High Winds Trigger Powerline Safety Measures in Boulder County

By: Tyler Melito | Denver7

BOULDER COUNTY, Colo. — High winds predicted for Thursday are prompting proactive measures by energy providers like Xcel.

The company plans to implement an enhanced powerline safety setting — making lines more sensitive and automatically shut off power if something hits the line — on Thursday in several counties to allow power to remain in service with additional sensitivity protections in place.

But Xcel and the City of Boulder are working on a long-term solution amid community pushback on public safety power shutoffs. Part of that includes continuing to bury power lines; 60% of the city’s power lines are already underground, according to a city webpage.

Several projects are already in progress, as the City of Boulder undergoes major infrastructure changes that are set to be complete in 2027. That includes in the Chautauqua neighborhood where Denver7 spoke with several residents.

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