Xcel Energy Colorado officials have submitted an updated wildfire mitigation plan to state regulators, with a focus on improving their response to wildfires across the state. This initiative follows an investigation by the Colorado Utilities Commission, which was prompted by the company’s decision to cut off power to over 50,000 customers before a severe windstorm in April.
The revised wildfire mitigation plan, scheduled to take effect in 2025 and remain in place until 2027, was announced by Xcel Energy Colorado President Robert Kenney. According to Kenney, this updated plan signifies a significant advancement in the company’s efforts to safeguard the public from wildfires in Colorado.
Kenney highlighted the impact of climate change on the evolving wildfire landscape, stressing the importance of proactive measures to prevent wildfires throughout the year. The updated plan aims to enhance Xcel Energy’s decision-making processes regarding wildfire mitigation and strengthen the resilience of their infrastructure.
Xcel Energy Colorado president discusses new wildfire mitigation plan
Key additions to the plan include enhanced power-line safety features and proactive measures like power shut-offs, which had previously faced criticism from customers in several Colorado counties. Governor Jared Polis had directed the Colorado Public Utilities Commission to investigate Xcel Energy’s decision to implement these pre-emptive outages.
Xcel Energy faced a mass action lawsuit last year in connection with the Marshall Fire, one of Colorado’s most destructive wildfires. Despite the litigation, Kenney emphasized that the company’s equipment was not responsible for starting the fire and that the April outages were unrelated to the lawsuit.
The updated plan also emphasizes improved customer communication and support, addressing past concerns about inadequate outage notifications. Xcel Energy plans to incorporate new technologies such as AI and monitoring systems to enhance wildfire detection and response capabilities.
Overall, the company aims to upgrade infrastructure, replace vulnerable power lines, and implement undergrounding where suitable to enhance public safety and address the wildfire threat effectively.
If approved, the plan is expected to increase residential bills incrementally by approximately 9.56% by January 1, 2028. Xcel Energy expects the implementation process to take 12 to 18 months.
Xcel Energy files new wildfire mitigation plan fresh off power outage backlash
This story was originally published by Óscar Contreras at Scripps News Denver.
