Robert Kenney

Rule Changes

As of August 2026: CEO of Xcel Colorado; utility won 20-year franchise approval.

Denver voters approved a new 20-year franchise agreement with Xcel Energy on Nov. 3, with 69.12% support in early results. The deal runs through 2046 and keeps a 3% fee on electric and gas bills that sends about $34 million a year to the city's general fund. Xcel must also cover utility relocation costs during city projects and set aside about $10 million a year to bury overhead power lines.

Updated Aug 26

Built World

As of May 2026: Public-facing operational lead explaining why PSPS restorations lag wind events: inspections and repairs must be completed before re-energizing lines.

Xcel Energy's deliberate blackout on Colorado's Front Range didn't end neatly when the wind eased. By the time crews could start patrols, the first PSPS was entangled with widespread storm damage. Xcel said total weather-related outages reached about 120,000—far beyond the roughly 50,000 customers initially targeted for de-energization.

Updated May 15