UPDATED: Friday, Dec. 19 at 3:40 p.m.
Power restoration starts at the top and moves its way down. Crews have been actively working across the territory to energize lines that will ultimately deliver power to our members. These tremendous efforts by lineworkers may not be completely visible, but here is today's progress update:

📍 Crews have re-energized the major backbone across the territory.
📍 Gilpin area - the substation on the south side of the territory has been energized. Crews are now ensuring each feeder from the substation can be safely energized.
📍 Lincoln Hills area - one more feeder is partially powered. Crews continue to address that section of line.
📍 Crescent/Pinecliffe - a crew is on site working.

Restoration estimates are difficult to provide because each timeline depends on the extent of damage or the number of trees our crews discover on the ground.

• Please remember to stay away from downed lines.
• The Resource Center at the Gilpin School is open if you need assistance.

The grueling work of storm response is a labor of love for our line crews -- and we assure you they would love nothing more than to get the lights on for everyone.

UPDATED: Friday, Dec. 19 at 10:50 a.m.
Crews continue to troubleshoot and attempt to restore service to major outage areas. Gilpin area: you may have noticed a brief blink. Line crews are out there assessing for damage.

Hwy 93 is now closed in both directions, making travel into our service territory difficult. Additional crew support headed for our mountain area has been detoured.

UPDATED: Friday, Dec. 19 at 8:15 a.m.
Restoration is very slow-going this morning as crews are battling deteriorating and dangerous conditions.

We have several reports of trees toppling into lines and onto roads. Please do not touch downed lines and always assume they are energized.

UPDATED: Friday, Dec. 19 at 2:45 a.m.

We have confirmation that currently all mountain area members are without power. High winds are the cause of the current outage. A troubleshooting crew has been dispatched to investigate the cause. However, crews may not be able to make any repairs until conditions improve. 

United Power's system is operating in protective mode for wildfire safety, so the lines are set to their most sensitive settings and power is immediately shut off if anything is detected on the system. Consequently the system is operating as expected for our members' safety.

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.  

Please stay clear of United Power crews, and help us by providing safe access for crews when necessary. Continue to look for updates here.

UPDATED: Friday, Dec. 19 at 1:45 a.m.

High winds in our mountain territory are causing widespread outages. We estimate that approximately two-thirds of United Power's mountain territory are currently without power. 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). However, if transmission in the area is being impacted by the weather, it may prolong any restoration efforts once they begin.

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 1:15 a.m. Crews will not be dispatched to make repairs until winds subside. 

What We Know  

• Power restoration will not occur overnight or while high winds continue to impact the system. 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. Updates will be posted to our website and via Facebook.

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 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.