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An Xcel Energy subsidiary on Friday was sued by a homeowner in Texas who claimed broken power equipment ignited the biggest wildfire in the state’s history. The blaze has burned more than 1 million acres and killed two people.
Homeowner Melanie McQuiddy alleges in the suit, filed in state court in Hemphill County, that a wooden utility pole owned by Xcel unit Southwestern Public Service Co. fell down in high winds and sparked the fire, according to several press reports.
Her attorney is Mikal Watts, who has represented claimants in multibillion-dollar wildfire settlements with other power companies such as PG&E in California. The utility in 2019 filed for bankruptcy after its power lines ignited some of the worst wildfires in state history.
Xcel (NASDAQ:XEL) in a statement said it’s working with emergency personnel and local authorities to support the power needs of people in the Texas Panhandle “while safely restoring power to customers where possible.”
“We will cooperate with officials while conducting our own investigations to determine the causes of the fires,” the statement said.
Xcel’s (XEL) shares fell a total of 14% on Thursday and Friday to a multiyear low as the company acknowledged the wildfire in a public filing.
