Boulder Xcel power shutoffs: Tell the state what you think

The Colorado Public Utilities Commission is asking customers for feedback on Xcel Energy’s latest public safety power shutoff.

The Dec. 17 outage across the Front Range was Xcel’s second-ever wildfire-related shutoff in Colorado, following a widely criticized first attempt in April 2024.

While the PUC does not approve or deny Xcel’s decision to cut power, it oversees how utilities plan for and communicate during these events. After the 2024 shutoff, residents, businesses and local governments raised concerns about poor notice, confusing maps, lack of coordination with emergency services and failures to protect critical facilities.

Since then, the PUC has ordered Xcel to improve advance notice (as early as 72 hours out), mapping, communication during outages, coordination with local governments and outreach to customers who rely on electric-powered medical equipment.

Now the commission wants to know: Did it work?

PUC staff are drafting permanent rules that would set statewide standards for future shutoffs and are asking customers affected by the December outage to weigh in. Feedback will help shape those rules.

You can share your experience through the PUC’s public survey and comment form. The commission says it is especially interested in hearing about notice, communication, mapping accuracy and how outages affected homes, businesses and critical services.

Why it matters: Xcel says the shutoff helped reduce wildfire risk, which officials agree was real. But as Boulder learned in April 2024, how these outages are planned and communicated can make the difference between preparedness and disruption, especially for hospitals, shelters, schools, food banks and small businesses.