<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND RETAINED EARNINGS, BALANCE SHEETS AND STATEMENTS OF
CASH FLOWS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.

<CIK> 0000072903
<NAME> XCEL ENERGY INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                   15,132,635
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                  2,177,238
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       2,663,450
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       615,575
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 560,256
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              21,080,576
<COMMON>                                       850,225
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    2,590,085
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          2,275,284
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               5,500,170
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          494,000
<PREFERRED>                                    105,340
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         7,079,636
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                           1,599,356
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 269,475
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  561,892
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     52,509
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 2,271
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               5,484,505
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               21,149,154
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    6,772,769
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           242,714
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   5,556,002
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   5,556,002
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                      1,206,767
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                            (58,811)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 905,242
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       516,215
<NET-INCOME>                                   389,027
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      3,181
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  385,846
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       419,912
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      487,115
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         974,813
<EPS-BASIC>                                       1.14
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.14