DENVER (June 27, 2024) – Xcel Energy today submitted its 2025-2027 Wildfire Mitigation Plan to the Colorado Public Utilities Commission. As the threat of wildfire increases in Colorado, Xcel Energy is expanding its work and programs to minimize risk associated with wildfires that could be caused by electric equipment. The plan proposes investments and improvements to existing measures while integrating industry experience, incorporating evolving risk assessment methodologies and sophisticated modeling tools, and adding new technology.

“Keeping our customers and communities safe across our service territory is paramount,” said Bob Frenzel, President and CEO of Xcel Energy. “Our goal is to ensure that no catastrophic wildfire is started by Xcel Energy assets. And, while we’ve made significant wildfire safety progress in Colorado and achieved key goals, there is still work to be done to meet the evolving threat. This plan lays out our proposed path forward to help build a more fire resilient Colorado, working in partnership with others who are also fighting to protect our communities.”

“Xcel Energy is committed to public safety, and to reducing the possibility and impact of wildfires for our customers, communities, and way of life in Colorado,” said Robert Kenney, President of Xcel Energy – Colorado. “This proposed plan utilizes strategies and technologies that have proven to be successful around the country in reducing wildfire threats from utility equipment. The plan builds on work that’s already underway, expanding the scope, pace, and scale of what’s already in place, while leveraging new and emerging technology to go even further.”

Proposed investments and improvements in the 2025-2027 Wildfire Mitigation Plan include:

  • Greater Situational Awareness: adding hundreds of weather stations for detailed information near power lines and equipment and tripling the number of Artificial Intelligence cameras for early smoke detection.
  • Technology-Enabled Infrastructure Inspections: updating the schedule for pole and equipment inspections in wildfire risk zones, using inspections to create 3D maps of equipment and terrain in high-threat areas.
  • Infrastructure Improvements: multi-year program to identify and replace or upgrade equipment, underground targeted power lines, replace and repair poles, and rebuild transmission lines in high-risk areas.
  • Expanded and Risk-Informed Vegetation Management: accelerating and expanding efforts in high-risk areas, and setting new standards for inspections, clearance, and pruning frequency.
  • Expanded Use of Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings (also known as Wildfire Safety Settings): increasing the number of feeders that can be set to safety settings remotely, sectionalizing lines in order to impact fewer customers, and adding equipment in high-risk areas and new technology to improve the program.
  • Public Safety Power Shutoff Program: incorporating experiences gained from the recent PSPS event to refine this tool, providing enhanced interactive web maps reflecting outage areas, proposing a back-up energy rebate program, and reflecting the work already underway to educate, prepare, and support customers and to better communicate and coordinate with public safety partners.
  • Organizational Growth: expanding our Wildfire Risk team to include further expertise in the areas of (1) meteorology and fire science, (2) risk management, assessment, and analytics, (3) wildfire strategy and performance, (4) regulatory and policy, including a dedicated outreach and communications resource, and (5) incident command for severe risk events.

The plan also includes new customer, public safety partner, and community outreach protocols.

The Colorado Public Utilities Commission will review the plan, and the public will have the opportunity to weigh in through the full regulatory process. If approved as submitted, a typical residential bill would, by January 1, 2028, increase by approximately 9.56% or $8.88 per month through incremental, bi-annual changes.

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About Xcel Energy 

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ: XEL) provides the energy that powers millions of homes and businesses across eight Western and Midwestern states. Headquartered in Minneapolis, the company is an industry leader in responsibly reducing carbon emissions and producing and delivering clean energy solutions from a variety of renewable sources at competitive prices. For more information, visit xcelenergy.com or follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter, and Facebook.