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) June 17, 2011
 

 
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
   
         
001-03140
 
NORTHERN STATES POWER COMPANY
 
39-0508315
   
(a Wisconsin corporation)
   
   
1414 W. Hamilton Avenue
   
   
Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54701
   
   
(715) 839-2625
   
 

 
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 June 1, 2011, Northern States Power Company, a Wisconsin corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Xcel Energy Inc., (NSP-Wisconsin) filed an application with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) requesting to increase rates for electric and natural gas service effective Jan. 1, 2012.  In the application, NSP-Wisconsin requested an overall increase in annual electric revenues of approximately $21.9 million, or 3.8 percent, and an overall increase in annual natural gas revenues of approximately $8.1 million, or 6.6 percent.  The rate filing is based on a 2012 forecast test year and includes a requested rate of return on equity of 10.75 percent, and an equity ratio of 52.54 percent.  The average net investment rate base in 2012 is forecast to be approximately $718 million for the electric utility and $84 million for the natural gas utility.

On June 17, 2011, NSP-Wisconsin filed updated information to its pending application with the PSCW and revised  the requested annual electric revenues to $29.2 million, or 5.1 percent, and  the requested annual natural gas revenues to $8.0 million, or 6.6 percent.

A PSCW decision is anticipated in the fourth quarter of 2011.

 
 

 

Except for the historical statements contained in this 8-K, the matters discussed herein, including the expected impact of rate cases and average net investment rate base, 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 and its subsidiaries 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 and NSP-Wisconsin have 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 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 imposed 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; financial or regulatory accounting policies imposed by regulatory bodies; availability of cost of capital; employee work force factors; and the other risk factors listed from time to time by Xcel Energy and NSP-Wisconsin 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-Wisconsin’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2010 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2011.

 
 

 

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.

June 21, 2011
Xcel Energy Inc.
 
(a Minnesota corporation)
 
Northern States Power Company
 
(a Wisconsin corporation)
   
 
/s/ DAVID M. SPARBY
 
David M. Sparby
 
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer