Judge orders Xcel Energy pole replacements after wildfires
Two years after deadly wildfires broke out in the Texas Panhandle and spread into western Oklahoma, a judge has ordered Xcel Energy to begin replacing poles in the wildfire-prone areas of the Panhandle.
The fires burned more than a million acres and left three dead in Texas and were caused by a broken utility pole, something Xcel has admitted. The judge’s decision came after an agreement was reached between the utility and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Utility pole failures tied to massive wildfire damage
The legal action stems from catastrophic fires that devastated parts of the Panhandle region and extended into western Oklahoma, highlighting growing concerns about utility infrastructure, wildfire risk, and aging electric systems in drought-prone areas.
“Xcel has made the right decision in working with my office and ultimately agreeing to take these critical first steps,” Paxton said in a statement. “… I will continue to fight to ensure that justice is served and that wildfires will no longer be sparked by the negligence of a utility provider.”
Xcel agreement focuses on wildfire mitigation
Xcel has more than 200,000 customers in Texas and the utility, in a statement to the Texas Tribune, said the agreement “largely tracks the pole-replacement procedures Xcel Energy proactively implemented two years ago, after the Smokehouse Creek fire. We’ll continue working with the state of Texas as we focus on the wildfire mitigation work to help keep the public safe.”
The Texas Attorney General sued Xcel in December 2025.
Broader focus on grid resilience and wildfire prevention
The judge’s order underscores the increasing scrutiny utilities face over grid reliability, fire prevention, and infrastructure safety as climate conditions, drought, and high winds intensify wildfire threats across Texas and Oklahoma.
Replacing aging poles is expected to be a key part of broader wildfire mitigation strategies, including inspections, vegetation management, and infrastructure hardening in high-risk regions.
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