Welcome to the Xcel Energy’s Third Quarter 2010 Earnings Conference Call. During today’s presentation all participants will be in a listen-only mode. Following the presentation the conference will be opened for questions. (Operator Instructions) As a reminder, today’s conference is being recorded, Thursday, 28 October, 2010. I’d now like to hand the conference over to Paul Johnson, Managing Director of Investor Relations and Assistant Treasurer. Go ahead, sir.

Thank you, and welcome to Xcel Energy’s third quarter 2010 earnings release conference call. I’m Paul Johnson. With me today are Ben Fowke, President and Chief Operating Officer; Dave Sparby, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; Teresa Madden, Vice President and Controller; Scott Wilensky, Vice President, Regulatory and Resource Planning; and George Tyson, Vice President and Treasurer. Today we plan to cover our third quarter results, provide a business update and introduce 2011 guidance. Please note that there are slides that accompany the conference call, which are available on our web page. I want to remind everyone that some of our comments may contain forward-looking information. Significant factors that could cause results to differ from those anticipated are described in our earnings release and in our filings with the SEC. Today’s press release refers to both GAAP and ongoing earnings. Third GAAP earnings for 2010 include $25 million or $0.05 per share of non-reoccurring earnings related to the settlement of a lawsuit with Provident Insurance Company regarding our discontinued company owned life insurance program COLI. Our comments this morning will focus on ongoing earnings; a reconciliation of ongoing earnings per share to GAAP earnings per share is available in our press release. I will now turn the call over to Ben.

Thanks, Paul and good morning. Today we reported third quarter ongoing earnings of $0.62 per share compared with $0.48 per share in 2009. The increase in our quarterly results was largely due to warm weather, late release and the implementation of seasonal rates. As a result, we now expect our 2010 ongoing earnings to be in the upper half of $1.55 to $1.65 per share guidance range. Compared to last year, third quarter earnings increased $0.09 per share due to weather. You might recall that we experienced an unusually cool third quarter last year, which reduced earnings by $0.05 per share. This year we experienced warmer than normal temperatures, which helped increase earnings by $0.04 per share. The warmer temperatures also produced severe weather throughout our service territory including flooding in Minnesota and Wisconsin and a significant increase in lightning strikes in the twin cities. I am proud to note that we maintained our system integrity and delivered a high level of customer service despite the impact severe weather had on our system. Residential customer satisfaction ended the quarter at 92%, which is above our goal for 2010. Our ability to maintain a high level of customer service during the quarter is attributable to our long-standing commitment to make investments in our system. Let me bring you up-to-date on some recent developments. In Colorado, interveners filed testimony to our recommended plan to comply with the Colorado Clean Air, Clean Jobs Act. Our plan must consider emission control, plant refueling or plant retirement of at least 900 megawatts of coal-fired generation. We analyzed numerous alternatives and scenarios and came up with our preferred plan based on a balanced approach to reduce emissions at the lowest cost to our customers. Our recommended plan would retire about 900,000 megawatts of coal generation, repower…

Thanks, Ben. Let’s start by reviewing second quarter results at each of our subsidiaries. Earnings at PSCo increased $0.09 per share. The increase was due to a variety of factors including rate increases associated with the 2010 electric case, timing issues related to the implementation of seasonal rates and warmer than normal weather. As NSP-Minnesota, earnings increased by $0.04 per share largely due to warmer temperatures and weather normalized sales growth. Earnings at NSP-Wisconsin increased $0.01 per share due to warmer than normal temperatures and the implementation of new electric rates. Earnings were flat at SPS. Now I would like to discuss the drivers that affected the various lines of the income statement beginning with electric retail market. Electric margin increased $183 million for the quarter, warmer than normal temperatures this quarter compared to with cooler than normal temperatures last year, resulted in a $58 million improvement in electric margin. Electric margin also increased by $88 million for the Colorado rate cases, for the rates cases in Colorado, Wisconsin, South Dakota, New Mexico and the implementation of seasonal rates. As part of the rate design portion of the Colorado rate case, seasonal rates were implemented this summer. Seasonal rates are designed to be revenue neutral on an annual basis with higher rates in the summer months and lower rates throughout other months of the year. As a result, revenue at PSCo is higher during the third quarter. Looking ahead, we anticipate that impact of higher summer rates will be mitigated during the fourth quarter of 2010 and the first half of 2011. As a result of the implementation timing of seasonal rates in the summer of 2010, we anticipate a positive impact this year. Other factors that improves third quarter electric margin are detailed in our earnings release. Before I…

(Operator Instructions). Our first question comes from the line of Ashar Khan (ph) with Visium Asset Management. Please go ahead. Ashar Khan – Visium Asset Management: Good morning.

Good morning Ashar. Ashar Khan – Visium Asset Management: Could you just help us at what kind of ROEs will you be – in your 2011 guidance, what kind of ROEs, could you go through each of the different sub ROE report, you report them. So what kind of ROEs will they be earning at each of the subs in 2011?

We don’t provide guidance by sub ROEs Ashar. Ashar Khan – Visium Asset Management: Okay, but generally what kind – could you give us a weighted average ROE that you expect to be in 2011?

Well the weighted average we expect this year is about to earn just slightly over 10%. Ashar Khan – Visium Asset Management: Okay, and next year?

Next year we should be expecting to do about that or slightly better. Ashar Khan – Visium Asset Management: Or slightly better. And how much and what would be your weighted average allowed ROEs, how much is there for regulatory lag between the two?

We’re earning about that 10.5% or seeing about 10.5% on a weighted average today from commissions and it’s been gradually sort of moving down a little bit throughout the year. Ashar Khan – Visium Asset Management: Okay, so you’re pretty much the regulatory lag as we look at ‘011 it’s pretty much eliminated as we look at 2011?

Ashar, this is Ben. I hope you’re doing well. But keep in mind that we talk about a consolidated ROE that also includes the holding company as well. So despite the regulatory improvements we continue to make, regulatory lag in this – the years to come or we’re going to spend, spending significant capital is something that we’ll continue to have to address. And we have plans to do that but we still have I would consider significant lag between authorized versus earned ROEs, so that’s opportunities for improvement obviously. Ashar Khan – Visium Asset Management: And that would be what Ben around, what do you say 50 basis points or so?

I think it depends on the year Ashar. So it really depends but I would say 50 at minimum. Ashar Khan – Visium Asset Management: Okay, and then can I just ask you, what are the rate cases should we expect, do we expect a Minnesota filing pretty soon or would support the ‘011 guidance or what?

Yes, Ashar I think you should expect a Minnesota case and a case in North Dakota as well as a New Mexico all being filed at the end of either this year or at the beginning of next year. Now well there would also be some smaller cases PSCo wholesale case for example that will filed as well as a PSCo gas case over the course of next year. Ashar Khan – Visium Asset Management: Okay and then if I can just think this guidance range, sorry the earnings long-term growth rate with the Colorado Clean-Air expenditures, I guess they get approved and get finalized. Does it allow you to go towards the higher end of that range or no?

Well the expenditures are over a long period of time Ashar, and there is several other projects. There maybe some of those years where likely to be in the upper half of that range but over the six or seven years of construction, they’ll also be some years where we’re in that 5% to 6% range. Ashar Khan – Visium Asset Management: Okay, thank you so much.

Thank you.

Thank you. And our next question comes from the line of Angie Storozynski with Macquarie. Please go ahead.

Hi Angie. Angie Storozynski – Macquarie Research: Two questions, one the pickup in O&Ms that we’re seeing in 2010. Are these O&Ms that were simply deferred since ‘09, are you just simply trying to use the weather – favorable weather in this year to move some expenses forward from 2011?

Well Angie, there is a couple of pockets there. Some of these expenses it made sense to accelerate while we were in an area doing pole replacement for example. We took advantage of opportunities to do some of that work that was also included for 2011. We also did some plan for some heat related and reliability related maintenance where it made sense, particularly if that related to for example on NERC standard. So what we tried to do, we did have a little bit more flexibility this year with some margin. We looked at the work that we were intending to accomplish, how we could maximize that and that’s what our plan reflected. Angie Storozynski – Macquarie Research: Okay. And then also you have – you mentioned your financing activities now it seems like you have that debts, pretty expensive debt maturing over the next two years. How should we think of it, if you refinance it assuming that the current interest rate environment doesn’t change? Do you expect that you would be able to retain the lower interest expense and the lower coupons for your shareholders, so do you think that you would give it up in future and upcoming rate cases?

Angie, this is Paul Johnson. We do have a couple of bonds maturing in 2012 at NSP-Minnesota and PSCo that have high coupons in the 7% to 8% range. Those bonds do include a make whole provision which makes it not economical to call them early. So we don’t intent to do that at this point in time. However, when we do get around a refinancing those bonds, obviously we expect that we’d be able to issue coupons in a much lower rate particular with our improved credit ratings and would expect that those savings would be passed on to rate peers when we file the rate cases and provide a lot of benefit to customers. Angie Storozynski – Macquarie Research: Okay. The last question is the rates cases you mentioned, the filings in Minnesota and North Dakota and New Mexico. Would that impact 2011 results as far as Minnesota has interim rights. Is that correct?

Minnesota has interim rights and North Dakota does have some. Angie Storozynski – Macquarie Research: Okay, thank you.

Thank you. And our next question comes from the line of Ali Agha with SunTrust Robinson Humphrey. Please go ahead. Ali Agha – SunTrust Robinson Humphrey: Thank you. Good morning.

Good morning.

Good morning. Ali Agha – SunTrust Robinson Humphrey: Did I hear Ben or Dave correctly that the forward equity sale essentially takes care of your equity needs for ‘10 and ‘011. So in 2012, you may relook and see if there is need for new equity. Is that correct?

Yes, and as we approach 2012 we’ll take another look at where our requirements are. Ali Agha – SunTrust Robinson Humphrey: Okay. And then the ‘011 guidance range the $1.65 to $1.75, now that assumes normal weather. So is the range essentially going to be driven by outcome of rate cases or where else would you see the Delta there?

Well of course Ali its always affected by rate cases but it’s also going to be affected by the economy and some of the other fundamentals of course that impact our guidance annually. Ali Agha – SunTrust Robinson Humphrey: Okay and to declare the Colorado Clear-Air Act expenditures, as they ramp up as I recall over some years, do they already factored in to that range or would they be incremental assuming you get the approval by the end of the year. Where do they fit into the ‘011 numbers?

Well there is very little impact if any on 2011 resulting from Clean-Air Clean Jobs Ali. Ali Agha – SunTrust Robinson Humphrey: Right, the ramp up happens what ‘12 through ‘16 or something like that, right?

Yes. Ali Agha – SunTrust Robinson Humphrey: Okay, and last question more near-term, you’ve guided us towards the higher end of the range for this year. I would imagine the results through the first nine months, how far above plan are you so far, given the help from the weather etcetera?

Well, right now, we’re looking to be right in the – in that top half of the guidance, Ali. I mean, we’ve had some – as we talked about several factors, we’ve had to see the impact of seasonal rates, we’ve seen the impact of some increased O&M fourth quarter. So we looked to be right within the top half of our guidance range.

Ali, if you look at where we think we’re going end the year, if you normalize it for the ins and the outs and weather, I mean it’s probably about in the middle of that guidance range. So we’re enjoying obviously the benefit of weather, but we’re also making the commitments to our – to reinvest and to keep investing in our system, and when we have warm weather we do that. And as I said in my remarks, I think the fact that we kind of have that strategy, it is why our reliability continues to be very strong and customer satisfaction is very high, which is always a good place to be when we’re going to be asking for the rate relief for the years to come. So I think our strategy works. Ali Agha – SunTrust Robinson Humphrey: Understood, thank you.

(Operator Instructions). Our next question comes from the line of Daniele Seitz with Dudack Research. Please go ahead. Daniele Seitz – Dudack Research: Thank you. I was wondering seasonal rates, I didn’t catch, how much did that improve your earnings for the third quarter?

About $43 million, Daniele. Daniele Seitz – Dudack Research: Okay, okay. And am I supposed to be assuming that half of that will be taken out in this fourth quarter?

About 40% or so. Yes, almost half. Daniele Seitz – Dudack Research: Okay, okay. And when you’re talking about the Colorado Clean Act and your plan, it seems that the numbers are not exactly precise yet or do you know about how much it will cost for the period 2012 to 2014?

Daniele, it’s – you’re right. The numbers aren’t precise yet, it’s still in hearing. The commission will decide on the very specific plan in December. Daniele Seitz – Dudack Research: Okay. And your total number when you filed was roughly how much? I mean, was there a number to it?

The number including the improvements in gas through 2022 was about $1.4 billion.

Daniele we included in the press release what the expenditures would be through 2017 under our recommended plan. Now, depending on what plan the commission fix, that will change a bit. And most likely what will happen is, expenditures that we haven’t targeted in ‘22, some of those would most likely be accelerated into a more near-term timeframes through 2017. But more to come at today’s point. Daniele Seitz – Dudack Research: Okay. So the timing is more of the essence at this point than the amount per se.

It will be a little bit of both. But I mean again it depends on what plan the commission fix. And the issue there as you know is that the commission interpreted the legislation is everything having to be fully implemented by 2017. Our preferred plan extended the Cherokee Unit 4 plant to 2022, so we’ll see some changes with that. Daniele Seitz – Dudack Research: Thanks.

Thank you. And our next question comes from the line of Timothy Yee with KeyBanc Capital Markets. Please go ahead. Timothy Yee – KeyBanc Capital Markets: Hi. The $88 million electric margin increase that you saw due to rate increases and seasonal timing, do you have a split on how much was between the two and how much of that you would expect to reverse in the fourth quarter due to timing?

Yes, about $43 million of it was related to seasonal rates, the rest rate increases. As we talked about 40% or so of the seasonal rates will reverse out over this quarter. The rest will reverse out of course over the next couple of quarters in next. Timothy Yee – KeyBanc Capital Markets: Okay, thank you. And then, just to follow-up on the Cherokee Unit, about how much of those costs if the commission decides to go with the plan in 2017 would that be accelerated I guess from the 2022 timeframe?

About $150 million. Timothy Yee – KeyBanc Capital Markets: Great, thank you very much.

Thank you.

Thank you. And at this time, I am showing no further questions in queue. I’ll hand it back to management for any further remarks.

Well, I want to thank all of you for participating in our third quarter earnings call this morning. We look forward to meeting with many of you at EEI next week. In addition, I hope you’ll join us at the New York Stock Exchange on December 1st for our Annual Investor Meeting. If you have any follow-up questions, the IR team is available to take your calls.

Ladies and gentlemen, that does conclude the Xcel Energy third quarter 2010 earnings conference call. This conference is available for replay. If you’d like to access that, please dial 1-800-406-7325 or 1-303-590-3030, entering the access code 4371950. Thank you for your participation and you may now disconnect.

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