Schedule I, Condensed Financial Statements of Xcel Energy Inc, Condensed Balance Sheets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 84,940	$ 79,608	$ 107,144	$ 82,323
Total current assets	2,910,445	3,364,380
Investment in subsidiaries	130,000	83,100
Other assets	124,420	175,957
Total other assets	4,937,239	4,836,588
Total assets	39,053,535	36,957,884
Liabilities and Equity
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities	450,000	0
Dividends payable	162,410	151,720
Short-term debt	846,000	1,019,500
Other current liabilities	490,197	475,119
Total current liabilities	4,058,297	4,064,583
Other liabilities	261,756	264,653
Total deferred credits and other liabilities	$ 11,903,599	$ 11,179,185
Commitments and contingencies
Capitalization
Common stockholders' equity	$ 10,600,920	$ 10,214,482
Total liabilities and equity	39,053,535	36,957,884
Xcel Energy Inc.
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	517	706	$ 446	$ 602
Accounts receivable from subsidiaries	315,866	270,921
Other current assets	35,701	47,424
Total current assets	352,084	319,051
Investment in subsidiaries	13,236,758	12,206,575
Other assets	173,136	114,518
Total other assets	13,409,894	12,321,093
Total assets	13,761,978	12,640,144
Liabilities and Equity
Dividends payable	162,410	151,720
Short-term debt	584,000	380,500
Other current liabilities	80,526	65,314
Total current liabilities	1,276,936	597,534
Other liabilities	35,694	30,227
Total deferred credits and other liabilities	$ 35,694	$ 30,227
Commitments and contingencies
Capitalization
Long-term debt, noncurrent	$ 1,848,428	$ 1,797,901
Common stockholders' equity	10,600,920	10,214,482
Total capitalization	12,449,348	12,012,383
Total liabilities and equity	$ 13,761,978	$ 12,640,144