Question

Our power was out for about 13 hours-very unusual. Can an independent source other than Excel Energy explain what the cause of this outage is" Is this an act of domestic terror? Are we subject to damage other than routine?

Answer 1

Short answer: usually the utility (Xcel Energy) is the first and best source for the immediate cause of an outage. Independent confirmation is possible — through news, local emergency management, your state’s public utilities commission, federal outage/incident reports, or law‑enforcement statements — and there are concrete steps you can take if you’re worried about terrorism or damage to your equipment. I can help you pursue any of those; tell me your city/state if you want contacts or a draft records/complaint request.

What normally causes long outages
- Common technical causes: severe weather (wind, lightning, ice), trees falling on lines, equipment failure (transformers, breakers), animals on equipment, vehicle collisions with poles, vegetation contact, or damage during line work.
- Less common causes: major generation or transmission failures, cascading grid events, or human-caused damage (vandalism, sabotage, cyberattack).
- Utilities usually report the immediate cause once crews have inspected the site; it can take hours or days for a final investigation.

How to get an independent (or corroborating) explanation
1. Utility outage information: check Xcel Energy’s outage map and official post‑outage reports on their website or social media (they often post cause and restoration details). If you haven’t already, call their outage/customer number and ask for the cause and any incident report number.
2. Local government: county/city emergency management or public works may have posted updates or press releases.
3. Local news: reporters often investigate and will publish causes after crews and officials confirm them.
4. State public utilities commission (PUC): they regulate utilities and will sometimes post incident reports or take complaints; for major outages they may open inquiries.
5. Federal sources for large events: NERC (grid-related investigations) or the Department of Energy may post summaries if the outage affected large regions.
6. Records requests: if you want a formal independent record, you can file a public records/open‑records request to the utility or to the relevant government agency for incident reports and crew logs.

How to know if it was a deliberate attack or “domestic terror”
- Indicators that prompt law‑enforcement investigation: evidence of explosives, cut cables/poles, multiple simultaneous targets in different locations, claims of responsibility, or intelligent patterning beyond what weather/accident would produce.
- Who investigates: local police, county sheriff, state police, FBI (if terrorism or interstate impact is suspected), and possibly the utility’s security team.
- What to look for: official statements from law enforcement or the utility saying they suspect criminal or deliberate action. If no official statement exists, it’s unlikely you should assume terrorism.
- If you suspect deliberate criminal behavior, report it to local police and the FBI field office. If there’s an immediate threat, call 911.

Am I at risk of damage beyond routine?
- After an outage the most common risks are:
- Power surges when the grid is restored that can damage electronics (use surge protectors).
- Damage to HVAC compressors or motors that were cycling oddly or lost power unexpectedly.
- Food spoilage if refrigerators/freezers were without power for many hours.
- If you used a portable generator improperly, risks include carbon monoxide, fire, or backfeed to the grid.
- What to do now:
- Don’t plug in expensive electronics until you’ve inspected them and/or used a surge protector.
- Check appliances and HVAC for visible damage or unusual smells; if in doubt, have an electrician inspect.
- Throw out perishable food that’s been above 40°F for more than 2 hours (or follow official guidance).
- If you used a generator, ensure it was installed/operated safely and get it checked if you see fuel leaks or electrical issues.

If something is damaged
- Document everything: photos, timestamps, receipts for spoiled food, repair bills.
- Contact your homeowner’s/renter’s insurance to check coverage for equipment damage or spoiled food.
- Contact Xcel to report damage; utilities sometimes have a claims process if damaged equipment was caused by their equipment/fault. Ask for an incident/claim number and the name of the representative.
- If you believe improper operation or negligence by the utility caused the outage or damage, file a written complaint with your state PUC.

Practical next steps I recommend
1. Check Xcel Energy’s outage page/social media and call their outage line for the cause and any incident/crew report.
2. Check local news and your county/city emergency management for statements.
3. If you’re worried it was deliberate, ask local police whether they are investigating and consider filing a report.
4. Inspect/preserve any damaged equipment, document losses, contact your insurer, and file a claim with the utility if appropriate.

If you want, give me:
- your city/state and the time of the outage and I’ll look up Xcel outage links, the PUC contact for your state, and local authorities to contact, or I can draft a records or complaint email for you.