Overview
- Xcel Energy, which revised its plan Tuesday, now expects a likely noon Wednesday shutoff targeting about 14,000 customers in Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla and Rio Grande counties.
- The utility dropped earlier Western Slope locations from consideration and is notifying customers in the San Luis Valley to prepare, especially those who rely on medical devices.
- Forecasts call for strong winds, very low humidity and drought-stressed fuels, with a National Weather Service Red Flag Warning in the San Luis Valley and improvement expected around 7 p.m. Wednesday.
- Xcel will switch on Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings across Colorado, which make lines cut power automatically when they detect a fault such as a branch striking a wire.
- The company warned that power restoration after any shutoff could take hours to days because crews must inspect lines in the field before re-energizing, with remote areas likely waiting the longest.