Colorado Shutoffs Risk Leaving Some in Dark for Days
Summarize this article with:
Article content(Bloomberg) — Xcel Energy switched off electricity for about 50,000 customers in Colorado Wednesday to lessen the risk that high winds will topple power lines and start fires.Sign In or Create an AccountEmail AddressContinueor View more offersArticle contentThe utility also said it anticipates the need for a second round of shutoffs in the Rocky Mountain region staring Friday morning when high winds are forecast to return. Friday’s conditions may overlap with some areas that were impacted Wednesday, which could mean some homes and businesses would be without power for more than three days, Xcel said in a release. Article contentWe apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Article contentArticle contentNearly 109,000 homes and business were without service in Colorado as of 4:30 p.m. local time including for unplanned outages, according to PowerOutage.com. Article contentTop StoriesGet the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.There was an error, please provide a valid email address.Sign UpBy signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.Thanks for signing up!A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againInterested in more newsletters? Browse here.Article contentA period of dryness and near-record warm weather has created the potential for blazes. High-wind advisories and warnings are posted across a wide area of the Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountains and Great Plains, including Colorado’s front range, the National Weather Service said. Article contentCombined with parched conditions, the winds raise concerns “about significant fire weather conditions,” said Allison Santorelli, a forecaster with the US Weather Prediction Center. Red flag fire warnings are up across the area that may see hurricane-strength gust of up to 80 miles per hour in places.Article contentIn what was once a California phenomenon, utilities across the US are more frequently deciding to turn off electricity to prevent downed power lines from sparking catastrophic wildfires that can expose them to large damage claims. Article content—With assistance from Mark Chediak.Article content(Updates to note shutoffs have started.)Article contentTrending World watches as Ottawa's bullish shift on LNG puts wind at the back of two major projects Oil & Gas Canada's population declines for the first time since the pandemic News So long, labour shortage: job vacancies continue to decline in Canada Work Is a $2.75 million portfolio enough for Halifax empty nesters to retire early? Personal Finance 'Why let one person in the States change your life?' For Canadian snowbirds, the stay or go dilemma gets complicated Real Estate Share this article in your social networkCommentsYou must be logged in to join the discussion or read more comments.Create an AccountSign in Join the Conversation Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information. World watches as Ottawa's bullish shift on LNG puts wind at the back of two major projects Oil & Gas Canada's population declines for the first time since the pandemic News So long, labour shortage: job vacancies continue to decline in Canada Work Is a $2.75 million portfolio enough for Halifax empty nesters to retire early? Personal Finance 'Why let one person in the States change your life?' For Canadian snowbirds, the stay or go dilemma gets complicated Real Estate