The I&O team recommends campus users deploy a localized Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) to any critical research equipment.

With a dedicated backup on-site generator farm, Mines is uniquely positioned to guard against most power outages. The vast majority of our academic and administrative buildings are connected to the backup generator. This came in handy during Xcel’s Dec 2025 wildfire mitigation public safety power shutdown as Mines was able to power most of campus and proceed with midyear commencement festivities as scheduled.

The Mines Facilities team performs weekly maintenance and testing of the backup system to ensure its reliability. However, unexpected localized power outages can still occur that impact campus users. This past week, a critter gained entry into a switch box causing parts of campus to lose power during the overnight hours. While highly unusual, an act of nature such as this is impossible to predict and something the backup generator system cannot mitigate.

The Mines Operations team strongly recommends campus users deploy a localized Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) device to any sensitive critical research equipment. A UPS device will add an additional layer of robustness to guard against unanticipated power blips and acts of nature that cause temporary outages that are not immediately handled by the backup generator system. Our staff is happy to assist in advising what device might be right for your equipment /computer. Contact David Feron in the Office of Design & Construction at dferon@mines.edu for additional guidance on finding the right UPS device for you.