For Immediate Release:
Jenna Weatherred
VP, Member and Community Relations
970-947-5470
jweatherred@holycross.com
1:54 p.m. Update: Xcel power outage no longer scheduled today for HCE members.
Glenwood Springs, CO, October 10, 2024 – Earlier today, Holy Cross Energy announced that Xcel Energy had scheduled an unplanned outage on their Wolcott to Steamboat Springs transmission line at 2:00 pm today. This would have negatively impacted HCE members in Eagle County.
Xcel has now decided against that plan, citing concerns about inadvertently creating a longer outage. Instead, Xcel has agreed to fix the equipment temporarily while leaving the line hot, which should not cause an outage tomorrow morning. They will then go back and make permanent repairs to this line once the Wolcott to Cooley Mesa transmission line is back in service after October 18, 2024.
The Wolcott to Cooley Mesa transmission line is the normal backup for the Steamboat line but has been out of service since September 30, 2024, as part of a larger relay replacement project.
Original release —
Holy Cross Energy forced to take outage in Eastern Eagle Valley at 2:00 p.m. today (Thursday, October 10, 2024)
Glenwood Springs, CO, October 10, 2024 – Earlier today, during normal operations, Xcel Energy discovered a piece of damaged equipment on the Wolcott to Steamboat Springs transmission line. This equipment is located on the windy mesa west of Yampa and could become a fire hazard.
Xcel has determined that they need to replace the equipment as soon as possible and that they will need to de-energize the line to do the work safely. These transmission lines bring electricity to the Holy Cross Energy distribution system, which serves the entire Eagle River Valley.
Therefore, Holy Cross Energy will be forced to take an outage from the Edwards to Vail area this afternoon at 2:00 pm. We expect this outage to last only 30 minutes, but it could go longer if additional damage is found.
Normally, Xcel would switch power delivery to the Wolcott to Cooley 230kV line, but it is out of service until October 18, 2024, as part of a larger relay replacement project.
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About Holy Cross Energy
Founded in 1939, Holy Cross Energy (HCE) is a not-for-profit rural electric co-op providing safe, reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy and services that improve the quality of life for more than 45,000 members in western Colorado. HCE was built by and belongs to the diverse communities and members we serve. Membership is open to everyone in our service territory, regardless of race, religion, age, disability, language, political perspective, or socioeconomic status. HCE is committed to leading the responsible transition to a clean energy future. Its 100×30 goal is to provide members with 100% clean energy by 2030 and achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2035. For more information on HCE, please visit www.holycross.com.
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