Xcel Energy controversies

Texas pole-maintenance injunction

A Texas judge ordered Xcel to replace damaged wooden distribution poles and inspect at least 35,000 poles annually while litigation connected with the Smokehouse Creek Fire proceeds.

Smokehouse Creek wildfire

Xcel acknowledged that its facilities played a role in igniting the Smokehouse Creek Fire in the Texas Panhandle. The incident intensified scrutiny of utility equipment, wildfire prevention, pole maintenance and potential liability for large fires.

Monticello radioactive-water leak

A pipe failure at the Monticello nuclear plant released tritium-contaminated water. The company notified authorities before publicly disclosing the incident, leading to criticism over transparency and regulatory compliance while cleanup and monitoring continued.

Marshall Fire litigation

The Marshall Fire destroyed homes and commercial property in Boulder County, Colorado, and killed two people. Investigators identified a loose Xcel-owned power-line wire as a source of one ignition. Xcel faced hundreds of lawsuits and later reached agreements in principle to resolve the litigation.

Xcel Energy fined over wind farm lighting deadline

Fine or penalty

Xcel Energy was fined $10,000 for missing a deadline to install a new lighting system at its Foxtail Wind farm. The penalty concerns the company's failure to complete the lighting installation by the required date. The event was reported on July 9, 2020. No further details on the cause of the delay, the specific deadline, or any additional regulatory action were provided in the source.

Xcel Energy agrees to pay $12,000 over Fargo gas-leak explosion

Fine or penalty

Xcel Energy agreed to pay $12,000 after the North Dakota Public Service Commission cited it for two violations related to a gas-leak explosion at a Fargo nursing home. The commission said vent placement and corrosion protection were deficient. Xcel acknowledged the issue and said it fixed it.

North Dakota commission fines Xcel Energy after gas leak and explosion

Fine or penalty

The North Dakota Public Service Commission imposed two fines totaling $12,000 against Xcel Energy in connection with a natural gas leak, explosion and fire at Riverview Place in Fargo in January 2019. The commission chair said the larger fine concerned the absence of a required release vent and the smaller fine concerned pipes that did not meet anti-rust coating requirements.

Cabin Creek fire and worker deaths

A fire at Xcel’s Cabin Creek hydropower facility in Colorado killed five contractor employees and injured three others. Xcel was acquitted in a subsequent criminal case, while contractor RPI Coating pleaded guilty to workplace-safety violations and paid a settlement.

Round-trip energy trading case

Xcel faced litigation over energy trades that allegedly created no economic benefit and over weaknesses in internal controls governing power trading. The matter was resolved through an $80 million settlement.