Colorado Utilities Prepare for High Winds and Fire Danger

Xcel Energy and Black Hills Energy take precautions as state faces critical fire weather conditions

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

As Colorado braces for high winds and dry conditions on Tuesday, utility companies are taking steps to mitigate the fire risk. Xcel Energy will activate enhanced power line safety settings across eastern Colorado, while Black Hills Energy is warning some customers in southern Colorado that they may need to temporarily shut off power.

Why it matters

The combination of strong winds and extremely dry vegetation creates a dangerous fire risk across much of Colorado. Utility companies are trying to balance providing reliable power while also taking necessary precautions to prevent potential wildfires sparked by power lines.

The details

Xcel Energy says it will not implement a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) on Tuesday, unlike last month when it cut power in northern Colorado during a similar weather setup. Instead, the utility will activate enhanced power line safety settings, which can automatically stop energy flow if an issue is detected. In contrast, Black Hills Energy is warning 5,400 customers in southern Colorado that they may need to temporarily lose power as a PSPS measure due to the high-fire risk.

  • High winds up to 80 mph are expected across eastern Colorado on Tuesday.

The players

Xcel Energy

A major electric and natural gas utility company serving customers across Colorado.

Black Hills Energy

A utility company providing electricity and natural gas service to customers in southern Colorado.

Chris Bianchi

A meteorologist with 9NEWS Weather Impact Team.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Unfortunately, it only takes one fire to start in the wrong place at the wrong time for it to be concerning.”

— Chris Bianchi, Meteorologist (9NEWS)

“This is unquestionably more severe than what we saw in general in January, [but] not more severe than what we saw in December.”

— Chris Bianchi, Meteorologist (9NEWS)

What’s next

Black Hills Energy said it will monitor conditions on Tuesday and make a decision on whether to implement a PSPS based on factors like wind speeds, humidity, and vegetation dryness.

The takeaway

Utility companies in Colorado are taking proactive steps to prevent power line-sparked wildfires during the state's high-risk fire weather, but the approaches vary between providers as they balance reliability and safety concerns.