Xcel Warns of Potential Power Outages Through Weekend

By John Pranay (Editor)

High winds swept across Colorado's Front Range on Wednesday, leaving over 100,000 Xcel Energy customers without power. The utility company implemented a planned public safety power shutoff (PSPS) to reduce the risk of wildfires, affecting around 50,000 customers in five counties. The remaining outages, totaling over 50,000, were caused by severe weather conditions. Weather conditions are expected to improve, but Xcel warned that high winds and low humidity could return Friday, raising the risk of another PSPS.

Xcel Energy began shutting off power around 10 a.m. Wednesday in parts of Boulder, Larimer, Jefferson, Weld, and Clear Creek counties. The company's president, Robert Kenney, stated that the decision was made to protect public safety due to extremely high winds, low relative humidity, and a high wildfire index. Xcel has implemented PSPS in the past, but this is only the second time they have done so. The utility company is working to restore power, but the process is slow due to the need for visual inspections of damaged lines.

• December 17, 2025: Xcel Energy implements a planned public safety power shutoff (PSPS) in parts of Boulder, Larimer, Jefferson, Weld, and Clear Creek counties.

• December 17, 2025 (10 a.m.): Xcel begins shutting off power to around 50,000 customers.

• December 17, 2025 (8 p.m.): There are around 120,000 weather-related outages, with 50,000 connected to PSPS and 68,500 related to severe weather.

• December 18, 2025: Xcel warns that high winds and low humidity could return Friday, raising the risk of another PSPS.

Public safety power shutoffs are not a new phenomenon in Colorado. In 2022, Xcel Energy implemented PSPS in several counties, leaving thousands of customers without power. The practice has been met with both support and criticism, with some arguing that it is necessary to prevent wildfires, while others claim it is an overreaction. The use of PSPS has become more common in recent years, particularly in areas prone to wildfires.

• Regulatory risks: Xcel Energy may face criticism and scrutiny from regulatory bodies for the implementation of PSPS.

• Financial risks: The cost of implementing PSPS and restoring power may be significant, potentially affecting Xcel's bottom line.

• Physical risks: The prolonged power outage may lead to health and safety issues for affected customers, particularly those with medical needs.

Xcel Energy has warned that high winds and low humidity could return Friday, raising the risk of another PSPS. The company has published a map showing areas that could be affected and urged customers to prepare. BoulderCAST has warned that conditions forecast for Friday look "very similar" to Wednesday's event, calling Boulder "at ground zero" for the potential PSPS.

The pace of change in Colorado's approach to wildfire prevention is noteworthy. In recent years, the state has implemented various measures to mitigate the risk of wildfires, including PSPS. However, the reliance on PSPS raises questions about the effectiveness of this approach. Crucially, this overlooks the need for more fundamental changes in land use and development practices. By prioritizing PSPS over more comprehensive solutions, Colorado may be merely treating the symptoms rather than addressing the root causes of the problem. This suggests that the state's approach to wildfire prevention is still evolving, and

On balance, this event screens as Neutral in our sentiment view.

1. Around 120,000 lose power following powerful winds — https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/xcel-power-shut-off-possible-front-range-fire-danger/73-2044aa7c-d3cb-4cf2-b5a3-9ceb73a10616

2. With thousands still without power in Boulder County, Xcel warns another shutoff could follow — https://boulderreportinglab.org/2025/12/17/with-thousands-still-without-power-in-boulder-county-xcel-warns-another-shutoff-could-follow/

3. Xcel Shuts Off Power to Nearly 100,000 Customers in Boulder, Along Front Range as High Winds Approach — https://www.westword.com/news/xcel-power-outages-boulder-denver-area-customers-winds-40818741/

Methodology: This analysis combines real-time data aggregation from manually selected global sources with advanced AI synthesis, engineered to provide neutral and data-driven insights.