Xcel Energy Second Quarter 2012 Earnings Report

Xcel Energy Inc. (NYSE: XEL) today reported 2012 second quarter earnings of $183 million, or $0.38 per share compared with 2011 earnings of $159 million, or $0.33 per share.

Second quarter 2012 earnings increased largely due to higher electric margin, resulting from various rate increases and warmer than normal weather across all of Xcel Energy’s service territories. Higher property taxes and interest expense partially offset the strong electric margins.

“I am pleased to report strong second quarter earnings,” said Ben Fowke, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Warmer weather combined with operating and maintenance cost management initiatives allowed us to mitigate the negative impact of regulatory decisions, including the Minnesota Commission’s denial of our request to defer incremental property taxes in 2012.”

“As a result, we continue to expect 2012 earnings per share to be in the lower half of our $1.75 to $1.85 guidance range.”

At 9:00 a.m. CDT today, Xcel Energy will host a conference call to review financial results. To participate in the call, please dial in 5 to 10 minutes prior to the start and follow the operator’s instructions.

US Dial-In:			[phone]
International Dial-In:			[phone]
Conference ID:			4548947

The conference call also will be simultaneously broadcast and archived on Xcel Energy’s website at www.xcelenergy.com. To access the presentation, click on Investor Relations. If you are unable to participate in the live event, the call will be available for replay from 2:00 p.m. CDT on Aug. 2 through 11:59 p.m. CDT on Aug. 3.

Replay Numbers
US Dial-In:			[phone]
International Dial-In:			[phone]
Access Code:			4548947#

Except for the historical statements contained in this release, the matters discussed herein, including our 2012 full year earnings per share guidance and assumptions, 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 inflation rates, monetary fluctuations and their impact on capital expenditures and the ability of Xcel Energy Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, Xcel Energy) to obtain financing on favorable terms; business conditions in the energy industry, including the risk of a slow down in the U.S. economy or delay in growth recovery; trade, fiscal, taxation and environmental policies in areas where Xcel Energy has a financial interest; customer business conditions; 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 Inc. 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 or impose environmental compliance conditions; 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 by regulatory bodies impacting our nuclear operations, including those affecting costs, operations or the approval of requests pending before the Nuclear Regulatory Commission; financial or regulatory accounting policies imposed by regulatory bodies; availability or cost of capital; employee work force factors; and the other risk factors listed from time to time by Xcel Energy in reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including Risk Factors in Item 1A and Exhibit 99.01 of Xcel Energy Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2011 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2012.

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