Attorney presses state regulators over Xcel after Hopkins pole death
A Minneapolis attorney on Thursday, Sept. 17, asked the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission to open an investigation of Xcel Energy's pole inspections after a Hopkins utility pole collapse killed 31-year-old Kenny Green on Aug. 23.[1]
Joshua Newville filed an 18-page letter that alleges a possible "systemic failure" in how Xcel evaluates pole safety and criticizes the PUC for effectively letting the utility police itself.[1] A structural engineer pointed to Google Street View images that showed the Hopkins pole leaning as far back as 2019.[1] He said poles should not lean and that the images suggest an earlier impact or long-term instability that may have been missed.[1]
Xcel Energy has said the Hopkins pole had been inspected recently and "was in compliance with all required safety standards," but the company would not disclose how recent the inspection was or the pole's age.[2] Xcel said it is conducting an internal investigation, expressed condolences, and that about 160 customers lost power after the collapse with restoration expected by noon on Monday, Aug. 24.[2] Hopkins police said the driver did not strike the pole before it fell.[3]
FOX 9's later reporting added statewide context and new scrutiny, saying the average Minnesota utility pole is 54 years old and that failure rates nearly triple after 60 years.[3] Nearly a month after the Aug. 23 crash, Xcel still had not determined why the pole failed even though its 2023 inspection reportedly showed the pole had 93% remaining strength.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- Xcel Energy says the Hopkins utility pole that fell and killed a driver had been inspected recently and “was in compliance with all required safety standards,” but the company would not disclose how recent the inspection was or the pole’s age (Xcel Energy).
- Xcel says it is conducting an internal investigation while working with authorities and issued a formal statement expressing condolences and asserting compliance (formal statement).
- About 160 Xcel customers lost power after the incident, with restoration expected by noon on Monday, August 24, 2026 (160 Xcel customers).
- Police say the driver did not strike the pole before it fell (Police).
- Minneapolis attorney Joshua Newville filed an 18-page letter with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission on September 17, 2026, formally requesting an investigation into Xcel’s pole-inspection practices after the August 23 death of 31-year-old Kenny Green (Joshua Newville).
- In his letter Newville alleges a potential “systemic failure” in how Xcel evaluates pole safety and criticizes the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission for effectively letting the utility police itself—noting the PUC does not investigate deadly pole accidents and only requires annual safety reporting (Minnesota Public Utilities Commission).
- Structural engineer Pedram Mortazavi pointed to Google Street View images showing the pole leaning as far back as 2019 and said poles should not lean, suggesting an unreported earlier impact or long-term instability that was missed or not acted on (Pedram Mortazavi).
- FOX 9 reporting adds statewide context: the average Minnesota utility pole is 54 years old (four years past Xcel’s defined “useful life”) and records show failure rates nearly triple after 60 years; Xcel’s 2023 inspection reportedly showed the Hopkins pole had 93% remaining strength, yet nearly a month after the August 23 crash Xcel still had not determined why the pole failed (2023 inspection).
📰 Source Timeline (4)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Minneapolis attorney Joshua Newville has filed an 18-page letter with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission formally requesting an investigation into Xcel Energy’s pole-inspection practices after the Aug. 23 Hopkins death of 31-year-old Kenny Green.
- Newville explicitly alleges a potential “systemic failure” in how Xcel evaluates pole safety and criticizes the PUC for effectively letting the utility police itself, noting the agency does not investigate deadly pole accidents and only requires annual safety reporting.
- A structural engineer, Pedram Mortazavi, points to Google Street View images showing the pole leaning as far back as 2019 and says poles should not lean, suggesting an unreported earlier impact or long-term instability that was missed or not acted on.
- The article clarifies that, nearly a month after the crash, Xcel still has not determined why the pole failed even though its 2023 inspection supposedly showed 93% remaining strength and full compliance with safety standards.
- Police now explicitly say the driver did not strike the pole before it fell.
- Xcel states the pole was ‘inspected recently’ and was in compliance with all required safety standards, though it will not say how recent the inspection was or how old the pole is.
- FOX 9 adds statewide context: average Minnesota utility pole is 54 years old, four years past Xcel’s defined ‘useful life,’ and records show failure rates nearly triple after 60 years.
- Story references prior FOX 9 reporting on Xcel’s pole inspection process, including ground inspections and drone use five days a week.
- Xcel Energy says the Hopkins utility pole that fell and killed the driver had been inspected recently.
- The company claims the pole was in compliance with all required safety standards at the time of the inspection.
- Xcel says it is conducting its own internal investigation while working with authorities.
- About 160 Xcel customers lost power due to the incident, with restoration expected by noon Monday.
- Xcel issued a formal statement to FOX 9 expressing condolences and asserting compliance.