Business briefs: Larson succeeds Wilks at Xcel Energy

Xcel Energy has named Kent T. Larson vice president and chief energy supply officer, succeeding David Wilks, a former Southwestern Public Service Co. president in Amarillo before that company became part of Xcel.

Larson’s appointment is effective March 31. He has been vice president of transmission and operating services. As chief energy supply officer, he will be in charge of Xcel’s renewable energy facilities, its coal and natural gas power plants, fuels, environmental services, engineering and construction, commercial operations and technical services.

Wilks was SPS president from 1995 to 2000, when he became head of energy supply for Xcel.

Mortgage defaults
on rise in Amarillo

Coldwell Banker First Equity Realtors of Amarillo said that foreclosures in Amarillo totaled 160 for the year to date, compared with 112 for the five-year average and 118 through March 2009. For the March reporting period, foreclosures totaled 47, compared with 32 a year ago.

First American CoreLogic, which tracks foreclosures in metropolitan areas nationwide, said its survey also indicated a rising foreclosure rate in Amarillo, up to 0.83 percent for January compared with 0.6 percent a year ago.

Nationally the rate was 3.19 percent for January. The 90-day delinquency rate for Amarillo mortgages rose to 4.17 percent of loans, up from 2.82 percent a year ago.