Operational
Awareness

Read more in our annual report and multi-year wildfire mitigation plan.

Operational and situational awareness on wildfire conditions helps us make critical decisions more quickly and effectively, and advanced technology can now be utilized to support these efforts. From using artificial intelligence that can detect wildfires, to using advanced risk modeling software to understand local wildfire threat conditions, innovations in technology are enhancing the way we operate our system to reduce wildfire risk and respond to fire events.

Early Wildfire Detection Cameras

Our network of rapid detect camera systems covers more than 1.5 million acres across Colorado. These systems are deployed on high vantage points and continuously scan the landscape using 360-degree, ultra-high-definition cameras and artificial intelligence to spot, evaluate and signal wildfire activity within a 15-mile radius. As soon as an incident is detected, a notification is sent to Xcel Energy and first responders, providing detailed visuals and location triangulation. Wildfire detection cameras offer greater visibility for first responders in hard-to-monitor terrain, providing critical early and real-time situational awareness when a wildfire ignites, allowing them to rapidly respond to fire events with greater accuracy and control.

Risk Modeling

To prioritize and target wildfire mitigation efforts, we’re continually improving our wildfire risk modeling and evaluating new information to further refine our mitigation activities. Our latest wildfire risk modeling software, Technosylva Wildfire Analyst, uses advanced fire spread modeling algorithms and dynamic weather data to enhance wildfire risk identification and estimate more accurate potential consequence estimates. Each day, the software evaluates current and forecasted weather conditions, detailed wind speed/direction, moisture levels and ground fuel conditions to estimate the direction and extent of where a wildfire might spread if an ignition were to occur. This risk modeling and simulation also provides valuable insights on the potential consequences of wildfires as fire weather conditions dynamically change.

Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings Program

Our Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings Program is one tool used to operate our system more conservatively in limited areas with increased wildfire risk. In this program, these settings use upgraded wildfire devices to operate our system more conservatively when wildfire conditions are elevated due a combination of high temperatures, dry ground fuel and high winds. By enabling more sensitive protection settings during times of increased fire risk, we help keep our customers and communities safe. Please keep in mind that wildfire risk may exist year-round in some areas.

How it works: Our distribution system is monitored 24/7 by both technology and people. We have added sensing equipment that interrupts the flow of energy to a line segment when it detects an issue, such as a tree branch or other object contacting a power line, to prevent the potential ignition of ground fuel.

We continue to upgrade our electric distribution system with wildfire devices that support more sensitive protection settings during periods of high wildfire risk. These upgrades allow the system in these areas to interrupt the flow of energy through a power line segment when a fault is detected, such as a tree branch or other object making contact with the power line, to prevent the potential ignition of ground fuel.

On standard settings, the line is tested to see if the fault is still present – for example, a branch touches a wire and then falls to the ground. In those cases, the circuit breaker is reset to start electricity flowing again. Momentary outages – when your power goes off for a few seconds – are a sign that the system is working the way it is supposed to.

With enhanced powerline safety settings, if a fault is present the line remains de-energized until crews can patrol the area to ensure it is safe to restore service. This approach helps keep our communities safe, while we do our best to minimize impacts, some communities in designated risk zones may experience more frequent or longer outages, as we ensure the safety of our customers in these areas.

Read the Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings information sheet for more details.