Exhibit 23.03

                                 Xcel Letterhead

Legal Counsel's Consent

I do hereby consent to the use of my name in the within Registration Statement
and the accompanying Prospectus of Xcel Energy Inc., a Minnesota corporation,
and to the use of my opinion, filed as Exhibit 5.01 to the Registration
Statement.

                                              Gary R. Johnson
                                              Vice President and General Counsel

September 27, 2000