Thu Dec 18 06:40:00 UTC 2025: Summary:
Xcel Energy has significantly reduced the number of customers potentially affected by a planned public safety power shutoff (PSPS) on Wednesday due to high winds and wildfire risk in the Front Range. Initial estimates of 530,000 customers potentially losing power have been reduced to 52,000 due to improved weather forecasting, modeling, and grid infrastructure upgrades. The PSPS is likely to begin around 10 a.m. on Wednesday, primarily affecting customers in the foothills. Strong winds are expected, with gusts potentially reaching 90 mph in some areas. Even if a PSPS is not implemented, Xcel will use enhanced powerline safety settings, which may cause more frequent outages due to sensitivity to objects contacting power lines.
News Article:
Xcel Significantly Scales Back Potential Power Shutoffs Amid High Winds in Colorado
DENVER, CO – Xcel Energy announced Tuesday that it has dramatically reduced the scope of potential public safety power shutoffs (PSPS) planned for Wednesday due to critical fire weather conditions across the Front Range. Initial estimates of up to 530,000 customers facing potential outages have been revised down to approximately 52,000.
The planned PSPS is a preemptive measure designed to mitigate the risk of wildfires during periods of high winds, warm temperatures, and low humidity. The company stated that recent advancements in weather forecasting, modeling tools, and grid infrastructure improvements have allowed them to significantly narrow the affected areas.
“Risk assessments based on the latest forecast data and advanced modelling tool outputs, as well as recent improvements to grid infrastructure, have enabled us to reduce the size of the affected areas,” Xcel officials said in a statement.
The precautionary power cut is currently slated to begin around 10 a.m. Wednesday, with the majority of impacted customers residing in the foothills regions, including Jefferson, Boulder, Clear Creek, Larimer and Weld counties.
The National Weather Service is forecasting strong winds across the Front Range, with widespread gusts of 60-75 mph likely and the potential for gusts up to 90 mph in wind-prone areas. The strongest winds in metro Denver are expected between 1-5 p.m. Wednesday.
Even if Xcel does not implement a full PSPS, the utility will still activate enhanced powerline safety settings, which will increase the sensitivity of power lines and potentially lead to more frequent, localized outages if branches or other objects come into contact with the lines.
This is not the first time Xcel has implemented a PSPS in Colorado. In April 2024, the utility shut off power to roughly 55,000 customers to mitigate wildfire risk.
Xcel customers can monitor outages online, report outages via their accounts, or by texting OUT to 98936 or STAT to check outage status. Power restoration will begin after the high winds subside, and crews will patrol lines before re-energizing them. Restoration timelines may vary from several hours to several days.
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