Thousands of Xcel, CORE Electric customers lose power in Denver area

Utility companies report up to 145,000 customers affected by large outage on southeast side of metro area.

Feb. 1, 2026 at 5:31pm

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Tens of thousands of Xcel Energy and CORE Electric customers in the Denver metro area were left without power on Sunday afternoon. Xcel reported that up to 145,000 customers may have been impacted by the outage, which started at one of the utility's substations. CORE Electric also reported over 44,000 customers without power, primarily in Arapahoe and Douglas counties. The cause of the outage is still under investigation, and crews are working to restore power as quickly as possible.

Why it matters

Power outages can have significant impacts on communities, affecting everything from traffic signals and public services to homes and businesses. This large-scale outage in the Denver area raises concerns about the reliability of the region's electrical grid and the ability of utility companies to respond effectively to such disruptions.

The details

The outage began at one of Xcel Energy's substations, and the utility company said crews were on the scene working to find the cause and make repairs. CORE Electric, another major provider in the area, also reported over 44,000 customers without power, primarily in Arapahoe and Douglas counties. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office and Parker Police Department were aware of the outage, and Parker police said their emergency and non-emergency lines were down as a result.

  • The outage started on Sunday, February 1, 2026, just before 4 p.m.

The players

Xcel Energy

A major electric and natural gas utility company that provides service to customers in Colorado, Minnesota, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin.

CORE Electric

A cooperative electric utility that provides service to customers in the Denver metro area, including Arapahoe and Douglas counties.

Denver International Airport

The major international airport serving the Denver metropolitan area, which was also impacted by the power outage.

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What’s next

Xcel Energy and CORE Electric are continuing to investigate the cause of the outage and work to restore power to affected customers as soon as possible.

The takeaway

This large-scale power outage in the Denver area highlights the importance of maintaining a reliable and resilient electrical grid, as well as the need for utility companies to have effective emergency response plans in place to quickly address disruptions and minimize the impact on communities.