Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits, Projected Benefit Payments (Details) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Pension Plans
Defined Benefit Plan, Gross Projected Benefit Payments [Abstract]
2016	$ 260,240
2017	255,206
2018	263,689
2019	268,975
2020	271,853
2021-2025	1,353,351
Postretirement Benefit Plan
Defined Benefit Plan, Gross Projected Benefit Payments [Abstract]
2016	48,047
2017	47,460
2018	47,039
2019	46,522
2020	46,819
2021-2025	220,122
Expected Medicare Part D Subsidies [Abstract]
2016	2,355
2017	2,493
2018	2,637
2019	2,761
2020	2,869
2021-2025	16,053
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Projected Benefit Payments [Abstract]
2016	45,692
2017	44,967
2018	44,402
2019	43,761
2020	43,950
2021-2025	$ 204,069

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanEstimatedFutureBenefitPaymentsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of benefits from a defined benefit plan expected to be paid in the five fiscal years after the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsFiveFiscalYearsThereafter
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of benefits from a defined benefit plan expected to be paid in the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsNextTwelveMonths
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of benefits from a defined benefit plan expected to be paid in the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearFive
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of benefits from a defined benefit plan expected to be paid in the fourth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearFour
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of benefits from a defined benefit plan expected to be paid in the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearThree
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of benefits from a defined benefit plan expected to be paid in the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearTwo
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of the prescription drug subsidy receipts to be received after the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 60
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6414203&loc=d3e39716-114964

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (f)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=58740216&loc=d3e1928-114920

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PrescriptionDrugSubsidyReceiptsAfterYearFive
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of the prescription drug subsidy receipts to be received in the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (f)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=58740216&loc=d3e1928-114920

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 60
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6414203&loc=d3e39716-114964

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PrescriptionDrugSubsidyReceiptsNextTwelveMonths
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of the prescription drug subsidy receipts to be received in the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PrescriptionDrugSubsidyReceiptsYearFive1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of the prescription drug subsidy receipts to be received in the fourth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PrescriptionDrugSubsidyReceiptsYearFour1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of the prescription drug subsidy receipts to be received in the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PrescriptionDrugSubsidyReceiptsYearThree1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of the prescription drug subsidy receipts to be received in the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PrescriptionDrugSubsidyReceiptsYearTwo1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

-- None. No documentation exists for this element. --

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	xel_DefinedBenefitPlanNetProjectedBenefitPaymentsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	xel_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of the benefits expected to be paid, net of the prescription drug subsidy receipts expected to be received in the five fiscal years thereafter (the aggregate net amount of benefits expected to be paid in years 6 through 10 after the date of the latest statement of financial position).

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	xel_DefinedBenefitPlanNetProjectedBenefitPaymentsInFiveFiscalYearsThereafter
Namespace Prefix:	xel_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of the benefits expected to be paid, net of the prescription drug subsidy receipts expected to be received in Year 5 after the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	xel_DefinedBenefitPlanNetProjectedBenefitPaymentsInYearFive
Namespace Prefix:	xel_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of the benefits expected to be paid, net of the prescription drug subsidy receipts expected to be received in Year 4 after the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	xel_DefinedBenefitPlanNetProjectedBenefitPaymentsInYearFour
Namespace Prefix:	xel_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of the benefits expected to be paid, net of the prescription drug subsidy receipts expected to be received in Year 1 after the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	xel_DefinedBenefitPlanNetProjectedBenefitPaymentsInYearOne
Namespace Prefix:	xel_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of the benefits expected to be paid, net of the prescription drug subsidy receipts expected to be received in Year 3 after the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	xel_DefinedBenefitPlanNetProjectedBenefitPaymentsInYearThree
Namespace Prefix:	xel_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of the benefits expected to be paid, net of the prescription drug subsidy receipts expected to be received in Year 2 after the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	xel_DefinedBenefitPlanNetProjectedBenefitPaymentsInYearTwo
Namespace Prefix:	xel_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

-- None. No documentation exists for this element. --

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	xel_NetProjectedPostretirementHealthCareBenefitPaymentsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	xel_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis=us-gaap_UnitedStatesPensionPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis=us-gaap_UnitedStatesPostretirementBenefitPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: