Power could go out for a huge swath of Colorado as early as Wednesday. I can confirm Xcel Energy is preparing for public safety power shutoffs across high risk areas as fierce winds and very dry air move in. As many as about 500,000 customers could be affected. The goal is simple. Keep people safe, prevent wildfire starts, and protect the grid during a volatile wind event.
Why the power may go dark
The setup is classic for the Front Range and plains. Strong downslope winds will race off the mountains. Humidity will crash. Fine fuels are dry. One spark can become a fast moving fire.
High winds can throw branches into lines. Lines can slap together and arc. Equipment can fail under stress. Any of that can ignite grass or brush when the air is this dry. Colorado’s warming climate adds to the risk. Spring is trending hotter and drier. Snow melts earlier. Fuels cure sooner. Wind driven fire windows are growing.
What a public safety power shutoff means
A public safety power shutoff, or PSPS, is a last resort. Utilities cut power in targeted zones when weather could turn a small fault into a major wildfire. Xcel will de energize specific circuits in high risk corridors. Expect short notice. Expect outages to start and end at different times across the footprint.
During a PSPS, automatic reclosers are disabled. That prevents repeated arcing. Crews must patrol lines before they re energize. Restoration can take hours. It can also take more than a day if wind and dust reduce visibility or if damage occurs. Xcel will push alerts by text and email for enrolled customers. The outage map will show affected circuits and estimated times when conditions allow.
Stay away from any downed line. Assume every line is live. Do not drive over lines. Never run a generator indoors. Keep it 20 feet from doors and windows.
How to prepare now
You still have time to get ready. Focus on power, water, light, and medicine. If you rely on medical devices, act today. Know your plan and your backup.
- Charge phones, power banks, and laptops now.
- Fill water jugs and freeze a few bottles for your fridge.
- Refuel vehicles and any safe, approved generators.
- Set up a cooler with ice for medicines and perishable food.
- Gather a go bag with medications, copies of IDs, cash, and a flashlight.
- Identify a safe place for pets. Keep carriers and food ready.
- Park outside garages. Garage door openers may not work.
- Turn off sprinklers. Keep water pressure for firefighting if needed.
If you have rooftop solar, check your inverter settings. Most systems shut off during outages without a battery. A small battery can keep a fridge, modem, and medical device going. Even one kilowatt hour helps. 🔋
If you are medically vulnerable, contact Xcel and your local health department today. Ask about medical baseline programs, wellness checks, and priority alerts.
The wider climate and policy context
This is the new reality for the West. Hotter temperatures and erratic wind events are pushing utilities to act early and often. PSPS is blunt and disruptive. It also prevents catastrophic fires that can destroy whole towns. The long term fix is smarter, safer grid design.
Utilities are hardening lines with covered conductors and sectionalizing switches. They are clearing vegetation faster. Some segments will be undergrounded where it makes sense. That is costly and slow. Communities can speed resilience with microgrids at fire stations, schools, and clinics. Solar plus storage keeps critical services on. Small businesses can protect key loads with portable batteries and safe generators. Policy must keep equity at the center. Low income households need support for backup power and home weatherization. Preparation should not be a luxury.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When could shutoffs start and where?
A: Xcel is signaling Wednesday for parts of the Front Range and eastern plains. Check your account alerts and the outage map for your circuit.
Q: How long will the power be out?
A: Plan for several hours at minimum. If winds stay extreme or damage occurs, it can extend into the next day. Crews must inspect lines before restoring.
Q: Will schools, hospitals, and critical facilities lose power?
A: Some may. Many critical facilities have backup power. Local officials will share site specific plans. If you work in essential services, check with your manager now.
Q: What happens when power returns?
A: You may see lights flicker during re energizing. Turn sensitive electronics off during the outage. Plug them back in after the power is stable.
Q: How do I get updates?
A: Enroll in Xcel alerts, bookmark the outage map, and monitor local emergency channels. Keep a battery radio handy.
Conclusion
Colorado is staring at a high wind, high fire risk window. Xcel’s planned shutoffs are disruptive, and they are designed to save lives. Prepare now, help neighbors who need support, and treat every line as live. We will keep tracking the weather and the grid hour by hour. This is about safety today, and about adapting to a hotter, windier future tomorrow.
