DENVER — Xcel Energy Colorado officials filed an updated wildfire mitigation plan with state regulators Thursday, aimed at better responding to the threat of wildfires across the state in the wake of an investigation by the Colorado Utilities Commission ignited by the company’s decision to shut off power to more than 50,000 customers ahead of a powerful windstorm back in April.
“We’re seeing wildfire evolve, significant driven by climate change. There really isn’t a single wildfire season anymore, it’s year-round,” Kenney told Denver7. “It’s important to be proactive so that we can – to the best extent possible – prevent a wildfire to happen in the first place.
Before the investigation began, company officials said the preemptive outages were due to public safety concerns intended to reduce the risk of wildfires. A disconnected Xcel Energy power line was partially blamed for sparking the 2021 Marshall Fire in Boulder County that spread fast amid wind gusts of up to 115 mph.
Kenney told Dener7 Thursday the updated wildfire mitigation plan also has “more significant customer support,” after customers complained the company did not notify them in a timely manner that those outages were coming.