Frequently
Asked Questions

Xcel Energy will convert approximately 4,700 feet of existing overhead electric distribution lines to new underground distribution lines along the south side of Arapahoe Avenue, between Foothills Parkway and 55th Street in Boulder, Colorado.

The Arapahoe Avenue Electric Undergrounding Project (project) is part of Xcel Energy’s Franchise Agreement with the City of Boulder, which allows 1% of Xcel Energy’s electric revenues to be used for electric overhead to underground conversions due to right-of-way improvements.

The City of Boulder’s East Arapahoe Multi-Use Path and Transit Stops Project will begin construction once Xcel Energy’s project is completed and requires all dry utilities to be undergrounded, including telecommunications. To learn more about the improvements in the area, please visit the City of Boulder’s East Arapahoe Transportation Plan website.

This Project is being constructed as part of our commitment to system revitalization, allowing us to continue to provide the safe, reliable electric service our customers expect.

Project construction is expected to begin in spring 2024 and will continue through fall 2024.

Please note schedules are subject to change.

Undergrounding is the process of taking overhead electric distribution or transmission lines and converting them to new underground lines.

No, individual electric services will not be undergrounded as part of this project.

If you are interested in having your electric service undergrounded, please contact  Building and Remodeling.

Yes, if you want to underground your electric service there are a few costs to consider.

You will need to submit an application to Building and Remodeling. Once submitted, you will be assigned a designer who will work with you on the scope and cost.

As a part of the underground process, you will need to ensure your electric panel can support the new service. Please work with your electrician on what this means for your site. You can also reference the Standard of Electric Installation and Use Manual, to better understand the requirements.

Please note that if your service is commercial, you will need to work with your electrician to run the new underground service line to our transformer, as this line now becomes a customer owned line.

We may need to temporarily disrupt your electric service during construction. You will be notified in advance should a temporary disruption to electric service be required. We will work to minimize any impacts associated with a temporary disruption.

We are committed to minimizing disruptions to enable businesses in the Project area to continue to operate as usual. We will maintain access to your location or provide alternative access points to the extent possible and as safety allows. If we need to temporarily change how you access your business, we will notify and work directly with you to develop a plan to limit site access changes.

While we work to minimize them, every construction project involves some public inconveniences. These may include:

• Marking of utility lines and utility survey holes.
• Vegetation clearing or removal.
• Road and sidewalk closures.
• Staging of equipment and materials.
• Traffic control.
• Parking restrictions.
• Temporary changes to access or RTD bus stops.
• Construction noise.
• Scheduled power outages.

All work areas will be restored to preconstruction conditions as weather allows. Work areas may be left temporarily restored after construction until we can complete final restoration.

Crews will work 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Sunday. In certain circumstances, crews may be required to work evenings or nights. We will coordinate with City of Boulder officials and modify our schedule as necessary to accommodate area events as needed.

Vegetation management work includes trimming and clearing trees, shrubs, dense grasses and other vegetation around structures, corridors, equipment and construction work areas. Vegetation management helps reduce power outages and allows our crews to work safely on power lines.

Trees may need be removed or pruned for several reasons. In some cases, trees near power lines can contribute to downed lines, power outages and fire ignition risks. These trees may need to be pruned to avoid future issues. In other cases, trees may be located within easements and public rights-of-way in construction work areas. These trees may need to be removed to enable construction.

Tree pruning is the selective removal of branches that are too close to a power line, or that will grow to close to a power line before the next maintenance cycle. Xcel Energy prunes and/or removes tress on our regular maintenance schedule, usually between every three to five years. There is no charge for the tree work that we or our contractors perform on your property. Our goal is to provide safe, reliable electric service while also taking the best possible care of a valuable natural resource.

A crew will typically arrive at your property within a few weeks to perform tree work. The crew is instructed to perform a courtesy door knock to let you know they will be on your property and to discuss the work they will be doing. If you have questions or concerns before the crew arrives, contact the person identified in the notification or contact us.

Do not attempt to prune any tree that could touch an energized power line. It is dangerous, may be against the law and must be done by a qualified line clearance professional. That is why we have contracted qualified vegetation management companies to perform the work. Landowners should never attempt to prune or remove tree limbs near or adjacent to any power lines. Please call us at 800-895-4999 if you are concerned about vegetation near a power line on your property.

Most of our tree work occurs as part of routine distribution maintenance cycles (every three to five years). In these situations, where the work zone is accessible by truck and chipper, small limbs and brush are hauled away. This brush may be left on your curbside to be hauled by a separate crew within a few days. Larger pieces of wood are cut into manageable lengths and left on your property for your use.

Along our rights-of-way, debris resulting from our clear activities is left onsite to naturally decompose. This also returns nutrients to the soil and reduces the chances of soil erosion. Our contractors will collect and dispose of any brush that falls into roadways, waterways, fences, lawns, pastures or other maintained areas. Removing debris because of an emergency or storm situation, hazard tree mitigation or after customer-requested work is the tree owner’s responsibility.

Our goal is to avoid disturbing properties to the extent practicable as we conduct vegetation management activities. However, some activities may require disturbance to nearby sites such as tree pruning and removal. Except for vegetation pruning and removal, we will restore public and private properties to preexisting conditions as required by local jurisdictional standards. Work will be completed in accordance with local, county and state regulations.

We are committed to providing you with up-to-date Project information and timelines to help you best plan for construction-related inconveniences.

For Project information and weekly updates during construction, please visit our website at XcelEnergyArapahoeAvenue.com, call our information line at 720-797-2850 or email us at [email protected].

Please avoid entering work areas or approaching crews in the field for your safety.

Instead, please contact the Project team by visiting our website at XcelEnergyArapahoeAvenue.com, calling our information line at 720-797-2850 or email us at [email protected].

If you have questions or would like to provide feedback, please visit our website at XcelEnergyArapahoeAvenue.com, call our information line at 720-797-2850 or email us at [email protected].

We are committed to addressing customer inquiries as we receive them. A member of our team will contact you within two business days of receiving your submission.

Electric distribution is the process of transmitting electricity from the substation near the intended end user directly to the end user themselves.

Electric transmission is the process of transmitting electricity over long distances, typically from near a generation station to a substation near the intended end user.

The electric grid is a complex, interconnected network of energy infrastructure that connects energy generation sources to homes and businesses over a large area.

The electric grid is made up of four fundamental parts: generation stations, substations, transmission lines and distribution lines.

Generation stations are facilities dedicated to producing electricity. Generation stations are connected to substations, which change the voltage of incoming electricity, either increasing it (“stepping up”) for transmission purposes or decreasing it (“stepping down”) for distribution purposes.

Transmission lines deliver electricity over long distances, and generally connect a substation at a generation station, which steps up the voltage, to a substation near the end user, which steps down the voltage.

Distribution lines deliver electricity over shorter distances and generally connect substations near the end user directly to the end user. Small transformers located along the distribution network step down the voltage further, making it safe for use in homes and businesses.

Public safety is at the foundation of all we do. The safety of the public around our electric system influences every decision we make.

We take proactively approach public safety by implementing safety measures before, during and after construction.

Our project was designed to meet federal, state and company safety requirements for installing, maintaining and operating electric infrastructure.

We are committed to maintaining a safe working environment in your community.

For your safety and the safety of our crews, remember these tips:

• Watch for construction crews and equipment.
• Do not enter construction areas.
• Obey signage and directions from crews.
• Reduce speeds while traveling.
• Observe parking restrictions.
• Remain flexible as work progresses and work areas change.

Do not touch downed electric lines or anyone or anything in contact with them. Instead, clear the area immediately and contact Xcel Energy’s emergency number: 800-895-1999. Call 911 in an emergency.

Downed or low-hanging power lines and damaged electrical equipment have the potential to cause serious injuries or even death. Always assume that electric lines and equipment are energized, even if they do not appear to be “live.” We recommended you stay at least 25 feet away from downed lines and 10 feet away from overhead lines.

Before working outside, first look up and all around to see if there are any overhead power lines above the work area. Keep yourself, your tools and your equipment at least 10 feet away from overhead lines at all times. This includes transporting ladders or other equipment. Be sure to carry all tools horizontally, especially ladders to ensure proper balance and avoid accidental contact. The only safe contact is no contact.