Xcel Admits Its Equipment Sparked Texas' Worst Ever Wildfire

On Thursday morning, electric utility Xcel Energy stated, "Our facilities appear to have been involved in an ignition" of the worst wildfire in Texas history.

The Smokehouse Creek fire, which started on Feb. 26, has burned over 1.2 million acres and destroyed hundreds of buildings and thousands of cattle in the Texas Panhandle area.

"Based on currently available information, Xcel Energy acknowledges that its facilities appear to have been involved in an ignition of the Smokehouse Creek fire," Xcel wrote in a press release.

Xcel said it has been cooperating with investigations about the wildfire and has launched its own review of the incident. However, the company denied claims "that it acted negligently in maintaining and operating its infrastructure."

Zero Hedge

So there you go. Cause established.

It's always glowball warming.

Always.

Jewish space lasers enthusiasts gonna be pissed.

Open country transmission poles are spaced farther apart and it looks like wind load may have snapped one of them. It's not usual for a pole to brake above ground without something causing it. Usually they rot at or just below ground level and can fall. Mostly the lines will hold a broke pole up with short spans but long spans are a problem if a pole breaks. It's a shame that it happened. Wonder if there are any solar or wind farms nearby.

Want to stop these type fires. Put the lines underground. We have burnt more real estate in this country in the last few years, because of poor maintenance on power lines, than ever. Xcel will get sued and face tremendous fines, pay the fines and raise power rates, to recoup their loss. Just like PP&L did in California and Oregon.

Get ready for rate increases you folks that get power from Xcel.

Just ask the PG&E folks in Cali. They know.

https://abc7news.com/pge-earnings-rate-increase-2024-profits-power-outages/14458228/

Just part of the story in the link:

Quote

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- The Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) announced on Thursday that it saw an almost 25 percent increase in profits for 2023. This comes after the utility company slapped customers with substantial rate hikes at the beginning of this year.

"It's a joke. It's an absolute joke."

Shock on the streets of San Francisco Thursday.

RELATED: PG&E requests another rate increase. Here's how much you could pay in 2024

Earlier in the day, PG&E announced its profits for 2023 surged to over $2.2 billion - a jump of almost 25 percent.

"These outrageous profits that the PG&E shareholders are pocketing are coming out of the pockets of customers," said Mark Toney.

Toney works for The Utility Reform Network or TURN.

He says the profits are a slap in the face to customers after substantial rate hikes at the beginning of this year.

"I think a lot of people get upset and say, PG&E cries poor me and yet they have plenty of money," Toney said.

Originally Posted by smokepole

Jewish space lasers enthusiasts gonna be pissed.

# Damnitalltohell

that shure ruint that theory.