AMARILLO, Texas (Feb. 17, 2026) — Xcel Energy has begun restoring power following a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) and weather-related outages on Tuesday. Wind gusts up to 70 miles per hour, and extremely low humidity levels created critical wildfire risks across the region, especially in the Texas Panhandle.

As of 5 p.m. CT, about 16,500 customers were without power, including 14,277 affected by the PSPS and another 2,223 impacted by weather-related outages.

More than 400 Xcel Energy crew members and contractors pre-positioned around the area are now working to restore service. Three helicopters are supporting rapid aerial inspections of power lines, and drones will be deployed if windspeeds allow.

Following the weather event, power will not immediately be restored as crews must patrol and inspect lines and repair any damage to make sure it’s safe to turn power back on. With 2,500 miles of power lines de-energized as part of this PSPS, restoration is expected to be complex and may take several hours, and in some areas, possibly into Wednesday.

The safety of our crew members is paramount. Xcel Energy asks customers to help keep crew members safe by giving them the space they need to do their job safely and efficiently.  High winds that could cause additional outages could continue Wednesday.

Important tools for Xcel Energy customers

Report Outages, Damage  

Customers can help speed restoration by reporting outages and damaged equipment. Anyone who sees a downed line or broken pole should stay far away and contact Xcel Energy immediately. 

Customers have several ways to report outages:    

  • 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.    

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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.