Aspen City Dealing with Power Outages and Infrastructure Challenges

Aspen, known for its scenic beauty and vibrant community, faced yet another power outage on Monday night, impacting 25% of the city’s power system. Justin Forman, the Director of Utilities in Aspen, mentioned that while the outage was smaller in scale compared to previous incidents, it still caused disruptions in select areas.

The outage began at 8:41 p.m., affecting specific neighborhoods before power was restored by 9:22 p.m., thanks to the Electric Department‘s swift response. Forman praised the department’s commitment and expertise, highlighting the city’s redundant power feeds that aid in quick restoration.

Last December, Aspen experienced a major outage lasting nearly two hours, affecting half the city. Monday’s outage, like the previous one, was linked to an issue between a primary underground cable and a transformer. Forman noted that even though the specific infrastructure components were different this time, they were part of the same circuit facing challenges due to aging.

As part of a long-term solution, the city initiated a 15-year cable and conduit replacement project three years ago. Due to recent outages, the project’s timeline has been shifted, with a segment focusing on the north side of Wagner Park. Forman emphasized the importance of regular infrastructure assessments and the city’s dedication to providing reliable electric service.

The Aspen City Council recently approved the continuation of the infrastructure project, recognizing the need for proactive upgrades. Despite the inconveniences caused by the outages, Forman urged residents to stay informed through Pitkin alerts and city social media channels for updates. The community’s patience and cooperation were also appreciated by the utilities department.