Saturday, Dec. 20 at 5:00 p.m. - FINAL UPDATE

United Power crews worked alongside contract crews and were able to energize the entire backbone of our mountain delivery system. Contractors were on site to replace damaged poles, while United Power crews rebuilt lines.

Despite the great efforts of our field teams, we do still have members who are without power tonight. Due to safety concerns, United Power crews will not be conducting any additional work on the system until tomorrow morning. However, we intend to have crews out in the field and completing repairs at daybreak tomorrow.

If you are unable to shelter in your home due to temperature and/or other critical needs, a warming center at the Gilpin County School is open at 10595 Hwy 119, Black Hawk, CO 80422. There is information here regarding other local Office of Emergency Management resources.

We know some of our members have already been without power for days following this windstorm, and may face another night in the dark. Thank you for your continued patience and understanding and the trust you place in United Power, especially during times like these. It is our privilege to power you. 

UPDATED Dec. 20 at 12:30 p.m.

Crews have made significant progress, restoring power to more than 600 members so far this morning. All the major feeder lines have been energized, and crews are now patrolling individual lines to look for isolated issues.

Please help us by staying clear of working crews. If you see any damage or trees down, feel free to call us to let us know about the issue at 303-637-1300. Always assume downed power lines are energized, and stay clear.

Thanks again for your patience as our crews continue to work to restore power to all our valued mountain area members!

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UPDATED December 20 at 7:00 a.m.

Crews are currently stationed in the mountain territory and are being dispatched to make repairs this morning. We estimate that approximately 1,000 of United Power’s mountain territory are currently without power. Most of the areas still affected by outages have heavy damage in and around the lines and poles serving the area. Crews will be working to remove downed trees and make repairs throughout the day, with the goal of restoring all of our affected members today.

The system is not operating in wildfire safety mode, so members should see fewer blinks and interruptions as we work to restore power. Areas that are still without power will require physical inspection before power can be safely restored. These inspections are critical for public safety and can take time, but it is the safest way to assure that the lines are clear and safe for restoration.

How You Can Help Us 

• If you know of areas that are damaged or where trees are down, please share it with United Power. You can use our phone reporting system at 303-637-1300, via Smarthub, or via the United Power app.
• If power is on near your area, but you are without power, please be sure to report it if you have not done so yet.
• 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. 

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.