Why Colorado Power Outages Are Becoming More Common and How to Prepare
When the Power Went Out
I started this and then a power outage (Jan. 15), my assumption due to high winds as they are absolutely howling outside. It didn’t take long for the power to come back out…maybe 45 minutes.
During that time though it got me thinking about what to write about, and I figured I guess I would write about the weather.
Remembering Power Outages Growing Up in Colorado
As I sat in the total darkness, I reminisced how many times the power went out when I was a kid here in Colorado. I honestly think that I could count on one hand how many times the power went out while growing up here. The only times that I do recall power outages were during severe thunderstorms during the summer months. I’m not saying that it never went out in the winter, I just never remembered that if it did.
The Marshall Fire Changed Everything
In recent years we have seen extremely high winds events occur in Colorado, particularly from the north metro area up to the Wyoming border.
In 2021, the Marshal Fire was devastating for so many families. There was so much destruction that had occurred that it was hard to believe, partially fueled by high winds. I have friends that I know that were personally affected by that fire. It was unfathomable that in 2021 that a fire of that size could rip through an urban area at the pace that it did. The Marshall fire burned 6,000 acres, destroyed more than 1,000 homes and commercial buildings and left two people dead. In September of 2025 Excel Energy said it would pay $640 million without admitting any fault.
Public Safety Power Shutoffs in Colorado
In the years since, energy companies began to turn power off during high wind events, or projected high winds events. We experienced it just back in December (we were supposed to fly out that day, and luckily, they allowed us to change our flight for free). Tomorrow, Jan. 16th is forecast to be another high wind event and power companies have already put out notices that they will be shutting off the power. These are now referred to as public safety power shutoffs.
Why Preparedness Matters More Than Ever
This should raise the awareness that it appears more and more of these types of weather events are happening, and to be prepared. Certainly any amount of time with no power can be challenging, with greater issues the longer it remains off.
It got me to think of the preparedness for these events, and how we would handle an extended power outage. Luckily where I live, it has not been more than a couple of hours. I do think though that everyone should take some time and think about how they can be best prepared though for an extended power outage. Warmth, food preservation, medical supplies are all top concerns that should be taken into account. There are multiple websites with lists and suggestions far better than I could provide here. Take a couple minutes though, to make sure you and your family are prepared for what seems to be an increasingly frequent situation.
Written by Brandon Barnes with the Weinland Team at RE/MAX Alliance
Phone: (303) 552-6780
Email: Brandon@TheWeinlandTeam.com
Written by fortcollinsexperience
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