Texas lawmakers said at a House hearing that only 8 of 160 utilities in fire-prone areas had filed required wildfire plans. Four more gave filing dates, 135 said they were preparing plans and 13 had not formally communicated plans as of Sept. 21, ahead of January deadlines.
Passed in 2025 after destructive 2024 fires highlighted risks from electrical infrastructure, House Bill 145 requires utilities to submit plans aimed at reducing wildfire risk through vegetation management, equipment inspections and emergency-response protocols.
The Public Utility Commission created a plan template for utilities that may lack staff or resources. Southwestern Public Service, which operates as Xcel Energy, said it has installed nearly 100 wildfire-detection cameras across its service area and has cut power five times since 2024 during extreme fire weather.
