-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, GuQOFag6jCsF94KIr7qJkkQ9gx9qL6ZZpe9T4BfKOcoRCkQBp+cUVIOM84pk0FH0 JW0kfdk7uHU7yML346sCMA== 0000950134-03-011964.txt : 20030815 0000950134-03-011964.hdr.sgml : 20030815 20030815165508 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950134-03-011964 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-Q PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 9 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20030630 FILED AS OF DATE: 20030815 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: XCEL ENERGY INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000072903 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: ELECTRIC & OTHER SERVICES COMBINED [4931] IRS NUMBER: 410448030 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MN FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-Q SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-03034 FILM NUMBER: 03851191 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 800 NICOLLET MALL CITY: MINNEAPOLIS STATE: MN ZIP: 55402 BUSINESS PHONE: 6123305500 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 800 NICOLLET MALL CITY: MINNEAPOLIS STATE: MN ZIP: 55401 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: NORTHERN STATES POWER CO /MN/ DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19920703 10-Q 1 c78734e10vq.htm FORM 10-Q e10vq
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

[X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2003

or

[   ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from ____________________ to ____________________

Commission File Number: 1-3034

Xcel Energy Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

     
Minnesota   41-0448030

 
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
     
800 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, Minnesota   55402

 
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (612) 330-5500

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.   [X] Yes        [   ] No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). [X] Yes        [   ] No

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

     
Class   Outstanding at July 31, 2003

 
Common Stock, $2.50 par value   398,751,821 shares

1


PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMMON STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMMON STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
SIGNATURES
EX-4.01 Supplemental Trust Indenture
EX-10.01 Stock Equivalent Plan
EX-10.02 Separation Agreement
EX-31.01 Certification Pursuant to Section 302
EX-32.01 Certification Pursuant to Section 906
EX-99.01 Statement-Securities Litigation Reform
EX-99.02 Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Information


Table of Contents

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements

XCEL ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
(Thousands of Dollars, Except Per Share Data)

                                     
        Three Months Ended June 30,   Six Months Ended June 30,
       
 
        2003   2002   2003   2002
       
 
 
 
Operating revenues:
                               
 
Electric utility
  $ 1,378,904     $ 1,328,898     $ 2,747,874     $ 2,560,555  
 
Natural gas utility
    273,556       235,635       939,685       799,546  
 
Electric and natural gas trading margin
    3,693       (405 )     7,267       2,345  
 
Nonregulated and other
    114,862       634,091       222,771       1,189,877  
 
Equity earnings from unconsolidated NRG affiliates
          27,528             42,198  
 
   
     
     
     
 
   
Total operating revenues
    1,771,015       2,225,747       3,917,597       4,594,521  
Operating expenses:
                               
 
Electric fuel and purchased power – utility
    640,904       544,405       1,233,594       1,032,519  
 
Cost of natural gas sold and transported – utility
    174,893       125,617       654,844       501,232  
 
Cost of sales – nonregulated and other
    69,766       313,896       147,372       590,959  
 
Other operating and maintenance expenses – utility
    381,845       343,983       763,472       735,474  
 
Other operating and maintenance expenses – nonregulated
    38,295       177,892       63,840       372,214  
 
Depreciation and amortization
    210,051       260,324       403,941       508,317  
 
Taxes (other than income taxes)
    81,757       84,708       163,341       167,605  
 
Special charges (see Note 2)
    7,331       60,536       8,772       74,649  
 
   
     
     
     
 
   
Total operating expenses
    1,604,842       1,911,361       3,439,176       3,982,969  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Operating income
    166,173       314,386       478,421       611,552  
Equity in losses of NRG
    (351,192 )           (363,825 )      
Minority interest in NRG losses
          6,788             13,580  
Interest and other income, net of nonoperating expenses (see Note 12)
    10,864       12,168       9,100       33,999  
Interest charges and financing costs:
                               
 
Interest charges – net of amounts capitalized (includes other financing costs of $4,140, $9,241, $16,493 and $16,665, respectively)
    109,928       200,973       215,663       389,578  
 
Distributions on redeemable preferred securities of subsidiary trusts
    9,566       9,472       19,152       19,172  
 
   
     
     
     
 
   
Total interest charges and financing costs
    119,494       210,445       234,815       408,750  
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes
    (293,649 )     122,897       (111,119 )     250,381  
Income taxes (benefit)
    (11,087 )     37,280       52,430       70,835  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Income (loss) from continuing operations
    (282,562 )     85,617       (163,549 )     179,546  
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax (see Note 3)
          1,685       20,999       11,260  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Net income (loss)
    (282,562 )     87,302       (142,550 )     190,806  
Dividend requirements on preferred stock
    1,060       1,060       2,120       2,120  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Earnings (loss) available to common shareholders
  $ (283,622 )   $ 86,242     $ (144,670 )   $ 188,686  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in thousands):
                               
 
Basic
    398,717       377,983       398,716       365,972  
 
Diluted
    398,717       378,129       398,716       366,211  
Earnings per share – basic and diluted:
                               
 
Income (loss) from continuing operations
  $ (0.71 )   $ 0.23     $ (0.41 )   $ 0.49  
 
Income from discontinued operations
    0.00       0.00       0.05       0.03  
 
   
     
     
     
 
   
Earnings (loss) per share
  $ (0.71 )   $ 0.23     $ (0.36 )   $ 0.52  
 
   
     
     
     
 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

2


Table of Contents

XCEL ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
(Thousands of Dollars)

                       
          Six Months Ended June 30,
         
          2003   2002
         
 
Operating activities:
               
 
Net income (loss)
  $ (142,550 )   $ 190,806  
 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
               
   
Depreciation and amortization
    397,239       528,758  
   
Nuclear fuel amortization
    21,870       24,586  
   
Deferred income taxes
    84,722       18,650  
   
Amortization of investment tax credits
    (13,980 )     (6,958 )
   
Allowance for equity funds used during construction
    (12,081 )     (4,188 )
   
Undistributed equity in losses (earnings) of unconsolidated affiliates, including NRG
    367,406       (321 )
   
Gain on sale of nonregulated property
          (6,785 )
   
Asset impairments and disposal losses from equity investments
          25,103  
   
(Gain) loss on disposal of discontinued operations
    (35,799 )     13,842  
   
Unrealized loss (gain) on derivative financial instruments
    15,872       (18,531 )
   
Change in accounts receivable
    46,861       18,597  
   
Change in inventories
    77,905       20,615  
   
Change in other current assets
    (38,212 )     (113,370 )
   
Change in accounts payable
    (170,554 )     (125,631 )
   
Change in other current liabilities
    (54,958 )     (2,803 )
   
Change in other noncurrent assets
    (22,726 )     (121,072 )
   
Change in other noncurrent liabilities
    53,475       156,152  
 
   
     
 
     
Net cash provided by operating activities
    574,490       597,450  
Investing activities:
               
 
Utility capital/construction expenditures
    (424,023 )     (451,674 )
 
Nonregulated capital expenditures and asset acquisitions
    (15,998 )     (883,125 )
 
Allowance for equity funds used during construction
    12,081       4,188  
 
Investments in external decommissioning fund
    (25,769 )     (29,383 )
 
Equity investments, loans and deposits
    (7,260 )     (286,251 )
 
Proceeds from sale of discontinued operations and nonregulated property
    122,493       11,152  
 
Restricted cash
    15,500        
 
Collection of loans made to nonregulated projects
          13,540  
 
Other investments – net
    (31,061 )     (10,941 )
 
   
     
 
     
Net cash used in investing activities
    (354,037 )     (1,632,494 )
Financing activities:
               
 
Short-term borrowings – net
    212,817       296,776  
 
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt
    440,706       1,054,201  
 
Repayment of long-term debt, including reacquisition premiums
    (805,933 )     (449,880 )
 
Proceeds from issuance of common stock
    218       558,191  
 
Dividends paid
    (151,634 )     (270,630 )
 
   
     
 
     
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
    (303,826 )     1,188,658  
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents – continuing operations
    (83,373 )     153,614  
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents – reclassification of NRG to equity method
    (385,055 )      
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
    (10,848 )     688  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    901,273       341,310  
 
   
     
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 421,997     $ 495,612  
 
   
     
 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

3


Table of Contents

XCEL ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)
(Thousands of Dollars)

                     
        June 30,   Dec. 31,
        2003   2002
       
 
ASSETS
               
Current assets:
               
 
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 421,997     $ 901,273  
 
Restricted cash
    7,500       305,581  
 
Accounts receivable – net of allowance for bad debts of $28,666 and $92,745, respectively
    664,894       961,060  
 
Accrued unbilled revenues
    295,881       390,984  
 
Materials and supplies inventories – at average cost
    187,266       321,863  
 
Fuel inventory – at average cost
    68,986       207,200  
 
Natural gas inventories – replacement cost in excess of LIFO: $38,658 and $20,502, respectively
    76,298       147,306  
 
Recoverable purchased natural gas and electric energy costs
    158,888       63,975  
 
Derivative instruments valuation – at market
    29,730       62,206  
 
Prepayments and other
    179,717       273,770  
 
Current assets held for sale
          101,950  
 
   
     
 
   
Total current assets
    2,091,157       3,737,168  
 
   
     
 
Property, plant and equipment, at cost:
               
 
Electric utility plant
    16,893,586       16,516,790  
 
Nonregulated property and other
    1,624,513       8,411,088  
 
Natural gas utility plant
    2,453,635       2,603,545  
 
Construction work in progress: utility amounts of $888,395 and $856,008, respectively
    921,052       1,513,807  
 
   
     
 
   
Total property, plant and equipment
    21,892,786       29,045,230  
Less accumulated depreciation
    (9,361,070 )     (10,303,575 )
Nuclear fuel – net of accumulated amortization: $1,080,401 and $1,058,531, respectively
    97,298       74,139  
 
   
     
 
   
Net property, plant and equipment
    12,629,014       18,815,794  
 
   
     
 
Other assets:
               
 
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates
    127,892       1,001,380  
 
Notes receivable, including amounts from affiliates of $0 and $206,308, respectively
    3,071       987,714  
 
Nuclear decommissioning fund and other investments
    778,417       732,166  
 
Regulatory assets
    742,797       576,403  
 
Derivative instruments valuation – at market
    1,980       93,225  
 
Prepaid pension asset
    442,866       466,229  
 
Goodwill – net of accumulated amortization of $581 and $7,000, respectively
    7,730       35,538  
 
Intangible assets – net of accumulated amortization of $3,014 and $18,900, respectively
    58,425       68,210  
 
Other
    213,179       364,243  
 
Noncurrent assets held for sale
          379,772  
 
   
     
 
   
Total other assets
    2,376,357       4,704,880  
 
   
     
 
   
Total assets
  $ 17,096,528     $ 27,257,842  
 
   
     
 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

4


Table of Contents

XCEL ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)
(Thousands of Dollars)

                     
        June 30,   Dec. 31,
        2003   2002
       
 
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
               
Current liabilities:
               
 
Current portion of long-term debt
  $ 241,147     $ 7,756,261  
 
Short-term debt
    744,556       1,541,963  
 
Accounts payable
    647,558       1,404,135  
 
Taxes accrued
    207,293       267,214  
 
Dividends payable
    75,821       75,814  
 
Derivative instruments valuation – at market
    36,062       38,767  
 
Other
    362,464       749,521  
 
Current liabilities held for sale
          515,161  
 
NRG losses in excess of investment
    959,337        
 
   
     
 
   
Total current liabilities
    3,274,238       12,348,836  
 
   
     
 
Deferred credits and other liabilities:
               
 
Deferred income taxes
    1,218,657       1,285,312  
 
Deferred investment tax credits
    163,180       169,696  
 
Regulatory liabilities
    587,983       518,427  
 
Derivative instruments valuation – at market
    25,923       102,779  
 
Benefit obligations and other
    541,827       722,264  
 
Asset retirement obligations (see Note 1)
    889,720        
 
Minimum pension liability
    128,053       106,897  
 
Noncurrent liabilities held for sale
          154,317  
 
   
     
 
   
Total deferred credits and other liabilities
    3,555,343       3,059,692  
 
   
     
 
Minority interest in subsidiaries
    6,457       34,762  
Commitments and contingent liabilities (see Note 8)
               
Capitalization:
               
 
Long-term debt
    5,472,213       6,550,248  
 
Mandatorily redeemable preferred securities of subsidiary trusts
    300,000       494,000  
 
Preferred stockholders’ equity – authorized 7,000,000 shares of $100 par value; outstanding shares: 1,049,800
    104,260       105,320  
 
Common stockholders’ equity – authorized 1,000,000,000 shares of $2.50 par value; outstanding shares: 2003 – 398,731,917; 2002 – 398,714,039
    4,384,017       4,664,984  
 
   
     
 
   
Total liabilities and equity
  $ 17,096,528     $ 27,257,842  
 
   
     
 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

5


Table of Contents

XCEL ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMMON STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED)
(Thousands of Dollars, Except Share Data)

                                                           
      Common Stock Issued                                
     
                               
                                              Accumulated        
                      Capital in   Retained   Shares   Other   Total
      Number   Par   Excess of   Earnings   Held by   Comprehensive   Stockholders’
      of Shares   Value   Par Value   (Deficit)   ESOP   Income (Loss)   Equity
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three months ended June 30, 2003 and 2002
                                                       
Balance at March 31, 2002
    370,123     $ 925,309     $ 3,443,348     $ 2,522,096     $ (17,086 )   $ (178,501 )   $ 6,695,166  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Net income
                            87,302                       87,302  
Currency translation adjustments
                                            73,163       73,163  
After-tax net unrealized losses related to derivatives (see Note 10)
                                            (4,939 )     (4,939 )
Unrealized gain on marketable securities
                                            2       2  
 
                                                   
 
Comprehensive income for the period
                                                    155,528  
Dividends declared:
                                                       
 
Cumulative preferred stock of Xcel Energy
                            (1,060 )                     (1,060 )
 
Common stock
                            (148,954 )                     (148,954 )
Issuances of common stock – net
    986       2,465       21,162                               23,627  
Acquisition of NRG minority common shares
    25,765       64,412       555,222                       28,150       647,784  
Other
                            (10 )                     (10 )
Repayment of ESOP loans (a)
                                    205               205  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Balance at June 30, 2002
    396,874     $ 992,186     $ 4,019,732     $ 2,459,374     $ (16,881 )   $ (82,125 )   $ 7,372,286  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Balance at March 31, 2003
    398,714     $ 996,785     $ 4,038,151     $ 38,010     $     $ (308,466 )   $ 4,764,480  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Net income
                            (282,562 )                     (282,562 )
Currency translation adjustments
                                            82,119       82,119  
After-tax net unrealized losses related to derivatives (see Note 10)
                                            (5,932 )     (5,932 )
Minimum pension liability
                                            (24,838 )     (24,838 )
Unrealized gain on marketable securities
                                            53       53  
 
                                                   
 
Comprehensive income for the period
                                                    (231,160 )
Dividends declared:
                                                       
 
Cumulative preferred stock of Xcel Energy
                    (1,060 )                             (1,060 )
 
Common stock
                    (148,461 )                             (148,461 )
Issuances of common stock – net
    18       45       173                               218  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Balance at June 30, 2003
    398,732     $ 996,830     $ 3,888,803     $ (244,552 )   $     $ (257,064 )   $ 4,384,017  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

(a)  Did not affect cash flows

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

6


Table of Contents

XCEL ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMMON STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED)
(Thousands of Dollars, Except Share Data)

                                                           
      Common Stock Issued                                
     
                               
                                              Accumulated        
                      Capital in   Retained   Shares   Other   Total
      Number   Par   Excess of   Earnings   Held by   Comprehensive   Stockholders’
      of Shares   Value   Par Value   (Deficit)   ESOP   Income (Loss)   Equity
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
Six months ended June 30, 2003 and 2002
                                                       
Balance at Dec. 31, 2001
    345,801     $ 864,503     $ 2,969,589     $ 2,558,403     $ (18,564 )   $ (179,454 )   $ 6,194,477  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Net income
                            190,806                       190,806  
Currency translation adjustments
                                            48,497       48,497  
After-tax net unrealized gains related to derivatives (see Note 10)
                                            20,688       20,688  
Unrealized loss on marketable securities
                                            (28 )     (28 )
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Comprehensive income for the period
                                                    259,963  
Dividends declared:
                                                       
 
Cumulative preferred stock of Xcel Energy
                            (2,120 )                     (2,120 )
 
Common stock
                            (287,788 )                     (287,788 )
Issuances of common stock – net
    25,308       63,271       494,921                               558,192  
Acquisition of NRG minority common shares
    25,765       64,412       555,222                       28,150       647,784  
Other
                            73               22       95  
Repayment of ESOP loans (a)
                                    1,683               1,683  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Balance at June 30, 2002
    396,874     $ 992,186     $ 4,019,732     $ 2,459,374     $ (16,881 )   $ (82,125 )   $ 7,372,286  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Balance at Dec. 31, 2002
    398,714     $ 996,785     $ 4,038,151     $ (100,942 )   $     $ (269,010 )   $ 4,664,984  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Net income
                            (142,550 )                     (142,550 )
Currency translation adjustments
                                            97,423       97,423  
After-tax net unrealized losses related to derivatives (see Note 10)
                                            (60,649 )     (60,649 )
Minimum pension liability
                                            (24,838 )     (24,838 )
Unrealized gain on marketable securities
                                            10       10  
 
                                                   
 
Comprehensive income for the period
                                                    (130,604 )
Dividends declared:
                                                       
 
Cumulative preferred stock of Xcel Energy
                    (1,060 )     (1,060 )                     (2,120 )
 
Common stock
                    (148,461 )                             (148,461 )
Issuances of common stock – net
    18       45       173                               218  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Balance at June 30, 2003
    398,732     $ 996,830     $ 3,888,803     $ (244,552 )   $     $ (257,064 )   $ 4,384,017  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

(a)  Did not affect cash flows

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

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XCEL ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments necessary to present fairly the financial position of Xcel Energy Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, Xcel Energy) as of June 30, 2003, and Dec. 31, 2002; the results of its operations and stockholders’ equity for the three and six months ended June 30, 2003 and 2002; and its cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2003 and 2002. Due to the seasonality of Xcel Energy’s electric and natural gas sales and variability of nonregulated operations, such interim results are not necessarily an appropriate base from which to project annual results.

The accounting policies followed by Xcel Energy are set forth in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements in Xcel Energy’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2002. The following notes should be read in conjunction with such policies and other disclosures in the Form 10-K.

As discussed in Note 5 to the financial statements, during the second quarter of 2003, Xcel Energy changed its accounting and reporting of its subsidiary NRG to the equity method and has reclassified year-to-date 2003 financial results and information related to NRG from the consolidated basis reported as of March 31, 2003. Xcel Energy reclassified certain items in the 2002 statement of operations and balance sheet to conform to the 2003 presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on stockholders’ equity, net income or earnings per share as previously reported.

1.     Accounting Change – SFAS No. 143

Xcel Energy adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (SFAS) No. 143 — “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations” effective Jan. 1, 2003. As required by SFAS No. 143, future plant decommissioning obligations were recorded as a liability at fair value as of Jan. 1, 2003, with a corresponding increase to the carrying values of the related long-lived assets. This liability will be increased over time by applying the interest method of accretion to the liability, and the capitalized costs will be depreciated over the useful life of the related long-lived assets.

The impact of the adoption of SFAS No. 143 for Xcel Energy’s utility subsidiaries is described below. The adoption had no income statement impact, due to the deferral of the cumulative effect adjustments required under SFAS No. 143 through the establishment of a regulatory asset pursuant to SFAS No. 71 — “Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation.” NRG also adopted SFAS No. 143 in the first quarter of 2003 and recorded a $2.2 million charge, which was considered immaterial for reporting as a cumulative effect adjustment.

Utility Impact of Adopting SFAS No. 143 - Asset retirement obligations were recorded for the decommissioning of two NSP-Minnesota nuclear generating plants, the Monticello plant and the Prairie Island plant. A liability was also recorded for decommissioning of an NSP-Minnesota steam production plant, the Pathfinder plant. Monticello began operation in 1971 and is licensed to operate until 2010. Prairie Island units 1 and 2 began operation in 1973 and 1974, respectively, and are licensed to operate until 2013 and 2014, respectively. Pathfinder operated as a steam production peaking facility from 1969 through June of 2000.

A summary of the accounting for the initial adoption of SFAS No. 143 as of Jan. 1, 2003, is as follows:

                         
    Increase (decrease) in:
   
    Plant   Regulatory   Long-Term
(Thousands of Dollars)   Assets   Assets   Liabilities

 
 
 
Reflect retirement obligation when liability incurred
  $ 130,659     $     $ 130,659  
Record accretion of liability to adoption date
          731,709       731,709  
Record depreciation of plant to adoption date
    (110,573 )     110,573        
Reclassify pre-adoption accumulated depreciation
    662,411       (662,411 )      
 
   
     
     
 
Net impact of SFAS No. 143 on balance sheet
  $ 682,497     $ 179,871     $ 862,368  
 
   
     
     
 

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A reconciliation of the beginning and ending aggregate carrying amount of NSP-Minnesota’s asset retirement obligations recorded under SFAS No. 143 is shown in the table below for the six months ending June 30, 2003.

                                                   
      Beginning                   Accretion in   Revisions   Ending
      Balance   Liabilities   Liabilities   Depreciation   To Prior   Balance
(Thousands of Dollars)   Jan. 1, 2003   Incurred   Settled   Expense   Estimates   June 30, 2003

 
 
 
 
 
 
Steam plant retirement
  $ 2,725     $     $     $ 66     $     $ 2,791  
Nuclear plant decommissioning
    859,643                   27,286             886,929  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
Total liability
  $ 862,368     $     $     $ 27,352     $     $ 889,720  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 

The adoption of SFAS No. 143 resulted in the recording of a capitalized plant asset of $131 million for the discounted cost of asset retirement as of the date the liability was incurred. Accumulated depreciation on this additional capitalized cost through the date of adoption of SFAS No. 143 was $111 million. A regulatory asset of $842 million was recognized for the accumulated SFAS No. 143 costs recognized for accretion of the initial liability and depreciation of the additional capitalized cost through adoption date. This regulatory asset was partially offset by $662 million for the reversal of the decommissioning costs previously accrued in accumulated depreciation for these plants prior to the implementation of SFAS No. 143. The net regulatory asset of $180 million at Jan. 1, 2003, reflects the excess of costs that would have been recorded in expense under SFAS No. 143 over the amount of costs recorded consistent with ratemaking cost recovery for NSP-Minnesota. We expect this regulatory asset to reverse over time since the costs to be accrued under SFAS No. 143 are the same as the costs to be recovered through current NSP-Minnesota ratemaking. Consequently, no cumulative effect adjustment to earnings or shareholders’ equity has been recorded for the adoption of SFAS No. 143 in 2003 as all such effects have been deferred as a regulatory asset.

The pro-forma liability to reflect amounts as if SFAS No. 143 had been applied as of Dec. 31, 2002, was $862 million, the same as the Jan. 1, 2003, amounts discussed previously. The pro-forma liability to reflect adoption of SFAS No. 143 as of Jan. 1, 2002, the beginning of the earliest period presented, was $810 million.

Pro-forma net income and earnings per share have not been presented for the years ended Dec. 31, 2002, because the pro-forma application of SFAS No. 143 to prior periods would not have changed net income or earnings per share of NSP-Minnesota due to the regulatory deferral of any differences of past cost recognition and SFAS No. 143 methodology, as discussed previously.

The fair value of the assets legally restricted for purposes of settling the nuclear asset retirement obligations is $835 million as of June 30, 2003.

The adoption of SFAS No. 143 in 2003 will also affect Xcel Energy’s accrued plant removal costs for other generation, transmission and distribution facilities for its utility subsidiaries. Although SFAS No. 143 does not recognize the future accrual of removal costs as a Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) liability, long-standing ratemaking practices approved by applicable state and federal regulatory commissions have allowed provisions for such costs in historical depreciation rates. These removal costs have accumulated over a number of years based on varying rates as authorized by the appropriate regulatory entities. Given the long periods over which the amounts were accrued and the changing of rates through time, the Utility Subsidiaries have estimated the amount of removal costs accumulated through historic depreciation expense based on current factors used in the existing depreciation rates. Accordingly, the estimated amounts of future removal costs, which are considered regulatory liabilities under SFAS No. 143 that are accrued in accumulated depreciation, are as follows at Jan. 1, 2003:

           
(Millions of Dollars)        
NSP-Minnesota
  $ 304  
NSP-Wisconsin
    70  
PSCo.
    329  
SPS
    97  
Cheyenne
    9  
 
   
 
 
Total Xcel Energy
  $ 809  

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2. Special Charges

     Special charges included in Operating Expenses include the following:

                                   
      Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
     
 
(Millions of Dollars)   June 30, 2003   June 30, 2002   June 30, 2003   June 30, 2002

 
 
 
 
NRG restructuring costs – severance
  $     $ 20     $     $ 20  
NRG asset impairments and NEO charges
          36             36  
NRG losses from equity investment disposals
          4             4  
Holding company costs related to NRG
    7             9        
Regulatory recovery adjustment
                      5  
Restaffing
                      9  
 
   
     
     
     
 
 
Total special charges
  $ 7     $ 60     $ 9     $ 74  
 
   
     
     
     
 

Holding Company Costs (2003) — During the first six months of 2003, the Xcel Energy holding company incurred approximately $9 million for charges related to NRG’s financial restructuring, including $7 million in the second quarter of 2003.

NRG Special Charges (2002) In the second quarter of 2002, NRG expensed a pretax charge of $20 million, or 4 cents per share, for severance costs for employees who had been terminated as of that date. NRG expensed a pretax charge of $36 million, or 6 cents per share, largely related to asset impairments at its NEO Corp. landfill gas operations. NRG also recorded a charge of approximately $4 million, or 1 cent per share, to write-down the carrying value of its equity investment in the Collinsville Power Station in Australia, based on the price received under a sales agreement.

As discussed further in Note 5 to the financial statements, all of NRG’s results for 2003 are reported in a single line item, Equity in Losses of NRG, due to the deconsolidation of NRG as a result of its bankruptcy filing in May 2003. NRG’s 2003 results do reflect some effects of asset impairments and restructuring costs, which are discussed in Note 5 to the financial statements, but are not presented as a special charge after 2002.

Regulatory Recovery Adjustment (2002) – During the first quarter of 2002, a wholly owned subsidiary of Xcel Energy, Southwestern Public Service (SPS) wrote off approximately $5 million, or 1 cent per share, of restructuring costs relating to costs incurred to comply with legislation requiring a transition to retail competition in Texas, which was subsequently amended to delay the required transition.

Utility Restaffing (2002) - During the fourth quarter of 2001, Xcel Energy recorded an estimated liability for expected staff consolidation costs for an estimated 500 employees in several utility operating and corporate support areas of Xcel Energy. In the first quarter of 2002, the identification of affected employees was complete and additional pretax special charges of $9 million, or approximately 1 cent per share, were expensed for the final costs of the utility-related staff consolidations. All 564 of accrued staff terminations have occurred.

The following table summarizes the activity related to accrued restaffing special charges for the first six months of 2003:

                                   
      Dec. 31, 2002   Adjustments           June 30, 2003
(Millions of Dollars)   Liability*   To Liabilities **   Payments   Liability*

 
 
 
 
Employee severance and related costs – NRG
  $ 18     $ (18 )   $     $  
Employee severance and related costs – Utility and Service Company
    13             (8 )     5  
 
   
     
     
     
 
 
Total accrued special charges
  $ 31     $ (18 )   $ (8 )   $ 5  
 
   
     
     
     
 


*   Reported on the balance sheet in other current liabilities and in postretirement and other benefit obligations at Dec. 31, 2002 and as other current liabilities at June 30, 2003.
 
**   The deconsolidation of NRG in 2003 has eliminated this liability from Xcel Energy’s financial reporting (see Note 5).

3. Discontinued Operations

NRG

During 2002, NRG entered into agreements to dispose of four consolidated international projects and one consolidated domestic project. Sales of four of the projects closed during 2002 (Bulo Bulo, Csepel, Entrade and Crockett Cogeneration) and one project (Killingholme) was sold in January 2003. In addition, NRG has also committed to a plan to sell a sixth project (Hsin Yu). Sale of this project is expected to be completed later in 2003.

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For 2002, these projects meet the requirements of SFAS No. 144 — “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets,” for discontinued operations reporting and, accordingly, operating results and estimated gains or losses on disposal of these projects have been reclassified to discontinued operations for the 2002 periods. Summarized results of operations of NRG discontinued operations for 2002 were as follows:

                   
      Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
     
 
(Thousands of Dollars)   June 30, 2002   June 30, 2002

 
 
Operating revenues
  $ 163,953     $ 358,294  
Operating and other expenses
    152,130       337,174  
 
   
     
 
 
Pretax income from discontinued operations
    11,823       21,120  
Income taxes
    464       186  
 
   
     
 
 
Income from discontinued operations
    11,359       20,934  
Pretax loss from disposal
    (9,674 )     (9,674 )
 
   
     
 
 
Net income from discontinued operations
  $ 1,685     $ 11,260  
 
   
     
 

As of Jan. 1, 2003, Xcel Energy has reclassified all of its reporting of NRG to the equity method, as discussed in Note 5 to the financial statements. Under the equity method used for 2003 reporting, NRG’s discontinued operations are combined with NRG’s continuing operations and reported as a single item, Equity in Losses of NRG, within Xcel Energy’s earnings from continuing operations. In addition, the assets and liabilities of these discontinued NRG projects as of Dec. 31, 2002, have been reclassified to the held-for-sale category and are reported separately from assets and liabilities of continuing operations for that period. As of June 30, 2003, all assets and liabilities of NRG have been deconsolidated, as discussed in Note 5, due to the change to the equity method to account for NRG.

Xcel Energy reports in its 2002 discontinued operations only those NRG projects classified as discontinued as of May 14, 2003, the date of NRG’s bankruptcy filing. NRG’s reclassification of its discontinued operations subsequent to that date will not affect Xcel Energy reporting.

Viking Gas

In January 2003, Xcel Energy sold Viking Gas Transmission Co. and its interests in Guardian Pipeline, LLC (two interstate natural gas pipelines) for net proceeds of $124 million, resulting in a pretax gain of $36 million ($21 million after tax, or 5 cents per share). This gain has been reported in discontinued operations. Other quarterly and year-to-date operating results of Viking Gas and Guardian in 2003 and 2002, and Viking Gas’ assets and liabilities as of Dec. 31, 2002, were not reclassified to discontinued operations and assets and liabilities held-for-sale, respectively, due to immateriality.

4.     NRG Financial Restructuring and Bankruptcy Filing

Since mid-2002, NRG has experienced severe financial difficulties, resulting primarily from lower prices for power and declining credit ratings. These financial difficulties have caused NRG to, among other things, fail to make payments of interest and/or principal aggregating over $400 million on indebtedness of approximately $4 billion and incur asset impairment charges and other costs in excess of $3 billion for the year ended Dec. 31, 2002. These asset impairment charges include write-offs for anticipated losses on sales of several projects as well as anticipated losses related to projects to which NRG has stopped funding.

NRG Financial Restructuring - In August 2002, NRG began the preparation of a comprehensive business plan and forecast. The business plan detailed the strategic merits and financial value of NRG’s projects and operations. It also anticipated that NRG would function independently from Xcel Energy and thus all plans and efforts to combine certain functions of the companies were terminated. NRG utilized independent electric revenue forecasts from an outside energy markets consulting firm to develop forecasted cash flow information included in the business plan. NRG management concluded that the forecasted free cash flow available to NRG after servicing project-level obligations would be insufficient to service recourse debt obligations. Based on this information and in consultation with Xcel Energy and a financial advisor, NRG prepared and submitted a restructuring plan in November 2002 to various lenders, bondholders and other creditor groups (collectively, NRG’s Creditors) of NRG and its subsidiaries.

On March 26, 2003, Xcel Energy’s board of directors approved a tentative settlement with holders of most of NRG’s long-term notes and the steering committee representing NRG’s bank lenders regarding alleged claims of such creditors against Xcel Energy, including claims related to the support and capital subscription agreement between Xcel Energy and NRG dated May 29, 2002 (Support Agreement). The principal terms of the settlement are as follows:

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Xcel Energy would pay up to $752 million to NRG to settle all claims of NRG against Xcel Energy, including all claims under the Support Agreement.

    $350 million would be paid at or shortly following the effective date of the NRG plan of reorganization. It is expected that this payment would be made in early 2004.
 
    $50 million also would be paid in early 2004, and all or any part of such payment could be made, at Xcel Energy’s election, in Xcel Energy common stock.
 
    Up to $352 million would be paid on April 30, 2004, unless at such time Xcel Energy had not received tax refunds equal to $352 million associated with the loss on its investment in NRG. To the extent Xcel Energy had not received such refunds, the April 30 payment would be due on May 30, 2004.

$390 million of the Xcel Energy payments are contingent on receiving releases from NRG creditors. To the extent Xcel Energy does not receive a release from an NRG creditor, Xcel Energy’s obligation to make $390 million of the payments would be reduced based on the amount of the creditor’s claim against NRG. As noted below, however, the entire settlement is contingent upon Xcel Energy receiving releases from at least 85 percent of the claims in various NRG creditor groups and bankruptcy court approval. As a result, it is not expected that Xcel Energy’s payment obligations would be reduced by more than approximately $60 million. Any reduction would come from the Xcel Energy payment due on April 30, 2004.

Upon the effective date of the NRG plan of reorganization, Xcel Energy’s exposure on any guarantees or other credit support obligations incurred by Xcel Energy for the benefit of NRG or any subsidiary would be terminated and any cash collateral posted by Xcel Energy would be returned. The current amount of such cash collateral is approximately $0.5 million.

As part of the settlement, any intercompany claims of Xcel Energy against NRG or any subsidiary arising from the provision of intercompany goods or services or the honoring of any guarantee will be paid in full in cash in the ordinary course except that the agreed amount of such intercompany claims arising or accrued as of Jan. 31, 2003, will be reduced to $10 million. The $10 million agreed amount is to be paid upon the effective date of the NRG plan of reorganization, with an unsecured promissory note of NRG in the principal amount of $10 million with a maturity of 30 months and an annual interest rate of 3 percent.

NRG and its direct and indirect subsidiaries would not be reconsolidated with Xcel Energy or any of its other affiliates for federal tax purposes at any time after their June 2002 re-affiliation or treated as a party to or otherwise entitled to the benefits of any tax allocation agreement with Xcel Energy. Likewise, NRG would not be entitled to any tax benefits associated with the tax loss Xcel Energy expects to incur in connection with the write down of its investment in NRG.

Consummation of the settlement, including Xcel Energy’s obligations to make the payments set forth above, is contingent upon, among other things, the following:

    The effective date of the NRG plan of reorganization for the NRG voluntary bankruptcy proceeding occurring on or prior to Dec. 15, 2003;
 
    The final plan of reorganization approved by the bankruptcy court and related documents containing terms satisfactory to Xcel Energy, NRG and various groups of the NRG creditors;
 
    The receipt of releases in favor of Xcel Energy from holders of at least 85 percent of the general unsecured claims held by NRG’s creditors; and
 
    The receipt by Xcel Energy of all necessary regulatory and other approvals.

Since many of these conditions are not within Xcel Energy’s control, Xcel Energy cannot state with certainty that the settlement will be effectuated. Nevertheless, Xcel Energy management believes at this time that the settlement will be implemented.

Based on the tax effect of an expected write-off of Xcel Energy’s investment in NRG, Xcel Energy has recognized at June 30, 2003, an estimate of $706 million of the expected tax benefits of the write-off, as discussed in Note 6.

Xcel Energy expects to claim a worthless stock deduction in 2003 on its investment in NRG. This would result in Xcel Energy having a net operating loss for the year for tax purposes. Under current law, this 2003 net operating loss could be carried back two years for federal tax purposes. Xcel Energy expects to file for a tax refund of approximately $355 million in first quarter 2004. This refund is based on a two-year carryback.

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As to the remaining $351 million of expected tax benefits, Xcel Energy expects to eliminate or reduce estimated quarterly income tax payments, beginning in 2003. The timing of cash savings from the reduction in estimated tax payments would depend on Xcel Energy’s taxable income.

NRG Voluntary Bankruptcy Petition - On May 14, 2003, Xcel Energy announced that NRG and certain of its affiliates filed voluntary petitions for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code to restructure their debt. Neither Xcel Energy nor any of Xcel Energy’s other subsidiaries were included in the filing.

NRG’s filing included its plan of reorganization and the terms of the overall settlement among NRG, Xcel Energy and members of NRG’s major creditor constituencies that provide for payments by Xcel Energy to NRG and its creditors of up to $752 million. A plan support agreement, reflecting the settlement, has been signed by Xcel Energy, NRG, holders of approximately 40 percent in principal amount of NRG’s long-term notes and bonds along with two NRG banks that serve as co-chairs of the Global Steering Committee for the NRG bank lenders. The terms of the plan support agreement with NRG’s major creditors are basically the same as the terms of the March 26, 2003, settlement discussed previously. The plan support agreement will become effective upon execution by holders of approximately 10 percent in principal amount of NRG’s long-term notes and bonds and by a majority of NRG bank lenders representing at least two-thirds in principal amount of NRG’s bank debt.

NRG filed its voluntary petitions in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. As of Dec. 31, 2002, NRG had consolidated company wide (filing and non-filing entities combined) assets of $10.9 billion and liabilities of $11.6 billion.

The following is the expected timeline for NRG to emerge from bankruptcy. We cannot assure that the NRG plan of reorganization will be approved or that NRG will successfully complete the proposed restructuring. In addition to bankruptcy court approval, NRG’s plan of reorganization must be approved by the SEC under PUHCA prior to its becoming effective. Furthermore, each solicitation of any consent in respect of the reorganization plan must be accompanied or preceded by a copy of a report on the plan made by the SEC or an abstract thereof made or approved by the SEC.

    NRG’s disclosure statement filed with the SEC under PUHCA in July 2003;
 
    SEC acts on NRG’s disclosure statement in September 2003;
 
    Completion of the solicitation process of NRG’s reorganization in October 2003; and
 
    Confirmation hearing on NRG’s plan of reorganization in November 2003.

While it is an exception rather than the rule, especially where one of the companies involved is not in bankruptcy, the equitable doctrine of substantive consolidation permits a bankruptcy court to disregard the separateness of related entities, consolidate and pool the entities’ assets and liabilities and treat them as though held and incurred by one entity where the interrelationship between the entities warrants such consolidation. In the event the settlement described above is not effectuated, Xcel Energy believes that any effort to substantively consolidate Xcel Energy with NRG would be without merit. However, it is possible that NRG or its creditors would attempt to advance such claims or other claims under piercing the corporate veil, alter ego, control person or related theories in the NRG bankruptcy proceeding. If a bankruptcy court were to allow substantive consolidation of Xcel Energy and NRG or if another court were to allow other related claims against Xcel Energy, it would have a material adverse effect on Xcel Energy.

On July 22, 2003, Xcel Energy and NRG submitted a joint application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) requesting approval for Xcel Energy to dispose of its interest in NRG by implementing the proposed plan of reorganization filed in the bankruptcy proceedings. The applicants requested a 30-day comment period and FERC approval as expeditiously as possible, but no later than Oct. 22, 2003.

Financial Impacts of NRG’s Bankruptcy - As a result of the bankruptcy filing on May 14, 2003, Xcel Energy has discontinued the consolidation of NRG retroactive to Jan. 1, 2003, and for the year 2003 and is reporting NRG results under the equity method of accounting. See Note 5 for further discussion of the impacts of deconsolidating NRG in 2003.

Prior to NRG’s bankruptcy filing on May 14, 2003, Xcel Energy had recognized NRG losses in excess of its investment in NRG, as discussed in Note 5 to the financial statements. Xcel Energy’s exposure to NRG losses subsequent to its deconsolidation is limited under the equity method to Xcel Energy’s financial commitments to NRG. The estimated financial commitment to NRG, based on the terms of the settlement agreement (discussed previously), includes total Xcel Energy settlement payments related to NRG of $752 million. NRG losses recognized in excess of the $752 million in settlement payments will be reversed and recognized as a non-cash gain upon NRG’s emergence from bankruptcy. However, should the settlement agreement not ultimately be approved by NRG’s creditors and/or the bankruptcy court, the amount of financial assistance committed to NRG could be different from those amounts, pending the ultimate resolution of NRG’s bankruptcy. Prior to reaching the settlement agreement, Xcel Energy and NRG had entered into a support and capital subscription agreement in 2002 pursuant to which Xcel Energy agreed, under certain circumstances, to provide a $300 million contribution to NRG.

In addition to the effects of NRG’s losses, Xcel Energy’s operating results and retained earnings in 2003 could also be affected by future tax effects of any financial commitments to NRG, if such income tax benefits were considered likely to be realized in the foreseeable future. See Note 6 for further discussion of tax benefits related to Xcel Energy’s investment in NRG.

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The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements do not necessarily reflect future conditions or matters that may arise as a result of NRG’s bankruptcy filing and its ultimate resolution. Pending the outcome of its voluntary bankruptcy petition, NRG remains subject to substantial doubt as to its ability to continue as a going concern.

Xcel Energy believes that the ultimate resolutions of NRG’s financial difficulties and going concern uncertainty will not affect Xcel Energy’s ability to continue as a going concern. Xcel Energy is not dependent on cash flows from NRG, nor is Xcel Energy contingently liable to creditors of NRG in an amount material to Xcel Energy’s liquidity. Xcel Energy believes that its cash flows from regulated utility operations and anticipated financing capabilities will be sufficient to fund its non-NRG-related operating, investing and financing requirements. Beyond these sources of liquidity, Xcel Energy believes it will have adequate access to additional debt and equity financing that is not conditioned upon the outcome of NRG’s financial restructuring plan.

5.     Change in Accounting for NRG

As discussed in Note 4, on May 14, 2003, Xcel Energy’s wholly owned subsidiary NRG filed a voluntary case to restructure its obligations under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the Bankruptcy Court in the Southern District of New York. NRG plans to begin soliciting its existing creditors for approval of a plan of reorganization based on a settlement agreement (also discussed in Note 4), which contemplates payments by Xcel Energy of up to $752 million. If NRG’s creditors and the bankruptcy court approve the NRG plan of reorganization as presented, Xcel Energy anticipates that its ownership interest in NRG will be completely divested to NRG’s creditors in the future. Xcel Energy cannot assure that the NRG plan of reorganization as proposed will be approved or that NRG will successfully complete the proposed restructuring.

Prior to NRG’s bankruptcy filing, Xcel Energy accounted for NRG as a consolidated subsidiary. However, as a result of NRG’s bankruptcy filing, Xcel Energy no longer has the ability to control the operations of NRG. Accordingly, effective as of the bankruptcy filing date, Xcel Energy ceased the consolidation of NRG and began accounting for its investment in NRG using the equity method in accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 18 - “The Equity Method of Accounting for Investments in Common Stock.” As discussed in the next paragraph, after changing to the equity method, Xcel Energy is limited in the amount of NRG’s losses subsequent to the bankruptcy date that it must record.

In accordance with limitations under the equity method, as of June 30, 2003 Xcel Energy has stopped recognizing equity in the losses of NRG. These limitations provide for loss recognition until Xcel Energy’s investment is written off to zero, and then to continue if financial commitments exist beyond amounts already invested. As of May 14, 2003, Xcel Energy had recognized NRG losses to the point where they exceeded the investment made in NRG to date by $867 million, $115 million more than the amount of the $752 million financial commitment to NRG under the settlement agreement discussed previously. The losses recognized in excess of the financial commitment will be reversed and recognized as a non-cash gain upon NRG’s emergence from bankruptcy. If the final amount of financial commitments changes as a result of bankruptcy proceedings, the level of equity in NRG losses recorded by Xcel Energy would also change accordingly at that time. Xcel Energy has reflected these excess losses as a negative investment on the accompanying balance sheet in other current liabilities, based on its expectation that NRG’s plan of reorganization will take effect, and the settlement payments will be made, within 12 months of the bankruptcy filing.

At the time of NRG’s bankruptcy filing, Xcel Energy’s negative investment was greater than its financial commitment to NRG. Therefore, no NRG losses for the post-bankrupcty period have been recognized by Xcel Energy. Beginning with June 30, 2003 quarterly reporting (the first period that includes the bankruptcy filing date), Xcel Energy has reclassified the 2003 net operating results of NRG as equity in losses of NRG in the statement of operations retroactive to Jan. 1, 2003, as permitted under the accounting rules governing a mid-year change from consolidating a subsidiary to accounting for the investment using the equity method. However, the presentation of NRG in the historical financial statements as a consolidated subsidiary in 2002 and prior periods will not change from the prior presentation.

NRG’s stockholders’ equity as of June 30, 2003, can be reconciled to Xcel Energy’s recorded investment in NRG as of that date and to the pro-forma investment in NRG, including expected effects of divesting NRG and implementing the settlement agreement, as follows (in millions):

             
 
Stockholders’ Equity per NRG 10-Q
  $ (1,278 )
 
NRG Losses Not Recorded by Xcel Energy
    257 *
 
Purchase Accounting Adjustments
    62 **
 
   
 
   
Xcel Energy’s Negative Investment in NRG – Liability
    (959 )
Pro-forma adjustments to reflect divestiture of NRG and settlement terms:
       
 
Reclassification of NRG’s Other Comprehensive Income
    56  
 
Reclassification of Intercompany Receivables to Investment
    36  
 
   
 
   
Pro-forma Negative Investment in NRG
  $ (867 )
 
 
Losses Recognized in Excess of Financial Commitments
    115  
 
   
 
   
Level of Financial Commitments to NRG
  $ (752 )


*   These represent NRG losses incurred in the second quarter of 2003 that were in excess of the amounts recordable by Xcel Energy under the equity accounting limitations discussed previously.
 
**   These relate to Xcel Energy’s June 2002 purchase of NRG’s minority shares and are not reflected in NRG’s financial statements.

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Xcel Energy’s negative investment in NRG of $867 million will be eliminated over time through the reversal of $115 million in excess losses upon NRG’s emergence from bankruptcy and through $752 million of expected cash settlement payments as described in Note 4.

NRG’s loss for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2003, can be reconciled to Xcel Energy’s recorded equity in losses of NRG as follows:

                   
      3 months ended   6 months ended
(in millions)   June 30, 2003   June 30, 2003

 
 
Total NRG loss*
  $ (608 )   $ (621 )
Losses not recorded by Xcel Energy under the equity method**
    257       257  
 
   
     
 
 
Equity in losses of NRG included in Xcel Energy results
  $ (351 )   $ (364 )


*   Includes discontinued operations related to several projects that have been sold or are pending sale by NRG. For 2003 reporting, no distinction is made under the equity method for the underlying NRG projects, whether discontinued or continuing.
 
**   These represent NRG losses incurred in the second quarter of 2003 that were in excess of the amounts recordable by Xcel Energy under the equity accounting limitations discussed previously.

NRG Summarized Financial Information – In 2003, Xcel Energy maintained a significant investment in NRG. The following is summarized financial information for NRG for the periods in 2003 for which NRG was not consolidated:

Results of Operations

                 
    3 Months Ended   6 Months Ended
   
 
(Millions of dollars)   June 30, 2003   June 30, 2003

 
 
Operating revenues
  $ 536     $ 1,121  
Operating income (loss)
    (490 )     (464 )
Net income (loss)
    (608 )     (621 )

Financial Position

           
(Millions of dollars)   June 30, 2003

 
Current assets
  $ 1,496  
Other assets
    8,515  
 
   
 
 
Total assets
  $ 10,011  
 
   
 
Current liabilities
  $ 2,186  
Other liabilities
    9,103  
Stockholder’s equity
    (1,278 )
 
   
 
 
Total liabilities and equity
  $ 10,011  
 
   
 

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NRG’s results in 2003 (before the Xcel Energy limitations under the equity method) include asset impairment charges and financial restructuring costs. As discussed previously, Xcel Energy has not included in its results all of NRG’s losses due to limitations under the equity method of accounting.

NRG asset impairments and related charges in 2003 include approximately $40 million in first quarter charges related to NRG’s NEO landfill gas projects and equity investments and approximately $500 million in second quarter charges. The impairment and related charges in the second quarter of 2003 resulted from planned disposals of the Loy Yang project in Australia and the McClain and Brazos Valley projects in the United States, and regulatory developments and changing circumstances throughout the second quarter that adversely affected NRG’s ability to recover the carrying value of certain Connecticut merchant generation units. Losses of $263 million related to the Connecticut facilities and Brazos Valley were recorded by NRG as of May 14, 2003 and accordingly recorded by Xcel Energy, prior to NRG’s bankruptcy filing.

Restructuring costs incurred by NRG were $20 million for the quarter and $41 million for the six months ended June 30, 2003. Restructuring costs relate to financial and legal advisers, employee severance and other activities related to NRG’s financial restructuring and bankruptcy process.

6.     Estimated Income Tax Benefits Related to Xcel Energy’s Investment in NRG

Based on the foreseeable effects of a settlement agreement with the major NRG creditors, including an expected write-off of Xcel Energy’s investment in NRG for tax purposes, Xcel Energy recognized an estimate of the expected tax benefits of the write-off in 2002 in the amount of $706 million. This benefit is based on the estimated tax basis of Xcel Energy’s investments in NRG, and their deductibility for federal tax purposes, upon completion of NRG’s bankruptcy proceeding. See Note 4 for further information on the timing of cash flows related to these estimated tax benefits.

Xcel Energy is currently evaluating additional tax benefits that may be available related to its investment in NRG. These evaluations include an analysis of potential state tax effects of the NRG investment write-off and refinements of Xcel Energy’s tax basis calculations. Assuming these evaluations are completed as expected later in 2003, additional tax benefits may be recorded at that time, which could increase Xcel Energy’s cumulative income tax benefits related to the investment in NRG by up to $100 million. The actual amount of such additional tax benefits, if any, cannot be determined at this time.

In addition, future tax benefits associated with the expected settlement payments of $752 million (discussed in Note 4) will likely be reflected once NRG’s creditors approve the NRG plan of reorganization. Assuming all settlement payments are fully deductible, additional tax benefits of more than $260 million could be recorded later in 2003, at the time that such benefits are considered likely of realization. The timing of recording these benefits would be based on a judgment as to when the settlement payments to NRG become probable for tax purposes.

7.     Rates and Regulation

NSP-Minnesota Service Quality Investigation – As previously reported, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) directed the Office of the Attorney General and the Department of Commerce (state agencies) to investigate the accuracy of NSP-Minnesota’s reliability records. On Aug. 4, 2003, the state agencies jointly filed with the MPUC a report issued by Fraudwise, an investigation firm. Fraudwise had previously been engaged by the state agencies to investigate the validity of allegations involving the integrity of NSP-Minnesota’s service quality reporting. The findings of the Aug. 4, 2003 report are generally consistent with the previously disclosed findings in Fraudwise’s preliminary report that our record keeping contains inconsistencies and misstatements and that it would be nearly impossible to establish the magnitude of misstatements in the record keeping system. The report also states that NSP-Minnesota’s records were unreliable and appear to have been manipulated by a small number of employees to ensure compliance with state-imposed standards. NSP-Minnesota is continuing its internal review of these matters and has taken certain remedial actions to address the record keeping deficiencies. The MPUC has indicated that it is reviewing the report and expects to have a hearing on the matters addressed in the report within two to four months.

The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission (SDPUC) recently indicated an intention to open an investigation into service quality issues. In particular, the investigation would focus on NSP-Minnesota operations in the Sioux Falls area, which has experienced a number of recent power outages. NSP-Minnesota is working with the SDPUC to provide information and to answer inquiries regarding service quality. No docket has been opened.

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Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator, Inc. (MISO) Electric Market Initiative (NSP-Minnesota and NSP-Wisconsin) - On July 25, 2003, MISO filed proposed changes to its regional open access transmission tariff to implement a new transmission and energy markets tariff that would establish certain wholesale energy and transmission service markets based on locational marginal cost pricing (LMP) effective in 2004. NSP-Minnesota and NSP-Wisconsin presently receive transmission services from MISO for service to their retail loads and would be subject to the new tariff, if approved by the FERC. Xcel Energy continues to review the filing, but believes the new tariff, if approved by the FERC, could have a material effect on wholesale power supply or transmission service costs to NSP-Minnesota and NSP-Wisconsin beginning in 2004.

FERC Investigation Against All Wholesale Electric Sellers/California Refund Proceedings (PSCo) On June 25, 2003, the FERC issued a series of orders addressing the California electricity markets. Two of these were show cause orders. In the first show cause order, the FERC found that 24 entities may have worked in concert through partnerships, alliances or other arrangements to engage in activities that constitute gaming and/or anomalous market behavior. The FERC initiated the proceedings against these 24 entities requiring that they show cause why their behavior did not constitute gaming and/or anomalous market behavior. PSCo was not named in this order. In a second show cause order, the FERC indicated that various California parties, including the California Independent System Operator (CAISO), have alleged that 43 entities individually engaged in one or more of seven specific types of practices that the FERC has identified as constituting gaming or anomalous market behavior within the meaning of the CAISO and California Power Exchange tariffs. PSCo was listed in an attachment to that show cause order as having been alleged to have engaged in one of the seven identified practices, namely circular scheduling. In the second show cause order, FERC required the CAISO to provide the named entities with “all of the specific transaction data” for each of the seven practices. The CAISO provided that information on July 16, 2003. This data does not list PSCo as among the entities that allegedly engaged in circular scheduling. PSCo may have been named in the show cause order because of a trader telephone conversation transcript that PSCo had previously submitted to the FERC. This transcript was cited in witnesses testimony filed with FERC. The circular scheduling reference in the transcript was by a trader from another company discussing a transaction that did not involve PSCo. PSCo is preparing a motion to dismiss.

Pacific Northwest FERC Refund Proceeding (PSCo) On June 25, 2003, the FERC terminated the proceeding without refunds or ordering further proceedings.

PSCo General Rate Case - In May 2002, PSCo filed a combined general retail electric, natural gas and thermal energy base rate case with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) as required in the merger approval agreement with the CPUC to form Xcel Energy. On April 4, 2003, a comprehensive settlement agreement between PSCo and all but one of the intervenors was executed and filed with the CPUC, which addressed all significant issues in the rate case. In summary, the settlement agreement, among other things, provides for:

    annual base rate decreases of approximately $33 million for natural gas and $230,000 for electricity, including an annual reduction to electric depreciation expense of approximately $20 million, effective July 1, 2003;
 
    an interim adjustment clause (IAC) that recovers 100 percent of prudently incurred 2003 electric fuel and purchased energy expense above the expense recovered through electric base rates during 2003. This clause is projected to recover energy costs totaling approximately $216 million in 2003;
 
    a new electric commodity adjustment clause (ECA) for 2004-2006, with an $11.25-million cap on any cost sharing over or under an allowed ECA formula rate; and
 
    an authorized return on equity of 10.75 percent for electric operations and 11.0 percent for natural gas and thermal energy operations.

In June 2003, the CPUC issued its initial written order approving the settlement agreement. The new rates were effective July 1, 2003. PSCo will now move to the phase II, rate design, portion of the case.

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PSCo Fuel Adjustment Clause Proceedings - Certain wholesale electric sales customers of PSCo have filed complaints with the FERC alleging PSCo has been improperly collecting certain fuel and purchased energy costs through the wholesale fuel cost adjustment clause included in their rates. The FERC consolidated these complaints and set them for hearing and settlement judge procedures. In November 2002, the Chief Judge terminated settlement procedures after settlement was not reached. The complainants filed initial testimony in late April 2003 claiming the improper inclusion of fuel and purchased energy costs in the range of $40 million to $50 million related to the periods 1996 through 2002. PSCo submitted answer testimony in June 2003. The complainants filed rebuttal testimony on Aug. 1, 2003, and current claims have been reduced, now estimated at approximately $30 million. PSCo believes its wholesale customers have not been improperly charged for these costs. The hearings at the FERC are scheduled to begin Aug. 14, 2003.

PSCo had a retail incentive cost adjustment (ICA) cost recovery mechanism in place for periods prior to calendar 2003, as disclosed in the 2002 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The CPUC conducted a proceeding to review and approve the incurred and recoverable 2001 costs under the ICA. In April 2003, the CPUC Staff and an intervenor filed testimony recommending disallowance of certain fuel and purchased energy costs, which, if granted, would result in a $30 million reduction in recoverable 2001 ICA costs. On July 10, 2003, a stipulation and settlement agreement was filed with the CPUC, which resolved all issues. Under the stipulation and settlement agreement, the recoverable costs for 2001 will be reduced by $1.6 million. The resulting impact on the reset of the allowed cost recovery and cost sharing under the ICA for 2002 was not significant. In addition, the stipulation and settlement agreement provides for a prospective rate design adjustment related to the maximum allowable natural gas hedging costs that will be a part of the electric commodity adjustment for 2004. Approval of the 2002 recoverable ICA costs will be conducted in a future proceeding.

At June 30, 2003, PSCo has recorded its deferred fuel and purchased energy costs based on the expected rate recovery of its costs as filed in the above rate proceedings, without the adjustments proposed by various parties. Pending the outcome of these regulatory proceedings, we cannot at this time determine whether any customer refunds or disallowances of PSCo’s deferred costs will be required other than as discussed above.

PSCo Electric Department Earnings Test Proceedings – PSCo has filed its annual electric department earnings test reports for calendar 2001 and 2002. In both years, PSCo did not earn above its allowed authorized return on equity and, accordingly, has not recorded any refund obligations. In the 2001 proceeding, the Office of Consumer Counsel has proposed that the $10.9 million gain on the sale of the Boulder Hydroelectric Project be excluded from 2001 earnings and that possible refund of the gain be addressed in a separate proceeding. A final decision on both proceedings is pending.

PSCo Gas Cost Prudence Review – As previously reported, in May 2002, the staff of the CPUC filed testimony in PSCo's gas cost prudence review case, recommending $6.1 million in disallowances of gas costs for the July 2000 through June 2001 gas purchase year. Hearings were held before an administrative law judge in July 2002. On Feb. 10, 2003, the judge issued a recommended decision rejecting the proposed disallowances and approving PSCo's gas costs for the subject gas purchase year as prudently incurred. On June 6, 2003, the CPUC issued its order denying exceptions to the administrative law judge’s recommended decision. The CPUC upheld the finding that PSCo was prudent and reasonable in its handling of the Western Natural Gas default in January 2001.

PSCo Wholesale General Rate Case – On June 19, 2003, PSCo filed a wholesale electric rate case with the FERC, proposing to increase the annual electric sales rates charged to wholesale customers, other than Cheyenne Light Fuel & Power Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Xcel Energy, by approximately $9 million. Several wholesale customers intervened protesting the proposed increase. On Aug. 1, 2003, PSCo submitted a revised filing correcting an error in the calculation of income tax costs. The revised filing requests an approximately $2 million annual increase with new rates effective in January 2004, subject to refund.

Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Denver (PSCo) – In February 2001, Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Denver (HBA) sought an award in the amount of $13.6 million for PSCo’s failure to update its extension policy construction allowances from 1996 to 2002 under its tariff. An administrative law judge had ruled in January 2002 that HBA’s claims were barred. The CPUC reversed that decision and remanded the case. On May 15, 2003, an administrative law judge issued a recommended decision. On the remanded issues, the judge determined the HBA is able to seek an award of reparations on behalf of its member homebuilders. However, the judge further determined the construction allowance applied by PSCo from 1996 through 2002 was neither excessive nor discriminatory, and that HBA failed to meet its burden to show that its method of calculating reparations for the period 1996 through 2002 is proper.

SPS Texas Fuel Reconciliation, Fuel Factor and Fuel Surcharge Applications - In June 2002, SPS filed an application for the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) to retrospectively review the operations of the utility’s electric generation and fuel management activities. In this application, SPS filed its reconciliation for electric generation and fuel management activities, totaling approximately $608 million, from January 2000 through December 2001. In May 2003, a stipulation was approved by the PUCT. The stipulation resolves all issues regarding SPS’ fuel costs and wholesale trading activities through December 2001. SPS will withdraw, without prejudice, its request to share in 10 percent of margins from certain wholesale non-firm sales. SPS will recover $1.1 million from Texas customers for the proposed sharing of wholesale non-firm sales

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margins. The parties agreed that SPS would reduce its December 2001 fuel under-recovery balances by $5.8 million. Including the withdrawal of proposed margin sharing of wholesale non-firm sales, the net impact to SPS’ deferred fuel expense, before tax, is a reduction of $4.7 million.

In May 2003, SPS proposed to increase its voltage-level fuel factors to reflect increased fuel costs since the time SPS’ current fuel factors were approved in March 2002. The proposed fuel factors are expected to increase Texas annual retail revenues by approximately $60.2 million.

SPS also reported to the PUCT that it has under-collected its fuel costs under the current Texas retail fixed fuel factors. In the same May 2003 application, SPS proposed to surcharge $13.2 million and related interest for fuel cost under-recoveries incurred through March 2003. In June 2003, the Administrative Law Judge approved the increased fuel factors on an interim basis subject to hearings and completion of the case. The increased fuel factors became effective in July 2003. In July 2003, a unanimous settlement was reached adopting the surcharge and providing for the implementation of an expedited procedure for revising the fixed fuel factors on a semi-annual basis. The surcharge will be collected from customers over an eight-month period. In August 2003, the PUCT approved the settlement and the new proposed fuel cost recovery process and the surcharge will become effective in September 2003.

In July 2003, SPS filed a second fuel cost surcharge factor application in Texas to recover an additional $26 million of fuel cost under-recoveries accrued during April through June 2003. SPS proposed to surcharge its retail customers in Texas over a 12-month period. This new surcharge case is pending before the Texas State Office of Administrative Hearings.

SPS New Mexico Fuel Reconciliation and Fuel Factor Applications — On May 27, 2003 a hearing examiner issued a recommended decision on SPS’s fuel proceeding approving SPS utilizing a monthly fuel factor. SPS had been utilizing an annual fuel factor, which had allowed significant under-collections. The decision denied the intervenors’ request that all margins from off-system sales be credited to ratepayers. SPS will be obligated to file its next New Mexico fuel case two years after the recommended decision is approved. The recommended decision is subject to approval by the New Mexico Public Regulatory Commission (NMPRC).

TRANSLink Transmission Co., LLC (TRANSLink) – In June 2003, the MPUC held a joint hearing on the TRANSLink application, filed in December 2002. At the hearing, the MPUC deferred any decision. Instead, the MPUC indicated NSP-Minnesota could submit a supplemental or revised application to explain certain recent changes to the proposal and to respond to a number of issues and questions posed by the MPUC advisory staff. No MPUC order will be issued, and no decision has been made regarding when the revised NSP-Minnesota filing will be submitted to the MPUC.

In 2002, SPS filed for PUCT and NMPRC approval to transfer functional control of its electric transmission system to TRANSLink, of which SPS would be a participant. In March 2003, the Southwest Power Pool and the MISO cancelled their planned merger to form a large mid-continent regional transmission organization (RTO). This development materially impacted SPS’ applications in Texas and New Mexico. SPS has withdrawn its applications in those two states while it evaluates new RTO arrangements.

Xcel Energy is considering these developments, as well as the proceedings in process in other jurisdictions, to evaluate the possible future role of TRANSLink in providing transmission service in the Xcel Energy system.

FERC — California Market Manipulation - The FERC has an ongoing investigation of potential manipulation of electric and natural gas prices, which involves hundreds of parties (including NRG affiliate, West Coast Power) and substantial discovery. In June, 2001, the FERC initiated proceedings related to California’s demand for $8.9 billion in refunds from power sellers who allegedly inflated wholesale prices during the energy crisis. Hearings have been conducted before an administrative law judge who issued an opinion in late 2002. The administrative law judge stated that after assessing a refund of $1.8 billion for “unjust and unreasonable” power prices between Oct. 2, 2000 and June 20, 2001, power suppliers were owed $1.2 billion because the state of California was holding funds owed to suppliers.

In August 2002, the 9th United States Circuit Court of Appeals granted a request by the Electricity Oversight Board, the California Public Utilities Commission, and others, to seek out and introduce to the FERC additional evidence of market manipulation by wholesale sellers. This decision resulted in the FERC ordering an additional 100 days of discovery in the

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refund proceeding, and also allowing the relevant time period for potential refund liability to extend back an additional nine months, to Jan. 1, 2000.

On Dec. 12, 2002, the FERC Administrative Law Judge Birchman issued a certification of proposed findings on California refund liability in docket number EL00-95-045 et al., which determined the method for calculating the mitigated energy market clearing price during each hour of the refund period. On March 26, 2003, the FERC issued an order on proposed findings on refund liability in docket number EL00-95-045 (Refund Order), adopting, in part, and modifying, in part, the proposed findings issued by Judge Birchman on Dec. 12, 2002. In the refund order, the FERC adopted the refund methodology in the staff final report on price manipulation in western markets issued contemporaneously with the refund order in docket number PA02-2-000. This refund calculation methodology makes certain changes to Judge Birchman’s methodology, because of the FERC staff’s findings of manipulation in gas index prices. This could materially increase the estimated refund liability. The refund order directed generators wanting to recover any fuel costs above the mitigated market clearing price during the refund period to submit cost information justifying such recovery within 40 days of the issuance of the refund order. West Coast Power has submitted such cost information. The FERC announced in the refund order that it expects that refunds will be paid by suppliers by the end of summer 2003.

8.     Commitments and Contingent Liabilities

Lawsuits and claims arise in the normal course of business. Management, after consultation with legal counsel, has recorded an estimate of the probable cost of settlement or other disposition of them.

NSP-Minnesota Notice of Violation- On Dec. 10, 2001, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) issued a notice of violation to NSP-Minnesota alleging air quality violations related to the replacement of a coal conveyor and violations of an opacity limitation at the A.S. King generating plant. The MPCA based its notice of violation in part on an environmental protection agency (EPA) determination that the replacement constituted reconstruction of an affected facility under the Clean Air Act’s New Source Review requirements. On June 27, 2003, the EPA rejected NSP-Minnesota’s request for reconsideration of that determination. The New Source Performance Standard for coal handling systems is unlikely to require the installation of any emission controls not currently in place on the plant. It may impose additional monitoring requirements that would not have material impact on NSP-Minnesota or its operations. In addition, the MPCA or EPA may impose civil penalties for violations of up to $27,500 per day per violation. NSP-Minnesota is working with the MPCA to resolve the notice of violation.

French Island (NSP-Wisconsin) — In June 2003, the Department of Justice lodged a consent decree settling the EPA’s claims against NSP-Wisconsin related to the French Island generating plant. The consent decree will become enforceable and, unless changed in response to comments received, NSP-Wisconsin will pay a penalty of $500,000. On Aug. 2, 2003, the comment period for the consent decree expired.

Other Environmental Contingencies - Xcel Energy and its subsidiaries have been or are currently involved with the cleanup of contamination from certain hazardous substances at several sites. In many situations, the subsidiary involved is pursuing or intends to pursue insurance claims and believe they will recover some portion of these costs through such claims. Additionally, where applicable, the subsidiary involved is pursuing, or intends to pursue, recovery from other potentially responsible parties and through the rate regulatory process. To the extent any costs are not recovered through the options listed above, Xcel Energy would be required to recognize an expense for such unrecoverable amounts in its consolidated financial statements.

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Commodity Futures Trading Commission Investigation - On June 17, 2002, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) issued broad subpoenas to Xcel Energy on behalf of its affiliates, including NRG, calling for production, among other things, of “all documents related to natural gas and electricity trading” (June 2002, subpoenas). Since that time, Xcel Energy has produced documents and other materials in response to numerous more specific requests under the June 2002, subpoenas. Certain of these requests and Xcel Energy’s responses have concerned so-called “round-trip trades.” By a subpoena dated Jan. 29, 2003, and related letter requests (Jan. 2003, subpoena), the CFTC has requested that Xcel Energy produce all documents related to all data submittals and documents provided to energy industry publications. Also beginning on Jan. 29, 2003, the CFTC has sought testimony from 20 current and former employees and executives, and may seek additional testimony from other employees, concerning the reporting of energy transactions to industry publications. Xcel Energy has produced documents and other materials in response to the Jan. 2003, subpoena, including documents identifying instances where Xcel Energy’s e prime subsidiary reported natural gas transactions to an industry publication in a manner inconsistent with the publication’s instructions.

In June 2003, as a result of Xcel Energy’s ongoing investigation of this matter, representatives of Xcel Energy met with representatives of the CFTC and the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Colorado. Xcel Energy has determined that e prime employees reported inaccurate trading information to one industry publication and may have reported inaccurate trading information to other industry publications. e prime ceased reporting to publications in 2002.

A number of energy companies have stated in documents filed with the FERC that employees reported fictitious natural gas transactions to industry publications. Several companies have agreed to pay between $3 million and $20 million to the CFTC to settle alleged violations related to the reporting of fictitious transactions. These and other energy companies are also subject to a recent order by the FERC placing requirements on natural gas marketers related to reporting, as well as a FERC policy statement regarding reporting of price indices. In addition, two individual traders from the companies that have been fined have been charged in criminal indictments with reporting fictitious transactions.

Xcel Energy continues to investigate this matter, and e prime has suspended and terminated several employees in connection with the reporting of inaccurate natural gas transactions to industry publications. Nevertheless, Xcel Energy believes that none of e prime’s reporting to industry publications had any effect on the financial accounting treatment of any transaction recorded in Xcel Energy’s books and records. However, Xcel Energy is unable to determine if any reporting of inaccurate trade information to industry publications affected price indices. Xcel Energy is cooperating in the CFTC investigation, but cannot predict the outcome of any investigation.

California Litigation- As discussed previously (including a discussion in the Form 10-K for the period ending December 31, 2002), California District Court Judge Robert H. Whaley dismissed both California lawsuits (State of California v. Dynegy, et al. and Public Utility District No. 1 of Snohomish County v. Xcel Energy, et al.) that named several power generators and power traders, including Xcel Energy, as defendants in multi-district litigation. In both lawsuits it was alleged that defendants engaged in unfair competition, market manipulation and price fixing. Both lawsuits were dismissed based on a finding that the filed rate doctrine precluded federal jurisdiction. These decisions have been appealed to the Ninth Circuit, which has scheduled oral arguments for later this year. Two separate class action lawsuits were also filed in Washington (Symonds v. Xcel Energy, et al.) and Oregon (Lodewick v. Xcel Energy, et al.) alleging unfair competition similar to those filed in California. Both lawsuits named Xcel Energy and NRG as defendants and have been voluntarily dismissed by the plaintiffs.

St. Cloud Gas Explosion - As discussed previously in the Form 10-K for the period ending Dec. 31, 2002, 25 lawsuits have been filed as a result of a Dec. 11, 1998 gas explosion that killed four persons (including two employees of NSP-Minnesota), injured several others and damaged numerous buildings. Most of the lawsuits name as defendants, NSP-Minnesota, Seren, Cable Constructors, Inc. (CCI) (the contractor that struck the marked gas line) and Sirti, an architectural/engineering firm hired by Seren for its St. Cloud cable installation project. Recently, the court granted the plaintiffs’ request to amend the complaint to seek punitive damages against Seren and CCI. Presently, plaintiffs are bringing a similar motion against NSP-Minnesota. NSP-Minnesota maintains that this motion is without merit. Oral arguments are tentatively scheduled to be presented to the court on Sept. 12, 2003.

Other Contingencies - The circumstances set forth in Notes 16, 18 and 19 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Xcel Energy’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2002, appropriately represent, in all material respects, the current status of other commitments and contingent liabilities, including those regarding public liability for claims resulting from any nuclear incident, and are incorporated herein by reference. The following are unresolved contingencies that are material to Xcel Energy’s financial position:

    NRG Bankruptcy or Insolvency — Bankruptcy plan of reorganization (Notes 4 and 6 describe the current status of certain financial contingencies related to NRG);
 
    Tax Matters — Tax deductibility of corporate-owned life insurance loan interest;

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    Asset Valuation — Recoverability of investment in under-performing nonregulated projects (Seren, Argentina); and
 
    Guarantees — See Note 9 for discussion of exposures under various guarantees.

9. Short-Term Borrowings, Long-Term Debt and Financing Instruments

Short-Term Borrowings

At June 30, 2003, Xcel Energy and its subsidiaries had approximately $745 million of short-term debt outstanding at a weighted average interest rate of 2.357 percent.

Long-Term Debt

On July 31, 2003, NSP-Minnesota redeemed $200 million of 7.875 percent Trust Originated Preferred Securities of NSP Financing I, its wholly owned subsidiary. The redemption price for each security was its $25 principal amount plus a $0.1695 unpaid distribution. NSP-Minnesota initially funded this redemption with cash on hand, availability under its credit facility and a short-term loan from the Xcel Energy holding company.

On Aug. 8, 2003, NSP-Minnesota issued $200 million of 2.875 percent first mortgage bonds due 2006 and $175 million of 4.75 percent first mortgage bonds due 2010. The debt replaced first mortgage bonds, which matured in March and April of 2003 and helped fund the redemption of $200 million of Trust Originated Preferred Securities on July 31, 2003, which was initially funded as described above.

SFAS No. 150 — In May 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 150 – “Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity” (SFAS No. 150). SFAS No. 150 establishes standards for classifying and measuring as liabilities certain financial instruments that embody obligations of the issuer and have characteristics of both liabilities and equity, including:

    instruments that represent, or are indexed to, an obligation to buy back the issuer’s shares, regardless whether the instrument is settled on a net-cash or gross physical basis;
 
    mandatorily redeemable equity instruments;
 
    written options that give the counterparty the right to require the issuer to buy back shares; and
 
    forward contracts that require the issuer to purchase shares.

SFAS No. 150 must be applied immediately to instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003, and to all other instruments that exist beginning July 1, 2003. SPS has a special purpose subsidiary trust with outstanding mandatorily redeemable preferred securities of $100 million consolidated in Xcel Energy’s Consolidated Balance Sheets, which will be required to be classified as long-term debt as of July 1, 2003. NSP-Minnesota redeemed its $200 million of Trust Originated Preferred Securities on July 31, 2003, and such securities will not be affected by SFAS No. 150. Xcel Energy continues to evaluate the impact of SFAS No. 150 on other financial instruments and has not yet determined if any other effects may result from its implementation in the third quarter of 2003.

Guarantees

Xcel Energy provides various guarantees and bond indemnities supporting certain of its subsidiaries. The guarantees issued by Xcel Energy guarantee payment or performance by its subsidiaries under specified agreements or transactions. As a result, Xcel Energy’s exposure under the guarantees is based upon the net liability of the relevant subsidiary under the specified agreements or transactions. The majority of the guarantees issued by Xcel Energy limit the exposure of Xcel Energy to a maximum amount stated in the guarantees. As of June 30, 2003, Xcel Energy had the following amount of guarantees and exposure under these guarantees:

                   
(Millions of Dollars)   Total   Exposure
Subsidiary   Guarantee   under Guarantee

 
 
NRG
  $ 172     $ 45  
e prime
    215       16  
Other subsidiaries
    50       2  
 
   
     
 
 
Total
  $ 437     $ 63  
 
   
     
 

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Xcel Energy guarantees certain obligations for NRG’s power marketing subsidiary, relating to power marketing obligations, fuel purchasing transactions and hedging activities and for e prime, relating to trading and hedging activities. See Note 4 for the potential treatment of these guarantees in the NRG bankruptcy proceeding.

Xcel Energy may be required to provide credit enhancements in the form of cash collateral, letters of credit or other security to satisfy part or potentially all of these exposures, in the event that Standard & Poor’s or Moody’s downgrade Xcel Energy’s credit rating below investment grade. In the event of a downgrade, Xcel Energy would expect to meet its collateral obligations with a combination of cash on hand and, upon receipt of an SEC order permitting such actions, utilization of credit facilities and the issuance of securities in the capital markets.

In addition, Xcel Energy provides indemnity protection for bonds issued by subsidiaries. The total amount of bonds with this indemnity outstanding as of June 30, 2003, was approximately $71 million, of which $3 million relates to NRG. The total exposure of this indemnification cannot be determined at this time. Xcel Energy believes the exposure to be significantly less than the total indemnification.

10.     Derivative Valuation and Financial Impacts

Xcel Energy analyzes derivative financial instruments in accordance with SFAS No. 133 — “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” (SFAS No. 133). This statement requires that all derivative instruments as defined by SFAS No. 133 be recorded on the balance sheet at fair value unless exempted. Changes in a derivative instrument’s fair value must be recognized currently in earnings unless the derivative has been designated in a qualifying hedging relationship. The application of hedge accounting allows a derivative instrument’s gains and losses to offset related results of the hedged item in the statement of operations, to the extent effective. SFAS No. 133 requires that the hedging relationship be highly effective and that a company formally designate a hedging relationship to apply hedge accounting.

The impact of the components of SFAS No. 133 on Xcel Energy’s Other Comprehensive Income, included in the Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity, are detailed in the following tables:

                 
    Three months ended June 30,
   
(Millions of Dollars)   2003   2002

 
 
Balance at Mar. 31
  $ (32.6 )   $ 59.9  
After-tax net unrealized gains (losses) related to derivatives accounted for as hedges
    7.8       (10.3 )
After-tax net realized (gains) losses on derivative transactions reclassified into earnings
    (18.0 )     5.3  
Regulatory deferral of costs to be recovered*
    4.3        
Acquisition of NRG minority interest
          27.4  
 
   
     
 
Accumulated other comprehensive income related to SFAS No. 133 - June 30
  $ (38.5 )   $ 82.3  
 
   
     
 
                 
    Six months ended June 30,
   
(Millions of Dollars)   2003   2002

 
 
Balance at Jan. 1
  $ 22.1     $ 34.2  
After-tax net unrealized gains (losses) related to derivatives accounted for as hedges
    (27.9 )     14.9  
After-tax net realized (gains) losses on derivative transactions reclassified into earnings
    (37.0 )     5.8  
Regulatory deferral of costs to be recovered*
    4.3        
Acquisition of NRG minority interest
          27.4  
 
   
     
 
Accumulated other comprehensive income related to SFAS No. 133 – June 30
  $ (38.5 )   $ 82.3  
 
   
     
 


*   In accordance with SFAS No. 71 – “Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulations,” certain costs/benefits have been deferred as they will be recovered in future periods from customers.

Xcel Energy records the fair value of its derivative instruments in its Consolidated Balance Sheet as a separate line item as Derivative Instruments Valuation for assets and liabilities, as well as current and noncurrent.

Cash Flow Hedges

Xcel Energy and its subsidiaries enter into derivative instruments to manage variability of future cash flows from changes in commodity prices. These derivative instruments take the form of fixed-price, floating-price or index sales, or purchases and options, such as puts, calls and swaps. These derivative instruments are designated as cash flow hedges for accounting purposes, and the changes in the fair value of these instruments are recorded as a component of Other Comprehensive Income. At June 30, 2003, Xcel Energy had various commodity-related contracts deemed as cash flow hedges extending through 2009. Amounts deferred in Other Comprehensive Income are recorded as the hedged purchase or sales transaction is completed and recorded in earnings. This could include the physical purchase or sale of electric energy or the use of natural gas to generate electric energy. As of June 30, 2003, Xcel Energy had net gains of $38.7 million accumulated in Other Comprehensive Income that are expected to be recognized in earnings during the next 12 months as the hedged transaction occurs. However, due to the volatility of commodities markets, the value in Other Comprehensive Income will likely change prior to its recognition in earnings.

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As required by SFAS No. 133, Xcel Energy recorded gains of $0 and $0.9 million related to ineffectiveness on commodity cash flow hedges during the three months ended June 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively, and gains of $0 and $1.0 million related to ineffectiveness on commodity cash flow hedges during the six months ended June 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

Xcel Energy and its subsidiaries enter into interest rate swap instruments that effectively fix the interest payments on certain floating rate debt obligations. These derivative instruments are designated as cash flow hedges for accounting purposes, and the change in the fair value of these instruments is recorded as a component of Other Comprehensive Income. Xcel Energy expects to reclassify into earnings through June 2004 net losses from Other Comprehensive Income of approximately $2.7 million.

Hedge effectiveness is recorded based on the nature of the item being hedged. Hedging transactions for the sales of electric energy are recorded as a component of revenue, hedging transactions for fuel used in energy generation are recorded as a component of fuel costs, and hedging transactions for interest rate swaps are recorded as a component of interest expense.

Fair Value Hedges

Xcel Energy and its subsidiaries enter into interest rate swap instruments that effectively hedge the fair value of fixed rate debt. In June 2003, Xcel Energy entered into two five-year swaps, with a $97.5 million notional value each, against Xcel Energy’s $195 million 3.40 percent senior notes due 2008. Xcel Energy entered into the swaps to obtain greater access to the lower borrowing costs normally available on floating-rate debt. These swap agreements involve the exchange of amounts based on a variable rate of six-month London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) rate plus an adder rate over the life of the agreement. The differential to be paid or received as interest rates change is accrued and recognized as an adjustment of interest expense related to the debt. The fair market value of Xcel Energy’s interest rate swaps at June 30, 2003 was $1.0 million.

Derivatives Not Qualifying for Hedge Accounting

Xcel Energy and its subsidiaries have trading operations that enter into derivative instruments. These derivative instruments are accounted for on a mark-to-market basis in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. All derivative instruments are recorded at the amount of the gain or loss from the transaction within Operating Revenues on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Normal Purchases or Normal Sales

Xcel Energy and its utility subsidiaries enter into fixed-price contracts for the purchase and sale of various commodities for use in their business operations. SFAS No. 133 requires a company to evaluate these contracts to determine whether the contracts are derivatives. Certain contracts that literally meet the definition of a derivative may be exempted from SFAS No. 133 as normal purchases or normal sales. Normal purchases and normal sales are contracts that provide for the purchase or sale of something other than a financial instrument or derivative instrument that will be delivered in quantities expected to be used or sold over a reasonable period in the normal course of business. Contracts that meet the requirements of normal are documented as normal and exempted from the accounting and reporting requirements of SFAS No. 133.

Xcel Energy evaluates all of its contracts within the regulated and nonregulated operations when such contracts are entered to determine if they are derivatives and, if so, if they qualify and meet the normal designation requirements under SFAS No. 133. None of the contracts entered into within the trading operations qualify for a normal designation.

Normal purchases and normal sales contracts are accounted for as executory contracts as required under other generally accepted accounting principles.

Pending Accounting Changes

SFAS No. 149 - In April 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 149 — “Amendment of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” (SFAS No. 149) which amends and clarifies accounting for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts and for hedging activities under SFAS No. 133. SFAS No. 149 clarifies the discussion around initial net investment, clarifies when a derivative contains a financing component and amends the definition of an underlying to conform it to language used in FASB Interpretation No. 45. In addition, SFAS No. 149 also incorporates certain implementation issues of a derivative implementation group. The provisions of SFAS No. 149 are effective for contracts entered into or modified after June 30, 2003, and for hedging relationships designated after June 30, 2003. The guidance will be applied to hedging relationships on a prospective basis. Xcel Energy and its subsidiaries are currently assessing SFAS No. 149, but do not anticipate that it will have a material impact on consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

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FASB Implementation Issue No. C20 - In June 2003, for purposes of determining the applicability of the normal purchases and normal sales scope exception, the FASB issued SFAS No. 133 Implementation Issue No. C20 as supplemental guidance to SFAS No. 133 Implementation Issue No. C11. The effective date of the implementation guidance of Issue No. C20 is the first day for the first fiscal quarter beginning after July 10, 2003, which for Xcel Energy is the fourth quarter. Xcel Energy is currently in the process of reviewing and interpreting this guidance and does not currently anticipate any material adverse financial impact due to the implementation of Issue No. C20 guidance.

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11.     Segment Information

Xcel Energy has the following reportable segments: Regulated Electric Utility, Regulated Natural Gas Utility and its nonregulated energy business, NRG. Trading operations performed by regulated operating companies are not a reportable segment; electric trading results are included in the Regulated Electric Utility segment and natural gas trading results are presented in All Other.

                                                   
    Regulated   Regulated                    
(Thousands of Dollars)   Electric   Natural Gas           All   Reconciling   Consolidated

  Utility   Utility   NRG   Other   Eliminations   Total
     
 
 
 
 
 
Three months ended June 30, 2003
                                               
Operating revenues from external customers
  $ 1,384,551     $ 273,556     $     $ 112,908     $     $ 1,771,015  
Intersegment revenues
    265       2,162             22,151       (24,578 )      
Equity in earnings of Unconsolidated affiliates
                                   
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
Total revenues
  $ 1,384,816     $ 275,718     $     $ 135,059     $ (24,578 )   $ 1,771,015  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Segment net income (loss)
  $ 69,526     $ 3,762     $ (351,192 )   $ 10,144     $ (14,802 )   $ (282,562 )
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Three months ended June 30, 2002
                                               
Operating revenues from external customers
  $ 1,326,433     $ 235,311     $ 555,181     $ 80,728     $     $ 2,197,653  
Intersegment revenues
    242       324             44,661       (44,661 )     566  
Equity in earnings of Unconsolidated affiliates
                27,528                   27,528  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
Total revenues
  $ 1,326,675     $ 235,635     $ 582,709     $ 125,389     $ (44,661 )   $ 2,225,747  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Segment net income (loss)
  $ 121,701     $ 10,742     $ (41,352 )   $ 2,642     $ (6,431 )   $ 87,302  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
                                                   
      Regulated   Regulated                    
      Electric   Natural Gas           All   Reconciling   Consolidated
      Utility   Utility   NRG   Other   Eliminations   Total
     
 
 
 
 
 
Six months ended June 30, 2003
                                               
Operating revenues from external customers
  $ 2,752,488     $ 939,685     $     $ 225,424     $     $ 3,917,597  
Intersegment revenues
    561       3,548             43,931       (48,040 )      
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates
                                   
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
Total revenues
  $ 2,753,049     $ 943,233     $     $ 269,355     $ (48,040 )   $ 3,917,597  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Segment net income (loss)
  $ 155,624     $ 60,313     $ (363,825 )   $ 30,231     $ (24,893 )   $ (142,550 )
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Six months ended June 30, 2002
                                               
Operating revenues from external customers
  $ 2,560,905     $ 798,790       1,023,280     $ 168,091     $     $ 4,551,066  
Intersegment revenues
    501       756             80,286       (80,286 )     1,257  
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates
                42,198                   42,198  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
Total revenues
  $ 2,561,406     $ 799,546     $ 1,065,478     $ 248,377     $ (80,286 )   $ 4,594,521  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Segment net income (loss)
  $ 203,619     $ 58,795     $ (67,815 )   $ 9,838     $ (13,631 )   $ 190,806  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 

In 2003, the process to allocate common costs of the Electric and Natural Gas Utility segments was revised. Segment results for 2002 have been restated to reflect the revised cost allocation process.

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12. Detail of Interest and Other Income

Interest and other income, net of nonoperating expenses, is comprised of the following:

                                   
      3 months ended   6 months ended
      June 30,   June 30,
     
 
      2003   2002*   2003   2002*
     
 
 
 
Interest income
  $ 6,157     $ 1,523     $ 11,811     $ 19,498  
Equity income (loss) in unconsolidated affiliates (other than NRG)
    1,355       1,162       (4,142 )     2,972  
Other nonoperating income
    9,993       12,100       13,250       21,542  
Minority interest expense (other than NRG)
    (582 )     (338 )     (829 )     (1,662 )
Other nonoperating expenses
    (6,059 )     (2,279 )     (10,990 )     (8,351 )
 
   
     
     
     
 
 
Total interest and other income, net of nonoperating expenses
  $ 10,864     $ 12,168     $ 9,100     $ 33,999  
 
   
     
     
     
 


*   Includes NRG activity.

13.     Stock Compensation and Incentive Stock Awards

Restricted Stock Units – On March 28, 2003, the compensation and nominating committee of Xcel Energy’s board of directors granted restricted stock units and performance shares under the Xcel Energy omnibus incentive plan approved by the shareholders in 2000. No stock options have been granted in 2003. Restrictions on the restricted stock units will lapse after one year from the date of grant, the achievement of a 27 percent total shareholder return (TSR) for 10 consecutive business days and other criteria relating to Xcel Energy’s common equity ratio. If the TSR target is not met within four years, the grant will be forfeited. TSR is measured using the market price per share of Xcel Energy common stock, which at the grant date was $12.93, plus common dividends declared after grant date. During the second quarter of 2003, Xcel Energy accrued approximately $9 million of estimated compensation expense related to the 2.4 million restricted stock units awarded in 2003, based on an expectation that the TSR requirements will be met.

SFAS No. 148 In December 2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued SFAS No. 148 – “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation – Transition and Disclosure,” amending SFAS No. 123 to provide alternative methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair-value-based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation, and requiring disclosure in both annual and interim Consolidated Financial Statements about the method used and the effect of the method used on results. The pro-forma impact of applying SFAS 148 to earnings and earnings per share is immaterial. Xcel Energy continues to account for its stock-based compensation plans under Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 25 – “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and does not plan at this time to adopt the voluntary provisions of SFAS No. 148. Even with full dilutive effects of stock equivalents, the impact of application of SFAS No. 148 would be immaterial to the financial results of Xcel Energy.

14.     Nuclear Fuel Storage – Prairie Island Legislation

On May 29, 2003, the Minnesota Legislature enacted legislation, which will enable NSP-Minnesota to store at least 12 more casks of spent fuel outside the Prairie Island nuclear generating plant, allowing NSP-Minnesota to continue to operate the facility and store spent-fuel there until our licenses with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) expire in 2013 and 2014. The legislation transfers from the state Legislature to the MPUC the primary authority concerning future spent-fuel storage issues and allows for additional storage of spent nuclear fuel in the event the NRC extends the licenses of the Prairie Island and Monticello nuclear generating plant and the MPUC grants a certificate of need for such additional storage without an affirmative vote from the state Legislature. The legislation requires Xcel Energy to add at least 300 megawatts of additional wind power by 2010 with an option to own 100 megawatts of this power.

The legislation also requires specified levels of payments to various third parties during the remaining operating life of the Prairie Island plant. These payments include: $2.25 million per year to the Prairie Island Tribal Community beginning in 2004; 5 percent of NSP-Minnesota’s conservation program expenditures (estimated at $2 million per year) to the University of Minnesota for renewable energy research; and an increase in funding commitments to the previously-established Renewable Development Fund from $500,000 per installed cask per year to a total of $16 million per year beginning in 2003. The legislation also designated $10 million in one-time grants to the University of Minnesota for additional renewable energy research, which is to be funded from commitments already made to the Renewable Development Fund. Nearly all of the cost increases to NSP-Minnesota from these required payments and funding commitments are expected to be recoverable in customer rates, mainly through existing cost recovery mechanisms. Funding commitments to the Renewable Development Fund would terminate after the Prairie Island plant discontinues operation unless the MPUC determines that Xcel Energy failed

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to make a good faith effort to move the waste, in which case NSP-Minnesota would have to make payments in the amount of $7.5 million per year.

15.     Pension Plan Change and Impacts

In April 2003, Xcel Energy amended certain of its retirement plans to provide the same level of benefits to all non-bargaining employees of its utility and service company operations. While this change did not have a material impact on 2003 costs for the affected pension and retiree health plans, the increased obligations resulting from the plan amendment did create a minimum pension liability which was recorded in the second quarter of 2003. This additional pension obligation, recorded almost entirely at SPS, increased noncurrent liabilities by approximately $21 million and reduced Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, a component of shareholders’ equity, by approximately $25 million (net of related deferred tax effects of $14 million) during the quarter. The minimum pension liability adjustments also increased noncurrent intangible assets by approximately $41 million due to the recording of unamortized prior service costs, and reduced previously recorded prepaid pension assets accordingly.

Item 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

The following discussion and analysis by management focuses on those factors that had a material effect on Xcel Energy’s financial condition and results of operations during the periods presented, or are expected to have a material impact in the future. It should be read in conjunction with the accompanying unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes.

Except for the historical statements contained in this report, the matters discussed in the following discussion and analysis are forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements are intended to be identified in this document by the words “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “objective,” “outlook,” “projected,” “possible,” “potential” and similar expressions. Actual results may vary materially. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to:

  general economic conditions, including their impact on capital expenditures and the ability of Xcel Energy and its subsidiaries to obtain financing on favorable terms;
 
  business conditions in the energy industry;
 
  competitive factors, including the extent and timing of the entry of additional competition in the markets served by Xcel Energy and its subsidiaries;
 
  unusual weather;
 
  state, federal and foreign legislative and regulatory initiatives that affect cost and investment recovery, have an impact on rate structures, and affect the speed and degree to which competition enters the electric and gas markets;
 
  the higher risk associated with Xcel Energy’s nonregulated businesses compared with its regulated businesses;
 
  the financial condition of NRG;
 
  actions by the bankruptcy court;
 
  failure to realize expectations regarding the NRG settlement agreement;
 
  currency translation and transaction adjustments;
 
  risks associated with the California power market; and
 
  the other risk factors listed from time to time by Xcel Energy in reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including Exhibit 99.01 to this report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2003.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Xcel Energy owns or has an interest in a number of nonregulated businesses, the largest of which is NRG Energy, Inc. (NRG), an independent power producer. NRG is facing severe financial difficulties and has filed a voluntary petition for bankruptcy.

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See Notes 2, 3, 4 and 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, included in Xcel Energy’s Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2002, and Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.

Earnings Per Share Summary

The following table summarizes the earnings-per-share contributions of Xcel Energy’s businesses on both a generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) view and a pro-forma basis. Xcel Energy is presenting pro-forma earnings to reflect its operating results excluding businesses that were or are expected to be divested this year, as assumed in the previously disclosed earnings guidance. The pro-forma results exclude the gain on the sale of Viking Gas Transmission Co. and the results of NRG. Viking Gas was sold in January 2003, and we expect the outcome of NRG’s financial restructuring will be the divestiture of NRG. The pro-forma results are provided to reflect the ongoing operations of Xcel Energy on a comparative basis for 2003 and 2002.

                                     
        3 months ended   6 months ended
        June 30,   June 30,
       
 
GAAP Earnings (Loss) by Segment:   2003   2002   2003   2002

 
 
 
 
Electric utility segment earnings
  $ 0.18     $ 0.33     $ 0.39     $ 0.55  
Natural gas utility segment earnings – continuing operations
    0.01       0.02       0.15       0.16  
Other utility segment results*
    0.01             0.02       0.02  
 
   
     
     
     
 
   
Total utility segment earnings – continuing operations
    0.20       0.35       0.56       0.73  
Utility earnings – discontinued operations (gain from Viking Gas sale)*
                0.05        
 
   
     
     
     
 
   
Total earnings from utility segments
    0.20       0.35       0.61       0.73  
   
 
                               
NRG Earnings (Loss) – Continuing Operations
    (0.88 )     (0.09 )     (0.91 )     (0.18 )
NRG Earnings (Loss) – Discontinued Operations
                      0.03  
 
   
     
     
     
 
   
Total loss from NRG segment
    (0.88 )     (0.09 )     (0.91 )     (0.15 )
   
 
                               
Other Nonregulated Results/Holding Co. Costs*
    (0.03 )     (0.03 )     (0.06 )     (0.06 )
 
   
     
     
     
 
 
Total GAAP Earnings (Loss) Per Share – Diluted
  $ (0.71 )   $ 0.23     $ (0.36 )   $ 0.52  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Reconciliation of Pro-Forma Results to GAAP Earnings (Loss):
                               
Total utility segment earnings – continuing operations:
  $ 0.20     $ 0.35     $ 0.56     $ 0.73  
Other nonregulated results/holding company costs
    (0.03 )     (0.03 )     (0.06 )     (0.06 )
 
   
     
     
     
 
   
Pro-forma continuing operations, excluding NRG
    0.17       0.32       0.50       0.67  
Total NRG segment loss
    (0.88 )     (0.09 )     (0.91 )     (0.15 )
Utility earnings – discontinued operations (gain on Viking Gas)
                0.05        
 
   
     
     
     
 
   
Total GAAP Earnings (Loss) per Share — Diluted
  $ (0.71 )   $ 0.23     $ (0.36 )   $ 0.52  
 
   
     
     
     
 
*   Not a reportable segment. Included in All Other segment results in Note 11 to the financial statements.

Common Stock Dilution – Dilution from stock issued in 2002 reduced the loss for the quarter ended June 30, 2003 by 4 cents per share. For the six months ended June 30, 2003, dilution reduced the loss by 3 cents per share.

Utility Segment Results

In the second quarter of 2003, net income from utility operations decreased largely due to adverse weather impacts, higher purchased capacity costs, increased interest costs and higher incentive and other employee benefit costs. Partially offsetting these decreases were the effects of electric utility retail sales growth. For the six months ended June 30, 2003, net income from continuing utility operations decreased largely due to the second quarter impacts discussed above, partially offset by additional sales growth and short-term wholesale margins experienced in the first quarter of 2003. See the following section for additional discussion of specific margin and cost items affecting utility operating results.

Utility earnings per share were also reduced by 1 cent per share in second quarter 2003 and by 5 cents for the six months ended June 30, 2003, due to the dilutive effects of stock issuances, as discussed previously.

The following summarizes the estimated impact of weather on regulated utility earnings per share, based on estimated temperature variations from historical averages (excluding the impact on energy trading operations):

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    Earnings per Share Increase (Decrease)
   
    2003 vs. Normal   2002 vs. Normal   2003 vs. 2002
   
 
 
3 months ended June 30
  $ (0.02 )   $ 0.03     $ (0.05 )
6 months ended June 30
  $ (0.02 )   $ 0.02     $ (0.04 )

Other utility segment results included in the earnings contribution table above relate to subsidiary operations of the utility companies, and to other nonregulated activities conducted by such companies, in addition to Regulated Electric and Regulated Natural Gas utility operations. The largest of these other utility businesses is PSR Investments, a subsidiary of PSCo that owns and manages life insurance policies for PSCo employees and retirees.

Also the utility earnings-per-share contribution in the table above includes income from discontinued operations related to the sale of Viking Gas in January 2003, as discussed in Note 3 to the financial statements.

NRG Segment Results

As discussed in Note 5 to the Financial Statements, as a result of NRG’s bankruptcy filing in May 2003, the presentation of NRG results is not comparable in the accompanying financial statements. NRG’s results for 2003 are presented under the equity method, on a single line, Equity in Losses of NRG. Results for 2002 are presented in the Statement of Operations with NRG consolidated as part of Xcel Energy. However, pro-forma results for 2002 are presented in Exhibit 99.02 of this report to provide 2002 information for NRG’s results on a basis comparable with the 2003 presentation.

NRG’s results summarized on an overall basis are as follows:

                   
      3 months ended   6 months ended
(in millions)   June 30, 2003   June 30, 2003

 
 
Total NRG loss*
  $ (608 )   $ (621 )
Losses not recorded by Xcel Energy under the equity method**
    257       257  
 
   
     
 
 
Equity in losses of NRG included in Xcel Energy results
  $ (351 )   $ (364 )


*   Includes discontinued operations related to several projects that have been sold or are pending sale by NRG. For 2003 reporting, no distinction is made under the equity method for the underlying NRG projects, whether discontinued or continuing.
 
**   These represent NRG losses incurred in the second quarter of 2003 that were in excess of the amounts recordable by Xcel Energy under the equity method of accounting limitations discussed previously.

Since its credit downgrade in July 2002, NRG has experienced credit and liquidity constraints and commenced a financial and business restructuring, including a voluntary petition for bankruptcy protection. This restructuring has created significant incremental costs and has resulted in numerous asset impairments as the strategic and economic value of assets under development and in operation has changed.

NRG’s results in 2002 include restructuring costs and asset impairments, reported as Special Charges in Operating Expenses, as discussed in Note 2. NRG’s results in 2003 (before limitations under the equity method) include restructuring costs of $20 million for the quarter and $41 million for the six months ended June 30. Restructuring costs relate to financial and legal advisors, employee severance and other activities related to NRG’s financial restructuring and bankruptcy process.

NRG’s asset impairments and related charges in 2003 include approximately $40 million in first-quarter charges related to NRG’s NEO landfill gas projects and equity investments, and approximately $500 million recorded in the second quarter. The impairment and related charges in the second quarter of 2003 resulted from planned disposals of the Loy Yang project in Australia and the McClain and Brazos Valley projects in the United States and to regulatory developments and changing circumstances throughout the second quarter that adversely affected NRG’s ability to recover the carrying value of certain Connecticut merchant generation units. As of the bankruptcy filing date (May 14, 2003), Xcel Energy had recognized $263 million of NRG’s impairments and related charges for the Connecticut facilities and Brazos Valley as these charges were recorded by NRG prior to May 14, 2003. Consequently, Xcel Energy has recorded its equity in NRG results for the second quarter (including these impairments) in excess of its financial commitment to NRG under the settlement agreement. These excess losses of $115 million will be reversed and recognized as a non-cash gain upon NRG’s emergence from bankruptcy. See Note 5 to the financial statements for further discussion of the 2003 change in accounting for NRG and Xcel Energy’s limitation for recognizing NRG’s losses due to its bankruptcy filing.

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In addition to the unusual items discussed above, NRG’s operating results have been affected by low wholesale power prices in North America, which have provided margins insufficient to cover its interest and other fixed costs, and have resulted in continuing operating losses in 2003.

Beginning in the third quarter of 2002, Xcel Energy announced that the likely tax filing status of NRG for 2002 and future years had changed from being included as part of Xcel Energy’s consolidated federal income tax group to filing on a stand-alone basis. On a stand-alone basis, NRG does not have the ability to recognize all tax benefits that may ultimately accrue from its operating losses and is currently in a net operating loss carryforward position for tax purposes. Accordingly, NRG’s results for 2003 include no material tax effects.

Other Results — Nonregulated Subsidiaries (Other than NRG) and Holding Company Costs

The following table summarizes the earnings-per-share (EPS) contributions of Xcel Energy’s nonregulated businesses other than NRG and holding company results:

                                 
    3 months ended   6 months ended
    June 30,   June 30,
   
 
    2003   2002   2003   2002
   
 
 
 
Other Nonregulated and Holding Company Results:
                               
Seren Innovations, Inc.
  $ (0.01 )   $ (0.02 )   $ (0.02 )   $ (0.03 )
Xcel International
    0.01       0.00       0.02       0.00  
Eloigne Company
    0.00       0.00       0.01       0.01  
Planergy International
    (0.01 )     0.00       (0.01 )     (0.01 )
Financing Costs and Preferred Dividends
    (0.03 )     (0.03 )     (0.06 )     (0.05 )
Other
    0.01       0.02       0.00       0.02  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Total Other Nonregulated and Holding Company
  $ (0.03 )   $ (0.03 )   $ (0.06 )   $ (0.06 )
 
   
     
     
     
 

Seren – Seren operates a combination cable television, telephone and high-speed Internet access system in St. Cloud, Minn., and Contra Costa County, California. At June 30, 2003, Xcel Energy’s investment in Seren was approximately $265 million.

Xcel International – Xcel International owns and operates several energy projects in Argentina. Earnings in the second quarter of 2003 include a gain from a debt restructuring for one of the projects, which increased earnings by about 1 cent per share.

Financing Costs and Preferred Dividends - Nonregulated and holding company results include interest expense and preferred dividend costs, which are incurred at the Xcel Energy and intermediate holding company levels, and are not directly assigned to individual subsidiaries. Holding company financing costs increased due to the issuance of convertible debt in November 2002.

Other – Other nonregulated and holding company results decreased in 2003 due to lower income from Utility Engineering and from NRG-related restructuring costs, as discussed previously. Partially offsetting these earnings reductions were income tax adjustments related mainly to changing state tax effects resulting from NRG tax deconsolidation and losses.

Income Statement Analysis — Second Quarter 2003 vs. Second Quarter 2002

Electric Utility and Commodity Trading Margins

Electric fuel and purchased power expenses tend to vary with changing retail and wholesale sales requirements and unit cost changes in fuel and purchased power. Due to fuel cost recovery mechanisms for retail customers in several states, most fluctuations in energy costs do not materially affect electric utility margin. The retail fuel clause cost recovery mechanism in Colorado has changed from 2002 to 2003. For 2002, electric utility margins in Colorado reflect the impact of sharing energy costs and savings relative to a target cost per delivered kilowatt-hour under the retail incentive cost adjustment (ICA) ratemaking mechanism. For 2003, PSCo will be able to collect 100 percent of its retail electric fuel and purchased energy expense through the interim adjustment clause (IAC). In addition to the IAC, Colorado has other adjustment clauses that allow certain costs to be recovered from retail customers.

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Xcel Energy has three distinct forms of wholesale sales: short-term wholesale, electric commodity trading and natural gas commodity trading. Short-term wholesale refers to electric sales for resale, which are associated with energy produced from Xcel Energy’s generation assets or energy and capacity purchased to serve native load. Electric and natural gas commodity trading refers to the sales for resale activity of purchasing and reselling electric and natural gas energy to the wholesale market. Short-term wholesale and electric trading activities are considered part of the electric utility segment, while the natural gas commodity trading is considered part of the “All Other” segment.

Xcel Energy’s commodity trading operations are conducted by NSP-Minnesota (electric), PSCo (electric) and e prime (natural gas). Margins from electric trading activity, conducted at NSP-Minnesota and PSCo, are partially redistributed to other operating utilities of Xcel Energy, pursuant to a joint operating agreement (JOA) approved by the FERC. PSCo’s short-term wholesale margins and electric trading margins reflect the impact of regulatory sharing of certain margins with Colorado retail customers. Trading results are reported net of related costs (i.e., on a margin basis) in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Trading revenue and costs associated with NRG’s operations are included in the NRG segment results, not reflected in the table below. The following table details the revenue and margin for base electric utility, short-term wholesale and electric and natural gas trading activities.

                                                 
    Base   Short-   Electric   Natural Gas                
    Electric   Term   Commodity   Commodity   Intercompany   Consolidated
(Millions of Dollars)   Utility   Wholesale   Trading   Trading   Eliminations   Total

 
 
 
 
 
 
Three months ended June 30, 2003
                                               
Electric utility revenue
  $ 1,340     $ 39     $     $     $     $ 1,379  
Electric fuel and purchased power
    (610 )     (31 )                       (641 )
Electric and natural gas trading revenue
                75       80       (8 )     147  
Electric and natural gas trading costs
                (69 )     (82 )     8       (143 )
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Gross margin before operating expenses
  $ 730     $ 8     $ 6     $ (2 )   $     $ 742  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Margin as a percentage of revenue
    54.5 %     20.5 %     8.0 %     (2.5 )%     %     48.6 %
   
 
                               
Three months ended June 30, 2002
                                               
Electric utility revenue
  $ 1,289     $ 40     $     $     $     $ 1,329  
Electric fuel and purchased power
    (514 )     (30 )                       (544 )
Electric and natural gas trading revenue
                494       566       (20 )     1,040  
Electric and natural gas trading costs
                (496 )     (564 )     20       (1,040 )
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Gross margin before operating expenses
  $ 775     $ 10     $ (2 )   $ 2     $     $ 785  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Margin as a percentage of revenue
    60.1 %     25.0 %     (0.4 )%     0.4 %     %     33.1 %

Base electric utility margins, primarily related to retail customers, decreased approximately $45 million for the second quarter of 2003, compared with the second quarter of 2002. The lower base electric utility margin reflects much cooler temperatures in the second quarter of 2003 compared with 2002, higher purchased capacity costs and the positive impact of incentive cost adjustment mechanisms in 2002, partially offset by weather-normalized sales growth and recovery of renewable development fund costs in 2003 for which a corresponding charge to depreciation expense was recorded.

Short-term wholesale margins consist of asset-based electric sales for resale activity. Electric and natural gas commodity trading activity margins consist of non-asset-based trading activity. Short-term wholesale and electric commodity trading sales margins increased approximately $6 million for second quarter 2003 due mainly to more favorable market prices.

Natural Gas Utility Margins

The following table details the changes in natural gas utility revenue and margin. The cost of natural gas tends to vary with changing sales requirements and the unit cost of natural gas purchases. However, due to purchased natural gas cost recovery mechanisms for sales to retail customers, fluctuations in the cost of natural gas have little effect on natural gas margin.

                 
    Three Months Ended June 30,
   
(Millions of Dollars)   2003   2002

 
 
Natural gas utility revenue
  $ 274     $ 236  
Cost of natural gas sold and transported
    (175 )     (126 )
 
   
     
 
Natural gas utility margin
  $ 99     $ 110  
 
   
     
 

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Natural gas revenue increased by approximately $38 million, or 16.1 percent, in the second quarter of 2003, primarily due to increases in the wholesale cost of natural gas, which are largely passed on to customers and recovered through various rate adjustment clauses in most of the jurisdictions in which Xcel Energy operates. Natural gas margin decreased by approximately $11 million, primarily due to warmer-than-normal weather and a decline in interruptible and transportation sales.

Nonregulated Margins (Other than NRG)

The following table details the change in nonregulated revenue and margin, excluding NRG’s operations.

                   
      Three Months Ended June 30,
     
(Millions of Dollars)   2003   2002

 
 
Nonregulated and other revenue
  $ 115     $ 79  
Nonregulated cost of goods sold
    (70 )     (55 )
 
   
     
 
 
Nonregulated margin
  $ 45     $ 24  

Nonregulated revenues and margins for the second quarter increased in 2003 compared to 2002 due mainly to increasing customer levels in Seren’s communication business, higher contract revenues in Xcel International’s Argentina operations. These margin increases were offset by higher operating and other costs, resulting in approximately the same operating results from nonregulated companies in both periods, as indicated in the previous earnings contribution table.

Non-Fuel Operating Expense and Other Costs

Utility Other Operation and Maintenance Expenses for the second quarter of 2003 increased by approximately $38 million, or 11.0 percent, compared with the second quarter of 2002. Approximately $13 million of the difference results from the second quarter 2002 reversal of accrued estimated incentive compensation expense, compared with an accrual of estimated incentive compensation expense in the second quarter 2003. In addition, benefit costs increased $31 million due to lower pension credits, higher medical and health care costs and restricted stock units granted. Utility operating and maintenance expenses also increased due to a planned refueling outage at the Monticello nuclear plant compared with no such nuclear outages in the second quarter of 2002. These cost increases were partially offset by the timing of non-nuclear plant outages and other cost reductions.

Excluding NRG amounts in 2002, depreciation and amortization increased by approximately $16 million, or 8.2 percent, for the second quarter of 2003, compared with the second quarter of 2002, primarily due $10 million of Minnesota renewable development fund costs, which are largely recovered through NSP-Minnesota’s fuel clause mechanism, and higher depreciation from utility plant additions.

Excluding NRG amounts in 2002, interest expense increased by approximately $26 million, or 31.6 percent, for the second quarter of 2003, compared with the second quarter of 2002. This increase is due to the issuance of long- and intermediate-term debt to reduce dependence on short-term debt at the holding company, NSP-Minnesota and PSCo.

Excluding NRG amounts in 2002, income taxes changed due to changes in pretax income and to a lesser extent to changes in the effective tax rate. The effective tax rate for non-NRG operations was (19.3) percent in the second quarter of 2003 and 34.5 percent in the same quarter of 2002. The change in the effective tax rate between years reflects a larger ratio of tax credits to lower pretax income levels in 2003, adjustments to 2002 and year-to-date 2003 state tax accruals recorded in 2003 related to updated income apportionment by state (including NRG impacts) and NSP-Minnesota adjustments due to favorable income tax audit settlements in 2003.

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Income Statement Analysis — First Six Months of 2003 vs. First Six Months of 2002

Electric Utility and Commodity Trading Margins

The following table details the revenue and margin for base electric utility, short-term wholesale and electric and natural gas trading activities.

                                                 
            Short-   Electric   Natural Gas                
    Base Electric   Term   Commodity   Commodity   Intercompany   Consolidated
(Millions of Dollars)   Utility   Wholesale   Trading   Trading   Eliminations   Total

 
 
 
 
 
 
Six months ended June 30, 2003
                                               
Electric utility revenue
  $ 2,647     $ 101     $     $     $     $ 2,748  
Electric fuel and purchased power
    (1,162 )     (72 )                       (1,234 )
Electric and natural gas trading revenue
                133       463       (21 )     575  
Electric and natural gas trading costs
                (129 )     (460 )     21       (568 )
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Gross margin before operating expenses
  $ 1,485     $ 29     $ 4     $ 3     $     $ 1,521  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Margin as a percentage of revenue
    56.1 %     28.7 %     3.0 %     0.6 %     %     45.8 %
   
 
                               
Six months ended June 30, 2002
                                               
Electric utility revenue
  $ 2,480     $ 81     $     $     $     $ 2,561  
Electric fuel and purchased power
    (966 )     (66 )                       (1,032 )
Electric and natural gas trading revenue
                811       1,021       (37 )     1,795  
Electric and natural gas trading costs
                (810 )     (1,020 )     37       (1,793 )
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Gross margin before operating expenses
  $ 1,514     $ 15     $ 1     $ 1     $     $ 1,531  
 
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Margin as a percentage of revenue
    61.0 %     18.5 %     0.1 %     0.1 %     %     35.1 %

Base electric utility margins, primarily related to retail customers, decreased approximately $29 million for the first six months of 2003 compared with the first six months of 2002. The lower base electric margin reflects much cooler temperatures in the second quarter of 2003, higher purchased capacity costs in 2003 and the positive impact of incentive cost adjustment mechanisms in 2002, partially offset by weather-normalized sales growth and recovery of renewable development fund costs in 2003 for which a corresponding charge to depreciation expense was recorded.

Short-term wholesale and electric and natural gas commodity trading sales margins increased approximately $19 million for the first six months of 2003 compared with the same period in 2002. The short-term wholesale increase reflects more favorable prices on electric sales to other utilities, primarily in Minnesota.

Natural Gas Utility Margins

The following table details the changes in natural gas utility revenue and margin. The cost of natural gas tends to vary with changing sales requirements and the unit cost of natural gas purchases. However, due to purchased natural gas cost recovery mechanisms for sales to retail customers, fluctuations in the cost of natural gas have little effect on natural gas margin.

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    Six Months Ended June 30,
   
(Millions of Dollars)   2003   2002

 
 
Natural gas utility revenue
  $ 940     $ 800  
Cost of natural gas sold and transported
    (655 )     (501 )
 
   
     
 
Natural gas utility margin
  $ 285     $ 299  
 
   
     
 

Natural gas revenue increased by approximately $140 million, or 17.5 percent, in the first six months of 2003 compared with the same period in 2002, primarily due to increases in the wholesale cost of natural gas, which are largely passed on to customers and recovered through various rate adjustment clauses in most of the jurisdictions in which Xcel Energy operates. Natural gas margin decreased by approximately $14 million, primarily due to the impact of warmer-than-normal weather, and the sale of Viking Gas in January 2003, partially offset by weather-normalized firm sales growth.

Nonregulated Margins (Other than NRG)

The following table details the change in nonregulated revenue and margin, excluding NRG’s operations.

                   
      Six Months Ended June 30,
     
(Millions of Dollars)   2003   2002

 
 
Nonregulated and other revenue
  $ 223     $ 167  
Nonregulated cost of goods sold
    (147 )     (112 )
 
   
     
 
 
Nonregulated margin
  $ 76     $ 55  

Nonregulated revenues and margins for the second quarter increased in 2003 compared to 2002 due mainly to increasing customer levels in Seren’s communication business, higher contract revenues in Xcel International’s Argentina operations, and increased retail service revenues. These margin increases were offset by higher operating and other costs, resulting in approximately the same operating results by nonregulated company in both periods, as indicated in the previous earnings contribution table.

Non-Fuel Operating Expense and Other Costs

Utility Other Operation and Maintenance Expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2003, increased by approximately $28 million, or 3.8 percent, compared with the same period in 2002. The increased costs reflect the timing of incentive accruals in 2002 and higher other employee benefit costs, as discussed previously.

Excluding NRG amounts in 2002, depreciation and amortization increased by approximately $16 million, or 4.1 percent, for the first six months of 2003, compared with 2002, primarily due to $10 million of Minnesota renewable development fund costs, which are largely recovered through NSP-Minnesota’s fuel clause mechanism, and higher depreciation from utility plant additions.

Excluding NRG amounts in 2002, interest expense increased by approximately $57 million, or 35.8 percent, for the first six months of 2003, compared with 2002. This increase is due to the issuance of long-and intermediate-term debt to reduce dependence on short-term debt at the holding company, NSP-Minnesota and PSCo.

Excluding NRG amounts in 2002, income taxes changed due to a change in pretax income and to a lesser extent to changes in the effective tax rate. The effective tax rate for non-NRG operations was 20.7 percent in the first six months of 2003 and 33.9 percent in the same period of 2002. The change in the effective tax rate between years reflects a larger ratio of tax credits to the lower pretax income levels in 2003, adjustments to 2002 and 2003 state tax accruals recorded in 2003, as discussed previously, and NSP-Minnesota adjustments due to favorable tax audit settlements in 2003. The change is likely to also result in a decrease in the 2003 annual effective tax rate for Xcel Energy, excluding NRG.

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Pending Accounting Changes

FASB Interpretation No. 46 (FIN No. 46) - In January 2003, the FASB issued FIN No. 46, requiring an enterprise’s consolidated financial statements to include subsidiaries in which the enterprise has a controlling financial interest. Historically, that requirement has been applied to subsidiaries in which an enterprise has a majority voting interest, but in many circumstances the enterprise’s consolidated financial statements do not include the consolidations of variable interest entities with which it has similar relationships but no majority voting interest. Under FIN No. 46, the voting interest approach is not effective in identifying controlling financial interest. As a result, Xcel Energy expects that it may have to consolidate all or a portion of its affordable housing investments made through Eloigne, which currently are accounted for under the equity method.

As of June 30, 2003, the assets of these entities were approximately $155 million and long-term liabilities were approximately $90 million. Currently, investments of $61 million are reflected as a component of investments in unconsolidated affiliates in the Dec. 31, 2002, Consolidated Balance Sheet. FIN No. 46 requires that for entities to be consolidated, the entities’ assets be initially recorded at their carrying amounts at the date the new requirement first applies. If determining carrying amounts as required is impractical, then the assets are to be measured at fair value as of the first date the new requirements apply. Any difference between the net consolidated amounts added to the Xcel Energy’s balance sheet and the amount of any previously recognized interest in the newly consolidated entity should be recognized in earnings as the cumulative-effect adjustment of an accounting change. Had Xcel Energy adopted FIN No. 46 requirements early in 2003, there would have been no material impact to net income. Xcel Energy plans to adopt FIN No. 46 when required in the third quarter of 2003.

See Notes 9, 10 and 13 to the consolidated financial statements for discussion of additional pending accounting changes.

Critical Accounting Policies

Preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in compliance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) requires the application of appropriate technical accounting rules and guidance, as well as the use of estimates. The application of these policies necessarily involves judgments regarding future events, including the likelihood of success of particular projects, legal and regulatory challenges and anticipated recovery of costs. These judgments, in and of themselves, could materially impact the financial statements and disclosures based on varying assumptions, which all may be appropriate to use. In addition, the financial and operating environment also may have a significant effect, not only on the operation of the business, but on the results reported through the application of accounting measures used in preparing the financial statements and related disclosures, even if the nature of the accounting policies applied have not changed. Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis, in Xcel Energy’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2002, includes a list of accounting policies that are most significant to the portrayal of Xcel Energy’s financial condition and results, and that require management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments. Each of these has a higher likelihood of resulting in materially different reported amounts under different conditions or using different assumptions.

Financial Market Risks

Xcel Energy and its subsidiaries are exposed to market risks, including changes in commodity prices and interest rates, as disclosed in Management’s Discussion and Analysis in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2002. Commodity price and interest rate risks for Xcel Energy’s regulated subsidiaries are mitigated in most jurisdictions due to cost-based rate regulation. At June 30, 2003, there were no material changes to the financial market risks that affect the quantitative and qualitative disclosures presented as of Dec. 31, 2002, in Item 7A of Xcel Energy’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.

NSP-Minnesota maintains trust funds, as required by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, to fund certain costs of nuclear decommissioning. Those investments are exposed to price fluctuations in equity markets and changes in interest rates. However, because the costs of nuclear decommissioning are recovered through NSP-Minnesota rates, fluctuations in investment fair value do not affect NSP-Minnesota’s consolidated results of operations.

Xcel Energy and its subsidiaries use a value-at-risk (VaR) model to assess the market risk of their fixed price purchase and sales commitments, physical forward contracts and commodity derivative instruments. VaR for hedges associated with generating assets and commodity contracts, assuming a five-day holding period for electricity and a two-day holding period for natural gas, for the three months ended June 30, 2003, is as follows:

                                                 
    Period End   Change from                                
(Millions of dollars)   June 30, 2003   March 31, 2003   VaR Limit   Average   High   Low

 
 
 
 
 
 
Electric Commodity
                                               
Trading (1)
  $ 0.90     $ 0.29     $ 6.0     $ 0.69     $ 1.00     $ 0.41  
e prime Inc.
    0.01       (0.04 )     2.0       0.05       0.17       0.01  
e prime Energy Marketing Inc.
    0.07       (0.81 )     2.0       0.29       0.88       0.02  
XERS Inc.
    0.13       0.12       2.0       0.04       0.15       0.00  


(1)   Comprises transactions for both NSP-Minnesota and PSCo.

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Energy Trading and Hedging Activities

Xcel Energy and its subsidiaries engage in energy trading activities that are accounted for in accordance with SFAS No. 133, as amended. Xcel Energy makes wholesale purchases and sales of electric, natural gas and related energy trading products and provides risk management services to other of its unregulated subsidiaries in order to optimize the value of their electric generating facilities and retail supply contracts. Xcel Energy also engages in a limited number of wholesale commodity transactions. Xcel Energy utilizes forward contracts for the purchase and sale of electricity and capacity, over-the-counter swap contracts, exchange-traded natural gas futures and options, transmission contracts, natural gas transportation contracts and other physical and financial contracts.

For the period ended June 30, 2003, these contracts, with the exception of transmission and natural gas transportation contracts, were marked to market in accordance with Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) 02-3 and SFAS No. 133. Changes in fair value of energy trading contracts that do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment are recorded in income in the reporting period in which they occur.

As of June 30, 2003, the sources of fair value of the energy trading and hedging net assets are as follows:

Trading Contracts

                                                 
    Futures/Forwards
   
    Source of   Maturity Less   Maturity   Maturity   Maturity Greater   Total Futures/
(Thousands of Dollars)   Fair Value   Than 1 Year   1 to 3 Years   4 to 5 Years   Than 5 Years   Forwards Fair Value

 
 
 
 
 
 
NSP-Minnesota
    1     $ (472 )                           $ (472 )
 
    2       2,283                               2,283  
PSCo
    1       (1,331 )                             (1,331 )
 
    2       1,701                               1,701  
e prime Inc.
    1       1,209                               1,209  
 
    2       172                               172  
 
           
     
     
     
     
 
Total Futures/Forwards
                                               
Fair Value
          $ 3,562                             $ 3,562  
 
           
     
     
     
     
 
                                                 
    Options
   
    Source of   Maturity Less   Maturity   Maturity   Maturity Greater   Total Futures/
(Thousands of Dollars)   Fair Value   Than 1 Year   1 to 3 Years   4 to 5 Years   Than 5 Years   Forwards Fair Value

 
 
 
 
 
 
e prime Inc.
    2     $          40                                      $          40     
 
           
     
     
     
     
 
Total
Futures/Forwards
                                               
Fair Value
          $ 40                             $ 40  
 
           
     
     
     
     
 

Hedge Contracts

                                                 
    Futures/Forwards
   
    Source of   Maturity Less   Maturity   Maturity   Maturity Greater   Total Futures/
(Thousands of Dollars)   Fair Value   Than 1 Year   1 to 3 Years   4 to 5 Years   Than 5 Years   Forwards Fair Value

 
 
 
 
 
 
NSP-Minnesota
    2     $ (1,760 )                           $ (1,760 )
NSP-Wisconsin
    2       (304 )                             (304 )
PSCo
    1       1,047                               1,047  
 
    2       (9,230 )                             (9,230 )
e prime Inc.
    1       320                               320  
e prime Energy Mktg. Inc.
    1       5       (396 )                     (391 )
XERS Inc.
    1       2,576       (9 )                     2,567  
Total Futures/Forwards
                                               
 
           
     
     
     
     
 
Fair Value
          $ (7,346 )   $ (405 )                   $ (7,751 )
 
           
     
     
     
     
 

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    Options
   
    Source of   Maturity Less   Maturity   Maturity   Maturity Greater   Total Futures/
(Thousands of Dollars)   Fair Value   Than 1 Year   1 to 3 Years   4 to 5 Years   Than 5 Years   Forwards Fair Value

 
 
 
 
 
 
NSP-Minnesota
    2     $ (200 )                           $ (200 )
PSCo
    2       (311 )     1,980                       1,669  
 
           
     
     
     
     
 
Total Futures/Forwards
                                               
Fair Value
          $ (511 )   $ 1,980                     $ 1,469  
 
           
     
     
     
     
 

1 — Prices actively quoted or based on actively quoted prices.

2 — Prices based on models and other valuation methods. These represent the fair value of positions calculated using internal models when directly and indirectly quoted external prices or prices derived from external sources are not available. Internal models incorporate the use of options pricing and estimates of the present value of cash flows based upon underlying contractual terms. The models reflect management’s estimates, taking into account observable market prices, estimated market prices in the absence of quoted market prices, the risk-free market discount rate, volatility factors, estimated correlations of energy commodity prices and contractual volumes. Market price uncertainty and other risks also are factored into the model.

In the above tables, only “hedge” transactions are included for NSP-Minnesota, NSP-Wisconsin and PSCo. “Normal purchases and sales” transactions have been excluded.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Cash Flows

                 
    Six Months Ended June 30,
   
(Millions of Dollars)   2003   2002

 
 
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
  $ 574     $ 597  

Cash provided by operating activities decreased for the first six months of 2003, compared with the first six months of 2002. The decrease was primarily due to lower income from operations in 2003. NRG cash flows included in 2002 amounts were not material in relation to total operating cash flows of Xcel Energy, and no NRG operating cash flows are reflected in 2003.

                 
    Six Months Ended June 30,
   
(Millions of Dollars)   2003   2002

 
 
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
  $ (354 )   $ (1,632 )

Cash used in investing activities decreased for the first six months of 2003, compared with the first six months of 2002. The decrease is largely due to lower nonregulated capital expenditures and equity investments by NRG due to its financial situation since July 2002. In addition, 2003 net cash outflows were partially offset by the proceeds from the sale of Viking Gas in January 2003.

                 
    Six Months Ended June 30,
   
(Millions of Dollars)   2003   2002

 
 
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
  $ (304 )   $ 1,189  

Cash flows related to financing activities decreased from net inflows for the first six months of 2002 to net outflows in the first six months of 2003. The decrease is largely due to lower financing requirements resulting from decreased capital spending by NRG.

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Credit Facilities

As of July 30, 2003, Xcel Energy had the following credit facilities available to meet its liquidity needs:

                                                   
(Millions of Dollars)                                                
Company   Facility   Drawn   Available   Cash   Liquidity   Maturity

 
 
 
 
 
 
NSP-Minnesota
  $ 275     $ 155     $ 120     $ 31     $ 151     May-2004
NSP-Wisconsin
  $ 0     $ 0     $ 0     $ 3     $ 3          
PSCo
  $ 350     $ 266     $ 84     $ 26     $ 110     May 2004
PSCo Bridge Facility
  $ 300     $ 300     $ 0     $ 0     $ 0     June 2004
SPS
  $ 100     $ 38     $ 62     $ 28     $ 90     Feb. 2004
Xcel Energy – Holding Company
  $ 400     $ 130     $ 270     $ 341     $ 611     Nov. 2005
 
   
     
     
     
     
         
 
Total
  $ 1,425     $ 889     $ 536     $ 429     $ 965          

Xcel Energy expects to accumulate additional cash at the holding company level during 2003 from the lower federal income tax payments resulting from the expected tax benefit associated with its investment in NRG and from the receipt of operating company dividends. Restrictions by state regulatory commissions, debt agreements and PUHCA over the level of dividends the utility operating companies limit the amount of dividends the utility subsidiaries can pay to Xcel Energy.

Financing Activities

Xcel Energy

In May 2003, Xcel Energy registered the resale of $230 million of 7.5 percent senior convertible notes due 2007 with the SEC. The notes had been previously sold to qualified institutional buyers.

In June 2003, Xcel Energy issued $195 million of 3.40 percent senior notes due 2008. The notes were sold to qualified institutional buyers.

NSP-Minnesota

In April 2003, NSP-Minnesota amended an existing shelf registration statement with $415 million of available debt to allow for the issuance of secured debt, in addition to unsecured debt.

On July 31, 2003, NSP-Minnesota redeemed $200 million of 7.875 percent Trust Originated Preferred Securities of NSP Financing I, its wholly owned subsidiary. The redemption price for each security was its $25 principal amount plus a $0.1695 unpaid distribution. NSP-Minnesota initially funded this redemption with cash on hand, availability under its credit facility and a short-term loan from the Xcel Energy holding company.

On August 8, 2003, NSP-Minnesota issued $200 million of 2.875 percent first mortgage bonds due 2006 and $175 million of 4.75 percent first mortgage bonds due 2010. The debt replaced debt, which matured in March and April of 2003 and helped fund the redemption of $200 million of Trust Originated Preferred Securities on July 31, 2003, which was initially funded as described above.

PSCo

In March 2003, PSCo issued $250 million of 4.875 percent first collateral trust bonds due 2013. The bonds were sold to qualified institutional buyers.

In April 2003, PSCo registered $500 million of additional debt securities to supplement the existing $300 million of already registered debt securities.

On June 30, 2003, PSCo redeemed its $145 million of 8.75 percent first mortgage bonds due March 1, 2022. The redemption price was 100 percent of the principal amount plus a 3.76 percent call premium and accrued interest.

On June 30, 2003, PSCo’s trust subsidiary PSCo Capital Trust I redeemed its $194 million of 7.60 percent Trust Originated Preferred Securities. The redemption price for each security was its $25 principal amount plus a $0.475 unpaid distribution.

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The redemptions were temporarily funded from the $300 million short-term credit facility, the $350 million revolving credit facility, and cash on hand. PSCo expects to issue permanent financing of about $575 million during the third quarter of 2003.

Short-term debt and financial instruments are discussed in Note 9 to the Financial Statements.

Financing Plans

The following details Xcel Energy’s financing plan for debt issuances during 2003, subject to favorable market conditions:

    PSCo expects to issue up to $575 million of debt for working capital and repayment of short-term borrowings incurred for the redemption of $194 million of Trust Originated Preferred Securities and $145 million of 8.75 percent first mortgage bonds. Both issues were redeemed on June 30, 2003. PSCo has entered into a bridge financing arrangement to provide short-term liquidity until it completes its long-term debt offering.
 
    NSP-Wisconsin expects to issue up to $150 million of debt to replace debt maturing in 2003 and for possible refinancing of existing long-term with lower coupon debt.
 
    SPS may issue up to $100 million of debt for refinancing of higher coupon securities.

Financing Restrictions

Registered holding companies and certain of their subsidiaries, including Xcel Energy and its utility subsidiaries, are limited, under PUHCA, in their ability to issue securities. Such registered holding companies and their subsidiaries may not issue securities unless authorized by an exemptive rule or order of the SEC. Because Xcel Energy does not qualify for any of the main exemptive rules, it sought and received financing authority from the SEC under PUHCA for various financing arrangements. Xcel Energy’s current financing authority permits it, subject to satisfaction of certain conditions, to issue through Sept. 30, 2003 up to $2 billion of common stock and long-term debt and $1.5 billion of short-term debt at the holding company level. Xcel Energy has issued $2 billion of long-term debt and common stock. Consequently, absent further authorization from the SEC under PUHCA, Xcel Energy will not be able to issue any additional common stock (other than through benefit plans or dividend reinvestment) or long-term debt. Xcel Energy has requested an extension of its financing authority to Sept. 30, 2004 and an increase in that authority to $2.5 billion of long-term debt and common stock.

Dividend Restrictions

As a result of additional write-downs at NRG, Xcel Energy’s retained earnings were a deficit of approximately $245 million on June 30, 2003. Based on current retained earnings levels and assumptions regarding third quarter earnings and the timing of recognition of tax benefits associated with Xcel Energy’s investment in NRG, it appears unlikely that Xcel Energy would have sufficient retained earnings to pay third quarter dividends without a waiver from the SEC under PUHCA.

Under the PUHCA, unless there is an order from the SEC, a holding company or any subsidiary may declare and pay dividends only out of retained earnings. In May 2003, Xcel Energy received authorization from the SEC to pay an aggregate amount of $152 million of common and preferred dividends out of capital and unearned surplus. Xcel Energy used this authorization to declare and pay approximately $150 million for its first and second quarter dividends in 2003. In addition, the SEC reserved jurisdiction, which would allow Xcel Energy to pay an additional $108 million of common and preferred dividends out of capital and unearned surplus until Sept. 30, 2003, if authorized by further action of the SEC.

Since it appears that retained earnings will be insufficient to declare and pay a third quarter dividend as normally scheduled, Xcel Energy intends to request authorization from the SEC to pay its third quarter dividend out of capital and unearned surplus. In the event that authorization is not received from the SEC to pay the third quarter dividend in that manner, and assuming that the NRG plan of reorganization is approved by NRG’s creditors in 2003 as expected, Xcel Energy currently expects to have retained earnings sufficiently positive before the end of 2003 to pay dividends from retained earnings at that time. Xcel Energy intends to make every effort to pay the full annual dividend of 75 cents per share during 2003 on its common stock and all accrued dividends on its preferred stock.

NRG Financial Issues and Bankruptcy

As discussed in Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, since mid-2002, NRG has experienced severe financial difficulties, resulting primarily from declining credit ratings and lower wholesale prices for power. These financial difficulties have caused NRG to, among other things, miss several scheduled payments of interest and principal on its bonds and incur

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asset impairment charges and other costs in excess of $3 billion in 2002. These asset impairment charges related to write-offs for anticipated losses on sales of several projects as well as anticipated losses related to projects for which NRG has stopped funding. In addition, as a result of having its credit ratings downgraded, NRG is in default of obligations to post cash collateral of approximately $1 billion. Furthermore, on Nov. 6, 2002, lenders to NRG accelerated approximately $1.1 billion of NRG’s debt under the construction revolver financing facility, rendering the debt immediately due and payable. In addition, on Feb. 27, 2003, lenders to NRG accelerated approximately $1.0 billion of NRG Energy’s debt under the corporate revolver financing facility, rendering the debt immediately due and payable. On May 14, 2003, NRG, including certain subsidiaries, filed a voluntary petition for bankruptcy under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. The filing included NRG’s plan of reorganization among Xcel Energy, NRG and various members of NRG’s major credit constituencies.

On March 26, 2003, Xcel Energy’s board of directors approved a tentative settlement with holders of most of NRG’s long-term notes and the steering committee representing NRG’s bank lenders regarding alleged claims of such creditors against Xcel Energy. Xcel Energy would pay up to $752 million to NRG to settle all claims of NRG against Xcel Energy, including all claims under a capital support agreement between Xcel Energy and NRG. The principal terms and contingencies to consummation of the settlement are discussed in Note 4.

Xcel Energy expects to finance the payments with cash on hand at the holding company level and with funds from the tax benefits associated with its write-off of its investment in NRG. See further discuss of the tax implications of the bankruptcy and settlement agreement in Notes 4 and 6. Upon the effective date of the NRG plan of reorganization, Xcel Energy’s exposure on any guarantees or other credit support obligations incurred by Xcel Energy for the benefit of NRG or any subsidiary would be terminated and any cash collateral posted by Xcel Energy would be returned to it. The current amount of such cash collateral is approximately $0.5 million.

While it is an exception rather than the rule, especially where one of the companies involved is not in bankruptcy, the equitable doctrine of substantive consolidation permits a bankruptcy court to disregard the separateness of related entities; to consolidate and pool the entities’ assets and liabilities; and treat them as though held and incurred by one entity where the interrelationship between the entities warrants such consolidation. In the event the settlement described above is not effectuated, Xcel Energy believes that any effort to substantively consolidate Xcel Energy with NRG would be without merit. However, it is possible that NRG or its creditors would attempt to advance such claims, or other claims under piercing the corporate veil, alter ego, control person or related theories, in the NRG bankruptcy proceeding. If a bankruptcy court were to allow substantive consolidation of Xcel Energy and NRG or if another court were to allow related claims, it would have a material adverse effect on Xcel Energy.

The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements do not necessarily reflect future conditions or matters that may arise as a result of NRG’s bankruptcy filing and its ultimate resolution. Pending the outcome of its voluntary bankruptcy petition, NRG remains subject to substantial doubt as to its ability to continue as a going concern. See Note 5 for discussion of the change in Xcel Energy’s financial statement presentation of NRG in 2003, as a result of the bankruptcy filing. In addition, Exhibit 99.02 includes pro-forma Xcel Energy income statement information for the six months ended June 30, 2002, presenting NRG under the equity method, on a basis comparable to the year-to-date income statement for 2003 included in this report. Pro-forma financial information has not been provided for the effects on Xcel Energy of actually divesting NRG, once it emerges from bankruptcy, due to the limited nature of such effects. In relation to the deconsolidated, equity method reporting of NRG in 2003 (and the corresponding pro-forma amounts for periods prior to 2003), these divestiture effects would be limited to the payment of the settlement obligations (that is, elimination of the negative investment) and the discontinuance of recording any equity in NRG’s losses.

Xcel Energy believes that the ultimate resolution of NRG’s financial difficulties and going-concern uncertainty will not affect Xcel Energy’s ability to continue as a going concern. Xcel Energy is not dependent on cash flows from NRG, nor is Xcel Energy contingently liable to creditors of NRG in an amount material to Xcel Energy’s liquidity. Xcel Energy believes that its cash flows from regulated utility operations and anticipated financing capabilities will be sufficient to fund its non-NRG-related operating, investing and financing requirements. Beyond these sources of liquidity, Xcel Energy believes it will have adequate access to additional debt and equity financing that is not conditioned upon the outcome of NRG’s financial restructuring plan.

Item 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

See Item 2, Management’s Discussion and Analysis — Market Risks.

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Item 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Xcel Energy maintains a set of disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms. As of the end of the period covered by this report, based on an evaluation carried out under the supervision and with the participation of Xcel Energy’s management, including the chief executive officer (CEO) and chief financial officer (CFO), of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, except as indicated in the next paragraph, the CEO and CFO have concluded that Xcel Energy’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective.

During the fourth quarter of 2002, Xcel Energy’s wholly owned subsidiary, NRG, determined that there were certain deficiencies in the internal controls relating to financial reporting at NRG caused by NRG’s pending financial restructuring and business realignment. During the second half of 2002, there were material changes and vacancies in senior NRG management positions and a diversion of NRG financial and management resources to restructuring efforts. These circumstances detracted from NRG’s ability, through its internal controls, to timely monitor and accurately assess the impact of certain transactions, as would be expected in an effective financial reporting control environment. NRG has dedicated and will continue to dedicate in 2003 resources to make corrections to those control deficiencies. Notwithstanding the foregoing and as indicated in the certification accompanying the signature page to this report, the certifying officers have certified that, to the best of their knowledge, the financial statements and other financial information included in this report on Form 10-Q, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of Xcel Energy as of, and for the periods presented in this report.

No change in Xcel Energy’s internal control over financial reporting has occurred during the most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, Xcel Energy’s internal control over financial reporting. Also, subsequent to the date of the most recent evaluation, there have been no significant changes in Xcel Energy’s internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls.

Part II — OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

In the normal course of business, various lawsuits and claims have arisen against Xcel Energy. Management, after consultation with legal counsel, has recorded an estimate of the probable cost of settlement or other disposition for such matters. See Notes 7 and 8 of the Consolidated Financial Statements in this Form 10-Q for further discussion of legal proceedings, including Regulatory Matters and Commitments and Contingent Liabilities, which are hereby incorporated by reference. Reference also is made to Item 3 of Xcel Energy’s 2002 Form 10-K and Note 18 of the consolidated financial statements in such Form 10-K for a description of certain legal proceedings presently pending. There are no new significant cases to report against Xcel Energy or its subsidiaries, and there have been no notable changes in the previously reported proceedings, except as set forth below.

SPS

On July 24, 1995, Lamb County Electric Cooperative, Inc. (LCEC) petitioned the PUCT for a cease and desist order against SPS. LCEC alleged that SPS had been unlawfully providing service to oil field customers and their facilities in LCEC’s singly certificated area. Lamb County also has sued Xcel Energy in Texas state court. In April 2003, the PUCT approved a recommended proposal for decision. Xcel Energy defended its service by demonstrating that in 1976 the cooperatives, Xcel Energy and the PUCT intended that Xcel Energy was to serve the expanding oil field operations. Xcel Energy demonstrated through extensive research that it was serving each of the oil field units and leases back in 1975, and it was not serving new customers. The PUCT decided that Xcel Energy was authorized to serve the oil field operations and denied LCEC’s request for a cease and desist order.

NRG

Connecticut Light & Power Company v. NRG Power Marketing Inc., Docket No. 3:01-CV-2373 (A WT), pending in the United States District Court, District of Connecticut - This matter involves a claim by The Connecticut Light & Power Company (CL&P) for recovery of amounts it claims are owing for congestion charges under the terms of a standard offer services contract between the parties, dated Oct. 29, 1999. CL&P has served and filed its motion for summary judgment to which NRG Power Marketing Inc. (NRG PMI) filed a response on March 21, 2003. CL&P has offset approximately $30 million from amounts owed to NRG PMI, claiming that it has the right to offset those amounts under the contract. NRG PMI has counterclaimed seeking to recover those amounts, arguing among other things that CL&P has no rights under the contract to offset them. On May 14, 2003, NRG PMI provided notice to CL&P of termination of the contract effective May 19, 2003. Pursuant to the request of the Attorney General of Connecticut and the Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control, on May 16, 2003, the FERC issued an order directing NRG PMI to continue to provide service to CL&P under the contract,

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pending further order by the FERC. On May 19, 2003, NRG PMI withdrew its notice of termination of the contract. On June 25, 2003, the FERC issued an order directing NRG PMI to continue to provide service to CL&P under the contract, pending further notice by the FERC. NRG PMI cannot estimate at this time the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome in this matter, or the overall exposure for congestion charges for the full term of the contract.

Connecticut Light & Power – Related Proceedings at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and the Second Circuit - In May, 2003, when NRG PMI took steps to terminate or reject in bankruptcy the subject standard offer services contract with CL&P (CL&P Contract), the Connecticut Attorney General and the Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control (DPUC) sought and obtained from the FERC its above-referenced May 16, 2003 order temporarily requiring NRG PMI to continue to comply with the terms of the CL&P Contract, pending further notice from the FERC. Thereafter, On June 2, 2003, the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York issued its Order specifically authorizing NRG PMI’s rejection of the CL&P Contract, and by Order dated June 12, 2003, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York granted NRG PMI’s motion for a temporary restraining order staying all actions by CL&P, the Connecticut Attorney General and the DPUC to enforce or apply the above-referenced FERC order and affording NRG PMI leave to cease its performance under the CL&P Contract, effective retroactive to June 2, 2003. The FERC then issued an order on June 25, 2003, that again commanded NRG PMI’s continued performance regardless of any contrary ruling by the bankruptcy court and the District Court’s temporary restraining order. By order dated June 30, 2003, the District Court dismissed NRG PMI’s motion for preliminary injunction for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. On July 1, 2003, NRG PMI resumed performance under the CL&P Contract. On July 3, 2003, NRG PMI requested of the FERC a stay of the June 25 order which request was denied. On July 8, 2003, NRG PMI requested an emergency stay of the FERC’s June 25 order pending petition for review from the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. On July 16, 2003, the District of Columbia Circuit denied NRG PMI’s request for a stay of the June 25 order. On July 17, 2003, NRG PMI appealed to the Second Circuit respecting the District Court’s refusal to enjoin the FERC and maintain the restraining order. On July 18, 2003, NRG PMI requested emergency injunctive relief with respect to performance under the CL&P Contract and an expedited briefing schedule on the appeal. NRG awaits the Second Circuit’s decision on the above appeal as well as a permanent order by the FERC with respect to NRG PMI’s continued performance under the CL&P Contract. Should NRG PMI have to perform for the duration of the CL&P Contract, this could have an adverse financial consequence approaching $100 million.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

NRG has identified the following material defaults with respect to the indebtedness of NRG and its significant subsidiaries:

$350 million 8.25% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2010 issued by NRG

    Failure to make $14.4 million interest payment due on Sept. 16, 2002
 
    Failure to make $14.4 million interest payment due on March 17, 2003

$250 million 8.70% Remarketable or Redeemable Securities due 2005 issued by NRG Energy Pass-Through Trust 2000-1

    Failure to make $10.9 million interest payment due on Sept. 16, 2002
 
    Failure to make $10.9 million interest payment due on March 17, 2003

$240 million 8.0% Remarketable or Redeemable Securities due 2013 issued by NRG

    Failure to make $9.6 million interest payment due on Nov. 1, 2002
 
    Failure to make $9.6 million interest payment due on May 1, 2003

$350 million 7.75% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2011 issued by NRG

    Failure to make $13.6 million interest payment due on Oct. 1, 2002
 
    Failure to make $13.6 million interest payment due on April 1, 2003

$500 million of 8.625% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2031 issued by NRG

    Failure to make $21.6 million interest payment due on Oct. 1, 2002
 
    Failure to make $21.6 million interest payment due on April 1, 2003

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$300 million of 7.50% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2009 issued by NRG

    Failure to make $11.3 million interest payment due on Dec. 1, 2002
Failure to make $11.3 million interest payment due on June 1, 2003

$250 million of 7.50% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2007 issued by NRG

    Failure to make $9.4 million interest payment due on Dec. 15, 2002
Failure to make $9.4 million interest payment due on June 15, 2003

$340 million of 6.75% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2006 issued by NRG

    Failure to make $11.5 million interest payment due on Jan. 15, 2003

$125 million of 7.625% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2006 issued by NRG

    Failure to make $4.8 million interest payment due on Feb. 1, 2003

NRG Equity Units (NRZ) and related 6.50% Senior Unsecured Debentures due 2006 issued by NRG

    Failure to make $4.7 million interest payment due on Nov. 16, 2002
 
    Failure to make $4.7 million interest payment due on Feb. 17, 2003

$1.0 billion 364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement dated March 8, 2002, among NRG, ABN Amro Bank NV, as Administrative Agent and the other parties

    Failure to make $6.5 million interest payment due on Sept. 30, 2002
 
    Failure to make $18.6 million interest payment due on Dec. 31, 2002
 
    Failure to make $17.8 million interest payment due on March 31, 2003
Failure to make $18.0 million interest payment due on June 30, 2003
 
    Missed minimum interest coverage ratio of 1.75x
 
    Violated minimum net tangible worth of $1.5 billion
 
    Notice of default issued on Feb. 27, 2003, rendering the debt immediately due and payable

$125 million Standby Letter of Credit Facility dated Nov. 30, 1999, among NRG, Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited, as Administrative Agent, and the other parties thereto

    Missed minimum interest coverage ratio of 1.75x
 
    Violated minimum net tangible worth of $1.5 billion
 
    Cross default to $1.0 billion revolving line of credit agreement
Availability reduced to the amount outstanding, which was $103 million as of June 30, 2003

$2.0 billion Credit Agreement, dated May 8, 2001, among NRG Finance Company I LLC, Credit Suisse First Boston, as Administrative Agents, and the other parties thereto

    Failure to make $46.9 million in combined interest payments as of March 31, 2003
 
    Failure to fund equity obligations for construction
 
    Failure to post collateral requirements due under equity support agreement
 
    Acceleration of debt on Nov. 6, 2002, rendering the debt immediately due and payable

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$325 million Series A floating rate Senior Secured Bonds due 2019 issued by NRG Peaker Finance Company LLC

    Failure to remove liens placed on one of the project company assets
 
    A cross default resulting from failure by NRG Energy to make payments of principal, interest and other amounts due on NRG Energy’s debt for borrowed money in excess of $50 million in the aggregate
 
    Notice of default issued on Oct. 22, 2002
 
    Acceleration of debt on May 13, 2003, rendering the debt immediately due and payable

$500 million of 8.962% Series A-1 Senior Secured Notes due 2016 issued by NRG South Central Generating LLC

    Failure to make $20.2 million interest and $12.8 million principal payment due on Sept. 16, 2002
 
    Failure to make $12.8 million principal payment due on March 17, 2003
 
    Failure to fund debt service reserve account
 
    Acceleration of debt on Nov. 21, 2002, rendering the debt immediately due and payable

$300 million 9.479% Series B-1 Senior Secured bonds due 2024 issued by NRG South Central Generating LLC

    Failure to make $14.2 million interest payment due on Sept. 16, 2002
 
    Failure to fund debt service reserve account
 
    Acceleration of debt on Nov. 21, 2002, rendering the debt immediately due and payable

$320 million of 8.065% Series A Senior Secured Bonds due 2004 issued by NRG Northeast Generating LLC

    Failure to make $53.5 million principal payment on Dec. 15, 2002
 
    Failure to fund debt service reserve account

$130 million of 8.824% Series B Senior Secured Bonds due 2015 issued by NRG Northeast Generating LLC

    Failure to fund debt service reserve account

$300 million of 9.29% Series C Senior Secured Bonds due 2024 issued by NRG Northeast Generating LLC

    Failure to fund debt service reserve account

$580 million Loan Agreement dated June 25, 2001, as amended, among MidAtlantic Generating LLC, JP Morgan Chase Bank, as Administrative Agent, and the other parties thereto

    Failure to fund the debt service reserve account

$554 million, Credit and Reimbursement Agreement dated Nov. 12, 1999, as amended, among, LSP Kendall Energy LLC, Societe General, as Administrative Agent and the other parties thereto

    Liens placed against project assets

$181 million Loan Agreement dated Nov. 30, 2001, as amended, among McClain LLC and Westdeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale, as Administrative Agent

    Failure to fund the debt service reserve account
 
    Failure to comply with revenue allocation procedures under Article 3 of the Energy Management Services Agreement

     In addition to the foregoing, there may be additional technical defaults with respect to these or other NRG debt instruments. Further, defaults on or acceleration of the foregoing debt instruments may result in cross-defaults on or cross-acceleration of these or other NRG debt instruments.

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Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

Xcel Energy’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders was held on June 11, 2003, for the purpose of voting on the matters listed below. Proxies for the meeting were solicited pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and there were no solicitations in opposition to management’s solicitations. All of management’s nominees for directors as listed in the proxy statement were elected. The voting results were as follows:

1.   A proposal to elect four directors to Class II until the 2006 Annual Meeting of Shareholders:

                 
Election of Director   Shares Voted For   Withheld Authority

 
 
Wayne H. Brunetti
    304,218,950       28,855,689  
Roger R. Hemminghaus
    308,440,863       24,633,776  
Douglas W. Leatherdale
    310,331,061       22,743,578  
A. Patricia Sampson
    310,080,945       22,993,694  

2.   Proposal to approve resolution eliminating the classification of terms of the board of directors:

                 
Shares Voted For   Shares Voted Against   Shares Abstained

 
 
117,153,946
    105,814,511       8,373,887  

Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

(a)  Exhibits

The following Exhibits are filed with this report:

4.01   Supplemental Trust Indenture dated June 15, 2003 from Xcel Energy to Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, N.A., Trustee.
 
10.01   Stock Equivalent Plan for Non-Employee Directors of Xcel Energy Inc., as amended and restated effective Jan. 1, 2001
 
10.02   Separation Agreement dated Oct. 26, 2001, between Xcel Energy Inc. and Ben Fowke
 
31.01   Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
32.01   Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
99.01   Statement pursuant to Private Securities Litigation Reform Act.
 
99.02   Unaudited consolidated pro forma financial information — accounting for NRG on the equity method

(b)  Reports on Form 8-K

The following reports on Form 8-K were filed either during the three months ended June 30, 2003, or between June 30, 2003, and the date of this report:

Aug. 1, 2003 (filed Aug. 1, 2003) – Items 12 and 7 Results of Operations and Financial Statements and Exhibits — Re: Preliminary Earnings Release of Xcel Energy.

June 20, 2003 (filed June 23, 2003) – Items 5 and 7 Other Events and Financial Statements and Exhibits — Re: Private Placement of Long-Term Debt by Xcel Energy.

June 13, 2003 (filed June 13, 2003) – Items 5 and 7 Other Events and Financial Statements and Exhibits — Re: Press Release regarding e prime.

June 9, 2003 (filed June 9, 2003) – Items 7 and 9 Financial Statements and Exhibits and Regulation FD Disclosure — Re: Presentation to Deutsche Bank Conference.

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April 29, 2003 (filed April 29, 2003) – Items 7 and 9 Financial Statements and Exhibits and Results of Operations and Financial Condition — Re: Preliminary Earnings Release of Xcel Energy for the First Quarter of 2003.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

  XCEL ENERGY INC.
(Registrant)

  /s/ DAVID E. RIPKA
David E. Ripka
Vice President and Controller

  /s/ RICHARD C. KELLY
Richard C. Kelly
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Date: Aug. 15, 2003

48 EX-4.01 3 c78734exv4w01.htm EX-4.01 SUPPLEMENTAL TRUST INDENTURE exv4w01

 

Exhibit 4.01

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE NO. 2

FROM

XCEL ENERGY INC.
(A MINNESOTA CORPORATION)

TO

WELLS FARGO BANK MINNESOTA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
TRUSTEE


DATED AS OF

JUNE 15, 2003

SUPPLEMENTAL TO INDENTURE
DATED AS OF DECEMBER 1, 2000

 


 

     SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE No. 2, made as of the 15th day of June, 2003, by and between XCEL ENERGY INC., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Minnesota (the “Company”), and WELLS FARGO BANK MINNESOTA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States, as trustee (the “Trustee”):

WITNESSETH:

     WHEREAS, the Company has heretofore executed and delivered its Indenture (hereinafter referred to as the “Indenture”), made as of December 1, 2000; and

     WHEREAS, Section 2.5 of the Indenture provides that Securities shall be issued in series and that a Company Order shall specify the terms of each series; and

     WHEREAS, the Company has this day delivered a Company Order setting forth the terms of two new series of Securities designated “3.40% Senior Notes, Series A due 2008” (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the “Series A Notes due 2008” or the “Initial Notes”) and “3.40% Senior Notes, Series B due 2008” (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the “Series B Notes due 2008” or the “Exchange Notes”); and

     WHEREAS, Section 12.1 of the Indenture provides that the Company and the Trustee may enter into indentures supplemental thereto for the purposes, among others, of establishing the form of Securities or establishing or reflecting any terms of any Security and adding to the covenants of the Company; and

     WHEREAS, the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture No. 2 (herein, “this Supplemental Indenture”) have been duly authorized by a resolution or written consent adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company.

     NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

     That in order to set forth the terms and conditions upon which the Series A Notes due 2008 and the Series B Notes due 2008 are, and are to be, authenticated, issued and delivered, and in consideration of the premises of the purchase and acceptance of the Series A Notes due 2008 and the Series B Notes due 2008 by the Holders thereof and the sum of one dollar duly paid to it by the Trustee at the execution of this Supplemental Indenture, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, the Company covenants and agrees with the Trustee for the equal and proportionate benefit of the respective Holders from time to time of the Series A Notes due 2008 and the Series B Notes due 2008, as follows:

ARTICLE ONE
RELATION TO INDENTURE; DEFINITIONS

     SECTION 1.01. This Supplemental Indenture constitutes an integral part of the Indenture.

     SECTION 1.02. For all purposes of this Supplemental Indenture:

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  (a)   Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings specified in the Indenture;
 
  (b)   All references herein to Articles and Sections, unless otherwise specified, refer to the corresponding Articles and Sections of this Supplemental Indenture;
 
  (c)   The terms “hereof,” “herein,” “hereby,” “hereto,” “hereunder” and “herewith” refer to this Supplemental Indenture; and
 
  (d)   For all purposes as of this Supplemental Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms shall have the following respective meanings:

  “Exchange Notes” means the Series B Notes due 2008 to be issued under the Indenture and this Supplemental Indenture in exchange for the Initial Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
 
  “Exchange Offer” means the offer by the Company, pursuant to an effective registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, to exchange all of the Series B Notes due 2008 for all of the outstanding Series A Notes due 2008 in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement.
 
  “Exchange Offer Consummation Date” means the date on which the Exchange Offer is consummated in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement.
 
  “Initial Notes” means the Series A Notes due 2008 being issued by the Company under the Indenture and this Supplemental Indenture and sold to the Initial Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
 
  “Initial Purchasers” has the meaning set forth in the Purchase Agreement.
 
  “Purchase Agreement” means the Purchase Agreement dated as of June 19, 2003 among the Company and the Initial Purchasers.
 
  “Registration Rights Agreement” means the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of June 24, 2003 among the Company and the Initial Purchasers.

ARTICLE TWO
3.40% SENIOR NOTES, SERIES A DUE 2008
AND 3.40% SENIOR NOTES, SERIES B DUE 2008

     SECTION 2.01. There are hereby created two series of securities designated: (i)3.40% Senior Notes, Series A due 2008, in the aggregate principal amount which at any time may not exceed $195,000,000 (the “Series A Notes due 2008”), and (ii) 3.40% Senior Notes, Series B due 2008, in the aggregate principal amount which at any time may not exceed $195,000,000 less the

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aggregate principal amount of Series A Notes due 2008 then outstanding (the “Series B Notes due 2008”).

     The Series A Notes due 2008 may forthwith be executed by the Company substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto and delivered to the Trustee for authentication and delivery by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and this Supplemental Indenture. On or prior to the Exchange Offer Consummation Date, the Company may execute and deliver to the Trustee, and upon delivery of a request from the Company to the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.5 of the Indenture, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Series B Notes due 2008 substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto, in exchange for a like principal amount of Series A Notes due 2008 validly surrendered to the Company and/or the Trustee, as applicable, pursuant to the Exchange Offer and in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement. Such request from the Company shall specify the amount of the Series B Notes due 2008 to be authenticated and delivered and the date on which such Series B Notes due 2008 are to be authenticated and delivered. The aggregate principal amount of the Series A Notes due 2008 together with the Series B Notes due 2008 outstanding at any time may not exceed $195,000,000.

     SECTION 2.02. Except as otherwise provided in Sections 2.03 and 2.05 hereof, the principal amount of the Series A Notes due 2008 and Series B Notes due 2008 shall be payable on the stated maturity date of July 1, 2008.

     SECTION 2.03.

       (a) The Series A Notes due 2008 shall be dated their date of authentication as provided in the Indenture and shall bear interest from their date at the rate of 3.40% per annum, payable semi-annually on January 1 and July 1 of each year, commencing January 1, 2004. The Regular Record Dates with respect to such January 1 and July 1 interest payment dates shall be December 15 and June 15, respectively. Principal and interest shall be payable to the persons and in the manner provided in Sections 2.4 and 2.12 of the Indenture.

       (b) The Series B Notes due 2008 shall be dated the date of authentication of the Series A Notes due 2008 that were exchanged for said Series B Notes due 2008 as provided in the Indenture and shall bear interest from the last interest payment date to which interest has been paid on the Series A Notes due 2008 that were exchanged for said Series B Notes due 2008 at the rate of 3.40% per annum, payable semi-annually on January 1 and July 1 of each year. The Regular Record Dates with respect to such January 1 and July 1 interest payment dates shall be December 15 and June 15, respectively. Principal and interest shall be payable to the persons and in the manner provided in Sections 2.4 and 2.12 of the Indenture.

       (c) Any Initial Notes which are presented to the Company and/or the Trustee for exchange pursuant to an Exchange Offer in accordance with the terms thereof shall be exchanged for Exchange Notes of equal principal amount upon surrender to the Company and/or the Trustee of the Initial Notes to be exchanged; provided, however, that the Initial Notes so surrendered for exchange shall be duly endorsed and accompanied by a letter of

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  transmittal or written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company, duly executed by the Holder thereof or its attorney who shall be duly authorized in writing to execute such document. Whenever any Initial Notes are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to and in the name of each Holder that has properly tendered its Initial Notes for exchange, the same aggregate principal amount of Exchange Notes as the Initial Notes that have been so surrendered and such Initial Notes shall be retired.

     SECTION 2.04. The Series A Notes due 2008 and Series B Notes due 2008 shall be payable at the corporate trust office of the Trustee and at the offices of such paying agents as the Company may appoint by Company Order in the future.

     SECTION 2.05.

     The Company may redeem the Series A Notes due 2008 and/or the Series B Notes due 2008 at any time, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (1) the principal amount being redeemed or (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the notes being redeemed, discounted to the date fixed for redemption on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Yield plus 25 basis points, plus in each case accrued interest to the date fixed for redemption.

     “Treasury Yield” means, for any date fixed for redemption, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for the date fixed for redemption.

     “Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Series A Notes due 2008 or Series B Notes due 2008, as the case may be, that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of the Series A Notes due 2008 or Series B Notes due 2008, as the case may be.

     “Independent Investment Banker” means UBS Securities LLC or its successor or, if such firm or its successor is unwilling or unable to select the Comparable Treasury Issue, one of the remaining Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by the Trustee after consultation with the Company.

     “Comparable Treasury Price” means, for any date fixed for redemption, (1) the average of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) on the third Business Day preceding the date fixed for redemption, as set forth in the daily statistical release (or any successor release) published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and designated “Composite 3:30 p.m. Quotations for U.S. Government Securities” or (2) if that release (or any successor release) is not published or does not contain those prices on that Business Day, (A) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for the date fixed for redemption, after excluding the highest and lowest Reference

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Treasury Dealer Quotations for the date fixed for redemption, or (B) if the Company obtains fewer than four Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations.

     “Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, for each Reference Treasury Dealer and any date fixed for redemption, the average, as determined by the Independent Investment Banker, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Independent Investment Banker by the Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m. on the third Business Day preceding the date fixed for redemption.

     “Reference Treasury Dealer” means (1) each of Credit Suisse First Boston LLC, McDonald Investments Inc., UBS Securities LLC and any other primary U.S. Government Securities dealer in the United States (a “Primary Treasury Dealer”) designated by, and not affiliated with, Credit Suisse First Boston LLC, McDonald Investments Inc., UBS Securities LLC and their respective successors, provided, however, that if any of the foregoing or any of their designees ceases to be a Primary Treasury Dealer, the Company shall appoint another Primary Treasury Dealer as a substitute and (2) any other Primary Treasury Dealer selected by the Company.

     The Series A Notes due 2008 and Series B Notes due 2008 shall not be subject to any sinking fund.

     SECTION 2.06.

       (a) The Series A Notes due 2008 and Series B Notes due 2008 shall be issued in fully registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof.

       (b) The Series A Notes due 2008 (1) if issued to “qualified institutional buyers” (each a “QIB”), as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act shall be issued in the form of one or more Rule 144A global notes or (2) if issued in offshore transactions to non-U.S. persons in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act shall be issued in the form of one or more Regulation S global notes, and in case of either (1) or (2) above, shall be deposited on behalf of the Holders of the Series A Notes due 2008 represented thereby with the Trustee, as custodian for the Depository, shall be registered in the name of the Depository or its nominee and the aggregate principal amount of Series A Notes due 2008 so issued may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee and the Depository or its nominee. For purposes hereof, (A) “Rule 144A global notes” means one or more Global Securities deposited with a custodian for, and registered in the name of a nominee of, the Depository, interests in which will be held for the benefit of purchasers of securities in transactions under Rule 144A, and (B) “Regulation S global notes” means one or more Global Securities deposited with a custodian for, and registered in the name of a nominee of, the Depository, interests in which will be held for the benefit of purchasers of the securities in offshore transactions under Regulation S.

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       (c) Except as provided in subparagraph (f) hereof, the Series A Notes due 2008 and the Series B Notes due 2008 are to be initially registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee for the Depository. Subject to subparagraphs (d), (e) and (f) hereof, such Series A Notes due 2008 and Series B Notes due 2008 shall not be transferable or exchangeable, nor shall any purported transfer be registered, except as follows:

       (i) such Series A Notes due 2008 and Series B Notes due 2008 may be transferred in whole, and appropriate registration of transfer effected, if such transfer is by such nominee to the Depository, or by the Depository to another nominee thereof, or by any nominee of the Depository to any other nominee thereof, or by the Depository or any nominee thereof to any successor securities depository or any nominee thereof; and

       (ii) such Series A Notes due 2008 and Series B Notes due 2008 may be exchanged for definitive Series A Notes due 2008 and Series B Notes due 2008 of the same series registered in the respective names of the beneficial owners thereof, and, subject to subparagraph (d), (e) and (f) below, thereafter shall be transferable without restriction, if:

       (A) the Depository, or any successor securities depositary, shall have notified the Company and the Trustee that it is unwilling or unable to continue to act as securities depository with respect to such Series A Notes due 2008 or Series B Notes due 2008, as the case may be, or the Depository has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Trustee shall not have been notified by the Company within ninety (90) days of the identity of a successor securities depository with respect to such Series A Notes due 2008 or Series B Notes due 2008, as the case may be;

       (B) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee a Company Order to the effect that such Series A Notes due 2008 or Series B Notes due 2008, as the case may be, shall be so exchangeable on and after a date specified therein; or

       (C) (x) an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (y) the Trustee shall have given notice of such Event of Default pursuant to Article 7 of the Indenture and (z) there shall have been delivered to the Company and the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the interests of the beneficial owners of such Series A Notes due 2008 or Series B Notes due 2008, as the case may be, in respect thereof will be materially impaired unless such owners become Holders of definitive Series A Notes due 2008 or Series B Notes due 2008, as the case may be.

       (d) All Series A Notes due 2008 and all beneficial interests in one or more Series A Notes due 2008 and all Securities issued upon registration of, transfer of, or in exchange for, any such Securities (other than Exchange Notes or Securities sold pursuant

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  to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or Securities issued, directly or indirectly, upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, any such Securities), shall be restricted securities within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act (collectively, “Restricted Securities”) and shall be subject to the restrictions on transfer provided in the legends set forth on the Restricted Securities. The registered Holder of each Registered Security, by such registered Holder’s acceptance thereof, agrees to be bound by such restrictions on transfer. All Restricted Securities shall bear on their faces the applicable legends limiting transferability set forth on the form the Series A Notes due 2008.

       Each registered Holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Security that is a Restricted Security will be deemed to have represented and agreed to offer, sell, pledge or otherwise transfer such beneficial interest only in accordance with the legend set forth on the face of the Restricted Securities.

       Subject to the restrictions on transfer and exchange set forth herein and in the Indenture, the holder of any Series A Notes due 2008 or Series B Notes due 2008 issued hereunder may transfer or exchange such Series A Notes due 2008 or Series B Notes due 2008, as the case may be, in whole or in part by surrendering them at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or its agent, together with (A), an executed instrument of assignment and transfer (in the case of a transfer) or a written request for exchange (in the case of exchange), and, in the case of Series A Notes due 2008 that are Restricted Securities, a certificate substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit B hereto, and (B) additional certifications and evidence that such transfer or exchange is in compliance with the Securities Act and the restrictions on transfer set forth in such notes as may be required pursuant to the terms of this Supplemental Indenture.

       (e) The following provisions shall apply with respect to any proposed transfer of a Rule 144A global note or a beneficial interest therein prior to (x) the date which is two years (or such shorter period of time as permitted by Rule 144(k) of the Securities Act) after the later of the Original Issue Date of the Series A Notes due 2008 and the last date on which the Company or any “affiliate” (as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act) of the Company was the owner of Series A Notes due 2008 (or any predecessor of the Series A Notes due 2008) or (y) such later date, if any, as may be required by applicable law:

       (i) a transfer of a Rule 144A global note or a beneficial interest therein to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A shall be made upon the representation of the transferee that it is purchasing the Series A Notes due 2008 for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a QIB and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Company as it has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon its foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A;

7


 

  (ii) a transfer of a Rule 144A global note or a beneficial interest therein in accordance with Regulation S shall be made upon receipt by the Trustee or its agent of a certificate substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit C hereto from the proposed transferor and, if requested by the Company or the Trustee, the delivery of an opinion of counsel, certifications and/or other information satisfactory to each of them.

       (f) The following provisions shall apply with respect to any proposed transfer of a Regulation S global note or a beneficial interest therein prior to (x) the date which is two years (or such shorter period of time as permitted by Rule 144(k) of the Securities Act) after the later of the Original Issue Date of the Series A Notes due 2008 and the last date on which the Company or any “affiliate” (as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act) of the Company was the owner of the Series A Notes due 2008 (or any predecessor of the Series A Notes due 2008) or (y) such later date, if any, as may be required by applicable law:

       (i) a transfer of a Regulation S global note or a beneficial interest therein to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A shall be made upon the representation of the transferee that it is purchasing the Series A Notes due 2008 for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a QIB and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Company as it has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon its foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A;

       (ii) a transfer of a regulation S global note or a beneficial interest therein in accordance with Regulation S shall be made upon receipt by the Trustee or its agent of a certificate substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit C hereto from the proposed transferor and, if requested by the Company or the Trustee, the delivery of an opinion of counsel, certifications and/or other information satisfactory to each of them.

       Prior to or on the expiration of the 40-day “distribution compliance period” within the meaning of Rule 903 of Regulation S under the Securities Act (the “Distribution Compliance Period”), beneficial interests in a Regulation S global note may only be held through the operator of the Euroclear System (“Euroclear”) or Clearstream Banking, a societe anonyme (“Clearstream”) (as indirect participants in the Depository), or another agent member of Euroclear or Clearstream acting for and on behalf of them, unless exchanged for interests in the Rule 144A global note in accordance with the certification requirements hereof.
 
       During the Distribution Compliance Period, interests in the Regulation S global note, if any, maybe be exchanged for interests in the Rule 144A global note only in accordance with the certification requirements described in clause (i) of this subsection (f).

8


 

     SECTION 2.07. The Series A Notes due 2008 and Series B Notes due 2008 shall initially be in the form attached as Exhibit A hereto.

ARTICLE THREE
MISCELLANEOUS

     SECTION 3.01. The recitals of fact herein and in the Series A Notes due 2008 and Series B Notes due 2008 (except the Trustee’s Certificate) shall be taken as statements of the Company and shall not be construed as made by the Trustee.

     SECTION 3.02. This Supplemental Indenture shall be construed in connection with and as a part of the Indenture.

     SECTION 3.03.

     (a)  If any provision of this Supplemental Indenture limits, qualifies, or conflicts with another provision of the Indenture required to be included in indentures qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (as enacted prior to the date of this Supplemental Indenture) by any of the provisions of Sections 310 to 317, inclusive, of said Act, such required provisions shall control.

     (b)  In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Supplemental Indenture or in the notes issued hereunder should be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein and therein shall not in any way be affected, impaired, prejudiced or disturbed thereby.

     SECTION 3.04. Whenever in this Supplemental Indenture either of the parties hereto is named or referred to, this shall be deemed to include the successors or assigns of such party, and all the covenants and agreements in this Supplemental Indenture contained by or on behalf of the Company or by or on behalf of the Trustee shall bind and inure to the benefit of the respective successors and assigns of such parties, whether so expressed or not.

     SECTION 3.05.

     (a)  This Supplemental Indenture may be simultaneously executed in several counterparts, and all said counterparts executed and delivered, each as an original, shall constitute but one and the same instrument.

     (b) The Table of Contents and the descriptive headings of the several Articles of this Supplemental Indenture were formulated, used and inserted in this Supplemental Indenture for convenience only and shall not be deemed to affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.

9


 

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, XCEL ENERGY INC. has caused this Supplemental Indenture to be signed by its President or a Vice President, and attested by its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary and WELLS FARGO BANK MINNESOTA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, has caused this Supplemental Indenture to be signed by its President, Vice President, Assistant Vice President or authorized Corporate Trust Officer, and attested by an authorized officer, this 24th day of June, 2003.

     
    XCEL ENERGY INC.
 
    By:  /s/ Benjamin G.S. Fowke III
   
    Name:  Benjamin G.S. Fowke III
    Title:  Vice President & Treasurer
ATTEST:    
 
By:  /s/ Anne M. Ziebell    

Anne Ziebell, Assistant Corporate Secretary
  WELLS FARGO BANK MINNESOTA,
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
 
    By:  /s/ Michael T. Lechner
   
ATTEST:   Name: Michael T. Lechner
Title: Assistant Vice President
By:  /s/ Michael G. Slade    

   
Name: Michael G. Slade
Title: Corporate Trust Officer
   

10


 

EXHIBIT A

FORM OF
3.40% SENIOR NOTES, SERIES [A]1 [B]2 DUE 2008

REGISTERED

     [THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”). THE HOLDER HEREOF, BY PURCHASING THIS SECURITY, AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED OTHER THAN (A)(1) TO THE COMPANY, (2) IN A TRANSACTION ENTITLED TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (3) SO LONG AS THIS SECURITY IS ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (“RULE 144A”), TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE RESALE, PLEDGE OR OTHER TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (4) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (5) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT (AND BASED UPON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY) OR (6) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND (B) IN EACH CASE IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF EACH STATE OF THE UNITED STATES. THE HOLDER HEREOF, BY PURCHASING THIS SECURITY, REPRESENTS AND AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT IT IS (1) A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A OR (2) A NON-U.S. PERSON OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.]1

     [THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, U.S. PERSONS EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPH. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER (1) REPRESENTS THAT IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION, (2) BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE) WHICH IS TWO YEARS AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE COMPANY OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE COMPANY WAS THE OWNER OF THIS


    1 To be inserted only in Series A Notes due 2008.
 
    2 To be inserted only in Series B Notes due 2008.

A-1


 

SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY), ONLY AS SET FORTH IN THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPH, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY’S AND THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHTS PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM (FORMS OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE COMPANY OR THE TRUSTEE) COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFEROR TO THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE.]3

     THIS NOTE IS A GLOBAL SECURITY REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITORY (REFERRED TO HEREIN) OR A NOMINEE THEREOF AND, UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR THE INDIVIDUAL NOTES REPRESENTED HEREBY, THIS GLOBAL SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITORY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY TO THE DEPOSITORY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY OR BY THE DEPOSITORY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY. UNLESS THIS GLOBAL SECURITY IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK), TO THE TRUSTEE FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

XCEL ENERGY INC.
(Incorporated under the laws of the State of Minnesota)
3.40% SENIOR NOTE, SERIES [A]1 [B]2 DUE 2008

     
CUSIP:   NUMBER:
ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE(S):   PRINCIPAL AMOUNT(S): $
INTEREST RATE: 3.40%   MATURITY DATE: July 1, 2008

     XCEL ENERGY INC., a corporation of the State of Minnesota (the “Company”), for value received hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co. or registered assigns, the principal sum of                      DOLLARS on the Maturity Date set forth above, and to pay interest thereon from the [Original Issue Date (or if this Global Security has two or more Original Issue Dates, interest shall, beginning on each such Original Issue Date,


    1 To be inserted by only in Series A Notes due 2008.
 
    2 To be inserted by only in Series B Notes due 2008.
 
    3 To be inserted only in Regulation S global note.

A-2


 

begin to accrue for that part of the principal amount to which that Original Issue Date is applicable) set forth above or]1 from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semiannually in arrears on the January 1 and July 1 in each year, commencing on the first such Interest Payment Date succeeding the applicable Original Issue Date set forth above, at the per annum Interest Rate set forth above, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment. No interest shall accrue on the Maturity Date, so long as the principal amount of this Global Security is paid on the Maturity Date. The interest so payable and punctually paid or duly provided for on any such Interest Payment Date will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Note is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the December 15 or June 15, as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date; provided, that the first Interest Payment Date for any part of this Note, the Original Issue Date of which is after a Regular Record Date but prior to the applicable Interest Payment Date, shall be the Interest Payment Date following the next succeeding Regular Record Date; and provided, that interest payable on the Maturity Date set forth above or, if applicable, upon redemption or acceleration, shall be payable to the Person to whom principal shall be payable. Except as otherwise provided in the Indenture (as defined below), any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and shall be paid to the Person in whose name this Note is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such defaulted interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Securityholders not more than fifteen days or fewer than ten days prior to such Special Record Date. On or before Noon, New York City time, or such other time as shall be agreed upon between the Trustee and the Depository, of the day on which such payment of interest is due on this Global Security (other than maturity), the Trustee shall pay to the Depository such interest in same day funds. On or before 11:30 a.m., New York City time, or such other time as shall be agreed upon between the Trustee and the Depository, of the day on which principal, interest payable at maturity and premium, if any, is due on this Global Security and following receipt of the necessary funds from the Company, the Trustee shall deposit with the Depository the amount equal to the principal, interest payable at maturity and premium, if any, by wire transfer into the account specified by the Depository. As a condition to the payment, on the Maturity Date or upon redemption or acceleration, of any part of the principal and applicable premium of this Global Security, the Depository shall surrender, or cause to be surrendered, this Global Security to the Trustee, whereupon a new Global Security shall be issued to the Depository.

     This Global Security is a global security in respect of a duly authorized issue of Senior Notes, Series [A]1 [B]2 due 2008 (the “Notes of this Series”, which term includes any Global Securities representing such Notes) of the Company issued and to be issued under an Indenture dated as of December 1, 2000 between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, National Association, as trustee (herein called the “Trustee”, which term includes any successor Trustee under the Indenture) and indentures supplemental thereto (collectively, the “Indenture”). Under the Indenture, one or more series of Securities may be issued and, as used herein, the term “Securities” refers to the Notes of this Series and any other outstanding series of Securities. Reference is hereby made for a more complete statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities under the Indenture of the Company, the Trustee and the


    1 To be inserted by only in Series A Notes due 2008.
 
    2 To be inserted by only in Series B Notes due 2008.

A-3


 

Securityholders and of the terms upon which the Securities are and are to be authenticated and delivered. This Global Security has been issued in respect of the series designated on the prior page hereof, limited in aggregate principal amount to $195,000,000 [minus the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Series A Notes due 2008 that are not being exchanged for Notes of this Series]2.

     Each Note of this Series shall be dated and issued as of the date of its authentication by the Trustee and shall bear an Original Issue Date or Dates. Each Security or Global Security issued upon transfer, exchange or substitution of such Security or Global Security shall bear the Original Issue Date or Dates of such transferred, exchanged or substituted Security or Global Security, as the case may be.

     The Company may redeem the Notes of this Series at any time, in whole or in part upon no less than 30 or more than 60 days prior notice given in the manner and with the effect provided in Section 3.2 of the Indenture, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (1) the principal amount being redeemed or (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the relevant series of notes being redeemed, discounted to the date fixed for redemption on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Yield plus 25 basis points, plus in each case accrued interest to the date fixed for redemption.

     “Treasury Yield” means, for any date fixed for redemption, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for the date fixed for redemption.

     “Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Notes of this Series that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of the Notes of this Series.

     “Independent Investment Banker” means UBS Securities LLC or its successor or, if such firm or its successor is unwilling or unable to select the Comparable Treasury Issue, one of the remaining Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by the Trustee after consultation with the Company.

     “Comparable Treasury Price” means, for any date fixed for redemption, (1) the average of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) on the third Business Day preceding the date fixed for redemption, as set forth in the daily statistical release (or any successor release) published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and designated “Composite 3:30 p.m. Quotations for U.S. Government Securities” or (2) if that release (or any successor release) is not published or does not contain those prices on that Business Day, (A) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for the date fixed for redemption, after excluding the highest and lowest Reference


    2 To be inserted by only in Series B Notes due 2008.

A-4


 

Treasury Dealer Quotations for the date fixed for redemption, or (B) if the Company obtains fewer than four Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations.

     “Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, for each Reference Treasury Dealer and any date fixed for redemption, the average, as determined by the Independent Investment Banker, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Independent Investment Banker by the Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m. on the third Business Day preceding the date fixed for redemption.

     “Reference Treasury Dealer” means (1) each of Credit Suisse First Boston LLC, McDonald Investments Inc., UBS Securities LLC and any other primary U.S. Government Securities dealer in the United States (a “Primary Treasury Dealer”) designated by, and not affiliated with, Credit Suisse First Boston LLC, McDonald Investments Inc., UBS Securities LLC and their respective successors, provided, however, that if any of the foregoing or any of their designees ceases to be a Primary Treasury Dealer, the Company shall appoint another Primary Treasury Dealer as a substitute and (2) any other Primary Treasury Dealer selected by the Company.

     Interest payments for this Global Security shall be computed and paid on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. In any case where any Interest Payment Date or date on which the principal of this Global Security is required to be paid is not a Business Day, then payment of principal, premium or interest need not be made on such date but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on such Interest Payment Date or date on which the principal of this Global Security is required to be paid and, in the case of timely payment thereof, no interest shall accrue for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date or the date on which the principal of this Global Security is required to be paid.

     The Company, at its option, and subject to the terms and conditions provided in the Indenture, will be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the Securities (except for certain obligations including obligations to register the transfer or exchange of Securities, replace stolen, lost or mutilated Securities, maintain paying agencies and hold monies for payment in trust, all as set forth in the Indenture) if the Company deposits with the Trustee money, U.S. Government Obligations which through the payment of interest thereon and principal thereof in accordance with their terms will provide money, or a combination of money and U.S. Government Obligations, in any event in an amount sufficient, without reinvestment, to pay all the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities on the dates such payments are due in accordance with the terms of the Securities.

     If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.

     The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modifications of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Securityholders under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the

A-5


 

consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Global Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Global Security and of any Note issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon the Note.

     As set forth in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, no Holder of any Securities will have any right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for any remedy thereunder unless such Holder shall have previously given to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to such Securities, the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities affected by such Event of Default shall have made written request and offered reasonable indemnity to the Trustee to institute such proceeding as Trustee and the Trustee shall have failed to institute such proceeding within 60 days; provided, however, that such limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by the Holder hereof for the enforcement of payment of the principal of and any premium or interest on this Note on or after the respective due dates expressed here.

     No reference herein to the Indenture and to provisions of this Global Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on this Global Security at the times, places and rates and the coin or currency prescribed in the Indenture.

     [Any Notes of this Series which are presented to the Company and/or the Trustee for exchange pursuant to an Exchange Offer in accordance with the terms thereof shall be exchanged for Exchange Notes of equal principal amount upon surrender to the Company and/or the Trustee of the Notes of this Series to be exchanged; provided, however, that the Notes of this Series so surrendered for exchange shall be duly endorsed and accompanied by a letter of transmittal or written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company, duly executed by the registered holder thereof or its attorney who shall be duly authorized in writing to execute such document. Whenever any Notes of this Series are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to and in the name of each registered holder that has properly tendered its Notes of this Series for exchange, the same aggregate principal amount of Exchange Notes as the Notes of this Series that have been so surrendered. For purposes hereof, the following defined terms shall have the meaning ascribed to them:

  “Exchange Offer” means the offer by the Company, pursuant to an effective registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, to exchange the Exchange Notes for all of the outstanding Notes of this Series.
 
  “Exchange Notes” means debt securities of the Company identical in all material respects to the Notes of this Series presented for exchange pursuant to the Exchange Offer (except that the transfer restrictions shall be modified or eliminated, as appropriate) and to be issued under the Indenture].1


    1 To be inserted by only in Series A Notes due 2008.

A-6


 

     As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, this Global Security may be transferred only as permitted by the legend hereto.

     If at any time the Depository for this Global Security notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depository for this Global Security or if at any time the Depository for this Global Security shall no longer be eligible or in good standing under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or other applicable statute or regulation, the Company shall appoint a successor Depository with respect to this Global Security. If a successor Depository for this Global Security is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such ineligibility, the Company’s election to issue this Note in global form shall no longer be effective with respect to this Global Security and the Company will execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of individual Notes of this Series in exchange for this Global Security, will authenticate and deliver individual Notes of this Series of like tenor and terms in definitive form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of this Global Security.

     The Company may at any time and in its sole discretion determine that all Notes of this Series (but not less than all) issued or issuable in the form of one or more Global Securities shall no longer be represented by such Global Security or Securities. In such event, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of individual Notes of this Series in exchange for such Global Security, shall authenticate and deliver, individual Notes of this Series of like tenor and terms in definitive form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Global Security or Securities in exchange for such Global Security or Securities.

     Under certain circumstances specified in the Indenture, the Depository may be required to surrender any two or more Global Securities which have identical terms (but which may have differing Original Issue Dates) to the Trustee, and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to, or at the direction of, the Depository a Global Security in principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, and with all terms identical to, the Global Securities surrendered thereto and that shall indicate all Original Issue Dates and the principal amount applicable to each such Original Issue Date. The Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Minnesota.

     Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee, directly or through an Authenticating Agent by manual signature of an authorized officer, this Global Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

     All terms used in this Global Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture unless otherwise indicated herein.

A-7


 

     In Witness Whereof, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

Dated:      

     
    XCEL ENERGY INC.
 
    By:
   
    Title:
Attest:    
Title:    

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE
OF AUTHENTICATION

     This Note is one of the Securities of the series herein designated, described or provided for in the within-mentioned Indenture.

   
  WELLS FARGO BANK MINNESOTA,
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
 
  By:
Authorized Officer

A-8


 

ABBREVIATIONS

     The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this instrument, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations.

     
TEN COM—as tenants in common   UNIF GIFT
    MIN ACT—            Custodian        
                    (Cust)                (Minor)
TEN ENT—as tenants by the entireties   Under Uniform Gifts to Minors
 
JT TEN—as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common         State

Additional abbreviations may also be used
though not in the above list.


     

     FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE

     




     Please print or typewrite name and address including postal zip code of assignee

the within security and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing                      attorney to transfer said security on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.

Dated:

NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within instrument in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.

A-9


 

EXHIBIT B

[Form of Transferor Certificate]

CERTIFICATE TO XCEL ENERGY INC. AND TRUSTEE
SERIES A NOTES DUE 2008

     This is to certify that as of the date hereof with respect to U.S. $                     principal amount of the above-captioned securities presented or surrendered on the date hereof (the “Surrendered Notes”) for registration of transfer or for exchange where the securities issuable upon such exchange are to be registered in a name other than that of the undersigned holder (each such transaction being a “transfer”), the undersigned holder of the Surrendered Notes represents and certifies for the benefit of Xcel Energy Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, National Association, as Trustee, that the transfer of Surrendered Notes associated with such transfer complies with the restrictive legend set forth on the face of the Surrendered Notes for the reason checked below:

     
  The Surrendered Notes are being transferred to a person whom we reasonably believe is a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933) (a “QIB”) that purchases for its own account or for the account of a QIB to whom notice is given that the resale, pledge or transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act; or
 
  The transfer of the Surrendered Notes complies with Rule 144 under the Securities Act;1 or
 
  The transfer of the Surrendered Notes complies with another applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.1
 
    [Name of holder]
 
    Dated:                          ,      
[To be dated the date of presentation or surrender]


    1 These transfers may require an opinion of counsel.

B-1


 

EXHIBIT C

[Form of Regulation S Transfer Certificate]

[date]

Xcel Energy Inc.
800 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, MN 55401

Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, National Association
MAC N9303-110
Sixth and Marquette Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55479
Attention: Michael T. Lechner

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:

     In connection with our proposed sale of $                aggregate principal amount of 3.40% Senior Notes, Series A due 2008 (the “Notes”) of Xcel Energy Inc. (the “Company”), we confirm that:

  (a)   the offer of the Notes was not made to a person in the United States;
 
  (b)   either (i) at the time the buy order was originated, the transferee was outside the United States or we and any person acting on our behalf reasonably believed that the transferee was outside the United States or (ii) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated off-shore securities market and neither we nor any person acting on our behalf knows that the transaction has been pre-arranged with a buyer in the United States;
 
  (c)   no directed selling efforts have been made in the United States in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b) of Regulation S, as applicable; and
 
  (d)   the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

     In addition, if the sale is made during a Distribution Compliance Period (within the meaning of Regulation S), we confirm that, to the best of our knowledge after due inquiry, the purchaser is not a U.S. Person (within the meaning of Regulation S).

     Further, if the sale is made during a Distribution Compliance Period and the provisions of Rule 903(a)(3) or Rule 904(b)(1) of Regulation S are applicable thereto, we confirm that such sale has been made in accordance with the applicable provisions of Rule 903(a)(3) or Rule 904(b)(1), as the case may be.

C-1


 

     The Company and the Trustee are entitled to rely upon this letter and are irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby. Terms used in this certificate have the meanings set forth in Regulation S.

         
            Very truly yours,
[Name of Transferor]
 
By:      
Date:        

C-2 EX-10.01 4 c78734exv10w01.htm EX-10.01 STOCK EQUIVALENT PLAN exv10w01

 

Exhibit 10.01

STOCK EQUIVALENT PLAN
FOR NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS OF
XCEL ENERGY INC.

(As Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 2001)

ARTICLE I

PURPOSE, DEFINITIONS AND GENERAL PROVISIONS

1.1. Purpose. The purposes of this Plan are: (a) to cause a portion of the compensation of each non-employee director of Xcel Energy Inc. (“Xcel”) to be paid in equivalents of common stock of the Company; and (b) to permit each director to defer receipt of all or a portion of his/her retainer, board or committee meeting fees.

1.2. Definitions.

  (a)   "Award” shall mean the amount, expressed either in dollars of Compensation or in Stock Equivalents, that will be credited to a Participant on an Award Date. The term “Award” includes Conversion Awards, Deferral Awards and Discretionary Awards.
 
  (b)   "Award Date” shall mean the date an Award is to be credited to a Participant.
 
  (c)   "Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
 
  (d)   "Beneficiary” shall mean the person or persons (including, without limitation, the trustees of any testamentary or inter vivos trust,) designated from time to time in writing by a Participant to receive payments under the Plan after the death of such Participant, or, in the absence of any such designation or in the event that such designated persons or person shall predecease such Participant, or shall not be in existence or shall otherwise be unable to receive such payments, the person or persons designated under such Director’s last will and testament or, in the absence of such designation, to the Participant’s estate.

 


 

  (e)   "Committee” shall mean those management members of the Company, namely the Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary, who administer the Plan, provided all such persons are not eligible to participate in the Plan. All decisions by the Committee shall be by simple majority and the decisions will be final.
 
  (f)   "Company” shall mean Xcel Energy Inc., a Minnesota corporation, and any successor thereof.
 
  (g)   "Compensation” shall mean payments which the Director receives from the Company for services as a member of its Board of Directors. Such payments may include directors’ retainers, board meeting fees and committee meeting fees, but shall exclude direct reimbursement of expenses.
 
  (h)   "Conversion Award” shall mean a one-time Award made to a Director in lieu of benefits earned by that Director under the Xcel Energy Inc. Retirement Plan for Non-Employee Directors, pursuant to an election described in Section 1.5 hereof.
 
  (i)   "Deferral Award” shall mean an Award made pursuant to a deferral election described in Section 1.4 hereof.
 
  (j)   "Director” shall mean any member of the Board of Directors of the Company who is not an employee of the Company.
 
  (k)   "Discretionary Award” shall mean an Award made at the sole discretion of the Board pursuant to Section 1.3 of this Plan.
 
  (l)   "Xcel Stock” shall mean the common stock of the Company, par value $2.50 per share.
 
  (m)   "Participant” shall mean any Director who receives an Award.
 
  (n)   "Plan” shall mean the Stock Equivalent Plan for Non-Employee Directors of the Company, as from time to time amended and in effect.
 
  (o)   "Stock Account” shall mean the account to which Awards are credited in the name of a Participant as described in Section 2.2 of this Plan.
 
  (p)   "Stock Equivalents” shall mean the units, representing a like number of shares of Xcel Stock, that are credited to a Director’s Stock Account under Sections 2.1 and 2.2 of this Plan.

2


 

  (q)   "Termination of Service” shall mean the termination (by death, retirement or otherwise) of a Participant’s service as a Director of the Company.

1.3. Discretionary Awards. The amount and number of Discretionary Awards that may be granted under this Plan is subject to the sole discretion of the Board and shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Board. Each Award shall contain such terms, restrictions and conditions as the Board may determine that are not inconsistent with this Plan. Discretionary Awards shall be made in Stock Equivalents or as a dollar amount, as determined in the sole discretion of the Board.

1.4. Deferral Awards. In accordance with this Section, a Director may elect to receive Deferral Awards in lieu of all or a portion of his/her Compensation by filing with the Secretary of the Company an election in writing on a form approved by the Committee. Deferral Awards shall be made as of the date such Compensation would have been paid, in a dollar amount equal to the amount of Compensation the Director has elected to defer. A deferral election with respect to Compensation for a calendar year must be made prior to the beginning of that calendar year. In the case of an individual who becomes a Director after the first day of the calendar year, a deferral election must be made within 30 days of the date such individual becomes a director. A deferral election shall continue in effect until the Director’s Termination of Service or, if the Director provides the Secretary of the Company with earlier written notice to discontinue the deferral election, at the end of the calendar year in which such written notice is received by the Secretary.

1.5. Conversion Awards. In lieu of all benefits otherwise payable under the Xcel Energy Inc. Retirement Plan for Non-Employee Directors (“Retirement Plan”), any Director elected to the Board prior to October 1, 1997 and serving on the Board during the last quarter of 1997 may make a one-time election to receive a Conversion Award under this Plan in a dollar amount equal to the sum of the quarterly retainer payments the Director would have been entitled to receive under the Retirement Plan if the Director’s service on the Board ended December 31, 1997. Any such election must be made in writing on a form approved by the Committee for that purpose, and shall be irrevocable. Any such election will not be effective unless it is received by the Corporate Secretary on or before December 31, 1997, and prior to termination of the Director’s service on the Board. The Award Date for a Conversion Award under this Plan in satisfaction of a Director’s conversion election shall be January 1, 1998.

3


 

ARTICLE II

TREATMENT OF AWARDS

2.1. Stock Accounts. The Company shall establish on its books a Stock Account in the name of each Participant accurately to reflect the Company’s liability to each Participant who has received an Award. To this Stock Account shall be credited Awards plus other items as described hereafter. Payments to a Participant or Beneficiary following Termination of Service shall be debited to the Stock Account. In addition, debits and credits to the Stock Account shall be made in the manner provided hereafter. Despite the maintenance of such Stock Account for each Participant, the Company’s obligation to make distributions under the Plan shall be made from the Company’s general assets and property. The Company may, in its sole discretion, establish a separate fund or account to make payment to a Participant or Beneficiary hereunder. Whether the Company, in its sole discretion, does establish such a fund or account, no Participant or Beneficiary or any person shall have, under any circumstances, any interest whatever in any particular property or assets of the Company by virtue of this Plan.

2.2. Crediting of Awards. Awards in the form of Stock Equivalents shall be credited to a Participant’s Stock Account. Awards in dollars shall also be credited to a Participant’s Stock Account by converting the dollar amount of the Award into Stock Equivalents equal to the number of shares of Xcel Stock, to three decimal places, that could be purchased on the Award Date with the dollar amount of such Award, at a price per share equal to the arithmetical mean of the highest and lowest quoted selling prices on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape for such day. If there are no sales on that day, such mean on the next preceding day on which there are such sales shall be used.

2.3 Crediting of Dividends/Stock Splits.

     (a) On each date on which a dividend in cash or property is distributed by the Company on shares of issued and outstanding Xcel Stock, the Stock Account of a Participant shall be credited with Stock Equivalents as follows: (i) the dollar amount of the fair market value of the cash or property so distributed per share of issued and outstanding Xcel Stock shall be multiplied by the number of Stock Equivalents (including fractions) in the Participant’s Stock Account on the record date for such distribution; (ii) this dollar amount shall then be converted into Stock Equivalents equal to the number of shares of Xcel Stock, to three decimal places, that could be purchased on the payment date for such distribution by dividing such dollar amount by a price per share equal to the arithmetical mean of the highest and lowest quoted selling prices on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape for such date, or, if there are no sales on that date, such mean on the next preceding day on which there are such sales shall be used.

4


 

     (b) On each date on which a stock dividend or stock split is distributed with respect to shares of Xcel Stock, a Participant’s Stock Account shall be credited with the number of Stock Equivalents equal to the product of (x) the number of shares which would have been distributed per share of issued and outstanding Xcel Stock and (y) the number of Stock Equivalents (including fractions) in the Participant’s Stock Account on the record date for such distribution.

2.4 Conversion of Stock Equivalents. If the Company shall be a party to any consolidation or merger or share exchange and, in connection with such transaction, all or part of the outstanding shares of Xcel Stock shall be changed into or exchanged for stock or other securities of any other entity or the Company or cash or any other property, on the day immediately preceding the effective date of such transaction, the Stock Equivalents in a Participant’s Stock Account shall be converted into the appropriate number of stock equivalents of such other entity.

2.5. Time of Payment of Awards.

     (a) Except as provided in Section 2.7, Awards shall not be payable to a Participant prior to the Participant’s Termination of Service.

     (b) Upon Termination of Service, the portion of a Participant’s aggregate account balance in his/her Stock Account that is attributable to any Conversion Award and to any other Award credited to the Stock Account prior to December 31, 1997 shall be paid in a single distribution of Xcel Stock to the Participant (or, in the event of the Participant’s death, his/her beneficiary) within 90 days after the date of Termination of Service.

     (c) Except as provided in subsections (d) and (e) below, the remainder of a Participant’s Stock Account shall be paid in the manner selected by the Participant from the distribution alternatives established by the Committee. A Participant may only make one distribution election. For a Participant elected to the Board prior to October 1, 1997, the distribution election shall be made prior to January 1, 1998. For a Participant elected to the Board after October 1, 1997, the distribution election shall be made within 60 days of his/her election to the Board. The distribution election must be made in writing on a form approved by the Committee. Once made, the distribution election shall be irrevocable. A Participant’s distribution election shall apply only to the portion of the Participant’s Stock Account that is attributable to Discretionary Awards credited to the Participant’s Stock Account after the date on which the distribution election is made and to Deferral Awards attributable entirely to Compensation earned after the date of the election.

     (d) Any portion of a Participant’s Stock Account for which no distribution election has been made shall be paid in a single distribution of Xcel Stock to the Participant (or, in the event of the Participant’s death, his/her beneficiary) within 90 days after the date of Termination of Service.

5


 

     (e) Notwithstanding any of the preceding provisions of this Section 2.5, any Participant whose Stock Account includes a portion that is attributable to a Conversion Award may make a one-time irrevocable election no later than March 31, 2001, to have such portion paid in the manner elected by the Participant from among the available optional forms approved by the Committee, provided such election is made in writing on a form approved by the Committee that is received by the Corporate Secretary no later than March 31, 2001, and provided further, that such election shall be void and have no effect if the Participant’s Termination of Service occurs prior to April 1, 2002. Notwithstanding any election made by a Participant, in the event of a Participant’s death prior to payment in full of a Participant’s Stock Account, the entire remaining balance in the Participant’s Account shall be paid in a single distribution to the Participant’s Beneficiary.

2.6. Form of Payment. Awards shall be payable to a Participant only as a distribution of whole shares of Xcel Stock equal to the number of whole Stock Equivalents credited to the Participant’s Stock Account, and cash for any partial Stock Equivalents. The shares of Xcel Stock to be used for distribution under this plan shall be shares purchased on the open market. In converting a Participant’s partial Stock Equivalents in his/her Stock Account into cash for payment purposes, such conversion shall be based on the then current market value of the partial shares of Xcel Stock reflected in his/her Stock Account. For purposes of the preceding sentence, market value shall be the arithmetical mean between the highest and lowest quoted selling prices for Xcel Stock on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape on the date immediately preceding the payment date. If there are no sales on that day, then such mean on the next preceding day on which there are such sales shall be used. Upon request, the Company will reimburse a Participant for any expenses actually incurred by the Participant for the sale of shares distributed to the Participant under this Plan, provided such request and sale occur within one year after the Participant receives the distribution.

2.7. Acceleration of Payments. In the event of a Participant’s disability, the Committee, within its sole discretion, is empowered to accelerate the payment of such Participant’s Stock Account balance to such Participant prior to Termination of Service.

6


 

ARTICLE III

OTHER PROVISIONS

3.1. Amendment or Termination. The Board of Directors may amend or terminate this Plan at any time; provided, however, that no amendment or termination shall adversely affect any prior Awards or rights under this Plan, and provided further that no amendment may be made to the last sentence of Section 3.5 hereof.

3.2. Expenses. The expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by the Company, and shall not be charged against any Participant’s Awards.

3.3. Applicable Law. The provisions of the Plan shall be construed, administered and enforced according to the laws of the State of Minnesota.

3.4. No Trust. No action by the Company, the Board or the Committee under this Plan shall be construed as creating a trust, escrow or other secured or segregated fund or other fiduciary relationship of any kind in favor of any Participant, Beneficiary, or any other persons otherwise entitled to Awards. The status of the Participant and Beneficiary with respect to any liabilities assumed by the Company hereunder shall be solely those of unsecured creditors of the Company. Any asset acquired or held by the Company in connection with liabilities assumed by it hereunder, shall not be deemed to be held under any trust, escrow or other secured or segregated fund or other fiduciary relationship of any kind for the benefit of the Participant or Beneficiary or to be security for the performance of the obligations of the Company, but shall be, and remain, a general, unpledged, unrestricted asset of the Company at all times subject to the claims of general creditors of the Company.

3.5. No Assignability and Successors. Neither the Participant nor any other person shall acquire any right to or interest in any amount awarded to the Participant, otherwise than by actual payment in accordance with the provisions of this Plan, or have any power, voluntarily or involuntarily, to transfer, assign, anticipate, pledge, mortgage or otherwise encumber, alienate or transfer any rights hereunder in advance of any of the payments to be made pursuant to this Plan or any portion thereof. The obligations of the Company hereunder shall be binding upon any and all successors and assigns of the Company.

3.6. Withholding. The Company shall comply with all federal and state laws and regulations with respect to the withholding, deposit and payment of any income taxes relating to the payment of Awards under this Plan.

3.7. No Impact on Directorship. This Plan shall not be construed to confer any right on the part of a Participant to be or remain a Director or to receive any, or any particular rate of, Compensation.

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3.8. Interpretations. The Committee shall administer this Plan and shall have discretionary authority to construe and interpret the terms of this Plan, and to establish such rules and procedures for implementing the Plan as it deems necessary or advisable. Interpretations of, and determinations related to, this Plan made by the Committee in good faith, including any determinations or calculations of Awards or Stock Account balances, shall be conclusive and binding upon all parties; and the Company and the members of the Committee shall not incur any liability to a Participant for any such interpretation or determination so made or for any other action taken by it in connection with this Plan.

3.9. Shareholder Rights. Directors shall not be deemed for any purpose to be or have rights as shareholders of the Company with respect to any Stock Equivalents credited to a Stock Account, until and unless a certificate for Xcel Stock is issued upon distribution hereunder.

3.10. Securities Laws. Xcel Stock shall not be distributed to a Participant upon distribution of his/her Stock Account unless the issuance complies with all relevant provisions of law, including without limitation, (i) securities laws of Minnesota or any other appropriate state, (ii) restrictions, if any, imposed by the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by the Securities & Exchange Commission (“SEC”), (iii) rules of any stock exchange on which shares of Xcel Stock are listed, and (iv) until the sale of such Xcel Stock has been registered with the SEC.

8


 

3.11. Effective Date. This Plan was first established and effective on April 23, 1996. This amended and restated Plan is effective as of January 1, 2001. Except as otherwise specifically provided, payments to a Director whose service as a Director ends prior to January 1, 2001, shall be determined under the terms of the Plan as in effect when his/her service as a Director terminated (and not under the terms of this amended and restated Plan).

   
  XCEL ENERGY INC
   
  /s/ James J. Howard

James J. Howard
Chairman of the Board

9 EX-10.02 5 c78734exv10w02.htm EX-10.02 SEPARATION AGREEMENT exv10w02

 

Exhibit 10.02

SEPARATION AGREEMENT

This Agreement is entered into this 26th day of October, 2001 by and between Ben Fowke (“Fowke”) and Xcel Energy Inc. This Agreement shall bind any successor to Xcel Energy Inc., its assets or its businesses (whether direct or indirect, by purchase merger, consolidation or otherwise), in the same manner and to the same extent that Xcel Energy Inc. would be obligated under this Agreement if no succession had taken place.

1.   It is agreed that, in the event that on or before October      , 2001, Fowke meets all eligibility requirements for benefits in the severance plan or policy then in effect at Xcel Energy in which he is a participant, Fowke will receive separation pay as follows:

  A)   the sum of the product of (x) the targeted Annual Incentive plus the Long Term Incentive Award and (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in such year through the date of separation, and the denominator of which is 365.
 
  B)   an amount equal to 250% of the sum of Fowke’s a) base salary in effect on the date of separation, b) the higher of the targeted Annual Incentive for the year in which his separation occurs, or the Annual Incentive (as defined as the highest amount Fowke received as an annual cash incentive award in any of the three calendar years prior to the date of separation), and c) targeted Long Term Incentive for the year in which his separation occurs, and d) Flexible Perquisite Allowance. For purposes of the calculation, the targeted Annual Incentive shall not be less than 40% of base salary and the targeted Long Term Incentive shall not be less than 35% of base salary. This payment shall be reduced by the amount of severance payable to Fowke under the terms of the severance plan or policy in which he is a participant.
 
  C)   an amount equal to the present value of the difference between a) the actuarially equivalent benefit that would have been payable under the Xcel Energy defined benefit pension plan in which Fowke is participating, had he continued as an active participant for 30 months following his date of separation and b) Fowke’s actual benefit paid or payable under that plan at his date of separation. The actuarial assumptions and factors for this calculation shall be the same as those in effect in that same Xcel Energy defined benefit pension plan.
 
  D)   an amount equal to the maximum company contributions that would have been made to Fowke’s account in the Xcel Energy
401(k) plan had he continued as an active participant for 30 months following his date of separation.

 


 

2.   Additionally, for a period of 30 months following the date of separation, Fowke and his family shall be provided with medical, dental, and life insurance benefits as if Fowke’s employment had not been terminated; provided, however, that if Fowke becomes reemployed with another employer and is eligible to receive medical or other welfare benefits under another employer-provided plan, the medical and other welfare benefits described herein shall be secondary to those provided under such plan.
 
3.   Additionally, Fowke will be a) provided outplacement services by a provider of his choosing at a cost not to exceed $30,000 and b) reimbursed for financial planning service he obtains from a provider of his choosing at a cost not to exceed 2% of Fowke’s base salary at the date of separation.
 
4.   In the event it is determined that any payment under this agreement would be subject to the Excise Tax, (as defined as the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, together with any interest or penalties imposed with respect to such tax), then Fowke would be entitled to receive an additional “Gross-Up Payment” under terms consistent with the most current Xcel Energy Inc. executive severance Plan that would be available to an officer of Xcel Energy Inc.
 
5.   No payment will be made under this Agreement until Fowke has signed and delivered to the Chief Human Resources Officer, Xcel Energy, a Waiver and Release in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A. If Fowke has not signed and delivered the Waiver and Release by the 21st day after the termination of his employment, no amount will be payable under this Agreement.
 
6.   No payment will be due under this Agreement if Fowke voluntarily terminates his employment or if his employment is terminated for cause by Xcel Energy. “For cause” shall have occurred if Fowke is terminated because of:

  A)   the willful and continued failure of Fowke to perform substantially his duties with Xcel Energy Inc. or one of its affiliates (other than any such failure resulting from incapacity due to physical or mental illness), after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to Fowke by an elected officer of Xcel Energy Inc. which specifically identifies the manner the elected officer believes Fowke has not substantially performed his duties, or
 
  B)   the willful engaging by Fowke in illegal conduct or gross misconduct which is materially and demonstrably injurious to Xcel Energy, Inc.

          For purposes of this provision, no act or failure to act, on the part of Fowke, shall be considered “willful” unless it is done, or omitted
          to be done, by Fowke in bad faith or without reasonable belief that the action or omission was in the best interest of Xcel Energy Inc.

     
Xcel Energy Inc.   Ben Fowke
     
By: /s/ Paul Bonavia
Its: President, Energy Markets
  /s/ Ben Fowke

 


 

EXHIBIT A

WAIVER AND RELEASE

Xcel Energy Inc. (the “Company”) and Ben Fowke (“Employee”) hereby enter into the following Waiver and Release:

1.   In return for the consideration described in Paragraph 1 of the Separation Agreement between Employee and the Company, a payment to which Employee is not otherwise entitled, Employee, individually and on behalf of his successors, heirs and assigns, hereby irrevocably and unconditionally RELEASES, WAIVES, and DISCHARGES the Company, its predecessors, successors and any affiliated and subsidiary companies, corporations, partnerships or other business enterprises, and their respective officers, directors, stockholders, owners, supervisors, managers, partners, employees and agents (“Releasees”), from any and all claims, demands, actions and liabilities whatsoever, whether known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, that Employee may have or claim to have in any way relating to or arising out of any event or act of omission or commission occurring on or before the date of Employee’s execution of this Waiver and Release, including but not limited to:

  Claims arising under federal, state, or local laws prohibiting age, sex, race, national origin, handicap, religion, retaliation, or any other form of discrimination, including but not limited to claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, as amended, 29. U.S.C. 621 et seq.; Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, as amended 42 U.S.C. 2000e et seq.; the 1866 Civil Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. 1981; the Americans with Disabilities Act; the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Executive Order 11246, Minnesota Human Rights Act, and the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act of 1957, as amended C.R.S. 24-34-301 et seq.;
 
  Claims arising under the Fair Labor Standards Act or the National Labor Relations Act;
 
  Intentional infliction of emotional distress (outrageous conduct) and other tort claims;
 
  Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act 29 U.S.C. 2101 et seq.;
 
  Breach of contract claims;
 
  Promissory estoppel claims;

 


 

  Retaliatory discharge claims;
 
  Wrongful discharge claims; and
 
  Other legal and equitable claims regarding Employee’s employment with the Company or the termination of said employment.

The only exceptions to this paragraph and to paragraph 2 are claims for workers’ compensation and unemployment compensation claims, if any, to the extent required by law.

2.   Employee hereby represents that Employee has not filed a complaint or charge with any local, state or federal agency or court against any Releasee or, in the event that the Employee has filed such a complaint or charge, Employee hereby acknowledgers that Employee may not pursue remedies or sanctions on Employee’s behalf. Employee agrees that, if any such agency or court assumes jurisdiction of any complaint or charge on behalf of Employee against any Releasee, Employee will instruct such agency or court to pursue no remedies or sanctions on Employee’s behalf.
 
3.   In the event that Employee breaches this Waiver and Release, Employee agrees to pay the Company’s expenses cause by such breach, including the Company’s attorneys’ fees and costs.
 
4.   Employee acknowledges that Employee has been advised in writing by the Company that Employee should consult with an attorney prior to executing this Waiver and Release. Employee further acknowledges that Employee has been given a period of twenty-one (21) days within which to consider this Waiver and Release.

  EX-31.01 6 c78734exv31w01.htm EX-31.01 CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 exv31w01

 

Exhibit 31.01 – Certifications

I, Wayne H. Brunetti, certify that:

  1.   I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Xcel Energy Inc;
 
  2.   Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
 
  3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
 
  4.   The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:

  a)   Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
 
  b)   Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
 
  c)   Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

  5.   The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

  a)   All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
 
  b)   Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: Aug. 15, 2003

  /s/ WAYNE H. BRUNETTI
Wayne H. Brunetti
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer


 

I, Richard C. Kelly, certify that:

  1.   I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Xcel Energy Inc;
 
  2.   Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
 
  3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
 
  4.   The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:

  a)   Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
 
  b)   Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
 
  c)   Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

  5.   The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

  a)   All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
 
  b)   Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: Aug. 15, 2003

  /s/ RICHARD C. KELLY
Richard C. Kelly
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

EX-32.01 7 c78734exv32w01.htm EX-32.01 CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 exv32w01

 

Exhibit 32.01 – Officer Certification

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Xcel Energy Inc. (Xcel Energy) on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2003, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (Form 10-Q), each of the undersigned officers of Xcel Energy certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to such officer’s knowledge:

  (1)   The Form 10-Q fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
 
  (2)   The information contained in the Form 10-Q fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of Xcel Energy as of the dates and for the periods expressed in the Form 10-Q.

Date: Aug. 15, 2003

  /s/ WAYNE H. BRUNETTI
Wayne H. Brunetti
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

  /s/ RICHARD C. KELLY
Richard C. Kelly
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

The foregoing certification is being furnished solely pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 and is not being filed as part of the Report or as a separate disclosure document.

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or other document authenticating, acknowledging or otherwise adopting the signature that appears in typed form within the electronic version of this written statement required by Section 906, has been provided to Xcel Energy and will be retained by Xcel Energy and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

EX-99.01 8 c78734exv99w01.htm EX-99.01 STATEMENT-SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM exv99w01

 

Exhibit 99.01 – Xcel Energy Cautionary Factors

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act provides a “safe harbor” for forward-looking statements to encourage disclosures without the threat of litigation, providing those statements are identified as forward-looking and are accompanied by meaningful, cautionary statements identifying important factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those projected in the statement. Forward-looking statements are made in written documents and oral presentations of Xcel Energy. These statements are based on management’s beliefs as well as assumptions and information currently available to management. When used in Xcel Energy’s documents or oral presentations, the words “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “projected,” “objective,” “outlook,” “forecast,” “possible,” “potential” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In addition to any assumptions and other factors referred to specifically in connection with such forward-looking statements, factors that could cause Xcel Energy’s actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in any forward-looking statements include, among others, the following:

  Economic conditions, including inflation rates, monetary fluctuations and their impact on capital expenditures;
 
  The risk of a significant slowdown in growth or decline in the U.S. economy, the risk of delay in growth recovery in the U.S. economy or the risk of increased cost for insurance premiums, security and other items as a consequence of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks;
 
  Trade, monetary, fiscal, taxation and environmental policies of governments, agencies and similar organizations in geographic areas where Xcel Energy has a financial interest;
 
  Customer business conditions, including demand for their products or services and supply of labor and materials used in creating their products and services;
 
  Financial or regulatory accounting principles or policies imposed by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the SEC, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and similar entities with regulatory oversight;
 
  Availability or cost of capital such as changes in: interest rates; market perceptions of the utility industry, Xcel Energy or any of its subsidiaries; or security ratings;
 
  Factors affecting utility and nonutility operations such as unusual weather conditions; catastrophic weather-related damage; unscheduled generation outages, maintenance or repairs; unanticipated changes to fossil fuel, nuclear fuel or natural gas supply costs or availability due to higher demand, shortages, transportation problems or other developments; nuclear or environmental incidents; or electric transmission or gas pipeline constraints;
 
  Employee workforce factors, including loss or retirement of key executives, collective bargaining agreements with union employees, or work stoppages;
 
  Increased competition in the utility industry or additional competition in the markets served by Xcel Energy and its subsidiaries;
 
  State, federal and foreign legislative and regulatory initiatives that affect cost and investment recovery, have an impact on rate structures and affect the speed and degree to which competition enters the electric and natural gas markets; industry restructuring initiatives; transmission system operation and/or administration initiatives; recovery of investments made under traditional regulation; nature of competitors entering the industry; retail wheeling; a new pricing structure; and former customers entering the generation market;
 
  Rate-setting policies or procedures of regulatory entities, including environmental externalities, which are values established by regulators assigning environmental costs to each method of electricity generation when evaluating generation resource options;
 
  Nuclear regulatory policies and procedures, including operating regulations and spent nuclear fuel storage;
 
  Social attitudes regarding the utility and power industries;
 
  Risks associated with the California power and other western markets;
 
  Cost and other effects of legal and administrative proceedings, settlements, investigations and claims;


 

  Technological developments that result in competitive disadvantages and create the potential for impairment of existing assets;
 
  Factors associated with nonregulated investments, including risks associated with timely completion of projects, including obtaining competitive contracts and construction delays, foreign government actions, foreign economic and currency risks, political instability in foreign countries, partnership actions, competition, operating risks, dependence on certain suppliers and customers, domestic and foreign environmental and energy regulations;
 
  Many of the project investments made by Xcel Energy’s subsidiary NRG, Inc. consist of minority interests, and a substantial portion of future investments may take the form of minority interests, which limits NRG’s ability to control the development or operation of the project;
 
  Actions taken by the bankruptcy court in NRG’s bankruptcy case;
 
  The failure to realize expectations regarding the NRG settlement agreement; and
 
  Other business or investment considerations that may be disclosed from time to time in Xcel Energy’s SEC filings or in other publicly disseminated written documents.

Xcel Energy undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The foregoing review of factors should not be construed as exhaustive.

EX-99.02 9 c78734exv99w02.htm EX-99.02 UNAUDITED PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION exv99w02

 

Exhibit 99.02

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED PRO-FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ACCOUNTING FOR NRG ON THE EQUITY METHOD

Background

As discussed in Xcel Energy’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for June 30, 2003, NRG voluntarily filed for bankruptcy protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code on May 14, 2003. As part of this action, the tentative settlement agreement reached in March 2003 among Xcel Energy, NRG and NRG’s creditors (“the Settlement”) was filed with the Bankruptcy Court for its consideration as a resolution of NRG’s financial difficulties. If the court approves the terms of the Settlement, upon emergence from bankruptcy Xcel Energy will divest its ownership interests in NRG. This divestiture will result in NRG ultimately being reported as a discontinued operation of Xcel Energy. However, pending the outcome of the bankruptcy proceeding, Xcel Energy will remain 100 percent owner of NRG but will not have sufficient control to continue consolidating NRG. During the period between NRG’s filing for bankruptcy and its actual divestiture by Xcel Energy, Xcel Energy will report NRG as an equity investment under generally accepted accounting principles. Because such accounting requirements do not allow equity accounting until the period that includes the bankruptcy filing, Xcel Energy is providing investors with pro-forma information for historical periods presenting NRG under the equity method of accounting.

Pro-Forma Information

The following summary of unaudited pro-forma financial information for Xcel Energy gives effect to the change of accounting for NRG from consolidated financial reporting to the equity method of accounting. Under the equity method, NRG is not consolidated in Xcel Energy’s financial statements but instead is reported as a single investment-related item (NRG Losses In Excess of Investment) on the Balance Sheet, and a single item (Equity in Losses of NRG) on the Statements of Operations. Because Xcel Energy’s cumulative equity in NRG’s losses to date exceeds the cumulative investments made in NRG, the investment-related balance sheet item is not an asset but is reported as a current liability.

The following pro-forma Statement of Operations is treated as if Xcel Energy had never consolidated NRG for financial reporting purposes. This unaudited pro-forma summarized financial information should be read in conjunction with the historical financial statements and related notes of Xcel Energy, which are included in the 2002 Annual Report on Form 10-K, and the June 30, 2003 Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. The unaudited pro-forma Statement of Operations information for the year-to-date period ended June 30, 2002 assumes that NRG had been deconsolidated on Jan. 1, 2002, the beginning of the earliest period presented.

These summarized pro-forma amounts do not include any of the future financial impacts that may occur from NRG’s filing for bankruptcy, or from implementing the Settlement. Also, the unaudited summarized pro-forma financial information does not necessarily indicate what Xcel Energy’s financial position or operating results would have been if NRG had filed for bankruptcy (or had been divested) in the periods presented, and does not necessarily indicate future operating results of Xcel Energy (with or without NRG).


 

XCEL ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Pro-Forma Consolidated Statements Of Operations
(Thousands of Dollars, Except Per Share Data)
For the Six Months ended June 30, 2002

                                       
                  Pro-Forma Adjustments for NRG        
                 
  Pro-Forma
          As Reported   Apply Equity   Adjust   Adjusted
          6/30/2002 (a)   Accounting (b)   Eliminations (c)   6/30/2002 (e)
         
 
 
 
Operating Revenues:
                               
 
Electric utility
  $ 2,560,555                     $ 2,560,555  
 
Natural gas utility
    799,546                       799,546  
 
Electric and natural gas trading margin
    2,345                       2,345  
 
Nonregulated and other
    1,189,877       (1,023,280 )             166,597  
 
Equity earnings from unconsolidated NRG affiliates
    42,198       (42,198 )              
 
   
     
     
     
 
   
Total operating revenues
    4,594,521       (1,065,478 )           3,529,043  
   
 
                   
Operating Expenses:
                               
 
Electric fuel and purchased power – utility
    1,032,519                       1,032,519  
 
Cost of natural gas sold and transported — utility
    501,232                       501,232  
 
Cost of sales — nonregulated and other
    590,959       (478,855 )             112,104  
 
Other operating and maintenance expenses — utility
    735,474                       735,474  
 
Other operating and maintenance expenses — nonregulated
    372,214       (319,150 )             53,064  
 
Depreciation and amortization
    508,317       (120,324 )             387,993  
 
Taxes (other than income taxes)
    167,605                       167,605  
 
Special charges
    74,649       (60,533 )             14,116  
 
   
     
     
     
 
   
Total operating expenses
    3,982,969       (978,862 )           3,004,107  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Operating income
    611,552       (86,616 )           524,936  
Equity in losses of NRG (d)
          (67,815 )             (67,815 )
Minority interest in NRG losses
    13,580                       13,580  
Interest and other income, net of nonoperating expenses
    33,999       (10,281 )             23,718  
   
 
                               
Interest charges and financing costs:
                               
 
Interest charges — net of amounts capitalized
    389,578       (230,772 )             158,806  
 
Distributions on redeemable preferred securities of subsidiary trusts
    19,172                       19,172  
 
   
     
     
     
 
   
Total interest charges and financing costs
    408,750       (230,772 )           177,978  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Income from continuing operations before income taxes
    250,381       66,060             316,441  
Income taxes
    70,835       54,800               125,635  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Income from continuing operations
    179,546       11,260             190,806  
Income from discontinued operations — net of tax
    11,260       (11,260 )              
 
   
     
     
     
 
Net income
    190,806                   190,806  
Dividend requirements on preferred stock
    2,120                       2,120  
 
   
                     
 
Earnings available for common shareholders
  $ 188,686     $     $     $ 188,686  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Earnings per share – diluted:
                               
 
Income from continuing operations
  $ 0.49     $ 0.03     $     $ 0.52  
 
Income from discontinued operations
    0.03       (0.03 )            
 
   
     
     
     
 
     
Total earnings per share
  $ 0.52     $     $     $ 0.52  
 
   
     
     
     
 

See accompanying Notes to Pro-Forma Financial Information.


 

NOTES TO PRO-FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION

The following notes provide additional information for the adjustments made to historical financial statements in determining the accompanying pro-forma financial information.

  (a)   “As Reported” amounts for six months ended June 30, 2002, were derived from the unaudited consolidated financial statements included in Xcel Energy’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (provided herewith).
 
  (b)   Pro-forma adjustments to “As Reported” amounts reflect (1) the elimination of NRG’s revenues and expenses; and (2) equity accounting adjustments to reflect NRG’s results of operations as a single income/expense item (Equity in Losses of NRG). In addition to NRG’s amounts, application of the equity method has also resulted in the reclassification of the minority interest of NRG’s stockholders other than Xcel Energy (prior to June 2002) on the Statement of Operations to be presented as a component of Equity in Losses of NRG.
 
  (c)   Pro-forma adjustments referred to in (b) above include the elimination of NRG’s projects and operations that have been sold in 2002 or 2003, or were considered held-for-sale in those periods. Under the equity method of accounting being presented here on a pro-forma basis, the operating results of these NRG projects/operations are no longer presented as Discontinued Operations. This reclassification has increased Income from Continuing Operations for the amounts previously reported as Discontinued Operations.
 
  (d)   The pro-forma adjustments to the Statement of Operations referred to in (b) above have adjusted Xcel Energy’s pro-forma Equity Earnings from Unconsolidated NRG Affiliates to a net debit balance due to losses incurred by NRG. For pro-forma presentation purposes, we have not reported the equity in NRG losses as negative revenue, but instead have presented them as a nonoperating expense item.
 
  (e)   Divestiture is not assumed in pro-forma adjustments.

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