Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits, Postretirement Benefit Plan Benefit Obligations, Cash Flows and Benefit Costs (Details) - USD ($)		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2024		Dec. 31, 2023		Dec. 31, 2022
Change in Projected Benefit Obligation [Roll Forward]
Defined Benefit Plan, Plan Assets, Payment for Settlement		$ 168,000,000
Funded Status of Plans at Dec. 31 [Abstract]
Noncurrent liabilities		(477,000,000)		$ (469,000,000)
Pension Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Plan amendments		0		(3,000,000)
Change in Projected Benefit Obligation [Roll Forward]
Obligation at Jan. 1		2,943,000,000		2,871,000,000
Service cost		76,000,000		74,000,000		$ 97,000,000
Interest cost		151,000,000		158,000,000		110,000,000
Actuarial loss		(77,000,000)		126,000,000
Plan participants' contributions		0		0
Benefit payments	[1]	(341,000,000)		(283,000,000)
Obligation at Dec. 31		2,752,000,000		2,943,000,000		2,871,000,000
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plan assets at Jan. 1		2,690,000,000	[2]	2,685,000,000
Actual return (loss) on plan assets		55,000,000		238,000,000
Employer contributions		100,000,000		50,000,000
Participant contributions		0		0
Benefit payments		(341,000,000)		(283,000,000)
Fair value of plan assets at Dec. 31		2,504,000,000	[2]	2,690,000,000	[2]	2,685,000,000
Funded status		(248,000,000)		(253,000,000)
Funded Status of Plans at Dec. 31 [Abstract]
Assets for Plan Benefits, Defined Benefit Plan		0		1,000,000
Current liabilities		0		0
Noncurrent liabilities		(248,000,000)		(254,000,000)
Net postretirement amounts recognized on consolidated balance sheets		(248,000,000)		(253,000,000)
Amounts Not Yet Recognized as Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost [Abstract]
Net loss		1,074,000,000		1,096,000,000
Prior service (credit) cost		(8,000,000)		(9,000,000)
Total		1,066,000,000		1,087,000,000
Amounts Not Yet Recognized as Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost Have Been Recorded as Follows Based Upon Expected Recovery in Rates [Abstract]
Current regulatory assets		32,000,000		20,000,000
Noncurrent regulatory assets		983,000,000		1,014,000,000
Current regulatory liabilities		0		0
Noncurrent regulatory liabilities		0		0
Deferred income taxes		14,000,000		14,000,000
Net-of-tax accumulated other comprehensive income		37,000,000		39,000,000
Total		$ 1,066,000,000		$ 1,087,000,000
Significant Assumptions Used to Measure Benefit Obligations [Abstract]
Discount rate for year-end valuation (as a percent)		5.88%		5.49%
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Credit) [Abstract]
Service cost		$ 76,000,000		$ 74,000,000		97,000,000
Interest cost		151,000,000		158,000,000		110,000,000
Expected return on plan assets		(206,000,000)		(209,000,000)		(208,000,000)
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)		(2,000,000)		(1,000,000)		(1,000,000)
Amortization of net loss		30,000,000		22,000,000		75,000,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Credit), Gain (Loss) Due to Settlement	[3]	(67,000,000)		0		(71,000,000)
Net periodic benefit cost		$ 116,000,000		$ 44,000,000		$ 144,000,000
Significant Assumptions Used to Measure Costs [Abstract]
Discount rate (as a percent)		5.49%		5.80%		3.08%
Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used Calculating Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Rate of Compensation Increase		4.25%		4.25%		3.75%
Expected average long-term rate of return on assets (as a percent)		6.93%		6.93%		6.49%
Defined Benefit Plan, Costs Not Recognized Due To Regulation		$ (37,000,000)		$ 30,000,000		$ (30,000,000)
Net benefit cost recognized for financial reporting		79,000,000		74,000,000		114,000,000
Other Postretirement Benefits Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Plan amendments		0		0
Change in Projected Benefit Obligation [Roll Forward]
Obligation at Jan. 1		394,000,000		405,000,000
Service cost		1,000,000		1,000,000		2,000,000
Interest cost		21,000,000		22,000,000		15,000,000
Actuarial loss		55,000,000		14,000,000
Plan participants' contributions		9,000,000		8,000,000
Benefit payments	[1]	(53,000,000)		(56,000,000)
Obligation at Dec. 31		427,000,000		394,000,000		405,000,000
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets [Roll Forward]
Fair value of plan assets at Jan. 1		356,000,000	[4]	364,000,000
Actual return (loss) on plan assets		21,000,000		29,000,000
Employer contributions		11,000,000		11,000,000
Participant contributions		9,000,000		8,000,000
Benefit payments		(53,000,000)		(56,000,000)
Fair value of plan assets at Dec. 31		344,000,000	[4]	356,000,000	[4]	364,000,000
Funded status		(83,000,000)		(38,000,000)
Funded Status of Plans at Dec. 31 [Abstract]
Assets for Plan Benefits, Defined Benefit Plan		10,000,000		28,000,000
Current liabilities		(4,000,000)		(3,000,000)
Noncurrent liabilities		(89,000,000)		(63,000,000)
Net postretirement amounts recognized on consolidated balance sheets		(83,000,000)		(38,000,000)
Amounts Not Yet Recognized as Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost [Abstract]
Net loss		113,000,000		64,000,000
Prior service (credit) cost		0		0
Total		113,000,000		64,000,000
Amounts Not Yet Recognized as Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost Have Been Recorded as Follows Based Upon Expected Recovery in Rates [Abstract]
Current regulatory assets		2,000,000		2,000,000
Noncurrent regulatory assets		127,000,000		79,000,000
Current regulatory liabilities		(1,000,000)		(1,000,000)
Noncurrent regulatory liabilities		(18,000,000)		(19,000,000)
Deferred income taxes		1,000,000		1,000,000
Net-of-tax accumulated other comprehensive income		2,000,000		2,000,000
Total		$ 113,000,000		$ 64,000,000
Significant Assumptions Used to Measure Benefit Obligations [Abstract]
Discount rate for year-end valuation (as a percent)		5.88%		5.54%
Defined Benefit Plan, Health Care Cost Trend Rate Assumed, Pre-65		7.00%		6.50%
Defined Benefit Plan, Health Care Cost Trend Rate Assumed, Post-65		7.50%		5.50%
Ultimate health care trend assumption rate (as a percent)		4.50%		4.50%
Period until ultimate trend rate is reached (in years)		$ 9		$ 6
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Credit) [Abstract]
Service cost		1,000,000		1,000,000		2,000,000
Interest cost		21,000,000		22,000,000		15,000,000
Expected return on plan assets		(17,000,000)		(17,000,000)		(18,000,000)
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)		0		(1,000,000)		(6,000,000)
Amortization of net loss		2,000,000		1,000,000		2,000,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Credit), Gain (Loss) Due to Settlement	[3]	0		0		0
Net periodic benefit cost		$ 7,000,000		$ 6,000,000		$ (5,000,000)
Significant Assumptions Used to Measure Costs [Abstract]
Discount rate (as a percent)		5.54%		5.80%		3.09%
Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used Calculating Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Rate of Compensation Increase		0.00%		0.00%		0.00%
Expected average long-term rate of return on assets (as a percent)		5.00%		5.00%		4.10%
Defined Benefit Plan, Costs Not Recognized Due To Regulation		$ 0		$ 0		$ 3,000,000
Net benefit cost recognized for financial reporting		$ 7,000,000		$ 6,000,000		$ (2,000,000)

[1] Includes lump-sum benefit payments used in the determination of settlement charges of $168 million in 2024.

[2] See Note 10 for further information regarding fair value measurement inputs and methods.

[3] A settlement charge is required when the amount of all lump-sum distributions during the year is greater than the sum of the service and interest cost components of the annual net periodic pension cost. In 2024 and 2022, as a result of lump-sum distributions during each plan year, Xcel Energy recorded a total pension settlement charge of $67 million and $71 million, respectively, the majority of which was not recognized due to the effects of regulation. A total of $8 million and $9 million was recorded in the consolidated statements of income in 2024 and 2022, respectively. There were no settlement charges recorded for the qualified pension plans in 2023.

[4] See Note 10 for further information on fair value measurement inputs and methods.