Denver outages: 45,000 across the Front Range still without power Monday

Brooke Williams
·3 min read
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DENVER (KDVR) — Wind gusts up to 100 mph swept across the Front Range on Saturday and Sunday, causing power outages for tens of thousands of people. Several areas saw winds over 70 mph.

Because of the wind, Xcel Energy preemptively shut off power to around 55,000 customers in the state starting Saturday at around 3 p.m. This was the first time the company had done a preemptive shutoff.

When will power be restored in Colorado? Xcel Energy unsure

Xcel said it decided to shut off power in an effort to protect the public and public safety.

The damaging winds late Saturday and early Sunday caused outages to approximately 100,000 additional customers.

At its peak, around 150,000 customers across the Front Range were affected by outages, Xcel said. By Monday morning, power had been restored to around 65% of these customers. However, a little over 45,000 customers were still without power, according to Xcel.

Because of the number of customers impacted, these outages could last until Monday or even longer, according to Xcel Energy.

Where power outages have been reported

Xcel Energy outages

As of 11 a.m. Monday, 1,115 outages were affecting 46,059 customers, down from 54,965 customers at 5 a.m., according to the Xcel Energy outage map.

A majority of those outages were concentrated near Boulder and thousands were impacted in Denver as well.

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These counties had the most customers impacted, according to Xcel’s map:

  • Jefferson County: 18,949

  • Boulder County: 15,224

  • Denver: 6,564

  • Arapahoe County: 3,212

Customers can check specific locations on the outage map to find if Xcel has an estimate for when power will be restored.

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Poudre Valley REA outages

Poudre Valley REA reported widespread outages on its outage map.

Most of those outages were concentrated in the foothills north of Boulder, as well as areas in and near Fort Collins.

Tips to prepare for power outage

Xcel encouraged customers to prepare for an outage. Here are some tips from Xcel:

  • Put together an outage kit

    • Include things like flashlights, batteries, portable chargers, a phone that does not require electricity, a non-electric clock, bottled water, non-perishable food, a manual can opener and a first aid kit

  • Make sure your computer is protected from surges

  • Keep devices charged

“Customers who use medical equipment that relies on electrical service should take steps to prepare for extended outages,” Xcel said.

Other things to consider include lighting options for when the power goes out, using a cooler to avoid opening the fridge and using a generator.

“For customers with power outages, you may want to unplug appliances containing electronic components, such as televisions, microwaves, and computers to prevent damage as power is being restored,” Xcel said.

What to do if you see a downed power line

If you see a downed power line, Poudre Valley REA says to stay away, do not touch it, warn others and contact the power company or local emergency services.

“Any utility wire, including telephone or cable lines, could be in contact with an energized power line making them very dangerous,” the PVREA website said.

PVREA said any downed line should be treated as energized, adding that tree limbs and debris may hide an electrical hazard, and a downed power line can energize things around it.

If you are in a vehicle that has come in contact with a powerline, the safest place to be is inside the vehicle.

“While it may appear a power line has become de-energized and it is safe to exit the vehicle, the only way to know for sure is if a power utility company has confirmed the line has no electricity flowing through it,” the PVREA website reads.

PVREA says to stay put in the vehicle until crews confirm that there is no power in the line. If the line is energized and someone exists the vehicle improperly, PVREA said the person could create a path to the ground and electrocute themselves.

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