local
Holy Cross Energy power outage lasted 14 hours, raised many communications questions
By David O. Williams Follow
dwilliams@vaildaily.com at Vail Daily
· July 8, 2026
· 11 min read
Around 27,000 Holy Cross Energy customers from Vail to parts of the Roaring Fork Valley woke up Wednesday morning with a massive sigh of relief after a 14-hour power outage caused by a lightning strike on an Xcel Energy transmission line to the Eagle River Valley near Wolcott.
The outage, deem...
Key takeaway The outage, deemed the “longest and most impactful” in the last 20 years by Holy Cross officials, also caused communications issues, primarily with cell phone customers who subscribe to AT&T and T-Mobile.
Why this matters in Aspen News
The lengthy power outage affecting Holy Cross Energy customers from Vail to parts of the Roaring Fork Valley has significant implications for Aspen , given its own reliance on reliable energy and communication systems. As a major ski resort and cultural center, Aspen's economy and public safety depend on the ability to maintain essential services during emergencies. The fact that AT&T and T Mobile subscribers were without phone service, text alert, or Internet access during the outage raises concerns about the town's preparedness for potential wildfire events, which could necessitate evacuation and require seamless communication between emergency responders and residents. With Aspen's history of mountain-weather hazards, including wildfire danger in dry months, the town must carefully examine its communication infrastructure and backup systems to ensure that it can respond effectively in the face of a similar outage or disaster.
About this story
Original reporting by Vail Daily . Aspen News surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit Vail Daily . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 8, 2026 ·
Source: Vail Daily ·
Reading time: 11 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Around 27,000 Holy Cross Energy customers from Vail to parts of the Roaring Fork Valley woke up Wednesday morning with a massive sigh of relief after a 14-hour power outage caused by a lightning strike on an Xcel Energy transmission line to the Eagle River Valley near Wolcott.
The outage, deem...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 8, 2026 by Vail Daily and curated for Aspen News readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by David O. Williams Follow
dwilliams@vaildaily.com at Vail Daily. To learn more about how Aspen News selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from Aspen News, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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