More than 150,000 customers of Xcel Energy experienced power outages across Colorado over the weekend, as high winds and a corporate decision to shut down services in select areas took their toll. The restoration process is expected to take until Monday or possibly longer, according to statements from Xcel spokesperson Tyler Bryant.

Bryant estimated that approximately 100,000 customers suffered power outages due to the extreme winds that swept through the region. In an effort to mitigate the risk of wildfires, Xcel also made the decision to cut power to an additional 55,000 customers in six counties - Boulder, Gilpin, Larimer, Douglas, Broomfield, and Jefferson. This precautionary measure caused power loss across more than 600 miles of power lines.

The restoration process has been hampered by the need for crews to visually inspect the power lines before they can be reactivated. Bryant warned that the process could extend into Monday and potentially even longer.

As of Sunday morning at 11 a.m., more than 77,500 customers in the Denver metro area experienced outages, with over 800 outages recorded on the Xcel electric outage map. In Boulder, nearly 37,000 residents were impacted by close to 70 outages, while more than 3,000 residents in the Fort Collins area were affected by 28 outages. Other areas, including Loveland, Greeley, Sterling, Brush, Idaho Springs, and Leadville, also reported scattered outages.

However, some Xcel customers expressed skepticism about the accuracy of the company's outage map on the social media platform X. Xcel Energy assured customers that crews were actively assessing the damage caused by the high winds and would begin the restoration process once the winds have subsided.

The situation highlights the challenges faced by utility companies when dealing with severe weather conditions and the need for precautionary measures to ensure public safety. Xcel Energy remains committed to restoring power to all affected customers as swiftly as possible, but the process may take longer than anticipated due to the extensive damage caused by the intense winds.