DENVER — As high fire danger becomes a becomes a way of life during Colorado’s driest winter in decades, more homeowners are investing in backup power generators as extreme fire weather conditions threaten to disrupt power across the state.

Xcel Energy started using preemptive power shutoffs as a fire mitigation tool in March 2024. Since then, the company has conducted three more shutoffs between December 2025 and January 2026, affecting customers along the Front Range and northern Colorado. While neither Xcel nor CORE said they plan to shut off power in communities during this week’s weather event, homeowners are accepting the reality of future outages.

Tom Teynor, the owner of Bell Plumbing and Heating, said his company is seeing a dramatic surge in homeowners requesting generator installations because of the planned Xcel outages.

“We certainly support the safety for wildfires. I think consumers are starting to realize that backup generation or power storage is no longer a luxury, that it’s often a requirement,” said Teynor.

He said before planned outages became more common, his company received about a dozen requests per year for generators. Now, he said, they’re fielding about seven requests per week.

“For a lot of people, it’s a safety issue, making sure that sump pump is working, not losing food, making sure medical equipment is operational,” said Teynor.

The increased demand comes as Colorado faces an extremely dry winter with frequent red flag warnings and critical fire weather conditions. Aurora Fire Rescue (AFR) said it’s preparing for heightened risks by staffing extra wildland fire engines on Monday and Tuesday.

“To me, it feels like we are seeing more red flag warnings and more critical fire weather than what I’ve seen in my career here along the Front Range in the fire service,” said Eric Hurst, Public Information Officer for AFR.

Jacob Curtis

Xcel Energy said it plans to activate enhanced safety settings on powerlines across eastern Colorado over the next few days. The safety settings make lines more sensitive and automatically shut off power if something, like a tree branch, comes into contact with the line.

Hurst said windy conditions can lead to unplanned localized power outages. He said energy company crews will respond to calls about power outages, while fire crews may respond to emergencies that result from power outages.

“People who are reliant on home oxygen machines that are plugged into the wall if they’re not prepared with backup oxygen. A lot of times that can cause problems where people are needing assistance with that. Sometimes fire alarm activations or stalled elevators in buildings. Those are the types of things that we often see when the power is out,” said Hurst.

Teynor said many of his customers often feel frustrated about spending money on back up power supplies as they feel compelled to find their own solutions to power outages.

“More and more people are working from home, and suddenly it becomes less optional to have power when you’re in that situation,” Teynor said.

To prepare for planned or unplanned outages this week, he recommends homeowners test sump pumps and backup batteries. He said people should make sure to fully charge phones, laptops, and medical devices. You can also freeze water bottles to help keep freezers cold longer and fill bathtubs with water to use for sanitation needs or flushing toilets during power outages.

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Colorado Department of Corrections officials forced inmates to work prison jobs through coercion that ultimately amounted to involuntary servitude, a Denver judge ruled Friday.

The state’s prisons unconstitutionally coerced labor by levying severe punishments — including solitary confinement — against prisoners who refused to work, Denver District Court Judge Sarah Wallace found in the 61-page ruling.

“By creating a framework where failure to work triggers a sequence of restrictions that culminate in a more restrictive ‘custody level’ and physical isolation, CDOC has established a system of compulsion that overrides the voluntariness of the (prisoners’) labor,” Wallace wrote.

The ruling comes out of a 2022 lawsuit in which state prisoners claimed the Department of Corrections’ approach to prison labor amounted to involuntary servitude or slavery, which Colorado voters outlawed in 2018 via Amendment A.

The lawsuit, which went to trial in October, was brought by Towards Justice, a nonprofit law firm headed by David Seligman, a candidate in the 2026 race for Colorado attorney general.

Prisoners in Colorado are expected to work prison jobs, which include food preparation, janitorial services and other positions within their facilities. They are paid well below minimum wage for the work.  They can choose not to work, but doing so is a disciplinary infraction for which prisoners are punished, according to court filings.

State attorneys argued during the October trial that prisoners’ labor was voluntary, and that punishments for failing to work, while “uncomfortable,” did not rise to the level of coercion legally required to constitute involuntary servitude.

The 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure is now available, with a number of changes that affect the upcoming seasons and the limited-license draw.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife have outlined an overview of what’s new for the 2026 big-game seasons, along with important dates and changes that affect the limited-license draws.

Important 2026 dates

Primary limited license draw:

• March 1: Applications accepted/most qualifying licenses available for purchase starting on this date
• April 7: Application & correction deadline, 8 p.m.
• May 26–29: Draw results posted online (check your online account)
• June 1: Surrender period deadline, 11:59 p.m.
• June 12: License payment deadline, 11:59 p.m.
• June 26: Licenses in the mail

Secondary limited license draw:

• June 18: Secondary draw applications accepted starting on this date
• June 30: Secondary draw application & correction deadline, 8 p.m.
• July 7: Secondary draw results posted online (check your online account)
• July 9: Surrender period deadline, 11:59 p.m.
• July 21: Secondary draw license payment deadline, 11:59 p.m.
• July 27: Secondary draw licenses in the mail

Leftover & over-the-counter licenses:

• Aug. 4: Remaining (leftover) limited licenses on sale online, in person and by phone, 9 a.m.
• Aug. 4: Over-the-counter licenses on sale, 9 a.m.

Qualifying licenses

Continuing this year, hunters must purchase a current-year, 2026 qualifying license to participate in the big-game draws, the website states. Most qualifying licenses are available March 1 and must be purchased prior to applying for all big-game licenses or preference points.

Funds from qualifying licenses help to support wildlife conservation and research studies for both game and nongame species. 

Qualifying licenses are on sale starting March 1.

“All applicants must first purchase (online, by phone, or in person at sales agents) or hold a qualifying hunting license for the current license year before applying for either the primary or secondary draws,” the website states.

Hunters are also able to purchase a leftover limited or over-the-counter license without a qualifying license.

Draw applications will not be accessible until a qualifying license is purchased; licenses must be valid for the current 2026 license year.

A 2026 Habitat Stamp will be automatically added when purchasing a qualifying license, if applicable.

Qualifying licenses options:

• Annual resident and nonresident small game
• Annual resident combo small game/fishing
• Annual resident senior combo small game/fishing — Annual licenses are valid March 1 – March 31 (13 months)
• Resident and nonresident spring turkey (over-the-counter turkey licenses on sale March 1)
• Resident and nonresident fall turkey (valid for the secondary draw only)
• Resident veteran lifetime combo small game/fishing
• Resident first responder lifetime combo small game/fishing
• Annual small-game license for resident senior lifetime fishing license holders

Primary draw

CPW will begin to accept applications March 1. The application deadline for the primary license drawing is 8 p.m. April 7.

“Hunters are encouraged to submit their applications early to avoid complications or delays,” the website states. 

Tip: After applying, review the confirmation receipt sent via email to ensure correct submission. Application modifications are allowed prior to the application deadline. 

Secondary draw

Continuing this year, CPW is offering a Secondary Draw that is open to anyone — even those who missed the deadline for the Primary Draw. Most elk, deer, pronghorn, and bear licenses not issued through the primary draw will be made available for this one.

Youth hunters also receive 100% preference in the Secondary Draw.

The Secondary Draw does not use or award preference points but application fees, qualifying licenses, and a Habitat Stamp are still required.

CPW will accept applications online or by phone for the Secondary Draw beginning June 18. The application deadline is 8 p.m. June 30.

Boundary modifications for some GMUs

The boundaries for Game Management Units 97 and 99 have changed.

“Hunters should check the CPW Hunting Atlas and ensure that they are using the latest versions of GPS/map applications for accurate boundaries,” the website recommends.

See page 71 of the Colorado Big Game Brochure for more information.

Chronic Wasting Disease testing for elk

There will be no mandatory CWD testing for harvested deer in the 2026 seasons. 

Hunts added

CPW has added new licenses for moose, buck deer, archery elk, and bear in a variety of GMUs. For detailed species-specific new hunts and changes, see the individual species pages in the big game brochure:

• Deer: Big Game Brochure page 20 
• Pronghorn: Big Game Brochure page 53
• Bear: page Big Game Brochure page 62
• Elk: Big Game Brochure page 35 
• Moose: Big Game Brochure page 58

For more information, visit https://coloradooutdoorsmag.com/2026/02/13/whats-new-2026-colorado-big-game-hunting/.