PUC holding meeting Wednesday to discuss Xcel power outages [Video]

The Colorado Public Utilities Commission wants to hear from the thousands of people who had their power turned off during April’s windstorm.

Xcel intentionally caused outages for 55,000 people across six counties the weekend of April 6. An additional 100,000 people were affected by power outages through the weekend due to the winds.

This was the first time Xcel had issued outages ahead of extreme weather, as opposed to in response to it.

One of those Xcel customers is Ken Katzenmeier, owner of the Columbine Bar and Restaurant in Littleton. He said the business was without power for several days following the windstorm.

“It gets very frustrating,” Katzenmeier said.

Katzenmeier said he lost potential business serving NCAA basketball fans and about $1,000 worth of food over the course of the weekend.

“Had to pack our refrigerators and freezers with ice,” Katzenmeier said. “You can’t really do anything in a dark restaurant. A lot of emotions come …