This agreement between enXco and Xcel Energy builds on the experience the two companies attained through their joint developments over the past several years. These new projects bring the total to 784 MW developed for Xcel Energy including Grand Meadow Wind Farm, Fenton Wind Project, Viking Wind Project and Chanarambie Wind Project all located in Minnesota as well as Peetz Wind Project in Colorado.

"enXco is pleased to extend an already successful relationship with Xcel Energy and to continue to add renewable resources to the energy supply mix in the Upper Midwest," said Steve Peluso, vice president of development in the Midwest Region.

Under the agreement, Xcel Energy will seek needed regulatory approvals to develop both projects. Together, Nobles and Merricourt will produce enough electricity to power approximately 110,000 homes.

"Xcel Energy already is the nation's No. 1 wind power provider, and this agreement advances our commitment to meet aggressive renewable energy requirements in the states we serve," said Richard C. Kelly, Xcel Energy's chairman, president and CEO. "We believe our partnership with enXco also will allow us to meet our goals in a cost-effective manner for our customers."

The announcement was met with support from both states' governors. Governor John Hoeven (ND) said, "North Dakota is continuing to aggressively develop wind energy. This is just the kind of project we envisioned when we initiated tax credits and other measures to create a favorable business environment for wind energy development in our state."

Governor Tim Pawlenty (MN) added, "Wind power has great potential for providing clean, renewable energy. Xcel Energy's leadership is very important as we work to meet Minnesota's goal of securing 25 percent of our energy from renewable sources by the year 2025. More wind power in Minnesota means more clean energy and additional opportunities to create green jobs related to this type of development."

About enXco, an EDF EN Company:

enXco - an EDF Energies Nouvelles Company (PARIS: EEN), develops, constructs, operates and manages renewable energy projects throughout the United States. For more than two decades, we have been a leader inwind-energy focusing on large-scale windprojects.Today enXco's portfolio includes solarand biomass technologies, in an effort to help drive our nation's transition to a sustainable energy economy. enXco is a significant owner and developer of wind-energy installations in the United States, and is the largest third-party operations & maintenance provider for wind farms in North America. (www.enxco.com) (www.edf-energies.nouvelles.com)

About Xcel Energy:

Xcel Energy (NYSE: XEL) 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.

SOURCE: enXco

enXco 
Sandi Briner, Marketing Manager 
760-740-7022 ext 140 
sandib@enXco.com

The agreement between enXco and NSP-Minnesota targets approximately $900 million in investment over three years and underscores Xcel Energy's strong commitment to renewable energy and the states it serves. It stems from a competitive bidding process Xcel Energy launched late last year, as part of its plan to meet state renewable requirements. The agreement also is consistent with Xcel Energy's commitment to meeting its customers' needs in an economic and environmentally sound manner and includes the company's first major wind undertaking in North Dakota.

Under the agreement, Xcel Energy will seek regulatory approvals to develop a 201-megawatt project in southwestern Minnesota's Nobles County, called the Nobles Wind Project, and a 150-megawatt project in Dickey and McIntosh counties in southeastern North Dakota, called the Merricourt Wind Project. The projects are expected to be operational by the end of 2010 and 2011, respectively. Together, the projects will produce enough electricity to power approximately 110,000 homes.

Said Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty: "Wind power has great potential for providing clean, renewable energy. Xcel Energy's leadership is very important as we work to meet Minnesota's goal of securing 25 percent of our energy from renewable sources by the year 2025. More wind power in Minnesota means more clean energy and additional opportunities to create green jobs related to this type of development."

The agreement with enXco builds on the experience the two companies gained through their joint development of the 100-megawatt Grand Meadow wind farm near Austin in southeastern Minnesota, the first wind farm owned by Xcel Energy in Minnesota. Xcel Energy also purchases power from three projects developed and owned by enXco in southwestern Minnesota, including the Fenton Wind Project, Chanarambie Wind Farm and Viking Wind Project. When Grand Meadow begins generating electricity late this year, Xcel Energy will have more than 1,200 megawatts of wind-powered generation on its Upper Midwest system.

"enXco is pleased to extend an already successful relationship with Xcel Energy and to continue to add renewable resources to the energy supply mix in the Upper Midwest," said Steve Peluso, vice president of development in the Midwest for enXco.

In addition to these proposed wind farms, Xcel Energy is aiming to complete contracts for additional Community Based Energy Development (CBED) wind projects in Minnesota. If successful, the individual projects could begin operating in 2009.

"Owning wind farms will help us provide renewable energy at a reasonable cost to our customers while demonstrating our commitment to the communities we serve," said Dave Sparby, president and CEO of NSP-Minnesota. "This level of new investment is appropriate even in these challenging economic times, given the value the wind projects will provide to our system. We believe that early wind development will be more likely to qualify for federal tax credits and reduce our cost of complying with state renewable energy standards."

Minnesota U.S. Sens. Norm Coleman and Amy Klobuchar and U.S. Rep. Tim Walz, whose district includes Nobles County, welcomed the announcement.

"Wind energy is clean, renewable, and brings jobs to Minnesota," Coleman said. "As a long-time supporter of wind power, I am thrilled about Xcel Energy's new project and will continue to fight for the Production Tax Credit that makes projects like this possible."

Klobuchar said, "I called for the Production Tax Credits because I knew they would create jobs and grow our economy, just as the Xcel Energy project plans to. We must regain world leadership in renewable-energy research and investment -- the market alone will not achieve the goal without clear standards and incentives."

Added Walz: "Xcel Energy's innovative project is one piece to the solution of moving our nation to energy independence. This is a great example of how green jobs will put people to work in our communities while producing clean and renewable energy to power our country."

Xcel Energy (NYSE: XEL) 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.

enXco, an EDF Energies Nouvelles Company (PARIS: EEN), develops, constructs, operates and manages renewable energy projects throughout the United States. For more than two decades, enXco has been a leader in wind energy focusing on large-scale wind projects. Today, enXco's portfolio includes solar and biomass technologies in an effort to help drive the nation's transition to a sustainable energy economy. enXco is a significant owner and developer of wind-energy installations in the United States and is the largest third-party operations and maintenance provider for wind farms in North America. (www.enxco.com)

SOURCE: Xcel Energy

Xcel Energy 
Media Relations, 612-215-5300 
www.xcelenergy.com 
or 
enXco 
Sandi Briner, 760-740-7022 ext. 140

"Like many businesses, we face increased costs," Sparby said. "The costs of materials such as transformers, wires, steel and cables have risen dramatically in the past three years. We are also investing in our nuclear plants -- our lowest cost and most reliable energy source -- to keep them safe and reliable."

Xcel Energy has invested $1.2 billion in its core electricity system since its last rate case in 2006. The investments were needed to maintain reliability and meet an increase in demand from new and existing customers. Xcel Energy serves 1.2 million electricity customers in Minnesota.

If approved, the request would result in an increase of $156 million, or 6.05 percent. A typical residential customer's monthly bill would increase by approximately 7.6 percent. A typical small business customer's bill would increase by approximately 5.2 percent per month.

Sparby added that conservation remains the single best way for customers to reduce their energy bills. "Even with the higher costs, there are simple steps customers can take to conserve energy and reduce their bills," he said.

Xcel Energy has several free online resources available to customers to help them conserve electricity and reduce their energy bills. Some of these resources include the Home Energy Analyzer, Energy Calculator and ENERGYsmart Library. Customers can take advantage of these resources by logging onto www.xcelenergy.com/infosmart.

As part of this filing, Xcel Energy proposes to implement interim rates effective Jan. 2, 2009. Interim rates are expected to increase customers' bills by approximately 6 percent during 2009. The interim rates will likely be put into place in late 2009. Those interested will have an opportunity to comment during public hearings the commission may schedule for mid-2009. The filing will be posted on Xcel Energy's Web site at www.xcelenergy.com.

Xcel Energy (NYSE: XEL) 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.

SOURCE: Xcel Energy

Xcel Energy 
Media Relations, 612-215-5300 
www.xcelenergy.com

Banc of America Securities LLC and BNY Mellon Capital Markets, LLC acted as joint book runners for the offering. KeyBanc Capital Markets was the co-manager 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, you may request copies of the prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus by calling Banc of America, LLC toll free at 1-800-294-1322 or by calling BNY Mellon Capital Markets, LLC toll free at 1-800-269-6864.

SOURCE: Xcel Energy

Xcel Energy 
Financial analysts may call: 
Paul Johnson, 612-215-4535 
Managing Director, Investor Relations 
or 
Jack Nielsen, 612-215-4559 
Director, Investor Relations 
or 
News media may call: 
Xcel Energy Media Relations, 612-215-5300