As of Saturday morning, over 57,000 Xcel Energy customers in Colorado were still experiencing power outages. This comes three days after a significant wind event that left more than 100,000 customers without electricity. Outages affected not only Xcel Energy but also YW Electric, United Power, and Poudre Valley REA, among others.
Xcel’s Challenges with the Recent Wind Event
The severe windstorm impacted various regions, including the Eastern Plains and areas surrounding Denver. The outages included both planned and unplanned events, with Xcel Energy initiating certain power shutoffs to prevent wildfires.
Governor Polis Calls for Transparency
On Friday, Colorado Governor Jared Polis expressed concern over Xcel Energy’s communication regarding these outages. He emphasized the need for transparency in their operations, especially during such critical situations.
- Polis stated, “No Coloradan should be wondering if they will or will not have power.”
- He criticized the lack of clear communication on power restoration timelines.
Governor Polis indicated that he intends to discuss these issues with Xcel representatives after the current weather emergency has passed. He highlighted the increasing severity of fire seasons, underscoring the importance of utility companies sharing accurate information with the public during such events.
Current Recovery Efforts
Xcel Energy announced that they had mobilized hundreds of workers to assess and repair damaged power lines. As of Saturday, the company aimed to restore power to “most customers” by 10 p.m. that evening. Updates from Xcel will continue as restoration efforts progress.
