Community Outreach

We engage with communities and stakeholders, educating them on our work, answering questions about the plan and receiving feedback on what’s important to them. Our effort also includes collaboration and benchmarking with Electric Power Research Institute, Edison Electric Institute, national labs and our neighboring utilities to share lessons learned and best practices. Click here to find out more about Xcel Energy’s commitment to the communities we serve.

Town Halls

We host annual gatherings to provide information about our Wildfire Mitigation Program. Watch the 2021 presentation on YouTube.

Community Meetings

To share our plan, the team meets regularly with communities across Colorado—especially those in designated Wildfire Risk Zones. These areas include high-fire threat communities in the wildland-urban interface, including mountain and forested areas. The team attends community meetings and works with local governments to describe program activities and explain why customers are seeing additional Xcel Energy crews in their area. We consider first responders and fire departments to be key stakeholders, with whom we solicit feedback and share knowledge.

When work is proposed and in process, we can reach customers in the affected area via U.S. Mail, email, phone and social media. We also use Xcel Energy’s social media channels to remind people in Colorado of things they can do to reduce the risk of wildfire damage to their homes, as well as how to prepare for outages or wildfire evacuations in their area.

Safety Resources 

Xcel Energy Gas and Electric Safety 

Public safety is at the foundation of all we do. Xcel Energy takes a proactive approach to public safety before, during and after construction of any natural gas and electric projects.

Never approach a downed power line. Leave the area and report it immediately by calling 800-895-1999 and 911. Find out more about Xcel Energy’s electric system safety. 

If you suspect a natural gas leak, leave the building immediately. Once you are a safe distance away, call 911, then Xcel Energy at 800-895-2999. Learn more about Xcel Energy’s gas system safety. 

After a 911 call, emergency services are often the first to arrive at the scene, so we offer first responders safety guidance and training to respond to natural gas and electric emergencies. 

Wildfire Safety 

Explore wildfire risk in your area with the Colorado State Forest Service’s Wildfire Risk and Forest Action Plan apps. Wildfire resources from the Forest Service are at csfs.colostate.edu/Wildfire-Mitigation.

The National Weather Service issues Red Flag Warnings when conditions are expected to produce an increased risk of fire. Learn more about Red Flag Warnings. The U.S. Forest Service uses a rating system that ranks fire danger by color: Low (Green), Moderate (Blue), High (Yellow), Very High (Orange), and Extreme (Red). Find out more about the fire rating system.

The Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) serves Colorado’s fire community by training firefighters, suppressing wildfires, enforcing building codes and more. Learn about prescribed fires, wildfire facts and outdoor fire safety at dfpc.colorado.gov. 

The U.S. Fire Administration, a division of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, tracks fire incidents and works to improve wildfire preparedness across the country. Learn how your community can prepare for a wildfire.  The Forest Service, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, hosts WildfireRisk.org, a website dedicated to mapping wildfire risk to communities. Understand the factors that affect wildfire risk, explore interactive charts and maps, and learn how to reduce wildfire risk in your area.