By Chris Barge
Camera Staff Writer

Eldora Mountain Resort is suing Xcel Energy for damaging its snowmaking equipment with contaminated gas two years ago.

In a complaint filed last week in Boulder District Court, Eldora claims that the gas company allowed more than 50 gallons of oil into the natural gas line serving its snowmaking engine and compressor. The resort claims the incident on Nov. 19, 2000, caused the resort to lose three days of snowmaking.

"It had a huge impact on us right before the Thanksgiving weekend that year, which is a critical snowmaking weekend," Eldora attorney Rick Johnson said.

Johnson said the shutdown caused a delay in the opening of the Corona Bowl — a black diamond-rated run crucial to the resort's draw — which, in turn, reduced that year's overall skier visits.

Xcel spokesman Steve Roalstad declined comment.

"There's no way we could comment about it now that there's a civil action," Roalstad said.

Johnson said the resort decided to sue Xcel because the company was not responding to the resort quickly enough.

Eldora is asking for compensation for the cost of cleanup, lost skier visits, damage to its equipment, lost concession sales and other damages. The complaint asks for a jury to determine the amount that should be paid.

Contact Staff Writer Chris Barge at (303) 473-1389 or bargec@thedailycamera.com.

June 3, 2002

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