Full Breakdown
Widespread Power Outages Affect Denver Metro Area
2/2/2026, 1:55:28 AM
Overview of the Outages
On Sunday, February 1, 2026, over 185,000 customers experienced significant power outages across the Denver metro area, primarily affecting Xcel Energy and Core Electric Cooperative customers. At the peak of the outages, approximately 145,000 customers of Xcel Energy and 44,000 customers of Core Electric were left without power. The outages caused disruptions at Denver International Airport and impacted local law enforcement operations.
Timeline of Events
- Sunday Afternoon: Residents in southeast Denver began reporting widespread outages.
- 4:00 PM: Xcel Energy confirmed that up to 145,000 customers were affected, with crews dispatched to investigate the cause.
- 4:45 PM: Approximately 40,000 Xcel customers remained without power, while Core Electric reported over 44,000 customers affected.
- 5:00 PM: Denver International Airport reported disruptions to its train services and other systems due to the outages.
- 5:15 PM: Core Electric announced that most outages had been resolved, with only a few remaining.
- 5:30 PM: Core Electric confirmed that power was restored to all customers.
Impact on Services
The outages had a significant impact on various services in the area. Denver International Airport experienced disruptions in train services connecting its concourses, although operations returned to normal by Sunday evening. Local law enforcement agencies, including the Parker Police Department and the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, faced challenges with nonfunctional emergency phone lines and reported an influx of calls regarding the outages. Emergency services were temporarily redirected as 911 calls were forwarded to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.
Official Statements & Responses
Xcel Energy spokesperson Michelle Aguayo stated, “It started at one of our substations, and crews are on the scene working on repairs and finding the cause of the outage.” Core Electric spokesperson Amber King indicated that the cause of the outages was still under investigation. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office assured residents they were aware of the situation and urged them to use non-emergency lines for non-critical issues.
Criticism & Opposition
While the utilities worked to restore power, some residents expressed frustration over the lack of timely communication regarding the outages. The absence of updates from Xcel Energy and Core Electric during the peak outage period led to confusion and concern among affected customers.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
There were discrepancies in the reported number of customers affected by the outages. While Xcel Energy initially reported up to 145,000 customers impacted, Core Electric's figures indicated that over 44,000 customers were affected. The exact cause of the outages remained unclear, with both utilities conducting investigations.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I can confirm a large outage in the southeast side of the metro. It started at one of our substations, and crews are on the scene working on repairs and finding the cause of the outage. We appreciate our customers' patience as our crews work as quickly as possible to safely restore power.” — Michelle Aguayo, Xcel Energy Spokesperson
- “We are still conducting our own investigation but it appears the occurrence was propagated by the current large power outages with Xcel Energy. We want to thank our passengers for their patience.” — Denver International Airport Officials
This incident highlights the vulnerabilities in power infrastructure and the importance of effective communication during widespread outages.
