Xcel Energy Inc. Announces Sale of Junior Subordinated Notes

Business Wire, Jan 16, 2008

MINNEAPOLIS -- Xcel Energy Inc. (NYSE: XEL) (the "Company") announced today the sale of $400,000,000 of its 7.60% Junior Subordinated Notes, Series due 2068 (the "Notes"). The Notes were offered to the public at $25.00 per note. The Company will apply for the listing of the Notes on the New York Stock Exchange.

The Company intends to add the net proceeds from the sale of the Notes to its general funds and use those proceeds to fund equity investments in one or more of its utility subsidiaries that will be used to repay short-term debt of the subsidiary. The remaining proceeds will be used to repay commercial paper.

Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and Citi acted as joint book-running managers in the offering. Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and JP Morgan Securities Inc. acted as joint structuring advisors and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and UBS Securities LLC acted as senior co-managers in the offering.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any of the Notes nor shall there be any sale of the Notes 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 Notes may be made only by means of a prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus.

Xcel Energy is a major U.S. electricity and natural gas company with regulated operations in eight Western and Midwestern states. Xcel Energy provides a comprehensive portfolio of energy-related products and services to 3.3 million electricity customers and 1.8 million natural gas customers through its regulated operating companies. Company headquarters are located in Minneapolis. More information is available at www.xcelenergy.com.