2009-11-17 17:35:06 -

Xcel Energy (NYSE: XEL) subsidiary Northern States Power Co.-Minnesota (NSP-Minnesota) today announced that it closed its offering of $300 million 30-year first mortgage bonds with an annual interest rate of 5.35 percent. The bonds are redeemable at any time subject to certain “make whole” provisions.

NSP-Minnesota intends to add the net proceeds from the offering to its general funds and apply a portion of such net proceeds to the repayment of outstanding short-term debt, including short-term debt incurred to fund the repayment at maturity of $250 million of 6.875% unsecured senior notes due August 1, 2009. The balance of net proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes.

Barclays Capital Inc., KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., and RBS Securities Inc. acted as joint

book-running managers for the offering. BNY Mellon Capital Markets, LLC and U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc. were co-managers for the offering.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any of the bonds nor shall there be any sale of the bonds in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. The offering of the bonds may be made only by means of a prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus. Copies of the prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus for the offering may be obtained on the SEC website at www.sec.gov : .

Alternatively, the issuer or any underwriter or dealer participating in the offering will send you the prospectus if you request it by calling (i) Barclays Capital Inc., toll free 1-888-603-5847, (ii) KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., at 1-866-227-6479, or (iii) RBS Securities Inc., at 1-866-884-2071.

Xcel EnergyFinancial analysts may call:Paul Johnson,

612-215-4535managing director, Investor Relations & assistant
treasurerorJack Nielsen, 612-215-4559director,
Investor RelationsorNews media may call:Xcel Energy

Media Relations, 612-215-5300