On March 13, 2025, Gary Kuhlman began preparing for a windstorm that meteorologists had been warning about all week. A cattle rancher in Canyon, Texas, for almost half a century, Kuhlman was familiar with windstorms: He anchored the empty stock tanks in caliche rock so they wouldn’t blow away. He made sure everything was put up and the barn door was fastened tight. And he waited.

Meanwhile, Xcel Energy crews were preparing for what would become one of the most challenging storm responses in recent years. The forecasted combination of high winds, low humidity, and dry conditions posed a significant wildfire risk.

“A week-plus in advance, we did have indications from meteorology that it was going to be a notable, significant weather and potential fire event,” said Casey Meeks, regional vice president, Distribution Operations – Texas. “We started planning for a Public Safety Power Shutoff event. We’re looking at system conditions, the vegetation [and] where the winds will potentially be the strongest.”

Ultimately, Xcel Energy did call for a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS), affecting 17,000 customers, including Kuhlman. He believes turning off the power in advance was critical for the safety of his ranch and the surrounding community.

“Any kind of little spark can start a big grassfire,” said Kuhlman, whose ranch was burned through by a grassfire in 2011. “80-mile-an-hour winds — there’s no putting them out.”

A historic storm


Though conditions across the Texas Panhandle appeared calm on Thursday, March 13, Xcel Energy's meteorologists were focused on Friday's forecast.

On Friday morning, March 14, Xcel Energy activated a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) to reduce wildfire risk in vulnerable areas. This proactive measure affected customers across eastern New Mexico, the Texas Panhandle and the South Plains region.

The decision proved necessary as wind speeds rapidly intensified, reaching 80 miles per hour by 10 a.m. — the highest recorded in Amarillo since an F4 tornado in 1949. The severe windstorm caused widespread damage to power infrastructure, ultimately leaving more than 68,000 customers without electricity by midafternoon.

“We then had the chance to see the impacts that the wind had on a particular line and know that we made the right decision to keep our community safe,” said Adrian Rodriguez, president of Xcel Energy – Texas and New Mexico.

On Kuhlman’s property, for example, the high winds broke three power poles — all de-energized in the PSPS event.

“Luckily, they were turned off. If they wouldn’t have been, we might have had some issues,” Kuhlman said.

Restoring power quickly and safely

As soon as wind speeds decreased to safe levels, Xcel Energy crews began patrolling power lines and assessing damage. The company prioritized restoration for medical customers, hospitals and essential community services while bringing in additional resources to speed recovery efforts.

Crews from Colorado joined local teams, while drone pilots from across the country worked alongside helicopter crews to inspect lines in remote and difficult-to-access areas. The extent of damage required significant repairs: Crews replaced nearly 20,000 feet of wire, 140 power poles, approximately 340 pole cross arms and almost 50 transformers.

Working continuously through the weekend, restoration teams successfully restored power to nearly all 68,000 affected customers by Monday morning. Within 48 hours of the storm, Kuhlman’s ranch was back up and running.

“I’m a big fan of turning the electricity off,” Kuhlman said. “I can go without electricity a lot easier than I can go without my ranchlands.”