Xcel Energy filed its initial System Resiliency Plan with the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT).
The proposed investments will upgrade and strengthen the electric grid, ensuring reliable and safe electricity for about 280,000 homes and businesses in Texas. This plan, supported by state legislation, aims to make the company’s power systems more resilient against extreme weather and wildfires.
“We know how important it is to provide reliable electricity all day, every day,” said Adrian J. Rodriguez, president, Xcel Energy – Texas, New Mexico. “This plan shows our dedication to modernizing and strengthening our electric grid to best serve our customers, while keeping their bills as low as possible.”
The plan will reduce the number and length of power outages, save money by reducing storm recovery costs, avoid expensive emergency repairs and lessen the impact outages have on customers. It will also strengthen Xcel Energy’s equipment to handle extreme weather and other threats, lower the risk of wildfire ignition events, improve safety and reliability, and create a more modern, flexible system that can quickly fix itself when problems occur.
“We believe we can create an energy system that is ready to handle severe weather and serve our customers well into the future,” Rodriguez continued. “With more frequent and extreme weather events, it’s crucial to have a strong electric grid. Xcel Energy is also adding protection from reliability risks to keep our electric grid safe.”
This plan is tailored to the needs of the Texas Panhandle and South Plains and is supported by external third-party analyses. If approved, Xcel Energy will invest approximately $539 million over 3 years to upgrade and strengthen the grid. This includes reinforcing poles and wires, modernizing protection systems with technology that can quickly identify and fix problems, and expanding automation to improve reliability.
“We have identified the most impactful areas for improvement based on 25 years of weather damage data,” said Brianne Jole, Xcel Energy Manager of Distribution System Planning and Strategy. “We will make the electric grid more adaptable to changing conditions through extensive hardening activities and additional mobile equipment and technology to ensure continuous power supply during equipment failures caused by high winds, extreme heat, wildfires and other events. This increased flexibility will allow us to restore service faster when outages occur.”
To prevent and respond to wildfires, Xcel Energy will enhance inspections, clear vegetation around power lines, replace old structures, install weather stations, use AI for predictive modeling, and place advanced cameras to detect potential fire hotspots. The plan will also upgrade equipment to be more fire-resistant and improve emergency response plans.
Xcel Energy is committed to creating an electric grid that meets the evolving needs of its customers and communities. The System Resiliency Plan is a key step towards a safe, reliable and affordable energy future.