City of Boulder Secures Major Wildfire Safety Commitment from Xcel Energy

The City of Boulder announced that it has joined Xcel Energy and other parties in a comprehensive settlement agreement to bring faster and more equitable wildfire safety upgrades to our community. Pending approval by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, the agreement, filed as part of Xcel’s Wildfire Mitigation Plan (WMP), commits the utility to prioritize Boulder and other wildfire-prone communities for safety investments over the next three years.

This progress is the result of sustained collaboration between the City of Boulder and Xcel Energy, as well as community advocates who made their voices heard. Boulder joined state agencies and several other organizations in negotiating this agreement to make sure high fire risk communities like Boulder are better protected from the threat of utility-ignited wildfire.

“This is a significant step toward making our community safer and more resilient in the face of growing wildfire threats,” said Nuria Rivera-Vandermyde, City of Boulder City Manager. “I am proud of the work our city team did to ensure the voices of our community, and our neighboring communities, were heard and to help shape a plan that better protects the people and places most at risk.”

The settlement supports Xcel’s proposal to invest approximately $2 billion to reduce the risk of utility-ignited wildfires across Colorado and includes critical commitments that directly benefit Boulder’s safety, wildfire resilience and financial sustainability.

When implemented, Xcel’s plan will:

• Accelerate wildfire safety upgrades in and around Boulder, including replacing aging poles and installing stronger, more fire-resistant equipment.
• Enhance safety and transparency by working with the city to improve how planned outages (called Public Safety Power Shutoffs or PSPS) are communicated and implemented, especially for vulnerable community members.
• Provide better data and clearer communication to help Boulder plan and respond more effectively during wildfire risk events.

“The safety and wildfire resiliency of our community is a shared responsibility,” said Chief Brian Oliver, City of Boulder Fire-Rescue Wildland Division Chief. “Being able to partner with regional organizations like Xcel on wildfire resiliency is just as important as the role the city plays and the role each member of our community plays in creating defensible space and hardening homes. These efforts also go a long way in assisting response efforts.”

The Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) must approve the agreement before it can go into effect; they are expected to review and issue a decision on the settlement later this year.

Learn more about the project on our website and explore what you can do and what the city does to increase wildfire resilience for the community at bouldercolorado.gov/WildfireReady.