Aug 1 (Reuters) - Xcel Energy ( XEL ) reported higher

first-quarter profit on Thursday helped by higher electricity

demand during summer.

The electric and natural gas utility said quarterly

performance was helped by higher infrastructure investments and

warmer-than-normal weather.

"We continue to advance proposals to enhance the resiliency

and sustainability of our system... In Colorado, we filed an

updated Wildfire Mitigation Plan that builds upon our existing

investments," CEO Bob Frenzel said.

Xcel has been embroiled in legal battles over its role in

the 2023 Texas Smokehouse Creek blaze as well as the 2021 2021

Marshall Fire in Colorado.

The company, which has 3.8 million electric and 2.1 million

natural gas customers across eight Western and Midwestern

states, reaffirmed its 2024 EPS guidance of $3.50 to $3.60 per

share.

The company reported its net income at $302 million, or 54

cents per share, in the quarter ended June 30, compared with

$288 million, or 52 cents per share, in the year-ago quarter.