Xcel Energy Proposes $1.9 Billion Wildfire Mitigation Plan, Raising Residential Bills by Nearly 10% by 2028.

Xcel Energy has filed a $1.9 billion wildfire mitigation plan with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, which includes adding hundreds of weather stations near power lines, updating pole and equipment inspection schedules in high-risk areas, and expanding its vegetation management program. If approved, these changes would increase a typical residential bill by approximately 9.56%, or almost $9 per month, by 2028. Xcel has been named in nearly 300 lawsuits in Colorado alleging its power lines contributed to the Marshall fire, which caused over $2 billion in damages. Wildfires are a growing risk for utilities as extreme heat and drought increase, making it more difficult for them to obtain liability insurance.