Texas Attorney General Sues Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) unit over Smokehouse Creek Wildfire

Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL)  is among 10 Best Performing Electrical Infrastructure Stocks in 2025. 

On December 16, 2025, Reuters reported that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against Southwestern Public Service Company, a division of Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL), claiming it was responsible for the 2024 Smokehouse Creek wildfire. The fire was the largest ever recorded wildfire in Texas history, burning to death three individuals and causing more than $1 billion in damage. Paxton’s office claims that the lawsuit aims to recover monetary damages, such as lost wildlife value and property damage. It also requests a court order mandating corrective actions to stop similar instances in the future, as well as civil fines for breaking Texas law.

Following the announcement, Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL)’s shares dropped 4% in afternoon trading. An inquiry against multiple utility companies linked to the Smokehouse Creek and Windy Deuce fires was started earlier in 2025 by Paxton’s office. As per Paxton, the company failed to uphold its duty of care to the locals and customers in its service area.

Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL) handles utilities in eight states, serving 3.8 million electric and 2.2 million natural gas users.

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