Power restoration efforts are ongoing across parts of the Texas Panhandle after Xcel Energy implemented a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) Tuesday in response to dangerous weather conditions and elevated wildfire risk.
The shutoff began around 9 a.m. as wind gusts reached speeds of up to 70 miles per hour and humidity levels dropped to critically low levels. These conditions significantly increased the likelihood of fast-moving wildfires, prompting the precautionary move to temporarily cut power in vulnerable areas.
By 5 p.m., approximately 16,500 customers were without electricity. The majority, about 14,277, were affected by the planned safety shutoff, while another 2,223 experienced outages caused directly by weather-related damage.
Restoration work began later in the day once conditions allowed crews to safely assess infrastructure. As of 8:45 p.m., power had been restored to roughly 11,700 customers. Crews continue working to return service to the remaining impacted households and businesses, though some repairs are expected to extend into Wednesday due to the scale and complexity of the effort.
Before electricity can be safely restored, utility crews must conduct visual inspections of power lines and equipment. Any damage discovered during these inspections must be repaired before lines can be re-energized. This process is particularly extensive in this case, as approximately 2,500 miles of power lines were de-energized as part of the PSPS.
More than 400 crew members and contractors were staged throughout the affected region in advance of the weather event. These teams are now actively engaged in restoration operations. Aerial support is playing a key role, with three helicopters assisting in rapid inspections of transmission and distribution lines. Drones are also expected to assist with inspections if wind speeds decrease enough to allow safe deployment.
Officials emphasized that power restoration does not occur immediately after weather conditions improve. Safety protocols require a full patrol of the system to identify hazards such as fallen lines, damaged poles, or debris that could pose risks if electricity is restored prematurely.
The outages have affected customers across multiple counties in the region, including Carson, Deaf Smith, Donley, Gray, Hansford, Hartley, Hutchinson, Moore, Oldham, Potter, Randall, Roberts, Sherman, and Swisher.
Utility representatives have indicated that restoration timelines may vary depending on local damage and inspection results. While many customers have already seen service restored, others in harder-hit areas may continue to experience outages into midweek.
