Colorado Residents Push Back After Xcel Power Shutoffs Disrupt Thousands

By Brian Maass | CBS Colorado

More than 4,000 Coloradans have responded to a state survey regarding Xcel Energy’s Public Safety Power Shutoffs last month during extreme wind events and another 160 have provided written feedback to the state’s Public Utilities Commission. Most expressed dissatisfaction with Xcel’s approach on Dec. 17 and Dec. 19, believing the utility overreacted, and many complained about what they perceive as Xcel’s poor or confusing communication around the events.

“It was the single most stressful event of my life,” wrote one commenter on the commission’s website, who headlined their post by saying, “there has to be a better way.”

Another commented that the PSPS events are “creating unreasonable and unnecessary hardship for residents.”

Still another person posting on the PUC site wrote they were suffering PTSD from the power shutoffs.

“The last one cost me five days in a hotel, loss of food getting thrown out and loss of work because I work from home. … I wish someone could assure me that I am safe in my home because I’m living in fear.”

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