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Panhandle Today
By the People, for the People
Texas AG Secures Court Order for Xcel to Replace Damaged Wildfire-Prone Poles
Utility company must replace high-risk poles within 14 days following 2024 wildfires sparked by its infrastructure.
Published on Feb. 23, 2026
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A Texas district court has ordered electric utility Xcel Energy to replace damaged poles within wildfire-prone areas of the state, following an agreement between the company and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. The injunction comes after the 2024 wildfires that scorched over a million acres of the Texas Panhandle, which Xcel admitted were sparked by one of its own poles. The agreement requires Xcel to replace all high-priority poles with severe structural issues within 14 days and conduct large-scale inspections of its infrastructure in high-risk areas.
Why it matters
The 2024 wildfires in the Texas Panhandle were the largest in state history, causing significant damage and loss of life. This court order aims to hold Xcel accountable and force the utility to address its aging and problematic infrastructure that contributed to the disaster, in an effort to prevent future such incidents and protect public safety.
The details
Under the agreement, Xcel must replace all poles with severe structural deterioration located in high wildfire risk areas within 14 days. The company must also notify the state once the replacements are completed. Moving forward, any newly identified high-priority poles must be replaced within one day of being reported or discovered. The injunction also requires Xcel to conduct large-scale inspections of at least 35,000 poles annually in high-risk wildfire areas.
- The 2024 wildfires in the Texas Panhandle scorched over a million acres.
- In December 2025, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued Xcel seeking monetary damages.
- On Monday, the Texas district court ordered Xcel to replace damaged poles within 14 days.
The players
Xcel Energy
An electric utility with more than 200,000 customers in Texas. Xcel admitted that one of its poles sparked the 2024 wildfires in the Texas Panhandle.
Ken Paxton
The Texas Attorney General who sued Xcel and secured the court order for the utility to replace damaged poles in wildfire-prone areas.
Salem Abraham
A Panhandle businessman who has been working to have Xcel removed as the utility provider in the region.
What they’re saying
“Xcel has made the right decision in working with my office and ultimately agreeing to take these critical first steps. 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.”
— Ken Paxton, Texas Attorney General (The Texas Tribune)
“Anything Paxton can do to force Xcel to improve is great news.”
— Salem Abraham, Panhandle businessman (The Texas Tribune)
What’s next
The judge in the case will decide on whether to allow Xcel to continue operating in the region, as Panhandle businessman Salem Abraham has been pushing to have the utility removed as the provider.
The takeaway
This court order represents a significant step in holding Xcel accountable for its role in the devastating 2024 wildfires in the Texas Panhandle, and demonstrates the state's commitment to ensuring utility companies prioritize public safety and infrastructure maintenance in high-risk areas.
