Black Hills Energy may cut power to Southern Colorado amid fire risk

Utility warns of potential outages in Pueblo, Crowley, Otero, and Fremont Counties on Tuesday

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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Black Hills Energy has declared an Emergency Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) Watch for parts of Southern Colorado due to high fire conditions. The utility may shut off power to around 5,400 customers in isolated areas of Pueblo, Crowley, Otero, and Fremont Counties between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Tuesday to prevent electrical equipment from sparking wildfires.

Why it matters

Wildfires pose a serious threat to communities in the region, and utility companies like Black Hills Energy must take proactive measures to mitigate fire risks, even if that means temporarily cutting power to some customers. This decision reflects the growing challenges utilities face in balancing public safety and service reliability.

The details

Black Hills Energy says they will issue a PSPS Warning if an emergency power shutoff becomes likely. Customers are advised to keep their contact information updated, have a backup plan for refrigerated medicines and medical equipment, build an emergency kit, and avoid downed power lines. A high-wind warning has also been issued for the area, with gusts up to 60 mph expected.

  • The PSPS Watch will go into place on Monday at 12:00 p.m.
  • Potential power outages could occur between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Tuesday.

The players

Black Hills Energy

A utility provider serving parts of Southern Colorado.

Campbell Hawkins

Vice President of Colorado Utilities at Black Hills Energy.

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What they’re saying

“We recognize that shutting off power, even to reduce wildfire risks, has broad impacts. We will do our best to provide as much advance notice as possible if an emergency power shutoff is likely to occur, by issuing a PSPS Warning. If conditions suddenly become hazardous, power may need to be shut off with little or no notice.”

— Campbell Hawkins, Vice President of Colorado Utilities (KOAA)

What’s next

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The takeaway

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