As gusts of up to 75 mph swept across Colorado’s Front Range, the state’s largest utility, Xcel Energy, made the decision to temporarily shut down key sections of the power grid.
This is a precautionary measure to prevent the utility’s infrastructure from igniting what could become a devastating wildfire.
However, their proactive decision to preemptively shut off power to around 55,000 customers in Boulder, Gilpin, Larimer, Douglas, Broomfield, and Jefferson Counties has now been compounded by an additional 100,000 outages caused directly by the extreme weather.
“More than 600 miles of lines were proactively de-energized, and before power is turned back on, our crews will need to visually inspect the lines to ensure it is safe to do so,” says the company on their official website.
They further stated that with a total of over “150,000 customers currently without power, the restoration process” is expected to be a lengthy one, potentially extending into Monday, April 8th.
To help customers weather the outages, Xcel Energy is urging residents to unplug sensitive electronic appliances and equipment to prevent potential damage as power is gradually restored. The company is also advising customers to stay away from any downed power lines and to report any issues to 911 immediately.
For those relying on medical devices that require electricity, Xcel is encouraging affected customers to ensure they have adequate backup supplies to last through the duration of the outages.
The utility is also working to communicate directly with impacted households and provide updates through local media, its website, and social media channels.
