<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
<headerData>
<submissionType>144</submissionType>
<filerInfo>
<filer>
<filerCredentials>
<cik>0001570155</cik>
<ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
</filerCredentials>
</filer>
<liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>



</filerInfo>
</headerData>
<formData>
<issuerInfo>
<issuerCik>0000072903</issuerCik>
<issuerName>Xcel Energy Inc.</issuerName>
<secFileNumber>001-03034</secFileNumber>
<issuerAddress>
<com:street1>414 Nicollet Mall</com:street1>
<com:city>Minneapolis</com:city>
<com:stateOrCountry>MN</com:stateOrCountry>
<com:zipCode>55401</com:zipCode>
</issuerAddress>
<issuerContactPhone>612-330-5500</issuerContactPhone>
<nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>O'Connor Timothy John</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
<relationshipsToIssuer>
<relationshipToIssuer>Officer</relationshipToIssuer>
</relationshipsToIssuer>
</issuerInfo>
<securitiesInformation>
<securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
<brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
<name>Shareworks by Morgan Stanley</name>
<address>
<com:street1>600 - 3 Avenue SW</com:street1>
<com:street2>Suite 1500</com:street2>
<com:city>Calgary</com:city>
<com:stateOrCountry>A0</com:stateOrCountry>
<com:zipCode>T2P 0G5</com:zipCode>
</address>
</brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
<noOfUnitsSold>13338</noOfUnitsSold>
<aggregateMarketValue>943008</aggregateMarketValue>
<noOfUnitsOutstanding>576760613</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
<approxSaleDate>05/01/2025</approxSaleDate>
<securitiesExchangeName>Nasdaq</securitiesExchangeName>
</securitiesInformation>
<securitiesToBeSold>
<securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
<acquiredDate>02/25/2025</acquiredDate>
<natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Vesting of equity compensation</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
<nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Xcel Energy Inc.</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
<isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
<amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>13338</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
<paymentDate>02/25/2025</paymentDate>
<natureOfPayment>Equity compensation</natureOfPayment>
</securitiesToBeSold>
<nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
<noticeSignature>
<noticeDate>05/01/2025</noticeDate>
<signature>/s/ Kristin Westlund, Attorney in fact for Timothy O'Connor</signature>
</noticeSignature>
</formData>

</edgarSubmission>
