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Xcel Energy Cuts Power to Prevent Fires, Affects Atomic Clock

12/22/2025

Summary

Story summary

Xcel Energy shut off power in Colorado to prevent fire hazards amid hurricane-force winds.
The outage briefly affected the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) F-4 atomic clock in Boulder, causing four microseconds of drift.
NIST spokesperson Rebecca Jacobson said the drift is negligible for most users but could affect telecommunications and aerospace.
Power restoration will occur with a backup generator.
The clock will be recalibrated.

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Story summary

Xcel Energy shut off power in Colorado to prevent fire hazards amid hurricane-force winds.
The outage briefly affected the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) F-4 atomic clock in Boulder, causing four microseconds of drift.
NIST spokesperson Rebecca Jacobson said the drift is negligible for most users but could affect telecommunications and aerospace.
Power restoration will occur with a backup generator.
The clock will be recalibrated.