Critical fire weather, strong winds may cause Colorado power outages

Coloradans on the Front Range may lose power this week as strong winds and critical wildfire conditions hit the state, Xcel Energy warned customers on Monday.

Strong winds will blow across Colorado starting Wednesday afternoon and may prompt a “targeted Public Safety Power Shutoff” to reduce wildfire risks, according to the Xcel alert.

Fire danger will be elevated because of warm, dry weather over the last several weeks, including a recent 10-day stretch of near-record temperatures on the Front Range, the utility said.

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Up to 40 mph wind gusts are forecast for the Denver area on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.

“Energy crews will restore power as quickly as safe conditions permit,” Xcel officials stated in a news release. “Xcel Energy’s top priority is protecting customers and communities.”

During a public safety power shutoff, Xcel proactively cuts off power to areas with an elevated wildfire risk, according to the utility.

“Proactively shutting off power is not a step we take lightly,” the company stated on its website. “We consider weather, wind speeds, relative humidity, fuel moisture and temperature as well as critical customers and infrastructure before deciding to implement a PSPS.”

Power restoration will begin after the high winds and fire danger subside, according to the website.

The timeline for restoration can range from several hours to several days, depending on the area, utility officials said. Crews need to patrol the entire line to ensure it’s safe before it can be re-energized.

Even if Xcel does not proactively shut off power, the utility still expects to implement what it calls “enhanced powerline safety settings” on Wednesday.