BOULDER, Colo. — Xcel Colorado's president faced tough questions and criticism from Boulder City Councilmembers regarding the handling of preemptive power shut offs during their recent meeting. The session marked the start of what is hoped to be a collaborative effort for future wildfire mitigation responses.
"We do remain confident that... had we not deenergized the lines, we could have seen a wildfire ignite," President Robert Kenney defended the shut-offs, citing extreme wind conditions, and prioritizing the safety of their customers.
However, at Thursday night’s city council meeting, Kenney announced that the company will be creating a new wildfire mitigation plan following outrage over Xcel’s handling of the planned power outage during the windstorm earlier this month.
One resident, Eva Wheelock, called into the city council meeting during public comment, recounting how the outage shut off her mother's life-sustaining medical equipment.
"This is just so unacceptable I just can't believe that there wasn't any prior warning. Thank goodness my mom is still here, but this was very, very stressful, and I do not think it is fair to let our vulnerable people suffer and be afraid" she stated.
Acknowledging the company's communication failures, Kenney pledged the new mitigation plan would include enhanced communication strategies, including advanced notices, a better outage map, bilingual communication, and support for vulnerable customers.
However, councilmembers pressed for more accountability, questioning how Xcel allowed the situation to unfold and how they plan to rectify it. Comparisons were drawn to Kenney's previous experience at PG&E, with calls for a communication model akin to that of PG&E's.
“I look at the stuff that's happening with PG&E, and it's a very clear communication process. There are regular calls with critical infrastructure… and you certainly have first hand knowledge of how that was implemented,” said City Councilmember Matt Benjamin.
In response to community impact and an effort to recognize the hardship caused on local food banks, Kenney announced a $50,000 donation from Xcel to Community Food Share.
While appreciative of the donation, councilmembers argued the impact extended beyond that, particularly highlighting the strain on local businesses ill-prepared for a three-day shutdown.
During public comment, Bettina Swigger, CEO of the Downtown Boulder Partnership, cited findings from a survey conducted in conjunction with the Boulder Chamber, revealing staggering losses for businesses. The survey documented $1.3 million in lost revenue and $240,000 in unpaid wages directly attributed to the power outage.
Boulder's water treatment plant losing power during the outage, nearly causing sewage overflow into the Boulder Creek, prompted demands for a critical infrastructure analysis. Kenney assured closer collaboration with emergency response agencies and comprehensive infrastructure assessments in their new plan.
Despite tensions, councilmembers expressed appreciation for Kenney's presence and willingness to engage in dialogue. They reiterated their commitment to collaboration and requested input into Xcel’s new mitigation plan before finalization, which Kenney agreed to.
"We do stand ready to work with you on the next steps and would like to hear how we could assist to make sure that all of this works better in the future for our own residents, and everybody else here in Colorado," Mayor Aaron Brockett stated, reflecting the council's desire for constructive cooperation moving forward.
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