ARVADA, Colo. -- Hundreds of west metro residents are fretting about spoiled food, inability to access e-mail and lack of communication regarding a power outage that has lasted for nearly three days.

"It's been difficult," said Kevin Tolman, who lives on the 6100 block of Holland Street in Arvada. "We had to clean out our refrigerator and lost maybe $300 worth of food. Being unemployed... it's a big expense."

Gordon Jennings knows exactly how Tolman feels. He too lost a refrigerator full of food.

"The power went out about 10:30 Monday night," Jennings said. "That's when the storm hit."

"It sounded to me like we were very much under fire. I'm a Vietnam veteran and I got very alert very quick," Jennings added.

After the ferocious hailstorm dissipated, Jennings went out with a flashlight to survey the damage.

He spotted a downed line in his back yard.

Utility crews showed up late Thursday morning to repair the line.

"It's quite a relief," Jennings said. "Now we can go on with our life. We can clean our house and we have some power tools to clean up the yard."

Repair crews had to use a crane to replace a splintered power pole in one Arvada neighborhood.

There are no alleys, so the crews had to lift a new pole over one of the homes and into the back yard.

“I was pretty excited,” said homeowner John Waite. “I wasn't worried that the new pole would cause any damage. I have insurance in case anything happened.”

When asked if he was happy to see the repair crews, Waite answered, “Very much so. I can’t wait to use my computer to check my e-mail.”

An Xcel spokesman told 7NEWS that around 150 customers remain without power.

He said service should be restored to most of them by 11 p.m.