Xcel Energy warns residents of possible extended power outages and proactive power shutoffs due to increasing wildfire risk

As climate change increases the risk of wildfires in Colorado, Xcel Energy is warning mountain residents to expect prolonged power outages and prepare for the possibility of a safety power shutoff.

Blair McGary, government affairs manager for Xcel Energy, acknowledged during a meeting with Summit County Commissioners on Tuesday, Sept. 10, that the utility has not communicated climate-related changes well to its customers.

“We are experiencing more extreme weather and drier conditions every year. Wildfires are a year-round threat across the country. It's no different here in Summit County,” McGary said. “We are seeing the risk increase across the region and in all the areas we serve. Utilities across the country are facing these challenges and are working to eliminate the threat of a catastrophic utility-caused wildfire by taking a number of different actions to prevent and mitigate it.”

McGary said Xcel “failed” in its communication with the community earlier this summer when the utility implemented enhanced wildfire safety measures that led to several extended power outages in Silverthorne within a week.

“We agree that communication needs to improve. We know that it was 100% lacking in the past,” said Blair McGary. “It's about balance. We don't want to panic people about something that may or may not happen.”

Summit County residents can expect enhanced wildfire safety measures, which the utility calls “enhanced power security settings,” to continue on a regular basis due to the increased wildfire danger, McGary said.

Improved power safety settings are “the most effective tools we have to reduce wildfire risk,” McGary said. When those settings are active, power lines are “much more vulnerable,” she said.

The power lines lose power in about a tenth of a second when tripped by something like a tree touching the line, and they don't automatically turn back on, McGary said. Those protocols require workers to visually inspect the line before reconnecting it, which can lead to extended power outages.

“Unfortunately, it's not really possible to notify customers in advance of outages caused by these enhanced security settings,” McGary said. “So in our communications, we continue to rely on the public to report these outages.”

In Silverthorne, Xcel Energy discovered earlier this summer that with enhanced safety settings enabled, “faulty equipment” from a “very large commercial customer” was tripping the system, causing hours of outages as workers had to check the lines before they could restore power.

McGary said Xcel Energy is working to improve communication with customers about when enhanced power safety settings will be in effect. The company is also working on a better outage map that residents can use to find out if enhanced power safety settings are in effect in their area.

In addition to expecting extended power outages when the enhanced safety settings are activated, Summit County residents must also be prepared for the possibility of a “safety power shutoff,” McGary said. A safety power shutoff occurs when power is proactively turned off for safety reasons, she said.

Xcel Energy uses wildfire risk modeling software called Technosylva to assess, analyze and mitigate wildfire risk. The software uses data on wind, fuel quantities, fuel moisture content, humidity and weather forecast to evaluate where utility infrastructure poses a potential wildfire risk, Xcel Energy said.

Earlier this week, Technosylva software indicated that a safety power outage might be necessary in Summit County on Thursday, Sept. 12, due to the wildfire threat forecast for that day, McGary said. But since then, models have shown “we're heading in the right direction,” and as long as improved power safety settings are in place, a safety power outage is not necessary, she said.

Xcel Energy will notify the Summit County Office of Emergency Management, local and state agencies, the Summit County Commission, critical customers and qualified medical customers 48 to 72 hours in advance of a public safety power shutoff, McGary said. Other potentially affected customers will be notified 24 to 48 hours in advance of a public safety power shutoff, she said.

McGary said Xcel Energy is prepared to provide the county government with Global Information System data on which customers would be affected by the public utility power shutoff, should it be necessary. She added that the utility would use its website, social media and email to notify customers of a public utility power shutoff, and that it is also working to set up text message notifications.

Summit County Commissioner Nina Waters stressed the importance of the utility communicating with local residents about the impacts to their power supply so they can prepare.

“It seems to me that your threshold, your risk tolerance, is much lower than ours, and that's absolutely fair,” Waters said. “I appreciate that, because we know that these power lines can cause a massive disaster. I think the biggest problem I see is communication. To me, that's the biggest problem.”

McGary said Xcel Energy is working to improve communication. She said residents should become familiar with terms like “enhanced safety settings” and know that those settings may be activated during hot and dry weather.