SEC Info - Xcel Energy Inc - ‘10-K’ for 12/31/09

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Xcel Energy Inc – ‘10-K’ for 12/31/09 – ‘XML.R26’

On: Friday, 2/26/10, at 4:23pm ET · For: 12/31/09 · Accession #: 1047469-10-1536 · File #: 1-03034

  As Of               Filer                 Filing    For·On·As Docs:Size             Issuer                      Filing Agent

 2/26/10  Xcel Energy Inc                   10-K       12/31/09   53:8.9M                                   Toppan Merrill-FA

Annual Report — Form 10-K — Sect. 13 / 15(d) – SEA’34
Filing Table of Contents

Document/Exhibit                   Description                      Pages   Size 

 1: 10-K        Annual Report                                       HTML   2.22M 
 2: EX-10.24    Material Contract                                   HTML     22K 
 4: EX-21.01    Subsidiaries List                                   HTML     27K 
 5: EX-23.01    Consent of Experts or Counsel                       HTML     24K 
 6: EX-24.01    Power of Attorney                                   HTML     39K 
10: EX-99.01    Miscellaneous Exhibit                               HTML     23K 
 3: EX-12.01    Statement re: Computation of Ratios                 HTML     42K 
 7: EX-31.01    Certification -- §302 - SOA'02                      HTML     24K 
 8: EX-31.02    Certification -- §302 - SOA'02                      HTML     24K 
 9: EX-32.01    Certification -- §906 - SOA'02                      HTML     20K 
42: XML         IDEA XML File -- Definitions and References          XML    126K 
49: XML         IDEA XML File -- Filing Summary                      XML    158K 
47: XML.R1      Consolidated Statements of Income                    XML    362K 
48: XML.R2      Consolidated Statements of Income (Parenthetical)    XML     49K 
28: XML.R3      Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows                XML    504K 
33: XML.R4      Consolidated Balance Sheets                          XML    323K 
40: XML.R5      Consolidated Statements of Common Stockholders'      XML    531K 
                Equity and Comprehensive Income                                  
39: XML.R6      Consolidated Statements of Common Stockholders'      XML     73K 
                Equity and Comprehensive Income (Parenthetical)                  
52: XML.R7      Consolidated Statements of Capitalization,           XML   2.19M 
                Long-Term Debt                                                   
22: XML.R8      Consolidated Statements of Capitalization, Equity    XML    288K 
38: XML.R9      Consolidated Statements of Capitalization, Equity    XML     72K 
                (Parenthetical)                                                  
20: XML.R10     Summary of Significant Accounting Policies           XML     73K 
19: XML.R11     Accounting Pronouncements                            XML     45K 
27: XML.R12     Selected Balance Sheet Data                          XML     59K 
44: XML.R13     Discontinued Operations                              XML     50K 
29: XML.R14     Short-Term Borrowings and Other Financing            XML     35K 
                Instruments                                                      
30: XML.R15     Long-Term Borrowings and Other Financing             XML     73K 
                Instruments                                                      
36: XML.R16     Generating Plant Ownership and Operation             XML     69K 
53: XML.R17     Income Taxes                                         XML    142K 
25: XML.R18     Preferred and Common Stock                           XML     91K 
17: XML.R19     Share-Based Compensation                             XML    139K 
32: XML.R20     Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits      XML    270K 
43: XML.R21     Other Income, Net                                    XML     43K 
23: XML.R22     Derivative Instruments                               XML    152K 
41: XML.R23     Financial Instruments                                XML     65K 
31: XML.R24     Fair Value Measurements                              XML    110K 
51: XML.R25     Rate Matters                                         XML    106K 
46: XML.R26     Commitments and Contingent Liabilities               XML    218K 
34: XML.R27     Nuclear Obligations                                  XML     64K 
37: XML.R28     Regulatory Assets and Liabilities                    XML     87K 
18: XML.R29     Segments and Related Information                     XML     93K 
21: XML.R30     Summarized Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)      XML     65K 
24: XML.R31     Lubbock Electric Distribution Assets                 XML     34K 
26: XML.R32     Condensed Financial Statements of Xcel Energy Inc.   XML    124K 
35: XML.R33     Valuation and Qualifying Accounts                    XML     44K 
45: XML.R34     Document and Entity Information                      XML    129K 
50: EXCEL       IDEA Workbook of Financial Reports (.xls)            XLS    220K 
11: EX-101.INS  XBRL Instance -- xel-20091231                        XML   2.29M 
13: EX-101.CAL  XBRL Calculations -- xel-20091231_cal                XML    205K 
14: EX-101.DEF  XBRL Definitions -- xel-20091231_def                 XML    194K 
15: EX-101.LAB  XBRL Labels -- xel-20091231_lab                      XML   1.03M 
16: EX-101.PRE  XBRL Presentations -- xel-20091231_pre               XML    524K 
12: EX-101.SCH  XBRL Schema -- xel-20091231                          XSD    115K

‘XML.R26’ — Commitments and Contingent Liabilities

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<table style="font-size:10pt; font-family:'Times New Roman',times,serif;"> <tr> <td> 17. Commitments and Contingent Liabilities Commitments Capital Commitments — As of Dec. 31, 2009, the estimated cost of capital requirements of Xcel Energy and its subsidiaries and the capital expenditure programs is approximately $2.2 billion in 2010, $2.3 billion in 2011 and $2.1 billion in 2012. Xcel Energy's capital forecast includes the following major projects: Nuclear Capacity Increases and Life Extension — NSP-Minnesota is seeking a 20-year license renewal for the Monticello and Prairie Island nuclear plants. A renewed operating license was approved and issued for Monticello by the NRC in November 2006 licensing the plant to operate until 2030, and the MPUC order approving the spent fuel storage capacity needed to support plant operations until 2030 went into effect in June 2007. The application to renew Prairie Island's operating licenses was submitted to the NRC in April 2008 and the application for a CON for additional spent fuel storage capacity to support 20 additional years of plant operation was approved by the MPUC in December 2009. Final state and federal approvals are expected in 2010. NSP-Minnesota is pursuing capacity increases of Monticello and Prairie Island that will total approximately 235 MW, to be implemented, if approved, between 2010 and 2015. The life extension and capacity increase for Prairie Island Unit 2 is contingent on replacement of Unit 2's original steam generators, currently planned during the refueling outage in 2013. Total capital investment for these activities is estimated to be over $1 billion between 2010 and 2015. NSP-Minnesota submitted the CON and site permit applications for Monticello's power uprate in the first quarter of 2008 and the CON and site permit applications for Prairie Island's power uprate in the second quarter of 2008. The MPUC approved the Monticello power uprate CON and site permit in December 2008 and the Prairie Island power uprate CON and site permit in December 2009. Wind Generation — NSP-Minnesota is investing approximately $900 million over three years for a 201 MW project in southwestern Minnesota, called the Nobles Wind Project, and a 150 MW project in southeastern North Dakota, called the Merricourt Wind Project. These projects are expected to be operational by the end of 2010 and 2011, respectively. NSP-Minnesota has received regulatory approval for the projects, and has requested recovery of eligible costs beginning in 2010. CapX 2020 — In 2006, CapX 2020, an alliance of electric cooperatives, municipals and investor-owned utilities in the upper Midwest, including Xcel Energy, announced that it had identified several groups of transmission projects that proposed to be complete by 2020. Group 1 project investments are expected to total approximately $1.7 billion, with major construction targeted to begin in 2010 and ending three to five years later. Xcel Energy's investment is expected to be approximately $900 million depending on the route and configuration approved by the MPUC and the PSCW. Approximately 75 percent of the 2010 capital expenditures and return on investment for transmission projects are expected to be recovered under an NSP-Minnesota TCR tariff rider mechanism authorized by Minnesota legislation, as well as a similar TCR mechanism passed in South Dakota. Cost-recovery by NSP-Wisconsin is expected to occur through the biennial PSCW rate case process. The capital expenditure programs of Xcel Energy are subject to continuing review and modification. Actual utility construction expenditures may vary from the estimates due to changes in electric and natural gas projected load growth regulatory decisions, the desired reserve margin and the availability of purchased power, as well as alternative plans for meeting Xcel Energy's long-term energy needs. In addition, Xcel Energy's ongoing evaluation of compliance with future requirements to install emission-control equipment, and merger, acquisition and divestiture opportunities to support corporate strategies may impact actual capital requirements. Fuel Contracts — Xcel Energy and its subsidiaries have contracts providing for the purchase and delivery of a significant portion of its current coal, nuclear fuel and natural gas requirements. These contracts expire in various years between 2010 and 2040. In total, Xcel Energy is committed to the minimum purchase of approximately $2.3 billion of coal, $598.3 million of nuclear fuel and $4.4 billion of natural gas, including $3.3 billion of natural gas storage and transportation, or to make payments in lieu thereof, under these contracts. In addition, Xcel Energy is required to pay additional amounts depending on actual quantities shipped under these agreements. Xcel Energy's risk of loss, in the form of increased costs from market price changes in fuel, is mitigated through the use of natural gas and energy cost rate adjustment mechanisms, which provide for pass-through of most fuel, storage and transportation costs to customers. Purchased Power Agreements — The utility subsidiaries of Xcel Energy have entered into agreements with utilities and other energy suppliers for purchased power to meet system load and energy requirements, replace generation from company-owned units under maintenance and during outages, and meet operating reserve obligations. NSP-Minnesota, PSCo and SPS have various pay-for-performance contracts with expiration dates through the year 2033. In general, these contracts provide for capacity payments, subject to meeting certain contract obligations, and energy payments based on actual power taken under the contracts. Certain contractual payment obligations are adjusted based on indices. However, the effects of price adjustments are mitigated through cost-of-energy rate adjustment mechanisms. At Dec. 31, 2009, the estimated future payments for capacity, accounted for as executory contracts, that the utility subsidiaries of Xcel Energy are obligated to purchase, subject to availability, are as follows: <div style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0pt; PADDING-LEFT: 0pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 20%; WIDTH: 60%; PADDING-TOP: 0pt; POSITION: relative">   <div align="center"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" border="0"> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="left" width="9"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="left"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="12"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right" width="6"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="83"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="12"></td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="bottom"> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="left" colspan="2"> </th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </th> <th style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1pt solid; FONT-FAMILY: times" align="center" colspan="2">(Millions of Dollars) </th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </th></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="top" bgcolor="#CCEEFF"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" colspan="2"> 2010</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">$</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">486.8</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="top" bgcolor="white"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" colspan="2"> 2011</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">477.1</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="top" bgcolor="#CCEEFF"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" colspan="2"> 2012</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">404.3</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="top" bgcolor="white"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" colspan="2"> 2013</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">340.9</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="top" bgcolor="#CCEEFF"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" colspan="2"> 2014</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">287.0</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="top" bgcolor="white"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" colspan="2"> 2015 and thereafter</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">1,298.2</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td></tr> <tr style="FONT-SIZE: 1.5pt; HEIGHT: 0px" valign="top"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" colspan="2"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1pt solid; FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right" colspan="2"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="top" bgcolor="#CCEEFF"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> Total</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">$</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">3,294.3</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td></tr> <tr style="FONT-SIZE: 1.5pt; HEIGHT: 0px" valign="top"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" colspan="2"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2.25pt double; FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right" colspan="2"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td></tr></table></div> </div> Variable Interest Entities — Xcel Energy has certain long-term purchased power agreements with independent power producing entities that contain tolling arrangements under which Xcel Energy procures the fuel required to produce the energy purchased. Xcel Energy enters into these agreements to meet electric system capacity and energy needs. Xcel Energy is not subject to risk of loss from the operations of these entities. Xcel Energy has evaluated such entities for possible consolidation and has concluded that these entities are not required to be consolidated in Xcel Energy's consolidated financial statements. The significant qualitative factors considered evaluating purchase power agreements under ASC 810 Consolidation include length and terms of the contract and operational, fuel price and financing risk. When necessary, a quantitative analysis demonstrated that Xcel Energy would absorb less than 50 percent of the expected gains or losses. Significant assumptions used in the quantitative analysis by Xcel Energy, to determine the primary beneficiary, include an inflation rate equal to the Bureau of Labor Statistics 10 year average, estimated future fuel and electricity prices, future operating cash flows, an incremental borrowing rate, the expected life of the plant and a debt to equity financing ratio. Leases — Xcel Energy and its subsidiaries lease a variety of equipment and facilities used in the normal course of business. Three of these leases qualify as capital leases and are accounted for accordingly. The assets and liabilities acquired under capital leases are recorded at the lower of fair market value or the present value of future lease payments and are amortized over their actual contract term in accordance with practices allowed by regulators. In 1999, WYCO was formed as a joint venture with CIG to develop and lease natural gas pipeline, storage, and compression facilities. Xcel Energy has a 50 percent ownership interest in WYCO. In 2009, WYCO's Totem gas storage facilities were placed in service. WYCO leases the facilities to CIG, and CIG operates the facilities, providing natural gas storage services to PSCo under a service arrangement that commenced on July 1, 2009. PSCo accounts for its Totem natural gas storage service arrangement with CIG as a capital lease in accordance with the authoritative guidance on lease accounting. As a result, PSCo has a $141.1 million capital lease obligation recorded for the arrangement as of Dec. 31, 2009, 50% of which is eliminated in Xcel Energy's consolidated balance sheet along with an equal amount of Xcel Energy's equity investment in WYCO. WYCO is expected to incur approximately $14 million of additional construction costs, 50 percent of which will be paid by Xcel Energy, to finalize construction and make Totem operational at full storage capacity. Following is a summary of property held under capital leases: <div style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0pt; PADDING-LEFT: 0pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 20%; WIDTH: 60%; PADDING-TOP: 0pt; POSITION: relative">   <div align="center"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" border="0"> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="left"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="12"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right" width="6"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="65"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="12"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right" width="6"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="65"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="12"></td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="bottom"> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="left"> </th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </th> <th style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1pt solid; FONT-FAMILY: times" align="center" colspan="2">2009 </th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </th> <th style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1pt solid; FONT-FAMILY: times" align="center" colspan="2">2008 </th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </th></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="bottom"> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="left"> </th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="center" colspan="5">(Millions of Dollars) </th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </th></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="top" bgcolor="#CCEEFF"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> Storage, leaseholds and rights</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">$</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">183.6</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">$</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">40.5</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="top" bgcolor="white"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> Gas pipeline</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">20.7</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">20.7</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td></tr> <tr style="FONT-SIZE: 1.5pt; HEIGHT: 0px" valign="top"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1pt solid; FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right" colspan="2"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1pt solid; FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right" colspan="2"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="top" bgcolor="#CCEEFF"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> Property held under capital lease</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">204.3</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">61.2</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="top" bgcolor="white"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> Accumulated depreciation</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">(21.3</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom">)</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">(17.8</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom">)</td></tr> <tr style="FONT-SIZE: 1.5pt; HEIGHT: 0px" valign="top"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1pt solid; FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right" colspan="2"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1pt solid; FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right" colspan="2"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="top" bgcolor="#CCEEFF"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> Total property held under capital leases, net</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">$</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">183.0</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">$</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">43.4</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td></tr> <tr style="FONT-SIZE: 1.5pt; HEIGHT: 0px" valign="top"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2.25pt double; FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right" colspan="2"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2.25pt double; FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right" colspan="2"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td></tr></table></div> </div> The remainder of the leases, primarily for office space, railcars, generating facilities, trucks, aircraft, cars and power-operated equipment, are accounted for as operating leases. Total rental expense under operating lease obligations for Xcel Energy and its subsidiaries was approximately $209.5, $176.9, and $105.2 million for 2009, 2008, and 2007, respectively. Included in total rental expense were purchase power agreement payments of $171.3 million, $130.3 million, and $55.7 million in 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Included in the future commitments under operating leases are estimated future payments under purchase power agreements that have been accounted for as operating leases in accordance with ASC 840 Leases. Future commitments under operating and capital leases for continuing operations are: <div style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0pt; PADDING-LEFT: 0pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 10%; WIDTH: 80%; PADDING-TOP: 0pt; POSITION: relative">   <div align="center"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" border="0"> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="left" width="9"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="left" width="9"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="left"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="12"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right" width="6"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="65"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="12"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right" width="6"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="65"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="12"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right" width="6"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="65"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="12"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right" width="6"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="65"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="12"></td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="bottom"> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="left" colspan="3"> </th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </th> <th style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1pt solid; FONT-FAMILY: times" align="center" colspan="2">Other Operating Leases </th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </th> <th style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1pt solid; FONT-FAMILY: times" align="center" colspan="2">Purchase Power Agreement Operating Leases(a)(b) </th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </th> <th style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1pt solid; FONT-FAMILY: times" align="center" colspan="2">Total Operating Leases </th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </th> <th style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1pt solid; FONT-FAMILY: times" align="center" colspan="2">Capital Leases </th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </th></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="bottom"> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="left" colspan="3"> </th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="center" colspan="11">(Millions of Dollars) </th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </th></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="top" bgcolor="#CCEEFF"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" colspan="3"> 2010</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">$</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">24.1</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">$</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">151.7</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">$</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">175.8</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">$</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">17.2</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="top" bgcolor="white"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" colspan="3"> 2011</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">27.2</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">148.7</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">175.9</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">18.5</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="top" bgcolor="#CCEEFF"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" colspan="3"> 2012</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">23.7</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">158.9</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">182.6</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">17.6</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="top" bgcolor="white"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" colspan="3"> 2013</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">22.3</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">173.5</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">195.8</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">17.4</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="top" bgcolor="#CCEEFF"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" colspan="3"> 2014</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">22.2</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">180.6</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">202.8</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">17.3</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="top" bgcolor="white"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" colspan="3"> Thereafter</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">124.5</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">2,264.6</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">2,389.1</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">346.3</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td></tr> <tr style="FONT-SIZE: 1.5pt; HEIGHT: 0px" valign="top"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" colspan="3"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1pt solid; FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right" colspan="2"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="top" bgcolor="#CCEEFF"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" colspan="2"> Total minimum obligation</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">434.3</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="top" bgcolor="white"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" colspan="3"> Interest component of obligation</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">(321.8</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom">)</td></tr> <tr style="FONT-SIZE: 1.5pt; HEIGHT: 0px" valign="top"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" colspan="3"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1pt solid; FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right" colspan="2"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="top" bgcolor="#CCEEFF"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> Present value of minimum obligation</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">$</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">112.5</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td></tr> <tr style="FONT-SIZE: 1.5pt; HEIGHT: 0px" valign="top"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" colspan="3"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2.25pt double; FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right" colspan="2"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td></tr></table></div> </div>  <hr style="COLOR: #000000" align="left" width="100%" noshade="noshade" size="1" /> <dl compact="compact"> <dt style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: -9pt; FONT-FAMILY: times">(a)</dt> <dd style="FONT-FAMILY: times">Amounts do not include purchase power agreements accounted for as executory contracts. </dd> <dt style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: -9pt; FONT-FAMILY: times">(b)</dt> <dd style="FONT-FAMILY: times">Purchase power agreement operating leases contractually expire through 2033. </dd></dl> Technology Agreements — Xcel Energy has a contract that extends through 2015 with International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) for information technology services. The contract is cancelable at Xcel Energy's option, although there are financial penalties for early termination. In 2009, Xcel Energy paid IBM $96.6 million under the contract and $1.2 million for other project business. The contract also has a committed minimum payment each year from 2010 through September 2015. In August 2008, Xcel Energy entered into a contract with Accenture for information technology services, which began on Feb. 1, 2009 and extends through 2014. The contract is cancelable at Xcel Energy's option, although there are financial penalties for early termination. In 2009, Xcel Energy paid Accenture $11.3 million under the contract and $1.6 million for other project business. The contract also has a committed minimum payment each year from 2010 through 2014. Payments under these obligations are as follows: <div style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0pt; PADDING-LEFT: 0pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 20%; WIDTH: 60%; PADDING-TOP: 0pt; POSITION: relative">   <div align="center"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" border="0"> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="left"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="12"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right" width="6"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="65"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="12"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right" width="6"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="65"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="12"></td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="bottom"> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="left"> </th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </th> <th style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1pt solid; FONT-FAMILY: times" align="center" colspan="2">IBM Agreement </th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </th> <th style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1pt solid; FONT-FAMILY: times" align="center" colspan="2">Accenture Agreement </th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </th></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="bottom"> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="left"> </th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="center" colspan="5">(Millions of Dollars) </th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </th></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="top" bgcolor="#CCEEFF"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> 2010</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">$</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">19.8</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">$</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">11.0</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="top" bgcolor="white"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> 2011</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">19.5</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">10.7</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="top" bgcolor="#CCEEFF"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> 2012</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">19.2</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">10.5</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="top" bgcolor="white"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> 2013</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">18.9</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">10.3</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="top" bgcolor="#CCEEFF"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> 2014 and thereafter</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">31.3</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">10.2</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td></tr></table></div> </div> Environmental Contingencies Xcel Energy and its subsidiaries have been, or are currently, involved with the cleanup of contamination from certain hazardous substances at several sites. In many situations, the subsidiary involved believes it will recover some portion of these costs through insurance claims. Additionally, where applicable, the subsidiary involved is pursuing, or intends to pursue, recovery from other PRPs and through the rate regulatory process. New and changing federal and state environmental mandates can also create added financial liabilities for Xcel Energy and its subsidiaries, which are normally recovered through the rate regulatory process. To the extent any costs are not recovered through the options listed above, Xcel Energy would be required to recognize an expense. Site Remediation — Xcel Energy must pay all or a portion of the cost to remediate sites where past activities of its subsidiaries or other parties have caused environmental contamination. Environmental contingencies could arise from various situations, including sites of former MGPs operated by Xcel Energy subsidiaries, predecessors, or other entities; and third-party sites, such as landfills, for which Xcel Energy is alleged to be a PRP that sent hazardous materials and wastes. At Dec. 31, 2009, the liability for the cost of remediating these sites was estimated to be $102.1 million, of which $6.3 million was considered to be a current liability. MGP Sites Ashland MGP Site — NSP-Wisconsin has been named a PRP for creosote and coal tar contamination at a site in Ashland, Wis. The Ashland/Northern States Power Lakefront Superfund Site (Ashland site) includes property owned by NSP-Wisconsin, which was previously an MGP facility and two other properties: an adjacent city lakeshore park area, on which an unaffiliated third party previously operated a sawmill, and an area of Lake Superior's Chequamegon Bay adjoining the park. In September 2002, the Ashland site was placed on the National Priorities List. A final determination of the scope and cost of the remediation of the Ashland site is not currently expected until 2010. In October 2004, the state of Wisconsin filed a lawsuit in Wisconsin state court for reimbursement of past oversight costs incurred at the Ashland site between 1994 and March 2003 in the approximate amount of $1.4 million. The state also alleged a claim for forfeitures and interest. This litigation was resolved in the first quarter of 2009, and all costs paid to the state are expected to be recoverable in rates. In 2009, the EPA issued its proposed remedial action plan (PRAP). The estimated remediation costs for the cleanup proposed by the EPA in the PRAP range between $94.4 million and $112.8 million. NSP-Wisconsin submitted comments to EPA in response to the PRAP, and indicated that it had serious concerns about the cleanup approach proposed by the EPA. It is expected that the EPA will select a final remedial action plan sometime in early 2010. NSP-Wisconsin's potential liability, the actual cost of remediating the Ashland site and the time frame over which the amounts may be paid out are not determinable until the EPA selects a remediation strategy for the entire site and determines NSP-Wisconsin's level of responsibility. NSP-Wisconsin continues to work with the WDNR to access state and federal funds to apply to the ultimate remediation cost of the entire site. NSP-Wisconsin has recorded a liability of $97.5 million based upon the minimum of the range of remediation costs established by the PRAP, together with estimated outside legal, consultant and remedial design costs. NSP-Wisconsin has deferred, as a regulatory asset, the costs accrued for the Ashland site based on an expectation that the PSCW will continue to allow NSP-Wisconsin to recover payments for environmental remediation from its customers. The PSCW has consistently authorized recovery in NSP-Wisconsin rates of all remediation costs incurred at the Ashland site and has authorized recovery of similar remediation costs for other Wisconsin utilities. External MGP remediation costs are subject to deferral in the Wisconsin retail jurisdiction and are reviewed for prudence as part of the Wisconsin biennial retail rate case process. In addition, in 2003, the Wisconsin Supreme Court rendered a ruling that reopens the possibility that NSP-Wisconsin may be able to recover a portion of the remediation costs from its insurance carriers. Any insurance proceeds received by NSP-Wisconsin will be credited to ratepayers. In addition to potential liability for remediation, NSP-Wisconsin may also have potential liability for natural resource damages at the Ashland site. NSP-Wisconsin has recorded an estimate of its potential liability based upon its best estimate of potential exposure. Asbestos Removal — Some of Xcel Energy's facilities contain asbestos. Most asbestos will remain undisturbed until the facilities that contain it are demolished or renovated. Xcel Energy has recorded an estimate for final removal of the asbestos as an ARO. See additional discussion of AROs below. It may be necessary to remove some asbestos to perform maintenance or make improvements to other equipment. The cost of removing asbestos as part of other work is immaterial and is recorded as incurred as operating expenses for maintenance projects, capital expenditures for construction projects or removal costs for demolition projects. Other Environmental Requirements EPA GHG Endangerment Finding — On Dec. 7, 2009, in response to the U. S. Supreme Court's decision in Massachusetts v. EPA, 549 U. S. 497 (2007), the EPA issued its "endangerment" finding that GHG emissions endanger public health and welfare and that emissions from motor vehicles contribute to the GHGs in the atmosphere. This endangerment finding creates a mandatory duty for the EPA to regulate GHGs from light duty vehicles. The EPA has proposed to finalize GHG efficiency standards for light duty vehicles by spring 2010. Thereafter, the EPA anticipates phasing-in permit requirements and regulation of GHGs for large stationary sources, such as power plants, in calendar year 2011. CAIR — In March 2005, the EPA issued the CAIR to further regulate SO2 and NOx emissions. The objective of CAIR is to cap emissions of SO2 and NOx in the eastern United States, including Minnesota, Texas and Wisconsin, which are within Xcel Energy's service territory. In response to the decisions by the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals vacating but reinstating CAIR while EPA develops revised regulations, the EPA has indicated that a CAIR replacement rule will be proposed in early 2010 with finalization planned for early 2011. As currently written, CAIR has a two-phase compliance schedule, beginning in 2009 for NOx and 2010 for SO2, with a final compliance deadline in 2015 for both emissions. Under CAIR, each affected state will be allocated an emissions budget for SO2 and NOx that will result in significant emission reductions. It will be based on stringent emission controls and forms the basis for a cap and trade program. State emission budgets or caps decline over time. States can choose to implement an emissions reduction program based on the EPA's proposed model program, or they can propose another method, which the EPA would need to approve. Under CAIR's cap and trade structure, SPS can comply through capital investments in emission controls or purchase of emission allowances from other utilities making reductions on their systems. The remaining capital investments for NOx controls in the SPS region are estimated at $4.5 million. For 2009, the NOx allowance compliance costs were $1.7 million. The estimated NOx allowance cost for 2010 is $1.2 million. Annual purchases of SO2 allowances are estimated in the range of $1.7 million to $7.7 million each year, beginning in 2013, for phase I. On Nov. 3, 2009, the EPA published a rule staying the effectiveness of CAIR in Minnesota effective Dec. 3, 2009. Cost estimates are therefore not included at this time for NSP-Minnesota. For 2009, the NOx allowance costs for NSP-Wisconsin were $0.5 million. The estimated NOx allowance cost for 2010 is $0.4 million. Allowance cost estimates for SPS and NSP-Wisconsin are based on fuel quality and current market data. Xcel Energy believes the cost of any required capital investment or allowance purchases will be recoverable from customers in rates. CAMR — In March 2005, the EPA issued the CAMR, which regulated mercury emissions from power plants. In February 2008, the U. S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia vacated CAMR, which impacts federal CAMR requirements, but not necessarily state-only mercury legislation and rules. The EPA has agreed to finalize MACT emission standards for all hazardous air pollutants from electric utility steam generating units by November 2011 to replace CAMR. Xcel Energy anticipates that the EPA will require affected facilities to demonstrate compliance within 18 to 36 months thereafter. Colorado Mercury Regulation — In Colorado, the AQCC passed a mercury rule, which requires mercury emission controls capable of achieving 80 percent capture to be installed at the Pawnee Generating Station by 2012 and other specified units by 2014. The expected cost estimate for the Pawnee Generating Station is $2.3 million for capital costs with an annual estimate of $1.4 million for absorbent expense. PSCo is evaluating the emission controls required to meet the state rule for the remaining units and is currently unable to provide a total capital cost estimate. Minnesota Mercury Legislation — In May 2006, the Minnesota legislature enacted the Mercury Emissions Reduction Act of 2006 (Act) providing a process for plans, implementation and cost recovery for utility efforts to curb mercury emissions at certain power plants. For NSP-Minnesota, the Act covers units at the A. S. King and Sherco generating facilities. Xcel Energy installed and is operating and maintaining continuous mercury emission monitoring systems at these generating facilities. In September 2006, NSP-Minnesota filed a request with the MPUC for recovery of up to $6.3 million of certain environmental improvement costs recoverable under the Act. In January 2007, the MPUC approved this request to defer these costs as a regulatory asset with a cap of $6.3 million. In November 2008, NSP-Minnesota filed a request with the MPUC to reflect its requested recovery of these emission reduction compliance costs incurred through 2009 in the NSP-Minnesota electric rate case. In June 2009, NSP-Minnesota received an order from the MPUC closing the docket to correspond with the inclusion of costs in the electric rate case. The recovery of the costs was allowed as part of the rate case. In November 2008, the MPUC approved and ordered the implementation of the Sherco Unit 3 and A. S. King mercury emission reduction plans. A sorbent injection control system was installed at Sherco Unit 3 in December 2009, with installation at A. S. King scheduled for December 2010. In an order dated Nov. 4, 2009, the MPUC authorized NSP-Minnesota to collect approximately $3.5 million from customers through a mercury rider in 2010. On Dec. 21, 2009, NSP-Minnesota filed the plans for mercury control at Sherco Units 1 and 2 with the MPUC and the MPCA. Assuming these plans are approved, NSP-Minnesota expects to file for recovery of the costs to implement these plans through the mercury cost recovery rider. Regional Haze Rules — In June 2005, the EPA finalized amendments to the July 1999 regional haze rules. These amendments apply to the provisions of the regional haze rule that require emission controls, known as BART, for industrial facilities emitting air pollutants that reduce visibility by causing or contributing to regional haze. Xcel Energy generating facilities in several states will be subject to BART requirements. States are required to identify the facilities that will have to reduce SO2, NOx and particulate matter emissions under BART and then set BART emissions limits for those facilities. In May 2006, the Colorado AQCC promulgated BART regulations requiring certain major stationary sources to evaluate and install, operate and maintain BART to make reasonable progress toward meeting the national visibility goal. PSCo estimates that the remaining cost for implementation of BART emission control projects is approximately $141 million in capital costs, which are included in the capital budget. PSCo expects the cost of any required capital investment will be recoverable from customers. Emissions controls are expected to be installed between 2012 and 2015. Colorado's BART state implementation plan has been submitted to the EPA for approval. In January 2009, the CAPCD initiated a joint stakeholder process to evaluate what types of additional NOx controls may be necessary to meet reasonable progress goals for Colorado's Class I areas, the new ozone standard, and Rocky Mountain National Park nitrogen deposition reduction goals. The CAPCD has indicated that it expects to have a final plan for additional point-source NOx controls by the end of 2010. NSP-Minnesota submitted its BART alternatives analysis for Sherco Units 1 and 2 in October 2006. The MPCA reviewed the BART analyses for all units in Minnesota and determined that overall, compliance with CAIR is better than BART. On Nov. 13, 2008, NSP-Minnesota submitted a revised BART alternatives analysis letter to the MPCA to account for increased construction and equipment costs. The underlying conclusions and proposed emission control equipment, however, remain unchanged from the original 2006 BART analysis. The MPCA completed their BART determination and proposed SO2 and NOx limits in the draft state implementation plan (SIP) that are equivalent to the reductions made under CAIR. On Oct. 21, 2009, the United States Department of Interior certified that a portion of the visibility impairment in Voyageurs and Isle Royale National Parks is reasonably attributable to pollution emissions from Xcel Energy's Sherco Plant Units 1 and 2. The EPA currently administers the 1980 Visibility Protection Rules for the State of Minnesota through a Federal Implementation Plan. As such, EPA Region 5 is required to make its own determination as to whether Sherco Units 1 and 2 cause or contribute to visibility impairment and if so, to determine the appropriate BART levels of control. The MPCA determined that this certification does not alter the proposed SIP. The SIP proposes BART controls for Sherco that are designed to improve visibility in the national parks, but does not require Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) on Units 1 and 2. The MPCA concluded that the minor visibility benefits derived from SCR do not outweigh the substantial costs. On Dec. 15, 2009, the MPCA Citizens Board approved the SIP, which has been submitted to the EPA for approval. Federal Clean Water Act — The federal Clean Water Act requires the EPA to regulate cooling water intake structures to assure that these structures reflect the best technology available (BTA) for minimizing adverse environmental impacts. In July 2004, the EPA published phase II of the rule, which applies to existing cooling water intakes at steam-electric power plants. Several lawsuits were filed against the EPA in the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (Court of Appeals) challenging the phase II rulemaking. In January 2007, the Court of Appeals issued its decision and remanded the rule to the EPA for reconsideration. In June 2007, the EPA suspended the deadlines and referred any implementation to each state's best professional judgment until the EPA is able to fully respond to the remand. In April 2008, the U. S. Supreme Court granted limited review of the Court of Appeals' opinion to determine whether the EPA has the authority to consider costs and benefits in assessing BTA. On April 1, 2009, the U. S. Supreme Court issued a decision in Entergy Corp. v. Riverkeeper, Inc., concluding that the EPA can consider a cost benefit analysis when establishing BTA. The decision overturned only one aspect of the Court of Appeals' earlier opinion, and gives the EPA the discretion to consider costs and benefits when it reconsiders its phase II rules. Until the EPA fully responds to the Court of Appeals' decision, the rule's compliance requirements and associated deadlines will remain unknown. As such, it is not possible to provide an accurate estimate of the overall cost of this rulemaking at this time. The MPCA exercised its authority under best professional judgment to require the Black Dog Generating Station in its recently renewed wastewater discharge permit to create a plan by April 2010 to reduce the plant intake's impact on aquatic wildlife. NSP-Minnesota is discussing alternatives with the local community and regulatory agencies to address this concern. PSCo Notice of Violation (NOV) — In July 2002, PSCo received an NOV from the EPA alleging violations of the New Source Review (NSR) requirements of the CAA at the Comanche Station and Pawnee Station in Colorado. The NOV specifically alleges that various maintenance, repair and replacement projects undertaken at the plants in the mid- to late-1990s should have required a permit under the NSR process. PSCo believes it has acted in full compliance with the CAA and NSR process. PSCo believes that the projects identified in the NOV fit within the routine maintenance, repair and replacement exemption contained within the NSR regulations or are otherwise not subject to the NSR requirements. PSCo disagrees with the assertions contained in the NOV and intends to vigorously defend its position. Cunningham Draft Compliance Order — On Feb. 18, 2010, SPS received a draft compliance order from the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) for Cunningham Station. In the draft order, NMED alleges that Cunningham exceeded its permit limits for NOx on 7,336 occasions and failed to report these exceedances as required by its permit. The draft order includes a proposed penalty of $16.1 million. SPS denies these allegations and will have an opportunity to discuss the alleged violations and proposed penalty with NMED prior to the issuance of a final order. SPS will vigorously defend its position in negotiations with NMED. Asset Retirement Obligations Xcel Energy records future plant removal obligations as a liability at fair value with a corresponding increase to the carrying values of the related long-lived assets in accordance with ASC 410 Asset Retirement and Environmental Obligations. This liability will be increased over time by applying the interest method of accretion to the liability and the capitalized costs will be depreciated over the useful life of the related long-lived assets. The recording of the obligation for regulated operations has no income statement impact due to the deferral of the adjustments through the establishment of a regulatory asset. Recorded ARO — AROs have been recorded for plant related to nuclear production, steam production, electric transmission and distribution, natural gas transmission and distribution and office buildings. The steam production obligation includes asbestos, ash-containment facilities, radiation sources and decommissioning. The asbestos recognition associated with the steam production includes certain plants at NSP-Minnesota, PSCo and SPS. NSP-Minnesota also recorded asbestos recognition for its general office building. Generally, this asbestos abatement removal obligation originated in 1973 with the CAA, which applied to the demolition of buildings or removal of equipment containing asbestos that can become airborne on removal. AROs also have been recorded for NSP-Minnesota, PSCo and SPS steam production related to ash-containment facilities such as bottom ash ponds, evaporation ponds and solid waste landfills. The origination date on the ARO recognition for ash-containment facilities at steam plants was the in-service date of various facilities. Additional AROs have been recorded for NSP-Minnesota and PSCo steam production plant related to radiation sources in equipment used to monitor the flow of coal, lime and other materials through feeders. Xcel Energy recognized an ARO for the retirement costs of natural gas mains at NSP-Minnesota, NSP-Wisconsin and PSCo. In addition, an ARO was recognized for the removal of electric transmission and distribution equipment at NSP-Minnesota, NSP-Wisconsin, PSCo and SPS. The electric transmission and distribution ARO consists of many small potential obligations associated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), mineral oil, storage tanks, treated poles, lithium batteries, mercury and street lighting lamps. These electric and natural gas assets have many in-service dates for which it is difficult to assign the obligation to a particular year. Therefore, the obligation was measured using an average service life. For the nuclear assets, the ARO associated with the decommissioning of two NSP-Minnesota nuclear generating plants, Monticello and Prairie Island, originates with the in-service date of the facility. Monticello began operation in 1971. Prairie Island units 1 and 2 began operation in 1973 and 1974, respectively. See Note 18 to the consolidated financial statements for further discussion of nuclear obligations. A reconciliation of the beginning and ending aggregate carrying amounts of Xcel Energy's AROs is shown in the table below for the 12 months ended Dec. 31, 2009 and Dec. 31, 2008, respectively: <div style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0pt; PADDING-LEFT: 0pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 10%; WIDTH: 54%; PADDING-TOP: 0pt; POSITION: relative">   <div align="center"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="150%" border="0"> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="left" width="9"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="left"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="12"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right" width="6"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="65"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="12"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right" width="6"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="65"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="12"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right" width="6"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="65"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="12"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right" width="6"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="65"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="12"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right" width="6"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="65"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="12"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right" width="6"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="65"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="12"></td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="bottom"> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="left" colspan="2"> </th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </th> <th style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1pt solid; FONT-FAMILY: times" align="center" colspan="2">Beginning Balance Jan. 1, 2009</th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </th> <th style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1pt solid; FONT-FAMILY: times" align="center" colspan="2">Liabilities Recognized </th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </th> <th style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1pt solid; FONT-FAMILY: times" align="center" colspan="2">Liabilities Settled </th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </th> <th style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1pt solid; FONT-FAMILY: times" align="center" colspan="2">Accretion </th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </th> <th style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1pt solid; FONT-FAMILY: times" align="center" colspan="2">Revisions to Prior Estimates </th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </th> <th style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1pt solid; FONT-FAMILY: times" align="center" colspan="2">Ending Balance Dec. 31, 2009</th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </th></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="bottom"> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="left" colspan="2"> </th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="center" colspan="17">(Thousands of Dollars) </th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </th></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#CCEEFF"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" colspan="2"> Electric plant</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="bottom" bgcolor="white"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" colspan="2"> Steam production asbestos</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">$</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">93,141</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">$</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">—</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">$</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">—</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">$</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">5,987</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">$</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">(4,035</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times">)</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">$</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">95,093</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#CCEEFF"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" colspan="2"> Steam production ash containment</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">18,643</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">—</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">—</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">1,100</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">(2,191</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times">)</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">17,552</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="bottom" bgcolor="white"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" colspan="2"> Steam production radiation sources</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">337</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">—</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">—</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">24</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">(185</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times">)</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">176</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#CCEEFF"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" colspan="2"> Nuclear production decommissioning</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">1,013,342</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">—</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">—</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">61,469</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">(315,888</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times">)</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">758,923</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="bottom" bgcolor="white"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" colspan="2"> Wind production</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">7,447</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">—</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">—</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">483</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">(179</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times">)</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">7,751</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#CCEEFF"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" colspan="2"> Electric transmission and distribution</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">313</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">—</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">—</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">19</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">(305</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times">)</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">27</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="bottom" bgcolor="white"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" colspan="2"> Natural gas plant</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#CCEEFF"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" colspan="2"> Gas transmission and distribution</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">880</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">—</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">—</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">56</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">—</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">936</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="bottom" bgcolor="white"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" colspan="2"> Common and other property</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#CCEEFF"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" colspan="2"> Common general plant asbestos</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">1,079</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">—</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">—</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">59</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">(117</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times">)</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">1,021</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td></tr> <tr style="FONT-SIZE: 1.5pt; HEIGHT: 0px" valign="top"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" colspan="2"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1pt solid; FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right" colspan="2"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1pt solid; FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right" colspan="2"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1pt solid; FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right" colspan="2"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1pt solid; FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right" colspan="2"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1pt solid; FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right" colspan="2"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1pt solid; FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right" colspan="2"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="bottom" bgcolor="white"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> Total liability</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">$</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">1,135,182</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">$</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">—</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">$</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">—</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">$</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">69,197</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">$</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">(322,900</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times">)</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">$</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">881,479</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td></tr> <tr style="FONT-SIZE: 1.5pt; HEIGHT: 0px" valign="top"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" colspan="2"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2.25pt double; FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right" colspan="2"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2.25pt double; FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right" colspan="2"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2.25pt double; FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right" colspan="2"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2.25pt double; FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right" colspan="2"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2.25pt double; FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right" colspan="2"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2.25pt double; FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right" colspan="2"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td></tr></table></div> </div> The fair value of NSP-Minnesota assets legally restricted, for purposes of settling the nuclear ARO is $1.2 billion as of Dec. 31, 2009, including external nuclear decommissioning investment funds and internally funded amounts. Revisions were made for asbestos, ash-containment facilities, nuclear plants, wind turbines, radiation sources and electric transmission and distribution asset retirement obligations due to revised estimates and end of life dates. The revised end of life date for the Prairie Island nuclear plant approved by the MPUC in 2008 and effective Jan. 1, 2009 resulted in the nuclear production decommissioning ARO and related regulatory asset decreasing by $315.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2009. <div style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0pt; PADDING-LEFT: 0pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 10%; WIDTH: 54%; PADDING-TOP: 0pt; POSITION: relative">   <div align="center"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="150%" border="0"> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="left" width="9"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="left"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="12"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right" width="6"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="65"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="12"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right" width="6"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="65"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="12"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right" width="6"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="65"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="12"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right" width="6"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="65"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="12"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right" width="6"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="65"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="12"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right" width="6"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="65"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="12"></td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="bottom"> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="left" colspan="2"> </th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </th> <th style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1pt solid; FONT-FAMILY: times" align="center" colspan="2">Beginning Balance Jan. 1, 2008</th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </th> <th style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1pt solid; FONT-FAMILY: times" align="center" colspan="2">Liabilities Recognized </th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </th> <th style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1pt solid; FONT-FAMILY: times" align="center" colspan="2">Liabilities Settled </th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </th> <th style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1pt solid; FONT-FAMILY: times" align="center" colspan="2">Accretion </th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </th> <th style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1pt solid; FONT-FAMILY: times" align="center" colspan="2">Revisions to Prior Estimates </th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </th> <th style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1pt solid; FONT-FAMILY: times" align="center" colspan="2">Ending Balance Dec. 31, 2008</th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </th></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="bottom"> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="left" colspan="2"> </th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="center" colspan="17">(Thousands of Dollars) </th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </th></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#CCEEFF"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" colspan="2"> Electric plant</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="bottom" bgcolor="white"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" colspan="2"> Steam production asbestos</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">$</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">35,807</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">$</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">21,721</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">$</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">(500</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times">)</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">$</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">2,165</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">$</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">33,948</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">$</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">93,141</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#CCEEFF"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" colspan="2"> Steam production ash containment</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">22,539</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">—</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">—</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">1,275</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">(5,171</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times">)</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">18,643</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="bottom" bgcolor="white"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" colspan="2"> Steam production radiation sources</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">—</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">335</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">—</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">2</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">—</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">337</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#CCEEFF"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" colspan="2"> Nuclear production decommissioning</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">1,209,746</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">—</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">—</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">71,370</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">(267,774</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times">)</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">1,013,342</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="bottom" bgcolor="white"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" colspan="2"> Wind production</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">—</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">7,408</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">—</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">39</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">—</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">7,447</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#CCEEFF"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" colspan="2"> Electric transmission and distribution</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">270</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">—</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">—</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">16</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">27</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">313</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="bottom" bgcolor="white"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" colspan="2"> Natural gas plant</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#CCEEFF"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" colspan="2"> Gas transmission and distribution</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">45,505</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">—</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">—</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">1,127</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">(45,752</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times">)</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">880</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="bottom" bgcolor="white"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" colspan="2"> Common and other property</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#CCEEFF"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" colspan="2"> Common general plant asbestos</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">1,277</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">—</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">—</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">70</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">(268</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times">)</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">1,079</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td></tr> <tr style="FONT-SIZE: 1.5pt; HEIGHT: 0px" valign="top"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" colspan="2"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1pt solid; FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right" colspan="2"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1pt solid; FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right" colspan="2"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1pt solid; FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right" colspan="2"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1pt solid; FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right" colspan="2"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1pt solid; FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right" colspan="2"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1pt solid; FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right" colspan="2"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="bottom" bgcolor="white"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> Total liability</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">$</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">1,315,144</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">$</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">29,464</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">$</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">(500</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times">)</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">$</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">76,064</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">$</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">(284,990</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times">)</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">$</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right">1,135,182</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td></tr> <tr style="FONT-SIZE: 1.5pt; HEIGHT: 0px" valign="top"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" colspan="2"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2.25pt double; FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right" colspan="2"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2.25pt double; FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right" colspan="2"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2.25pt double; FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right" colspan="2"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2.25pt double; FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right" colspan="2"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2.25pt double; FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right" colspan="2"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2.25pt double; FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right" colspan="2"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td></tr></table></div> </div> A new decommissioning study filed with the MPUC in 2008 proposed extension of the final removal date of the Monticello and Prairie Island nuclear plants by 14 and 26 years, respectively, effective Jan. 1, 2009. As a result of the studies for the Monticello and Prairie Island nuclear plants, the nuclear production decommissioning ARO and related regulatory asset decreased by $128.5 million and $139.3 million, respectively, in the fourth quarter of 2008. Indeterminate AROs — PSCo has underground natural gas storage facilities that have special closure requirements for which the final removal date cannot be determined; therefore, an ARO has not been recorded. Removal Costs — Xcel Energy accrues an obligation for plant removal costs for other generation, transmission and distribution facilities of its utility subsidiaries. Generally, the accrual of future non-ARO removal obligations is not required. However, long-standing ratemaking practices approved by applicable state and federal regulatory commissions have allowed provisions for such costs in historical depreciation rates. These removal costs have accumulated over a number of years based on varying rates as authorized by the appropriate regulatory entities. Given the long periods over which the amounts were accrued and the changing of rates through time, the utility subsidiaries have estimated the amount of removal costs accumulated through historic depreciation expense based on current factors used in the existing depreciation rates. Accordingly, the recorded amounts of estimated future removal costs are considered regulatory liabilities. Removal costs by entity are as follows at Dec. 31: <div style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0pt; PADDING-LEFT: 0pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 20%; WIDTH: 60%; PADDING-TOP: 0pt; POSITION: relative">   <div align="center"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" border="0"> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="left" width="9"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="left"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="12"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right" width="6"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="65"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="12"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right" width="6"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="65"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="12"></td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="bottom"> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="left" colspan="2"> </th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </th> <th style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1pt solid; FONT-FAMILY: times" align="center" colspan="2">2009 </th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </th> <th style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1pt solid; FONT-FAMILY: times" align="center" colspan="2">2008 </th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </th></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="bottom"> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="left" colspan="2"> </th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="center" colspan="5">(Millions of Dollars) </th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </th></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="top" bgcolor="#CCEEFF"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" colspan="2"> NSP-Minnesota</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">$</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">372</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">$</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">354</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="top" bgcolor="white"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" colspan="2"> NSP-Wisconsin</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">102</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">96</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="top" bgcolor="#CCEEFF"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" colspan="2"> PSCo</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">375</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">379</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="top" bgcolor="white"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" colspan="2"> SPS</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">93</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">96</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td></tr> <tr style="FONT-SIZE: 1.5pt; HEIGHT: 0px" valign="top"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" colspan="2"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1pt solid; FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right" colspan="2"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1pt solid; FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right" colspan="2"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="top" bgcolor="#CCEEFF"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> Total Xcel Energy</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">$</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">942</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">$</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">925</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td></tr> <tr style="FONT-SIZE: 1.5pt; HEIGHT: 0px" valign="top"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" colspan="2"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2.25pt double; FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right" colspan="2"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2.25pt double; FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right" colspan="2"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td></tr></table></div> </div> Nuclear Insurance NSP-Minnesota's public liability for claims resulting from any nuclear incident is limited to $12.5 billion under the Price-Anderson amendment to the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended. NSP-Minnesota has secured $300 million of coverage for its public liability exposure with a pool of insurance companies. The remaining $12.2 billion of exposure is funded by the Secondary Financial Protection Program, available from assessments by the federal government in case of a nuclear accident. NSP-Minnesota is subject to assessments of up to $117.5 million per reactor per accident for each of its three licensed reactors, to be applied for public liability arising from a nuclear incident at any licensed nuclear facility in the United States. The maximum funding requirement is $17.5 million per reactor during any one year. These maximum assessment amounts are both subject to inflation adjustment by the NRC and state premium taxes. The NRC's last adjustment was effective Oct. 29, 2008. The next adjustment is due on or before Oct. 29, 2013. NSP-Minnesota purchases insurance for property damage and site decontamination cleanup costs from Nuclear Electric Insurance Ltd. (NEIL). The coverage limits are $2.3 billion for each of NSP-Minnesota's two nuclear plant sites. NEIL also provides business interruption insurance coverage, including the cost of replacement power obtained during certain prolonged accidental outages of nuclear generating units. Premiums are expensed over the policy term. All companies insured with NEIL are subject to retroactive premium adjustments if losses exceed accumulated reserve funds. Capital has been accumulated in the reserve funds of NEIL to the extent that NSP-Minnesota would have no exposure for retroactive premium assessments in case of a single incident under the business interruption and the property damage insurance coverage. However, in each calendar year, NSP-Minnesota could be subject to maximum assessments of approximately $15.2 million for business interruption insurance and $30.9 million for property damage insurance if losses exceed accumulated reserve funds. Legal Contingencies Lawsuits and claims arise in the normal course of business. Management, after consultation with legal counsel, has recorded an estimate of the probable cost of settlement or other disposition of them. The ultimate outcome of these matters cannot presently be determined. Accordingly, the ultimate resolution of these matters could have a material adverse effect on Xcel Energy's financial position and results of operations. Gas Trading Litigation e prime is a wholly owned subsidiary of Xcel Energy. Among other things, e prime was in the business of natural gas trading and marketing. e prime has not engaged in natural gas trading or marketing activities since 2003. Thirteen lawsuits have been commenced against e prime and Xcel Energy (and NSP-Wisconsin, in one instance); alleging fraud and anticompetitive activities in conspiring to restrain the trade of natural gas and manipulate natural gas prices. Xcel Energy, e prime, and NSP-Wisconsin deny these allegations and will vigorously defend against these lawsuits, including seeking dismissal and summary judgment. The initial gas-trading lawsuit, a purported class action brought by wholesale natural gas purchasers, was filed in November 2003 in the United States District Court in the Eastern District of California. e prime is one of several defendants named in the complaint. This case is captioned Texas-Ohio Energy vs. CenterPoint Energy et al. The other twelve cases arising out of the same or similar set of facts are captioned Fairhaven Power Company vs. EnCana Corporation et al.; Ableman Art Glass vs. EnCana Corporation et al.; Utility Savings and Refund Services LLP vs. Reliant Energy Services Inc. et al.; Sinclair Oil Corporation vs. e prime and Xcel Energy Inc.; Ever-Bloom Inc. vs. Xcel Energy Inc. and e prime et al.; Learjet, Inc. vs. e prime and Xcel Energy Inc et al.; J.P. Morgan Trust Company vs. e prime and Xcel Energy Inc. et al.; Breckenridge Brewery vs. e prime and Xcel Energy Inc. et al.; Missouri Public Service Commission vs. e prime, inc. and Xcel Energy Inc. et al.; Arandell vs. e prime, Xcel Energy, NSP-Wisconsin et al.; NewPage Wisconsin System Inc vs. e prime, Xcel Energy, NSP-Wisconsin et al. and Heartland Regional Medical Center vs. e prime, Xcel Energy et al. Many of these cases involve multiple defendants and have been transferred to Judge Phillip Pro of the United States District Court in Nevada, who is the judge assigned to the Western Area Wholesale Natural Gas Antitrust Litigation. e prime and some other defendants were dismissed from the Breckenridge Brewery lawsuit in February 2008, but Xcel Energy remains a defendant in that lawsuit and e prime Energy Marketing was added as a defendant in February 2008. No trial dates have been set for any of these lawsuits. In January 2009, the parties reached a settlement agreement in principle in the Abelman Art Glass, Ever Bloom, Fairhaven Power Company, Texas-Ohio Energy, and Utility Savings and Refund Services cases. The terms of the settlement in principle will not have a material financial effect upon Xcel Energy. Discovery in most of the remaining cases was completed by Dec. 5, 2009. In October 2009, the Court granted defendants' motion to renew their summary judgment motions and such motions were filed in November 2009. If summary judgment is not granted, trial for all cases venued in Nevada will likely be set for 2010. In November 2007, the Missouri Public Service Commission case was remanded to Missouri state court. On Jan. 13, 2009, the Missouri state court granted defendants' motion to dismiss plaintiff's complaint for lack of standing. Plaintiffs filed an appeal and on Dec. 8, 2009, the Missouri Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissal. In late March 2009, Newpage Wisconsin System Inc. commenced a lawsuit in state court in Wood County, Wis. The allegations are substantially similar to Arandell and name several defendants, including Xcel Energy, e prime and NSP-Wisconsin. In September 2009, Plaintiffs moved to consolidate the Newpage and Arandell matters. Defendants have filed motions to dismiss and, as with Arandell, Xcel Energy, e prime and NSP-Wisconsin believe the allegations asserted against them are without merit and they intend to vigorously defend against the asserted claims. Environmental Litigation Carbon Dioxide Emissions Lawsuit — In 2004, the attorneys general of eight states and New York City, as well as several environmental groups, filed lawsuits in U. S. District Court in the Southern District of New York against five utilities, including Xcel Energy, to force reductions in CO2 emissions. The other utilities include American Electric Power Co., Southern Co., Cinergy Corp. and Tennessee Valley Authority. The lawsuits allege that CO2 emitted by each company is a public nuisance as defined under state and federal common law because it has contributed to global warming. The lawsuits do not demand monetary damages. Instead, the lawsuits ask the court to order each utility to cap and reduce its CO2 emissions. On Sept. 19, 2005, the court granted a motion to dismiss on constitutional grounds. Plaintiffs filed an appeal to the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. On Sept. 21, 2009, the Court of Appeals issued an opinion reversing the lower court decision. On Nov. 5, 2009 the defendants, including Xcel Energy, filed a petition for rehearing and en banc review. It is uncertain when the Court of Appeals will respond to the petition. Comer vs. Xcel Energy Inc. et al. — In 2006, Xcel Energy received notice of a purported class action lawsuit filed in U. S. District Court in the Southern District of Mississippi. The lawsuit names more than 45 oil, chemical and utility companies, including Xcel Energy, as defendants and alleges that defendants' CO2 emissions "were a proximate and direct cause of the increase in the destructive capacity of Hurricane Katrina." Plaintiffs allege in support of their claim, several legal theories, including negligence and public and private nuisance and seek damages related to the loss resulting from the hurricane. Xcel Energy believes this lawsuit is without merit and intends to vigorously defend itself against these claims. In August 2007, the court dismissed the lawsuit in its entirety against all defendants on constitutional grounds. Plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal to the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. On Oct. 16, 2009, the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit reversed the district court decision, in part, concluding that the plaintiffs pleaded sufficient facts to overcome the constitutional challenges that formed the basis for dismissal by the district court. On Nov. 27, 2009, defendants, including Xcel Energy, filed a petition for en banc review. It is uncertain when the Court of Appeals will respond to the petition. Native Village of Kivalina vs. Xcel Energy Inc. et al. — In 2008, the City and Native Village of Kivalina, Alaska, filed a lawsuit in U. S. District Court for the Northern District of California against Xcel Energy and 23 other utilities, oil, gas and coal companies. Plaintiffs claim that defendants' emission of CO2 and other GHGs contribute to global warming, which is harming their village. Xcel Energy believes the claims asserted in this lawsuit are without merit and joined with other utility defendants in filing a motion to dismiss on June 30, 2008. On Oct. 15, 2009, the U. S. District Court dismissed the lawsuit on constitutional grounds. On Nov. 5, 2009, plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Comanche Unit 3 CAA Lawsuit — On July 2, 2009, WildEarth Guardians (WEG) filed a lawsuit against PSCo alleging that PSCo violated the CAA by constructing Comanche Unit 3 without a final MACT determination from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Air Pollution Control Division (APCD). The state has proposed a more stringent case-by-case MACT determination for Comanche Unit 3 that, if final, could increase the operating costs of Comanche Unit 3. PSCo disputes these claims and has filed a motion to dismiss the suit. Comanche Unit 3 was constructed with state-of-the-art emission controls and pursuant to a valid air permit issued by the APCD. On Oct. 28, 2009, WEG filed a motion for a preliminary injunction, seeking to enjoin PSCo from constructing, modifying, or operating Comanche Unit 3 prior to receiving a final MACT determination. PSCo strongly opposes the injunction. Among other issues, PSCo believes that WEG has failed to establish a substantial likelihood of prevailing on the merits of the suit and that therefore there is no valid legal basis upon which an injunction should be issued. The court has yet to rule on WEG's motion and the group sought a temporary restraining order to stop Comanche Unit 3 from coming on-line. The court denied WEG's request for a temporary restraining order on Jan. 26, 2010. On Feb. 23, 2010, the court held a hearing on PSCo's motion to dismiss. It is uncertain when the court will render a decision. Employment, Tort and Commercial Litigation Siewert vs. Xcel Energy — In 2004, plaintiffs, the owners and operators of a Minnesota dairy farm, brought an action in Minnesota state court against NSP-Minnesota alleging negligence in the handling, supplying, distributing and selling of electrical power systems; negligence in the construction and maintenance of distribution systems; and failure to warn or adequately test such systems. Plaintiffs allege decreased milk production, injury, and damage to a dairy herd as a result of stray voltage resulting from NSP-Minnesota's distribution system. Plaintiffs claim losses of approximately $7 million. NSP-Minnesota denies all allegations. In December 2008, the Court of Appeals issued a decision ordering dismissal of Plaintiffs' claims for injunctive relief, but otherwise rejecting NSP-Minnesota's contentions and ordering the matter remanded for trial. The Minnesota Supreme Court subsequently granted NSP-Minnesota's petition for further review and heard oral arguments on Dec. 2, 2009. It is uncertain when the Minnesota Supreme Court will render a decision. Qwest vs. Xcel Energy Inc. — In 2004, an employee of PSCo was seriously injured when a pole owned by Qwest malfunctioned. In September 2005, the employee commenced an action against Qwest in Colorado state court in Denver. In April 2006, Qwest filed a third party complaint against PSCo based on terms in a joint pole use agreement between Qwest and PSCo. In May 2007, the matter was tried and the jury found Qwest solely liable for the accident and this determination resulted in an award of damages in the amount of approximately $90 million. In April 2009, the Colorado Court of Appeals affirmed the jury verdict insofar as it relates to claims asserted by Qwest against PSCo. Qwest filed a petition for rehearing with the Colorado Supreme Court in June 2009. On Feb. 22, 2010 issued a ruling where it will review the Court of Appeals' decision as to the punitive damages issue and will not review the Court of Appeals' decision as it relates to PSCo. MGP Insurance Coverage Litigation — In October 2003, NSP-Wisconsin initiated discussions with its insurers regarding the availability of insurance coverage for costs associated with the remediation of four former MGP sites located in Ashland, Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire and La Crosse, Wis. In lieu of participating in discussions, in October 2003, two of NSP-Wisconsin's insurers, St. Paul Fire & Marine Insurance Co. and St. Paul Mercury Insurance Co., commenced litigation against NSP-Wisconsin in Minnesota state district court. In November 2003, NSP-Wisconsin commenced suit in Wisconsin state court against St. Paul Fire & Marine Insurance Co. and its other insurers. Subsequently, the Minnesota court enjoined NSP-Wisconsin from pursuing the Wisconsin litigation. The Wisconsin action remains in abeyance. NSP-Wisconsin has reached settlements with 22 insurers, and these insurers have been dismissed from both the Minnesota and Wisconsin actions. NSP-Wisconsin has also reached settlements in principle with Ranger Insurance Company (Ranger), TIG Insurance Company (TIG), Royal Indemnity Company and Globe Indemnity Company. In July 2007, the Minnesota state court issued a decision on allocation, reaffirming its prior rulings that Minnesota law on allocation should apply and ordering the dismissal, without prejudice, of 11 insurers whose coverage would not be triggered under such an allocation method. In September 2007, NSP-Wisconsin commenced an appeal in the Minnesota Court of Appeals challenging the dismissal of these carriers. On Aug. 25, 2009, the Minnesota Court of Appeals affirmed the district court decision. NSP-Wisconsin subsequently filed a petition for review of this decision with the Minnesota Supreme Court. On Nov. 17, 2009 the Minnesota Supreme Court issued an order denying the petition. Defendants subsequently filed in the Wisconsin state court action a motion to dismiss, which NSP-Wisconsin intends to oppose. Oral arguments are set for March 5, 2010. It is unknown when the court will rule on this motion. The PSCW has established a deferral process whereby clean-up costs associated with the remediation of former MGP sites are deferred and, if approved by the PSCW, recovered from ratepayers. Carrying charges associated with these clean-up costs are not subject to the deferral process and are not recoverable from ratepayers. Any insurance proceeds received by NSP-Wisconsin will be credited to ratepayers. None of the aforementioned lawsuit settlements are expected to have a material effect on Xcel Energy's consolidated financial statements. Nuclear Waste Disposal Litigation — In 1998, NSP-Minnesota filed a complaint in the U. S. Court of Federal Claims against the United States requesting breach of contract damages for the DOE failure to begin accepting spent nuclear fuel by Jan. 31, 1998, as required by the contract between the DOE and NSP-Minnesota. At trial, NSP-Minnesota claimed damages in excess of $100 million through Dec. 31, 2004. On Sept. 26, 2007, the court awarded NSP-Minnesota $116.5 million in damages. In December 2007, the court denied the DOE's motion for reconsideration. In February 2008, the DOE filed an appeal to the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and NSP-Minnesota cross-appealed on the cost of capital issue. In April 2008, the DOE asked the Court of Appeals to stay briefing until the appeals in several other nuclear waste cases have been decided, and the Court of Appeals granted the request. In December 2008, NSP-Minnesota made a motion in the Court of Appeals to lift the stay, which was denied by the Court of Appeals in February 2009. Results of the judgment will not be recorded in earnings until the appeal, regulatory treatment and amounts to be shared with ratepayers have been resolved. Given the uncertainties, it is unclear as to how much, if any, of this judgment will ultimately have a net impact on earnings. In August 2007, NSP-Minnesota filed a second complaint against the DOE in the U. S. Court of Federal Claims (NSP II), again claiming breach of contract damages for the DOE's continuing failure to abide by the terms of the contract. This lawsuit will claim damages for the period Jan. 1, 2005 through Dec. 31, 2008, which includes costs associated with the storage of spent nuclear fuel at Prairie Island and Monticello, as well as the costs of complying with state regulation relating to the storage of spent nuclear fuel. Per the court's scheduling order, NSP-Minnesota's expert report on damages was submitted on April 15, 2009, and asserts damages in excess of $250 million. In November 2009, the Court ordered the DOE to submit its expert report by May 17, 2010. Trial is expected to take place in mid to late 2010. Mallon vs. Xcel Energy Inc. — In August 2007, Xcel Energy, PSCo and PSRI (hereafter "Plaintiffs") commenced a lawsuit in Colorado state court against Theodore Mallon and TransFinancial Corporation seeking damages for, among other things, breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duties associated with the sale of COLI policies. In May 2008, Plaintiffs filed an amended complaint that, among other things, adds Provident Life & Accident Insurance Company (Provident) as a defendant and asserts claims for breach of contract, unjust enrichment and fraudulent concealment against the insurance company. On June 23, 2008, Provident filed a motion to dismiss the complaint. On Oct. 22, 2008, the court granted Provident's motion in part, but denied the motion with respect to a majority of the core causes of action asserted by Plaintiffs. In September 2009, Plaintiffs reached a settlement with Mallon and TransFinancial Corporation. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, Mallon agreed to pay Plaintiffs a specified amount and the parties agreed to mutually release each other from all claims. Plaintiffs continue to prosecute their claims against Provident. In November 2009, Plaintiffs and Provident filed motions for partial summary judgment, which the court subsequently granted in part in favor of Plaintiffs with respect to an interpretation of the policies. On Feb. 11, 2010, the court denied Provident's motion for partial summary judgment. Trial for this lawsuit was continued to Aug. 16, 2010. Cabin Creek Hydro Generating Station Accident — In October 2007, employees of RPI Coatings Inc. (RPI), a contractor retained by PSCo, were applying an epoxy coating to the inside of a penstock at PSCo's Cabin Creek Hydro Generating Station near Georgetown, Colo. A fire occurred inside a pipe used to deliver water from a reservoir to the hydro facility. Five RPI employees were unable to exit the pipe and rescue crews confirmed their deaths. The accident was investigated by several state and federal agencies, including the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the U. S. Chemical Safety Board and the Colorado Bureau of Investigations. In March 2008, OSHA proposed penalties totaling $189,900 for twenty-two serious violations and three willful violations arising out of the accident. In April 2008, Xcel Energy notified OSHA of its decision to contest all of the proposed citations. On May 28, 2008, the Secretary of Labor filed its complaint, and Xcel Energy subsequently filed its answer on June 17, 2008. The Court ordered this proceeding stayed until March 3, 2009 and subsequently extended the stay to October 2009. The Court is currently considering whether to extend the stay. A lawsuit was filed in Colorado state court in Denver on behalf of four of the deceased workers and four of the injured workers (Foster, et. al. v. PSCo, et. al.). PSCo and Xcel Energy were named as defendants in that case, along with RPI Coatings and related companies and the two other contractors who also performed work in connection with the relining project at Cabin Creek. A second lawsuit (Ledbetter et. al vs. PSCo et. al) was also filed in Colorado state court in Denver on behalf of three employees allegedly injured in the accident. A third lawsuit was filed on behalf of one of the deceased RPI workers in the California state court (Aguirre v. RPI, et. al.), naming PSCo, RPI, and the two other contractors as defendants. The court subsequently dismissed the Aguirre lawsuit. Settlements were subsequently reached in all three lawsuits. These confidential settlements are not expected to have a material effect on the financial statements of Xcel Energy or its subsidiaries. On Aug. 28, 2009, the U. S. Government announced that Xcel Energy and PSCo have been charged with five misdemeanor counts in federal court in Colorado for violation of an OSHA regulation related to the accident at Cabin Creek in October 2007. RPI Coatings, the contractor performing the work at the plant, and two individuals employed by RPI have also been indicted. On Sept. 22, 2009, both Xcel Energy and PSCo entered a not guilty plea, and both will vigorously defend against these charges. In December 2009, Xcel Energy and PSCo filed two separate motions to dismiss. It is uncertain when the court will rule on these motions. Stone & Webster, Inc. vs. PSCo — On July 14, 2009, Stone & Webster, Inc. (Shaw) filed a complaint against PSCo in State District Court in Denver, Colo. for damages allegedly arising out of its construction work on the Comanche Unit 3 coal fired plant in Pueblo, Colo. Shaw, a contractor retained to perform certain engineering, procurement and construction work on Comanche Unit 3, alleges, among other things, that PSCo was responsible for and mismanaged the construction of Comanche Unit 3. Shaw further claims that this alleged mismanagement caused delays and damages in excess of $55 million. The complaint also alleges that Xcel Energy and related entities, including PSCo, guaranteed Shaw $10 million in future profits under the terms of a 2003 settlement agreement. Shaw alleges that it will not receive the $10 million to which it is entitled. Accordingly, Shaw seeks an amount up to $10 million relating to the 2003 settlement agreement. PSCo denies these allegations and believes the claims are without merit. PSCo filed an answer and counterclaim in August 2009, denying the allegations in the complaint and alleging that Shaw has failed to discharge its contractual obligations and has caused delays, and that PSCo is entitled, among other things, to liquidated damages and excess costs incurred. It is not anticipated that this lawsuit will affect Comanche Unit 3's scheduled in-service date. Fru-Con Construction Corporation vs. UE et al. — In March 2005, Fru-Con Construction Corporation (Fru-Con) commenced a lawsuit in U. S. District Court in the Eastern District of California against UE and the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) for damages allegedly suffered during the construction of a natural gas-fired, combined-cycle power plant in Sacramento County. Fru-Con's complaint alleges that it entered into a contract with SMUD to construct the power plant and further alleges that UE was negligent with regard to the design services it furnished to SMUD. In August 2005, the court granted UE's motion to dismiss. Because SMUD remains a defendant in this action, the court has not entered a final judgment subject to an appeal with respect to its order to dismiss UE from the lawsuit. Because this lawsuit was commenced prior to the April 2005, closing of the sale of UE to Zachry, Xcel Energy is obligated to indemnify Zachry for damages related to this case up to $17.5 million. Pursuant to the terms of its professional liability policy, UE is insured up to $35 million. Connie DeWeese vs. PSCo — In November 2008, there was an explosion in Pueblo, Colo. which destroyed a tavern and a neighboring store. The explosion killed one person and injured seven people. The Pueblo Fire Department and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) have determined a natural gas leak from a pipeline under the street led to the explosion, stating that natural gas passed through the soil and built up in the tavern's basement. On Feb. 8, 2010, a wrongful death lawsuit was filed in Colorado District Court in Pueblo, Colorado against PSCo and the City of Pueblo by several parties that were allegedly injured, as a result of this explosion. The plaintiffs are also alleging economic and noneconomic damages. Among other things, the lawsuit alleges that the accident occurred as a result of PSCo's negligence. PSCo denies liability for this accident and intends to file an answer to the complaint on or before March 1, 2010. Other Contingencies See Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements. </td></tr></table>

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2 Subsequent Filings that Reference this Filing

  As Of               Filer                 Filing    For·On·As Docs:Size             Issuer                      Filing Agent

 8/20/10  SEC                               UPLOAD¶     9/12/17    1:45K  Xcel Energy Inc.
 8/05/10  SEC                               UPLOAD¶     9/12/17    1:71K  Xcel Energy Inc.

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Filing Submission 0001047469-10-001536 – Alternative Formats (Word / Rich Text, HTML, Plain Text, et al.)

Xcel Energy Inc – ‘10-K’ for 12/31/09 – ‘XML.R26’

On: Friday, 2/26/10, at 4:23pm ET · For: 12/31/09 · Accession #: 1047469-10-1536 · File #: 1-03034

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Annual Report — Form 10-K — Sect. 13 / 15(d) – SEA’34Filing Table of Contents

‘XML.R26’ — Commitments and Contingent Liabilities

This Financial Report is an XBRL XML File.

2 Subsequent Filings that Reference this Filing

Previous ‘10-K’: ‘10-K’ on 2/27/09 for 12/31/08 · Next: ‘10-K’ on 2/28/11 for 12/31/10 · Latest: ‘10-K’ on 2/21/24 for 12/31/23 · 2 References:

Annual Report — Form 10-K — Sect. 13 / 15(d) – SEA’34
Filing Table of Contents