Xcel to shut off power to some customers ahead of high wind danger in Colorado
DENVER (KDVR) — Xcel Energy will preemptively shut off power to around 55,000 customers in the state from Saturday at 3 p.m. until at least noon on Sunday due to forecasted high winds.
Xcel said it will proactively de-energize these lines to prevent potential wildfires.
The bulk of the customers affected by the shutoff are located in Boulder County, Xcel said. Some customers in small sections of Gilpin, Larimer, Douglas, Broomfield and Jefferson counties will also be impacted.
Denver weather: Some areas could see up to 100 mph winds Saturday
“We’ve made every effort to do outbound calls to the customers in those six counties,” Xcel Energy Colorado President Robert Kenney said.
Late Saturday evening, Xcel Energy released an online map showing which areas would be affected by the shutoffs.
Areas of the foothills were forecasted to see winds of up to 100 mph, while Denver was expected to see gusts of up to 75 mph.
The shutoff is expected to last until at least noon Sunday but could last beyond that because crews will have to physically inspect the powerlines before power can be restored.
“As you might imagine if there is damage to a line caused by the high winds, we can’t re-energize that line until we physically put our eyes on it so we can make sure that it’s safe to reenergize,” Kenney said.
Kenney said Xcel has 40-plus crews that are being pre-staged so that they can immediately patrol the power lines as soon as weather permits, then restoration can begin.
Xcel said it decided to shut off power to protect the public and public safety.
“You could see vegetation, branches falling onto our powerlines, and an energized powerline falling to the ground with exceptionally dry conditions coupled with those high winds, that could lead to ignition, so this is an effort to minimize the risk of that happening,” Kenney said.
Kenney said this is the first time Xcel has done this in Colorado, but said the company has done similar things in other states and said the practice is becoming more common.
Other outages are likely to occur as well from the wind, Xcel said.
As of 8:50 p.m., there were 496 outages affecting 88,185 customers, according to the Xcel Energy outage map.
Tips to prepare for power outage
Xcel is encouraging 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
Other things to consider may include lighting options for when the power goes out, using a cooler to avoid opening the fridge, and using a generator.
What to do if you see a down 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 reads.
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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