Texas lawmakers report that only 8 of roughly 160 utilities in wildfire-prone areas have filed the mitigation plans required by House Bill 145, passed in 2025 after the Panhandle wildfires. The PUC says four utilities have set filing dates and 135 are working on plans, leaving 13 with no communication as of Sept. 21. Officials and residents warn the slow pace is risky with a January deadline looming and wildfires continuing to threaten communities.
Only 8 of About 160 Texas Utilities Have Filed Required Wildfire Plans, Lawmakers Say
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Texas lawmakers are sounding the alarm after learning that only a tiny fraction of utility companies operating in wildfire-prone regions have submitted the wildfire-mitigation plans required by House Bill 145.
Compliance Snapshot
As of Sept. 21, regulators reported that just 8 of roughly 160 utilities serving fire-prone areas had formally filed the plans the law requires. The Public Utility Commission (PUC) said four additional utilities have provided firm filing dates and that 135 companies told the agency they are working on plans. Thirteen utilities had not communicated any filing intentions as the January deadline approaches.
Why The Plans Matter
House Bill 145 became law in 2025 after devastating Panhandle wildfires highlighted how electrical infrastructure can start catastrophic blazes. An investigation cited by the Willis Research Network Newsletter found the Smokehouse Creek Fire (Feb. 2024) was sparked by downed power lines from a utility pole that had been flagged for replacement two weeks earlier. The Smokehouse Creek blaze was reported to be the largest wildfire in Texas history.
"I'm very, very disappointed with the industry," said State Rep. Ken King at a House State Affairs Committee hearing.
Actions And Concerns
PUC Director Connie Corona told lawmakers the agency has provided a template to help smaller utilities with limited staff or resources prepare compliant mitigation plans. Some utilities are accelerating work: Brad Baldridge of Southwestern Public Service Company (operating as Xcel Energy) said the company has installed nearly 100 wildfire-detection cameras across its service territory and has used emergency power shutoffs five times since 2024 during extreme fire weather.
Officials stressed the stakes are high. Nim Kidd, chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, said the state has helped respond to more than 1,200 fires so far this year. Lawmakers noted a drop in electrical-linked fires—from about 80 in 2024 to six reported in 2026—while urging utilities to keep improving safety measures.
Craig Cowden, a Panhandle rancher who lost roughly 20,000 acres to the 2024 fires, said electrical equipment used by oil and gas companies has caused two fires on his land this year. "It's kind of discouraging that there hasn't been more proactively submitting their wildfire plan," he told reporters.
What Comes Next
With the statutory deadline approaching in January, lawmakers urged utilities to finish and file their mitigation plans. Regulators say they are tracking submissions and offering support materials, while residents and private activists continue to push for faster, more transparent action to reduce the risk of future blazes.
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