This story was first published at KUNC News.
DENVER | Xcel Energy officials say they are considering “Public Safety Power Shutoffs” ahead of forecasted strong winds in the region on Wednesday, Dec. 17.
The measure essentially turns off power to avoid potentially knocked-down powerlines from sparking a wildfire. The measure would leave some Front Range residents temporarily in the dark, including those in the metro area.
As of Monday, the National Weather Service is predicting wind gusts up to 40 miles per hour in the Fort Collins area. Similar conditions are expected south of there into Denver, with a risk of slightly stronger winds further south in the Colorado Springs area.
According to a press release from Xcel Energy, if the company does take measures to shut off the power, restoring it could take several hours to a few days. The slow restoration is necessary because, “crews must inspect lines and repair damage before they can be safely re-energized.”
A lawsuit blamed an Xcel Energy powerline for the Marshall Fire, which destroyed more than 1,00 homes and commercial buildings. The power company settled a related lawsuit for $640 million without admitting any fault. Since taking these extra measures during strong storms, customers have also requested more communication from the company.
Xcel Energy says it will reach out to customers who could be impacted ahead of any power shutoffs. Residents can also get updates on outages on the company’s website.