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The sun rises over an image of Earth, with trees, windmills and birds on the horizon.
(Provided by Gigafact.)

Yes.

Xcel Energy customers reported more and longer power outages in 2024 than in previous years, Colorado Public Utilities Commission data shows. 

The average Xcel customer experienced 350 minutes without power due to outages in 2024, compared with just over 100 minutes in 2023. The number of outages during that period also spiked to 2.5 million, up from 1.5 million. The average length of outages increased to 200 minutes from roughly 100 minutes. 

A severe wind storm in April contributed to the issue, leading Xcel to shut down some power lines to reduce the risk of wildfire, but the PUC found the storm alone did not account for the rising outage numbers. 

Xcel paid roughly $6.6 million in fines in 2024 for failing to meet state standards for customer service and reliability. The penalty was greater than penalties for the prior three years combined. 

See full source list below.

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Corrections:

Presentation on PUC investigation into PSCo (Xcel Energy), Public Utilities Commission, April 30, 2025. Source link

Xcel customers face increasing outages, The Colorado Sun, May 1, 2025. Source link

References:

Investigation into Recent Outages on the PSCo (Xcel Energy), Public Utilities Commission, April 30, 2025. Source link

Xcel customers face increasing outages, The Colorado Sun, May 1, 2025. Source link

Type of Story: Fact-Check

Checks a specific statement or set of statements asserted as fact.

Cassis Tingley is a Denver-based freelance journalist. She’s spent the last three years covering topics ranging from political organizing and death doulas in the Denver community to academic freedom and administrative accountability at the...