SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) Nov. 12, 2009

 


 

Commission File
Number

 

Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter; State of
Incorporation; Address of Principal Executive Offices; and
Telephone Number

 

IRS Employer
Identification
Number

001-3034

 

XCEL ENERGY

 

41-0448030

 

 

(a Minnesota corporation)

 

 

 

 

414 Nicollet Mall

 

 

 

 

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401

 

 

 

 

(612) 330-5500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

001-31387

 

NORTHERN STATES POWER COMPANY

 

41-1967505

 

 

(a Minnesota corporation)

 

 

 

 

414 Nicollet Mall

 

 

 

 

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401

 

 

 

 

(612) 330-5500

 

 

 


 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

o  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

o  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

o  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

o  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 



 

Item 8.01. Other Events

 

On Nov. 12, 2009, North States Power Company (NSP-Minnesota), a Minnesota corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Xcel Energy Inc., filed to increase Minnesota gas rates by $16.2 million for 2010, which represents a 2.8 percent overall increase in customer bills.  This request is based on a return on equity of 11 percent, an equity ratio of 52.46 percent and a rate base of $441 million.  NSP-Minnesota also requested an additional increase of $3.45 million, effective Jan. 1, 2011, for recovery of pension funding costs to comply with federal law.

 

Interim rates of $11.1 million are expected to go into effect on Jan. 11, 2010.  A decision is expected in the fall of 2010.

 

Except for the historical statements contained in this 8-K, the matters discussed herein, including the expected impact of rate cases, 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,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “objective,” “outlook,” “plan,” “project,” “possible,” “potential,” “should” and similar expressions.  Actual results may vary materially.  Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update them to reflect changes that occur after that date. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to: general economic conditions, including the availability of credit and its 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; actions of credit rating agencies; 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; effects of geopolitical events, including war and acts of terrorism; state, federal and foreign legislative and regulatory initiatives that affect cost and investment recovery, have an impact on rates or have an impact on asset operation or ownership; structures that affect the speed and degree to which competition enters the electric and natural gas markets; costs and other effects of legal and administrative proceedings, settlements, investigations and claims; actions of accounting regulatory bodies; and the other risk factors listed from time to time by Xcel Energy and NSP-Minnesota in reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including Risk Factors in Item 1A and Exhibit 99.01 of Xcel Energy’s and NSP-Minnesota’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2008 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended June 20, 2009 and Sept. 30, 2009.

 

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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 hereunto duly authorized.

 

Nov. 18, 2009

Xcel Energy Inc.
(a Minnesota corporation)

 

Northern States Power Company
(a Minnesota corporation)

 

 

 

/s/ DAVID M. SPARBY

 

David M. Sparby

 

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

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