UPDATED: Thursday, Dec. 18 at 3:40 p.m.

In the last hour, an additional two feeders have been energized, restoring power to 1,800 more members. Crews are still actively working on restoring power to the remaining members.

Members have reported blinks and brief periods with power, and then another outage. This means our crews are working on the lines serving you. 

UPDATED: Thursday, Dec. 18 at 2:50 p.m.

Crews have energized two additional feeders, restoring power to an additional 1,000 members.

UPDATED: Thursday, Dec. 18 at 1:50 p.m.

Crews are making progress today, albeit slowly, due to the numerous downed trees and broken poles.

This afternoon, the major backbone line from the transmission feed to the local grid was energized. This means crews can move along to inspect and restore each feeder line from that major power source. If crews find no damage after inspection, the area can be restored.

At this update, crews have fully restored five major feeder lines, which restored service to an estimated 1,600 members. Crews will continue to work their way throughout the territory. Restoration of each area depends on the extent of the damage discovered. Unfortunately, providing estimated restoration times for areas that have not yet been inspected is not possible.

We understand that this restoration timeline is moving more slowly than anyone would prefer, and we appreciate the grace of our members who have been without power for almost 24 hours. Our priority is your power restoration and the safety of our crews and community.

UPDATED: Thursday, December 18 at 10:30 a.m.

United Power crews continue to repair damage on the system and at this time we do not have an estimate of when power will be restored. We are finding downed trees, broken poles, and a variety of other damage. To help keep the repair work moving, please be courteous of United Power crews in the field, and give them clear access to work areas and roads. If you see United Power trucks moving throughout the territory, please give them space to work safely.

At the present time our Coal Creek office is closed to walk in traffic. If you have questions or concerns about your service, please call our Member Services team at 303-637-1300. 

Thanks again for your patience.

UPDATED: Thursday, December 18 at 7:00 a.m.

United Power crews are already working throughout the territory to identify and repair any system damage. Please help us by staying clear of line crews and helping them access any gated territories. Crews will work throughout the day to restore affected members. When you see United Power trucks and crews, please give them space to safely work on the restoration process.

Outages can be reported via our automated reporting system in Smarthub, through the United Power app, or by calling 303-637-1350. Please feel free to report any downed power lines, broken or damaged poles, or trees in lines also. 

We appreciate your patience as our crews work to restore power.

UPDATED: Wednesday, Dec. 17 at 11:45 p.m.

In response to overnight outages, Gilpin County has activated the warming center at the Gilpin County School, 10595 Highway 119. Access through the upper entrance to the atrium at the high school level.

With winter weather in the area and potential obstacles blowing due to heavy winds, remember to pay careful attention to road conditions and drive safely. 

UPDATED: Wednesday, Dec. 17 at 5:30 p.m.

We are responding to a widespread power outage affecting the mountain territory.

We have confirmed that the outage was caused by a loss of transmission from Xcel Energy. This line provides power to the entire United Power mountain territory. The affected lines were operating on protective system settings and power went out due to high winds in the area and likely some interference in the lines – this outage is not part of a planned public safety power shutoff (PSPS).  

When utilities, like United Power and Xcel Energy, operate in protective mode for wildfire safety, lines are set to their most sensitive settings and power is immediately shut off if anything is detected on the system. Before power can be safely restored, winds must fully subside and crews must complete required physical inspections of power lines and equipment. These inspections are critical for public safety and can take time, particularly when outages are widespread or damage is found.  

The outage began at approximately 4:15 p.m. and affects all mountain service area members. Full restoration to the mountain territory will take significant time and effort, and members should expect to be without power overnight and another day at minimum.  

What We Know  

• Power restoration will not occur overnight. Inspections cannot be safely completed in the dark. 
• Once conditions are safe, crews will begin inspections and repairs as quickly as possible. 
• Restoration timelines may vary depending on the extent of damage and accessibility. 

Please Keep Safety Top of Mind 

• Stay away from downed power lines and always assume they are energized. Do not remove debris from or near power lines. 
• If you rely on electricity for medical equipment, please use your backup plan and seek alternate accommodations if necessary. Due to the nature of this storm, your local county office of emergency management may have set up a resource center for local residents. We have posted known resources here. Please reach out to your county if you need assistance. 
• Please give crews space to work safely. Do not approach working crews and please be cautious when driving by work sites. 

United Power has additional crews on standby, ready to respond as soon as conditions allow. We are working with our transmission provider, Xcel Energy, and will provide more information as we have it. 

We understand how disruptive an outage can be, and we appreciate your patience as we prioritize the safety of our members, crews, and communities. Updates will be shared here as more information becomes available.