Emergency Events and Notifications
Lone Tree Residents and Businesses Prepare for Unplanned Electrical Outages and Wildfire Risk
Posted on December 22, 2025 at 3:30 p.m.
This emergency notification is no longer in effect.
Posted on December 18, 2025 at 1:00 p.m.
Xcel Energy is evaluating the potential need for a second Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) event impacting mountain communities and the Front Range on Friday, Dec. 19, beginning as early as 6 a.m. Although Douglas County is NOT included in the outage area, residents across the entire County should be aware that these conditions may also lead to unplanned outages. It is important that residents do not call 911 to report an outage.
Many power lines in Lone Tree are buried underground, reducing the risk of individual lines being impacted. However, underground distribution circuits are typically still linked to aboveground facilities, such as substations and transmission lines. This means that homes and businesses in Lone Tree may still experience unplanned power outages.
Wildfire Risk
Lone Tree remains in a Stage 1 Fire Ban, restricting the use of fireworks and some open burning activities. The Douglas County Emergency Management teams and local fire departments are actively monitoring conditions and are prepared to respond quickly if a wildfire starts.
Conditions are expected to be critically dry on Friday, increasing the potential for ignition. Resources and coordination plans are in place to support fire response, evacuations, and public safety if needed.
What to Expect
- Wind damage may cause outages outside PSPS areas
- Power may remain off until winds decrease and conditions are safe
- It could take several days for power to be restored, if it’s shutoff, either in a planned or unplanned outage
Traffic Safety
If traffic signals lose power:
- Treat dark or flashing signals as four-way stops
- Come to a complete stop and take turns
- Watch for pedestrians, cyclists, and emergency vehicles
- Avoid unnecessary travel if possible
How to Prepare
- Charge phones, battery packs, and medical devices
- Put an outage / home emergency kit together
- Set refrigerators and freezers to the coldest setting
- Gather flashlights, batteries, medications, and first aid supplies
- Unplug sensitive electronics during outages
- Practice opening your garage door manually
- Check on friends, family, and neighbors
Medical Equipment and Medications
As an important reminder to customers who have medical equipment that relies on electric service, please take steps to prepare for potential extended outages in case outages do occur. Xcel Energy will be conducting additional outreach for qualifying medical customers. Click here to learn more on their website.
Stay Informed
- Monitor Xcel Energy notifications through your customer account, their website, and their social media accounts
- Updates from the City of Lone Tree will be posted to https://cityoflonetree.com/emergency/ and on our social media accounts
- Updates from Douglas County on their website
- Updates from Douglas County School District on their website
Who to Call
- Call Xcel Energy: (800) 895-1999 for residential or (800) 481-4700 for business
- Call 9-1-1 only in emergencies where you need police, fire, or medical assistance.
- Do not call 9-1-1 to report your electricity outage.
Report an Outage
Customers can help Xcel Energy get a jump on power restoration by reporting outages. Customers have several ways to report outages:
- Through the Xcel Energy mobile app, available in the Apple App Store and through Google Play.
- Online at xcelenergy.com/out
- Via text by texting OUT to 98936 to report an outage, or text STAT to the same number to check the status of a power outage
- By calling 1-800-895-1999 and following the prompts—the automated phone reporting system lets customers report outages in less than 60 seconds.
Posted on December 16, 2025 at 6:45 p.m.
Xcel Energy is preparing for a likely Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) beginning at 10 a.m. Wednesday, December 17, throughout the Front Range.
Although Douglas County and Lone Tree are not in the PSPS area, residents should be aware that these conditions may lead to unplanned outages due to Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings will be activated. These settings may result in additional outages if problems are detected, and they can extend restoration times because crews must inspect lines before restoring power.
Xcel Energy will notify potentially affected customers by phone, text, and email. Residents should ensure contact information is up to date with their utility provider and continue to monitor updates from the City of Lone Tree, Douglas County, Xcel Energy, and the National Weather Service.
Douglas County Emergency Management teams and local fire departments are actively monitoring conditions and are prepared to respond quickly if a wildfire starts. Resources and coordination plans are in place to support fire response, evacuations, and public safety if needed.
Posted on December 16, 2025 at 1:40 p.m.
As Xcel Energy continues to prepare for a strong wind event and likely Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) beginning at 10 a.m. Wednesday, December 17, the company is encouraging customers to be ready for electrical outages. Weather forecasts include very high winds and dry conditions along the Front Range. The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for this weather event.
Planned PSPS outages include Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson, Larimer, and Weld Counties. Right now, Douglas County includes areas in Highlands Ranch and Castle Pines. Although Lone Tree is not currently included in the PSPS outage area announced by Xcel Energy, Lone Tree residents, businesses, and schools could still experience electricity outages.
Confirmation of planned outage areas will be announced by Xcel on December 16.
It may take several hours to several days for customers’ power to be restored because a crew must patrol the entire power line to ensure it’s safe to turn service back on before a power line can be re-energized. Power restoration efforts will begin after high winds and elevated fire risks have ended. Begin to plan now for electrical outages.
This page serves as Lone Tree’s central hub for information during critical incidents and emergency events. This page will be updated immediately whenever the City needs to communicate urgent details, safety guidance, or real-time alerts and messaging to the community.
We encourage everyone to stay prepared, stay informed, and sign up for the City’s official notification systems, including DougCoAlert emergency notification system.