How power outages affect your fiber connection
As Northern Colorado’s local fiber internet provider, we know how much our community depends on reliable internet for work, school, and communication. With Colorado’s naturally dry climate and periods of extreme wind, we often see an increase in risk of wildfires. During high-risk conditions, energy companies (such as Xcel) may take steps to protect the public by temporarily shutting off your home’s power, thus affecting your internet service.
We want to make sure you know what to expect and how to stay connected during a power outage.
What is a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS)?
A Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) is a temporary, proactive outage used by utility companies during periods of extreme wildfire risk. By turning off power in targeted areas, utilities reduce the chance that electrical equipment could spark a fire.
Energy companies evaluate several factors before initiating a PSPS. These include:
- Weather conditions
- Wind speeds
- Relative humidity
- Vegetation moisture
- Critical customers
- Infrastructure
Utility companies emphasize that PSPS events are not taken lightly and used only when necessary. They are aware of the effects shutting off power has on homes, businesses, and lifestyles, and do what they can to minimize the size and duration of the event. When possible, they will work to notify customers of the event in advance so households and businesses have time to prepare.
What a power outage means for your Pulse Fiber service
Fiber-optic networks work differently from traditional copper internet. Instead of electrical currents, fiber technology uses light pulses to deliver your connection. However, just like the lights in your home, your internet equipment still requires electricity to operate. This includes your Pulse ONT and WiFi router.
If your home loses power during a PSPS, these devices will shut down, which means your internet service will go offline even though the fiber network itself remains operational.
How to stay online during a power outage
To keep your internet running during a PSPS or any power outage, we recommend using a battery backup, or Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS). A UPS can power your ONT and router long enough to maintain connectivity for remote work, streaming, or communication.
Choosing a battery backup:
You can purchase a UPS online or at most electronic stores. Once installed, simply plug your Pulse ONT and router into the UPS. This helps ensure your Pulse Fiber service stays active even when the power is temporarily offline.
