Xcel Energy Outlines Power Shutoff Plans for Wildfire Season

Utility company says public safety power shutoffs are a 'final option' during high-risk weather conditions.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 9:50pm

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Xcel Energy, the electric utility serving several Colorado mountain counties, has announced new plans to mitigate power outage risks during the upcoming wildfire season. Blair McGary, Xcel's area manager for Summit, Eagle, Lake and Grand Counties, explained that public safety power shutoffs would only be used as a 'final option' when forecasts show dangerous weather conditions that could spark or spread wildfires.

Why it matters

Wildfire risk has been increasing in Colorado's mountain communities in recent years due to drought, high winds, and other climate change impacts. Preemptive power shutoffs are a controversial but potentially necessary tool for utilities to reduce the chances of their equipment igniting a catastrophic blaze, though they can also disrupt businesses and daily life for affected residents.

The details

Xcel's new plans include enhanced vegetation management, system hardening, and real-time monitoring to try and keep the power on as much as possible during high-risk weather events. However, the utility says that public safety power shutoffs remain a 'final option' if forecasts indicate extreme fire danger from factors like high winds, low humidity, and dry vegetation.

  • Xcel Energy announced the new wildfire mitigation plans on March 31, 2026.
  • The upcoming wildfire season in Colorado's mountain regions is expected to begin in late spring 2026.

The players

Xcel Energy

A major electric and natural gas utility company serving customers across eight states, including Colorado.

Blair McGary

Xcel's area manager for Summit, Eagle, Lake and Grand Counties in Colorado.

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What they’re saying

“Public safety power shutoffs are a final option used when forecasts show dangerous weather conditions that could spark or spread wildfires.”

— Blair McGary, Area Manager

What’s next

Xcel Energy will continue monitoring weather forecasts and fire risk levels in the coming months to determine if any public safety power shutoffs are necessary in the mountain counties it serves.

The takeaway

As wildfire threats escalate in Colorado, utility companies like Xcel are having to make difficult decisions about preemptively cutting power to reduce ignition risks, even though these shutoffs can significantly disrupt communities. Xcel's new mitigation plans aim to keep the lights on as much as possible, but residents may still face periodic blackouts during the most dangerous fire weather conditions.