigation work in 2020, the company has invested in system improvements including the following improvements made in 2024: 

  • Replacing 8,337 distribution poles 
  • Inspecting 18,740 distribution poles 
  • Inspecting 2,832 miles of transmission lines 
  • Completing 345 priority repairs on transmission equipment 
  • Installing 18 substation protection relays 

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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.