As Coloradans brace themselves for an upcoming wind event, with forecasts indicating a start date of Wednesday, Dec. 17, Xcel Energy has issued a warning about potential critical fire weather conditions along the Front Range. According to Douglas County, weeks of dry weather and unusually warm temperatures have set the stage for increased wildfire risk.
Xcel Energy is considering a proactive measure, the Public Safety Power Shutoff, which could affect customers in the region beginning on Dec. 17, around noon; this measure is in response to strong winds that could down power lines and cause outages, and customers are advised to check the outage map using their address to see if they will be directly impacted. The energy provider has also planned to implement Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings (EPSS), which makes power lines more sensitive and capable of cutting off electricity if, for instance, a tree branch comes into contact with it, thus enhancing public safety during elevated risk periods.
In anticipation of possible power outages, which could last from hours to days due to necessary post-event line inspections and repairs, Xcel Energy stresses the importance of preparedness, especially for those reliant on electrically powered medical equipment. "Restoring outages from a significant weather event or Public Safety Power Shutoff may take several hours to several days because crews must inspect lines and repair damage before they can be safely re-energized," Xcel Energy noted, as per Douglas County, acknowledging the potential duration and inconvenience caused by the shutoffs.
