XCEL ENERGY INC 10-K

ITEM 8 — FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA See Item 15-1 for an index of financial statements included herein. See Note 15 to the consolidated financial statements for further information. 43 Table of Contents Management Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting The management of Xcel Energy Inc. is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Xcel Energy Inc.’s internal control system was designed to provide reasonable assurance to Xcel Energy Inc.’s management and Board of Directors regarding the preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements. All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. Xcel Energy Inc. management assessed the effectiveness of Xcel Energy Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of Dec. 31, 2023. In making this assessment, it used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013). Based on our assessment, we believe that, as of Dec. 31, 2023, Xcel Energy Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting is effective at the reasonable assurance level based on those criteria. Xcel Energy Inc.’s independent registered public accounting firm has issued an attestation report on Xcel Energy Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting. Its report appears herein. /s/ ROBERT C. FRENZEL /s/ BRIAN J. VAN ABEL Robert C. Frenzel Brian J. Van Abel Chairman, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer Feb. 21, 2024 Feb. 21, 2024 44 Table of Contents REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM To the stockholders and the Board of Directors of Xcel Energy Inc . Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Xcel Energy Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, stockholders' equity, and cash flows, for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, and the related notes and the schedules listed in the Index at Item 15 (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). We also have audited the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also, in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO. Basis for Opinions The Company’s management is responsible for these financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management Report on Internal Controls over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB. We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures to respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions. Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Critical Audit Matter The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates. 45 Table of Contents Regulatory Assets and Liabilities - Impact of Rate Regulation on the Financial Statements — Refer to Notes 4 and 12 to the consolidated financial statements . Critical Audit Matter Description The Company is subject to rate regulation by state utility regulatory agencies, which have jurisdiction with respect to the rates of electric and natural gas distribution companies in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas. The Company is also subject to the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for its wholesale electric operations, hydroelectric generation licensing, accounting practices, wholesale sales for resale, transmission of electricity in interstate commerce, compliance with North American Electric Reliability Corporation standards, asset transactions and mergers and natural gas transactions in interstate commerce, (collectively with state utility regulatory agencies, the “Commissions”). Management has determined it meets the requirements under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America to prepare its financial statements applying the specialized rules to account for the effects of cost-based rate regulation. Accounting for the economics of rate regulation affects multiple financial statement line items and disclosures, including property, plant and equipment, regulatory assets and liabilities, operating revenues and expenses, and income taxes. The Company is subject to regulatory rate setting processes. Rates are determined and approved in regulatory proceedings based on an analysis of the Company’s costs to provide utility service and a return on, and recovery of, the Company’s investment in assets required to deliver services to customers. Accounting for the Company’s regulated operations provides that rate-regulated entities report assets and liabilities consistent with the recovery of those incurred costs in rates, if it is probable that such rates will be charged and collected. The Commissions’ regulation of rates is premised on the full recovery of incurred costs and a reasonable rate of return on invested capital. Decisions by the Commissions in the future will impact the accounting for regulated operations, including decisions about the amount of allowable costs and return on invested capital included in rates and any refunds that may be required. In the rate setting process, the Company’s rates result in the recording of regulatory assets and liabilities based on the probability of future cash flows. Regulatory assets generally represent incurred or accrued costs that have been deferred because future recovery from customers is probable. Regulatory liabilities generally represent amounts that are expected to be refunded to customers in future rates or amounts collected in current rates for future costs. We identified the impact of rate regulation as a critical audit matter due to the significant judgments made by management to support its assertions about impacted account balances and disclosures and the high degree of subjectivity involved in assessing the impact of future regulatory orders on the financial statements. Management judgments include assessing the likelihood of recovery in future rates of incurred costs and refunds due to customers. Given that management’s accounting judgments are based on assumptions about the outcome of future decisions by the Commissions, auditing these judgments required specialized knowledge of accounting for rate regulation and the rate setting process due to its inherent complexities. How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit Our audit procedures related to the uncertainty of future decisions by the Commissions included the following, among others: • We tested the effectiveness of management’s controls over the evaluation of the likelihood of (1) the recovery in future rates of costs deferred as regulatory assets, and (2) a refund or a future reduction in rates that should be reported as regulatory liabilities. We also tested the effectiveness of management’s controls over the recognition of regulatory assets or liabilities and the monitoring and evaluation of regulatory developments that may affect the likelihood of recovering costs in future rates or of a future reduction in rates. • We evaluated the Company’s disclosures related to the impacts of rate regulation, including the balances recorded and regulatory developments. • We read relevant regulatory orders issued by the Commissions for the Company, other regulatory filings, legal decisions and recommendations being evaluated by the Commissions, and other publicly available information to assess the likelihood of recovery in future rates or of a future reduction in rates. We evaluated historic orders for precedents of the Commissions’ treatment of similar costs under similar circumstances. We compared the regulatory orders, filings and other publicly available information to the Company’s recorded regulatory assets and liabilities for completeness. • We obtained management’s analysis and correspondence from counsel, as appropriate, regarding regulatory assets or liabilities not yet addressed in a regulatory order to assess management’s assertion that amounts are probable of recovery or a future reduction in rates. /s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP Minneapolis, Minnesota February 21, 2024 We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2002. 46 Table of Contents XCEL ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME ( amounts in millions, except per share data) Year Ended Dec. 31 2023 2022 2021 Operating revenues Electric $ 11,446 $ 12,123 $ 11,205 Natural gas 2,645 3,080 2,132 Other 115 107 94 Total operating revenues 14,206 15,310 13,431 Operating expenses Electric fuel and purchased power 4,278 5,005 4,733 Cost of natural gas sold and transported 1,456 1,910 1,081 Cost of sales — other 49 44 38 Operating and maintenance expenses 2,444 2,491 2,321 Conservation and demand side management expenses 286 331 304 Depreciation and amortization 2,448 2,413 2,121 Taxes (other than income taxes) 657 688 630 Loss on Comanche Unit 3 litigation 35 — — Workforce reduction expenses 72 — — Total operating expenses 11,725 12,882 11,228 Operating income 2,481 2,428 2,203 Other income (expense), net 22 ( 13 ) 5 Earnings from equity method investments 35 36 62 Allowance for funds used during construction — equity 91 75 73 Interest charges and financing costs Interest charges — includes other financing costs of $ 32 , $ 31 and $ 29 , respectively 1,055 953 842 Allowance for funds used during construction — debt ( 51 ) ( 28 ) ( 26 ) Total interest charges and financing costs 1,004 925 816 Income before income taxes 1,625 1,601 1,527 Income tax benefit ( 146 ) ( 135 ) ( 70 ) Net income $ 1,771 $ 1,736 $ 1,597 Weighted average common shares outstanding: Basic 552 547 539 Diluted 552 547 540 Earnings per average common share: Basic $ 3.21 $ 3.18 $ 2.96 Diluted 3.21 3.17 2.96 See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 47 Table of Contents XCEL ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (amounts in millions) Year Ended Dec. 31 2023 2022 2021 Net income $ 1,771 $ 1,736 $ 1,597 Other comprehensive income Pension and retiree medical benefits: Net pension and retiree medical (losses) gains arising during the period, net of tax ( 4 ) 5 — Reclassification of losses to net income, net of tax 2 4 8 Derivative instruments: Net fair value (decrease) increase, net of tax ( 2 ) 16 4 Reclassification of losses to net income, net of tax 3 5 6 Total other comprehensive (loss) income ( 1 ) 30 18 Total comprehensive income $ 1,770 $ 1,766 $ 1,615 See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 48 Table of Contents XCEL ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (amounts in millions) Year Ended Dec. 31 2023 2022 2021 Operating activities Net income $ 1,771 $ 1,736 $ 1,597 Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 2,471 2,436 2,143 Nuclear fuel amortization 96 118 114 Deferred income taxes ( 59 ) ( 140 ) ( 79 ) Allowance for equity funds used during construction ( 91 ) ( 75 ) ( 73 ) Earnings from equity method investments ( 35 ) ( 36 ) ( 62 ) Dividends from equity method investments 35 37 42 Provision for bad debts 79 73 60 Share-based compensation expense 25 20 31 Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable ( 27 ) ( 429 ) ( 164 ) Accrued unbilled revenues 252 ( 243 ) ( 149 ) Inventories ( 98 ) ( 203 ) ( 126 ) Other current assets 86 ( 58 ) ( 34 ) Accounts payable ( 149 ) 195 138 Net regulatory assets and liabilities 911 570 ( 973 ) Other current liabilities 200 102 ( 1 ) Pension and other employee benefit obligations 17 ( 49 ) ( 135 ) Other, net ( 157 ) ( 122 ) ( 140 ) Net cash provided by operating activities 5,327 3,932 2,189 Investing activities Capital/construction expenditures ( 5,854 ) ( 4,638 ) ( 4,244 ) Purchase of investment securities ( 994 ) ( 1,332 ) ( 757 ) Proceeds from the sale of investment securities 959 1,297 743 Other, net ( 37 ) 20 ( 29 ) Net cash used in investing activities ( 5,926 ) ( 4,653 ) ( 4,287 ) Financing activities (Repayments of) proceeds from short-term borrowings, net ( 28 ) ( 192 ) 421 Proceeds from issuances of long-term debt 2,630 2,164 2,710 Repayments of long-term debt ( 1,151 ) ( 601 ) ( 417 ) Proceeds from issuance of common stock 270 322 366 Dividends paid ( 1,092 ) ( 1,012 ) ( 935 ) Other, net ( 12 ) ( 15 ) ( 10 ) Net cash provided by financing activities 617 666 2,135 Net change in cash and cash equivalents 18 ( 55 ) 37 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period 111 166 129 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period $ 129 $ 111 $ 166 Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: Cash paid for interest (net of amounts capitalized) $ ( 945 ) $ ( 887 ) $ ( 788 ) Cash received (paid) for income taxes, net 92 ( 15 ) ( 4 ) Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing transactions: Accrued property, plant and equipment additions $ 553 $ 626 $ 501 Inventory transfers to property, plant and equipment 197 78 87 Operating lease right-of-use assets 238 141 8 Allowance for equity funds used during construction 91 75 73 Issuance of common stock for reinvested dividends and/or equity awards 64 57 60 See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 49 Table of Contents XCEL ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (amounts in millions, except share and per share) Dec. 31 2023 2022 Assets Current assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 129 $ 111 Accounts receivable, net 1,315 1,373 Accrued unbilled revenues 853 1,105 Inventories 711 803 Regulatory assets 611 1,059 Derivative instruments 104 279 Prepaid taxes 52 54 Prepayments and other 294 360 Total current assets 4,069 5,144 Property, plant and equipment, net 51,642 48,253 Other assets Nuclear decommissioning fund and other investments 3,599 3,234 Regulatory assets 2,798 2,871 Derivative instruments 76 93 Operating lease right-of-use assets 1,217 1,204 Other 678 389 Total other assets 8,368 7,791 Total assets $ 64,079 $ 61,188 Liabilities and Equity Current liabilities Current portion of long-term debt $ 552 $ 1,151 Short-term debt 785 813 Accounts payable 1,668 1,804 Regulatory liabilities 528 418 Taxes accrued 557 569 Accrued interest 251 217 Dividends payable 289 268 Derivative instruments 74 76 Operating lease liabilities 226 217 Other 722 545 Total current liabilities 5,652 6,078 Deferred credits and other liabilities Deferred income taxes 4,885 4,756 Deferred investment tax credits 60 48 Regulatory liabilities 5,827 5,569 Asset retirement obligations 3,218 3,380 Derivative instruments 86 113 Customer advances 167 181 Pension and employee benefit obligations 469 390 Operating lease liabilities 1,038 1,038 Other 148 147 Total deferred credits and other liabilities 15,898 15,622 Commitments and contingencies Capitalization Long-term debt 24,913 22,813 Common stock — 1,000,000,000 shares authorized of $ 2.50 par value; 554,941,703 and 549,578,018 shares outstanding at Dec. 31, 2023 and Dec. 31, 2022, respectively 1,387 1,374 Additional paid in capital 8,465 8,155 Retained earnings 7,858 7,239 Accumulated other comprehensive loss ( 94 ) ( 93 ) Total common stockholders’ equity 17,616 16,675 Total liabilities and equity $ 64,079 $ 61,188 See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 50 Table of Contents XCEL ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMMON STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (amounts in millions, except per share data; shares in actual amounts) Common Stock Issued Retained Earnings Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Total Common Stockholders’ Equity Shares Par Value Additional Paid In Capital Balance at Dec. 31, 2020 537,438,394 $ 1,344 $ 7,404 $ 5,968 $ ( 141 ) $ 14,575 Net income 1,597 1,597 Other comprehensive income 18 18 Dividends declared on common stock ($ 1.83 per share) ( 989 ) ( 989 ) Issuances of common stock 6,586,875 16 387 403 Share-based compensation 12 ( 4 ) 8 Balance at Dec. 31, 2021 544,025,269 $ 1,360 $ 7,803 $ 6,572 $ ( 123 ) $ 15,612 Net Income 1,736 1,736 Other comprehensive loss 30 30 Dividends declared on common stock ($ 1.95 per share) ( 1,066 ) ( 1,066 ) Issuances of common stock 5,552,749 14 345 359 Share-based compensation 7 ( 3 ) 4 Balance at Dec. 31, 2022 549,578,018 $ 1,374 $ 8,155 $ 7,239 $ ( 93 ) $ 16,675 Net income 1,771 1,771 Other comprehensive income ( 1 ) ( 1 ) Dividends declared on common stock ($ 2.08 per share) ( 1,148 ) ( 1,148 ) Issuances of common stock 5,363,685 13 295 308 Share-based compensation 15 ( 4 ) 11 Balance at Dec. 31, 2023 554,941,703 $ 1,387 $ 8,465 $ 7,858 $ ( 94 ) $ 17,616 See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 51 Table of Contents XCEL ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies General — Xcel Energy Inc.’s utility subsidiaries are engaged in the regulated generation, purchase, transmission, distribution and sale of electricity and the regulated purchase, transportation, distribution and sale of natural gas. Xcel Energy’s regulated operations include the activities of NSP-Minnesota, NSP-Wisconsin, PSCo and SPS. These utility subsidiaries serve electric and natural gas customers in portions of Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin. Also included in regulated operations are WGI, an interstate natural gas pipeline company, and WYCO, a joint venture with CIG to develop and lease natural gas pipeline, storage and compression facilities. Xcel Energy Inc.’s nonregulated subsidiaries include: Nonregulated Subsidiary Purpose Eloigne Invests in rental housing projects that qualify for low-income housing tax credits. Capital Services Procures equipment for construction of renewable generation facilities at other subsidiaries. Xcel Energy Venture Holdings, Inc. Invests in limited partnerships, including EIP funds with portfolios of investments in energy technology companies. Nicollet Project Holdings Invests in nonregulated assets such as the Minnesota community solar gardens. Xcel Energy Inc. owns the following additional direct subsidiaries, some of which are intermediate holding companies with additional subsidiaries: Direct Subsidiary Xcel Energy Wholesale Group Inc. Xcel Energy Markets Holdings Inc. Xcel Energy Ventures Inc. Xcel Energy Retail Holdings Inc. Xcel Energy Communication Group Inc. Xcel Energy International Inc. Xcel Energy Transmission Holding Company, LLC Nicollet Holdings Company, LLC Xcel Energy Nuclear Services Holdings, LLC Xcel Energy Services Inc. Xcel Energy and its subsidiaries collectively are referred to as Xcel Energy. Xcel Energy’s consolidated financial statements include its wholly-owned subsidiaries and VIEs for which it is the primary beneficiary. All intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated unless a different treatment is appropriate for rate regulated transactions. The equity method of accounting is used for its investments in EIP funds and WYCO. Investments in certain plants and transmission facilities are jointly owned with nonaffiliated utilities. A proportionate share of jointly owned facilities is recorded as property, plant and equipment on the consolidated balance sheets, and Xcel Energy’s share of operating costs associated with these facilities is included in the consolidated statements of income. The consolidated financial statements are presented in accordance with GAAP. All of the utility subsidiaries’ underlying accounting records also conform to the FERC uniform system of accounts. Certain amounts in the consolidated financial statements or notes have been reclassified for comparative purposes; however, such reclassifications did not affect net income, total assets, liabilities, equity or cash flows. Xcel Energy has evaluated events occurring after Dec. 31, 2023 up to the date of issuance of these consolidated financial statements. These statements contain all necessary adjustments and disclosures resulting from that evaluation. Use of Estimates — Xcel Energy uses estimates based on the best information available to record transactions and balances resulting from business operations. Estimates are used for items such as plant depreciable lives or potential disallowances, AROs, certain regulatory assets and liabilities, tax provisions, uncollectible amounts, environmental costs, unbilled revenues, jurisdictional fuel and energy cost allocations and actuarially determined benefit costs. Recorded estimates are revised when better information becomes available or actual amounts can be determined. Revisions can affect operating results. Regulatory Accounting — The regulated utility subsidiaries account for income and expense items in accordance with accounting guidance for regulated operations. Under this guidance: • Certain costs, which would otherwise be charged to expense or other comprehensive income, are deferred as regulatory assets based on the expected ability to recover the costs in future rates. • Certain credits, which would otherwise be reflected as income or other comprehensive income, are deferred as regulatory liabilities based on the expectation the amounts will be returned to customers in future rates, or because the amounts were collected in rates prior to the costs being incurred. Estimates and assumptions for recovery of deferred costs and refund of deferred credits are based on specific ratemaking decisions, precedent or other available information. Regulatory assets and liabilities are amortized consistent with the treatment in the rate setting process. If changes in the regulatory environment occur, the utility subsidiaries may no longer be eligible to apply this accounting treatment and may be required to eliminate regulatory assets and liabilities. Such changes could have a material effect on Xcel Energy’s results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. See Note 4 for further information. Income Taxes — Xcel Energy accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method, which requires recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the consolidated financial statements. Income taxes are deferred for all temporary differences between pretax financial and taxable income and between the book and tax bases of assets and liabilities utilizing rates that are scheduled to be in effect when the temporary differences are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in the period that includes the enactment date. Utility rate regulation has resulted in the recognition of regulatory assets and liabilities related to income taxes. The effects of tax rate changes that are attributable to the utility subsidiaries are generally subject to a normalization method of accounting. Therefore, the revaluation of most of the utility subsidiaries’ net deferred taxes upon a tax rate reduction results in the establishment of a net regulatory liability, refundable to utility customers over the remaining life of the related assets. Xcel Energy anticipates that a tax rate increase would predominantly result in the establishment of a regulatory asset, subject to an evaluation of whether future recovery is expected. 52 Table of Contents Reversal of certain temporary differences are accounted for as current income tax expense due to the effects of past regulatory practices when deferred taxes were not required to be recorded due to the use of flow through accounting for ratemaking purposes. Tax credits are recorded when earned unless there is a requirement to defer the benefit and amortize over the book depreciable lives of related property. The requirement to defer and amortize these credits specifically applies to certain federal ITCs, as determined by tax regulations and Xcel Energy tax elections. For tax credits otherwise eligible to be recognized when earned, Xcel Energy considers the impact of rate regulation to determine if these credits and related adjustments should be deferred as regulatory assets or liabilities. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance if it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. This evaluation includes consideration of whether tax credits are expected to be sold at a discount and impact the realization of amounts presented as deferred tax assets. Transferable tax credits are accounted for under ASC 740 Income Taxes , and valuation allowances and any adjustments for discounts incurred on sales transactions are recorded to deferred tax expense, typically recovered in the utility subsidiaries’ regulatory mechanisms. Xcel Energy measures and discloses uncertain tax positions that it has taken or expects to take in its income tax returns. A tax position is recognized in the consolidated financial statements when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination based on the technical merits of the position. Recognition of changes in uncertain tax positions are reflected as a component of income tax expense. Interest and penalties related to income taxes are reported within Other income (expense), net or interest charges in the consolidated statements of income. Xcel Energy Inc. and its subsidiaries file consolidated federal income tax returns as well as consolidated or separate state income tax returns. Federal income taxes paid by Xcel Energy Inc. are allocated to its subsidiaries based on separate company computations. A similar allocation is made for state income taxes paid by Xcel Energy Inc. in connection with consolidated state filings. Xcel Energy Inc. also allocates its own income tax benefits to its direct subsidiaries. See Note 7 for further information. Property, Plant and Equipment and Depreciation in Regulated Operations — Property, plant and equipment is stated at original cost. The cost of plant includes direct labor and materials, contracted work, overhead costs and AFUDC. The cost of plant retired is charged to accumulated depreciation and amortization. Amounts recovered in rates for future removal costs are recorded as regulatory liabilities. Significant additions or improvements extending asset lives are capitalized, while repairs and maintenance costs and replacement of items determined to be less than a unit of property are charged to expense as incurred. Property, plant and equipment is tested for impairment when it is determined that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. A loss is recognized in the current period if it becomes probable that part of a cost of a plant under construction or recently completed plant will be disallowed for recovery from customers and a reasonable estimate of the disallowance can be made. For investments in property, plant and equipment that are abandoned and not expected to go into service, incurred costs and related deferred tax amounts are compared to the discounted estimated future rate recovery, and a loss is recognized, if necessary. Depreciation expense is recorded using the straight-line method over the plant’s commission approved useful life. Actuarial life studies are performed and submitted to the state and federal commissions for review. Upon acceptance by the various commissions, the resulting lives and net salvage rates are used to calculate depreciation. Plant removal costs are typically recognized at the amounts recovered in rates as authorized by the applicable regulator. Accumulated removal costs are reflected in the consolidated balance sheet as a regulatory liability. Depreciation expense, expressed as a percentage of average depreciable property, was approximately 3.6 % for 2023, 3.7 % for 2022 and 3.5 % for 2021. See Note 3 for further information. AROs — Xcel Energy records AROs as a liability in the period incurred (if fair value can be reasonably estimated), with the offsetting/associated costs capitalized as a long-lived asset. The liability is generally increased over time by applying the effective interest method of accretion and the capitalized costs are typically depreciated over the useful life of the long-lived asset. Changes resulting from revisions to timing or amounts of expected asset retirement cash flows are recognized as an increase or a decrease in the ARO. See Note 12 for further information. Nuclear Decommissioning — Nuclear decommissioning studies that estimate NSP-Minnesota’s costs of decommissioning its nuclear power plants are normally performed at least every three years and submitted to the state commissions for approval. Due to other regulatory activity, the next decommissioning study has been deferred one year until 2024. NSP-Minnesota recovers regulator-approved decommissioning costs of its nuclear power plants over each facility’s expected service life, typically based on the triennial decommissioning studies. The studies consider estimated future costs of decommissioning and the market value of investments in trust funds and recommend annual funding amounts. Amounts collected in rates are deposited in the trust funds. For financial reporting purposes, NSP-Minnesota accounts for nuclear decommissioning as an ARO. Restricted funds for future decommissioning expenditures for NSP-Minnesota’s nuclear facilities are included in nuclear decommissioning fund and other assets on the consolidated balance sheets. See Notes 10 and 12 for further information. Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits — Xcel Energy maintains pension and postretirement benefit plans for eligible employees. Recognizing the cost of providing benefits and measuring the projected benefit obligation of these plans requires management to make various assumptions and estimates. 53 Table of Contents Certain unrecognized actuarial gains and losses and unrecognized prior service costs or credits are deferred as regulatory assets and liabilities, rather than recorded as other comprehensive income, based on regulatory recovery mechanisms. See Note 11 for further information. Environmental Costs — Environmental costs are recorded when it is probable Xcel Energy is liable for remediation costs and the amount can be reasonably estimated. Costs are deferred as a regulatory asset if it is probable the costs will be recovered from customers in future rates. Otherwise, the costs are expensed. For certain environmental costs related to facilities currently in use, such as for emission-control equipment, the cost is capitalized and depreciated over the life of the plant. Estimated remediation costs are regularly adjusted as estimates are revised and remediation is performed. If other participating potentially responsible parties exist and acknowledge their potential involvement with a site, costs are estimated and recorded only for Xcel Energy’s expected share of the cost. Estimated future expenditures to restore sites are treated as a capitalized cost of plant retirement. The depreciation expense levels recoverable in rates include a provision for removal expenses. Removal costs recovered in rates before the related costs are incurred are classified as a regulatory liability. See Note 12 for further information. Revenue from Contracts with Customers — Performance obligations related to the sale of energy are satisfied as energy is delivered to customers. Xcel Energy recognizes revenue that corresponds to the price of the energy delivered to the customer. The measurement of energy sales to customers is generally based on the reading of their meters, which occurs systematically throughout the month. At the end of each month, amounts of energy delivered to customers since the date of the last meter reading are estimated, and the corresponding unbilled revenue is recognized. A separate financing component of collections from customers is not recognized as contract terms are short-term in nature. Revenues are net of any excise or sales taxes or fees. The utility subsidiaries recognize physical sales to customers (native load and wholesale) on a gross basis in electric revenues and cost of sales. Revenues and charges for short-term physical wholesale sales of excess energy transacted through RTO/ISOs are also recorded on a gross basis. Other revenues and charges settled/facilitated through an RTO/ISO are recorded on a net basis in cost of sales. See Note 6 for further information. Cash and Cash Equivalents — Xcel Energy considers investments in instruments with a remaining maturity of three months or less at the time of purchase to be cash equivalents. Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Bad Debts — Accounts receivable are stated at the actual billed amount net of an allowance for bad debts. Xcel Energy establishes an allowance for uncollectible receivables based on a policy that reflects its expected exposure to the credit risk of customers. As of Dec. 31, 2023 and 2022, the allowance for bad debts was $ 128 million and $ 122 million, respectively. Inventory — Inventory is recorded at the lower of average cost or net realizable value and consisted of the following: (Millions of Dollars) Dec. 31, 2023 Dec. 31, 2022 Inventories Materials and supplies $ 377 $ 330 Fuel 211 201 Natural gas 123 272 Total inventories $ 711 $ 803 Equity Method Investments — The equity method of accounting is used for certain investments including WYCO and EIP funds, which requires Xcel Energy’s recognition of its share of these investees’ results, based on Xcel Energy’s proportional ownership interest. For investments in EIP funds, this includes Xcel Energy’s share of fund expenses and realized gains and losses, as well as unrealized gains and losses resulting from valuations of the funds’ investments in emerging energy technology companies. Fair Value Measurements — Xcel Energy presents cash equivalents, interest rate derivatives, rabbi trust assets, commodity derivatives, pension and postretirement plan assets and nuclear decommissioning fund assets at estimated fair values in its consolidated financial statements. For interest rate derivatives, quoted prices based primarily on observable market interest rate curves are used to estimate fair value. For commodity derivatives, the most observable inputs available are generally used to determine the fair value of each contract. In the absence of a quoted price, quoted prices for similar contracts or internally prepared valuation models may be used to determine fair value. For rabbi trust assets, pension and postretirement plan assets and nuclear decommissioning fund assets, published trading data and pricing models, generally using the most observable inputs available, are utilized to determine fair value for each security. See Notes 10 and 11 for further information. Derivative Instruments — Xcel Energy uses derivative instruments in connection with its commodity trading activities, and to manage risk associated with changes in interest rates and utility commodity prices, including forward contracts, futures, swaps and options. Derivatives not qualifying for the normal purchases and normal sales exception are recorded on the consolidated balance sheets at fair value as derivative instruments. Classification of changes in fair value for those derivative instruments is dependent on the designation of a qualifying hedging relationship. Changes in fair value of derivative instruments not designated in a qualifying hedging relationship are reflected in current earnings or as a regulatory asset or liability. Classification as a regulatory asset or liability is based on commission approved regulatory recovery mechanisms. Gains or losses on commodity trading transactions are recorded as a component of electric operating revenues. Normal Purchases and Normal Sales — Xcel Energy enters into contracts for purchases and sales of commodities for use in its operations. At inception, contracts are evaluated to determine whether they contain a derivative, and if so, whether they may be exempted from derivative accounting if designated as normal purchases or normal sales. See Note 10 for further information. 54 Table of Contents Commodity Trading Operations — All applicable gains and losses related to commodity trading activities are shown on a net basis in electric operating revenues in the consolidated statements of income. Commodity trading activities are not associated with energy produced from generation assets or energy and capacity purchased to serve native load. Commodity trading contracts are recorded at fair market value and commodity trading results include the impact of all margin-sharing mechanisms. See Note 10 for further information. Other Utility Items AFUDC — AFUDC represents the cost of capital used to finance utility construction activity and is computed by applying a composite financing rate to qualified CWIP. The amount of AFUDC capitalized as a utility construction cost is credited to other nonoperating income (for equity capital) and interest charges (for debt capital). AFUDC amounts capitalized are included in Xcel Energy’s rate base. Alternative Revenue — Certain rate rider mechanisms (including decoupling/sales true up and CIP/DSM programs) qualify as alternative revenue programs. These mechanisms arise from instances in which the regulator authorizes a future surcharge in response to past activities or completed events. When certain criteria are met, including expected collection within 24 months, revenue is recognized, which may include incentives and return on rate base items. Billing amounts are revised periodically for differences between total amount collected and revenue earned, which may increase or decrease the level of revenue collected from customers. Alternative revenues arising from these programs are presented on a gross basis and disclosed separately from revenue from contracts with customers. See Note 6 for further information. Conservation Programs — Costs incurred for DSM and CIP programs are deferred if it is probable future revenue will recover the incurred cost. Revenues recognized for incentive programs for the recovery of lost margins and/or conservation performance incentives are limited to amounts expected to be collected within 24 months from the year they are earned. Regulatory assets are recognized to reflect the amount of costs or earned incentives that have not yet been collected from customers. Emissions Allowances — Emissions allowances are recorded at cost, including broker commission fees. The inventory accounting model is utilized for all emissions allowances and any sales of these allowances are included in electric revenues. Nuclear Refueling Outage Costs — Xcel Energy uses a deferral and amortization method for nuclear refueling costs. This method amortizes costs over the period between refueling outages consistent with rate recovery. RECs — Cost of RECs that are utilized for compliance is recorded as electric fuel and purchased power expense. In certain jurisdictions, Xcel Energy reduces recoverable fuel and purchased power costs for the cost of RECs received. An inventory accounting model is used to account for RECs, however these assets are classified as regulatory assets if amounts are recoverable in future rates. Sales of RECs are recorded in electric revenues on a gross basis. The cost of these RECs and amounts credited to customers under margin-sharing mechanisms are recorded in electric fuel and purchased power expense. Cost of RECs that are utilized to support commodity trading activities are recorded in a similar manner as the associated commodities and are presented on a net basis in electric operating revenues in the consolidated statements of income. 2. Accounting Pronouncements Recently Issued Segment Reporting — In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07 – Segment Reporting (Topic 280) – Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures , which extends the existing requirements for annual disclosures to quarterly periods, and requires that both annual and quarterly disclosures present segment expenses using line items consistent with information regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker. The ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after Dec. 15, 2023 and quarterly periods beginning after Dec. 15, 2024, and Xcel Energy does not expect implementation of the new disclosure guidance to have a material impact to its consolidated financial statements. Income Taxes — In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09 – Income Taxes (Topic 740) – Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures , with new disclosure requirements including presentation of prescribed line items in the effective tax rate reconciliation and disclosures regarding state and local tax payments. The ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after Dec. 15, 2024, and Xcel Energy does not expect implementation of the new disclosure guidance to have a material impact to its consolidated financial statements. 3. Property, Plant and Equipment Major classes of property, plant and equipment (Millions of Dollars) Dec. 31, 2023 Dec. 31, 2022 Property, plant and equipment, net Electric plant $ 52,494 $ 49,639 Natural gas plant 9,080 8,514 Common and other property 3,190 2,970 Plant to be retired (a) 2,055 2,217 CWIP 2,873 2,124 Total property, plant and equipment 69,692 65,464 Less accumulated depreciation ( 18,399 ) ( 17,502 ) Nuclear fuel 3,337 3,183 Less accumulated amortization ( 2,988 ) ( 2,892 ) Property, plant and equipment, net $ 51,642 $ 48,253 (a) Amounts include Sherco 1 and 3 and A.S. King for NSP-Minnesota; Comanche Units 2 and 3, Craig Units 1 and 2, Hayden Units 1 and 2 and coal generation assets at Pawnee pending facility gas conversion for PSCo; and Tolk Unit 1 and 2 and coal generation assets at Harrington pending facility gas conversion for SPS. The Dec. 31, 2022 balance also includes Sherco 2, which was retired on Dec. 31, 2023. Amounts are presented net of accumulated depreciation. 55 Table of Contents Joint Ownership of Generation, Transmission and Gas Facilities The utility subsidiaries’ jointly owned assets as of Dec. 31, 2023: (Millions of Dollars, Except Percent Owned) Plant in Service Accumulated Depreciation Percent Owned NSP-Minnesota Electric generation: Sherco Unit 3 $ 633 $ 480 59 % Sherco common facilities 185 121 80 Sherco substation 5 4 59 Electric transmission: Grand Meadow 11 4 50 Huntley Wilmarth 49 2 50 CapX2020 820 141 51 Total NSP-Minnesota (a) $ 1,703 $ 752 (a) Projects additionally include $ 2 million in CWIP. (Millions of Dollars, Except Percent Owned) Plant in Service Accumulated Depreciation Percent Owned NSP-Wisconsin Electric transmission: La Crosse, WI to Madison, WI $ 178 $ 25 37 % CapX2020 169 39 80 Total NSP-Wisconsin (a) $ 347 $ 64 (a) Projects additionally include $ 1 million in CWIP. (Millions of Dollars, Except Percent Owned) Plant in Service Accumulated Depreciation Percent Owned PSCo Electric generation: Hayden Unit 1 $ 157 $ 108 76 % Hayden Unit 2 151 87 37 Hayden common facilities 44 31 53 Craig Units 1 and 2 82 55 10 Craig common facilities 39 25 7 Comanche Unit 3 916 191 67 Comanche common facilities 29 4 77 Electric transmission: Transmission and other facilities 189 75 Various Gas transmission: Rifle, CO to Avon, CO 28 9 60 Gas transmission compressor 8 2 50 Total PSCo (a) $ 1,643 $ 587 (a) Projects additionally include $ 18 million in CWIP. Each company’s share of operating expenses and construction expenditures is included in the applicable utility accounts. Respective owners are responsible for providing their own financing. 56 Table of Contents 4. Regulatory Assets and Liabilities Regulatory assets and liabilities are created for amounts that regulators may allow to be collected or may require to be paid back to customers in future electric and natural gas rates. Xcel Energy would be required to recognize the write-off of regulatory assets and liabilities in net income or other comprehensive income if changes in the utility industry no longer allow for the application of regulatory accounting guidance under GAAP. Components of regulatory assets: (Millions of Dollars) See Note(s) Remaining Amortization Period Dec. 31, 2023 Dec. 31, 2022 (a) Regulatory Assets Current Noncurrent Current Noncurrent Pension and retiree medical obligations 11 Various $ 27 $ 1,106 $ 22 $ 1,069 Recoverable deferred taxes on AFUDC Plant lives — 332 — 292 Net AROs (b) 1, 12 Various — 316 — 339 Excess deferred taxes — TCJA 7 Various 10 198 13 205 Depreciation differences One to 12 years 17 189 17 193 Environmental remediation costs 1, 12 Various 15 94 20 92 Deferred natural gas, electric, steam energy/fuel costs One to three years 239 80 581 299 Conservation programs (c) 1 One to two years 19 54 16 36 Purchased power contract costs Term of related contract 4 40 10 36 PI extended power uprate 11 years 4 38 4 42 Benson biomass PPA termination and asset purchase Five years 10 36 10 45 Sales true-up and revenue decoupling One to two years 7 33 54 — State commission adjustments Plant lives 1 32 1 33 Losses on reacquired debt Term of related debt 2 30 3 32 MISO capacity revenue tracker One to two years 36 26 — — Gas pipeline inspection and remediation costs One to two years 40 25 42 13 Contract valuation adjustments (d) 1, 10 Term of related contract 18 22 28 28 Nuclear refueling outage costs 1 One to two years 43 19 30 12 Grid modernization costs One to two years 16 17 14 24 Renewable resources and environmental initiatives One to two years 38 5 50 6 Other Various 65 106 144 75 Total regulatory assets $ 611 $ 2,798 $ 1,059 $ 2,871 (a) Prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform with current year presentation. (b) The 2022 amount is net of the nuclear decommissioning accruals and gains from decommissioning investments. In 2023, the nuclear decommissioning accruals and gains from decommissioning investments exceeded the expected cost of AROs in NSP-Minnesota and was reclassified to a regulatory liability. (c) Includes costs for conservation programs, as well as incentives allowed in certain jurisdictions. (d) Includes the fair value of certain long-term PPAs used to meet energy capacity requirements and valuation adjustments on natural gas commodity purchases. 57 Table of Contents Components of regulatory liabilities: (Millions of Dollars) See Note(s) Remaining Amortization Period Dec. 31, 2023 Dec. 31, 2022 Regulatory Liabilities Current Noncurrent Current Noncurrent Deferred income tax adjustments and TCJA refunds (a) 7 Various $ 7 $ 3,015 $ 9 $ 3,110 Plant removal costs 1, 12 Various — 1,984 — 1,819 Effects of regulation on employee benefit costs (b) Various — 253 — 247 Renewable resources and environmental initiatives Various 9 188 6 173 Net AROs (c) Various — 90 — — Sales true-up and revenue decoupling Two years 18 76 — 77 ITC deferrals 1 Various 1 60 1 61 LP&L departure payment Up to 10 years 33 33 — — Formula rates One to two years 29 18 32 17 DOE settlement One to two years 18 6 12 3 Deferred natural gas, electric, steam energy/fuel costs Less than one year 220 — 39 — Contract valuation adjustments (d) 1, 10 Less than one year 56 — 175 1 Conservation programs (e) 1 Less than one year 47 — 72 — Other Various 90 104 72 61 Total regulatory liabilities (f) $ 528 $ 5,827 $ 418 $ 5,569 (a) Includes the revaluation of recoverable/regulated plant accumulated deferred income taxes and revaluation impact of non-plant accumulated deferred income taxes due to the TCJA. (b) Includes regulatory amortization and certain 2018 TCJA benefits approved by the CPUC to offset the PSCo prepaid pension asset. (c) Includes amounts recorded for future recovery of AROs, less amounts recovered through nuclear decommissioning accruals and gains from decommissioning investments. (d) Includes the fair value of FTR instruments utilized/intended to offset the impacts of transmission system congestion. (e) Includes costs for conservation programs, as well as incentives allowed in certain jurisdictions. (f) Revenue subject to refund of $ 187 million and $ 67 million for 2023 and 2022, respectively, is included in other current liabilities. Xcel Energy’s regulatory assets not earning a return include past expenditures of $ 1,085 million and $ 1,020 million at Dec. 31, 2023 and 2022 respectively, which predominately relate to purchased natural gas and electric energy costs (including certain costs related to Winter Storm Uri), sales true-up and revenue decoupling, various renewable resources/environmental initiatives and certain prepaid pension amounts. Additionally, the unfunded portion of pension and retiree medical obligations and net AROs (i.e. deferrals for which cash has not been disbursed) do not earn a return. 5. Borrowings and Other Financing Instruments Short-Term Borrowings Short-Term Debt — Xcel Energy meets its short-term liquidity requirements primarily through the issuance of commercial paper and borrowings under their credit facilities and term loan agreements. Commercial paper and other borrowings outstanding: (Millions of Dollars, Except Interest Rates) Three Months Ended Dec. 31, 2023 Year Ended Dec. 31 2023 2022 2021 Borrowing limit $ 3,550 $ 3,550 $ 3,550 $ 3,100 Amount outstanding at period end 785 785 813 1,005 Average amount outstanding 339 491 552 1,399 Maximum amount outstanding 785 1,241 1,357 2,054 Weighted average interest rate, computed on a daily basis 5.51 % 5.12 % 1.47 % 0.57 % Weighted average interest rate at period end 5.52 5.52 4.66 0.31 Bilateral Credit Agreement — In April 2023, NSP-Minnesota’s uncommitted bilateral credit agreement was renewed for an additional one-year term. The credit agreement is limited in use to support letters of credit. As of Dec. 31, 2023, NSP-Minnesota had $ 65 million outstanding letters of credit under the $ 75 million Bilateral Credit Agreement. Letters of Credit — Xcel Energy uses letters of credit, typically with terms of one year , to provide financial guarantees for certain operating obligations. As of Dec. 31, 2023 and 2022, there were $ 44 million and $ 43 million of letters of credit outstanding under the credit facilities, respectively. Amounts approximate their fair value. Credit Facilities — In order to use commercial paper programs to fulfill short-term funding needs, Xcel Energy Inc. and its utility subsidiaries must have revolving credit facilities in place at least equal to the amount of their respective commercial paper borrowing limits and cannot issue commercial paper exceeding available capacity under these credit facilities. The lines of credit provide short-term financing in the form of notes payable to banks, letters of credit and back-up support for commercial paper borrowings. Terms of Credit Agreements — In September 2022 , Xcel Energy Inc., NSP-Minnesota, NSP-Wisconsin, PSCo and SPS each entered into an amended five-year credit agreement with a syndicate of banks. The aggregate borrowing limit is $ 3.55 billion. The amended credit agreements mature in September 2027. 58 Table of Contents Features of the credit facilities: Debt-to-Total Capitalization Ratio (a) Amount Facility May Be Increased (millions of dollars) (b) Additional Periods for Which a One-Year Extension May Be Requested (c) 2023 2022 Xcel Energy Inc. (d) 59.8 % 59.7 % $ 350 2 NSP-Minnesota 47.7 47.7 150 2 NSP-Wisconsin 48.2 47.4 N/A 1 SPS 46.1 45.7 50 2 PSCo 44.8 44.0 100 2 (a) Each credit facility has a financial covenant requiring that the debt-to-total capitalization ratio be less than or equal to 65 %. (b) Amounts authorized by state commissions in respective jurisdictions. (c) All extension requests are subject to majority bank group approval. (d) The Xcel Energy Inc. credit facility has a cross-default provision that Xcel Energy Inc. would be in default on its borrowings under the facility if it or any of its subsidiaries (except NSP-Wisconsin as long as its total assets do not comprise more than 15 % of Xcel Energy’s consolidated total assets) default on indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $ 75 million. If Xcel Energy Inc. or its utility subsidiaries do not comply with the covenant, an event of default may be declared, and if not remedied, any outstanding amounts due under the facility can be declared due by the lender. As of Dec. 31, 2023, Xcel Energy Inc. and its subsidiaries were in compliance with all financial covenants. Xcel Energy Inc. and its utility subsidiaries had the following committed credit facilities available as of Dec. 31, 2023: (Millions of Dollars) Credit Facility (a) Drawn (b) Available Xcel Energy Inc. $ 1,500 $ 165 $ 1,335 PSCo 700 349 351 NSP-Minnesota 700 180 520 SPS 500 75 425 NSP-Wisconsin 150 60 90 Total $ 3,550 $ 829 $ 2,721 (a) These credit facilities mature in September 2027. (b) Includes outstanding commercial paper and letters of credit. All credit facility bank borrowings, outstanding letters of credit and outstanding commercial paper reduce the available capacity under the credit facilities. Xcel Energy Inc. and its utility subsidiaries had no direct advances on facilities outstanding as of Dec. 31, 2023 and 2022. Long-Term Borrowings and Other Financing Instruments Generally, the property of NSP-Minnesota, NSP-Wisconsin, PSCo and SPS is subject to the liens of their respective first mortgage indentures for the benefit of bondholders. Debt premiums, discounts and expenses are amortized over the life of the related debt. The premiums, discounts and expenses for refinanced debt are deferred and amortized over the life of the new issuance. Long-term debt obligations for Xcel Energy Inc. and its utility subsidiaries as of Dec. 31 (in millions of dollars): Xcel Energy Inc. Financing Instrument Interest Rate Maturity Date 2023 2022 Unsecured senior notes 0.50 % Oct. 15, 2023 $ — $ 500 Unsecured senior notes 3.30 June 1, 2025 250 250 Unsecured senior notes 3.30 June 1, 2025 350 350 Unsecured senior notes 3.35 Dec. 1, 2026 500 500 Unsecured senior notes 1.75 March 15, 2027 500 500 Unsecured senior notes 4.00 June 15, 2028 130 130 Unsecured senior notes 4.00 June 15, 2028 500 500 Unsecured senior notes 2.60 Dec. 1, 2029 500 500 Unsecured senior notes 3.40 June 1, 2030 600 600 Unsecured senior notes 2.35 Nov. 15, 2031 300 300 Unsecured senior notes (a) 4.60 June 1, 2032 700 700 Unsecured senior notes (b) 5.45 Aug. 15, 2033 800 — Unsecured senior notes 6.50 July 1, 2036 300 300 Unsecured senior notes 4.80 Sept. 15, 2041 250 250 Unsecured senior notes 3.50 Dec. 1, 2049 500 500 Unamortized discount ( 8 ) ( 7 ) Unamortized debt issuance cost ( 36 ) ( 35 ) Current maturities — ( 500 ) Total long-term debt $ 6,136 $ 5,338 (a) 2022 financing . (b) 2023 financing . NSP-Minnesota Financing Instrument Interest Rate Maturity Date 2023 2022 First mortgage bonds 2.60 % May 15, 2023 $ — $ 400 First mortgage bonds 7.125 July 1, 2025 250 250 First mortgage bonds 6.50 March 1, 2028 150 150 First mortgage bonds 2.25 April 1, 2031 425 425 First mortgage bonds 5.25 July 15, 2035 250 250 First mortgage bonds 6.25 June 1, 2036 400 400 First mortgage bonds 6.20 July 1, 2037 350 350 First mortgage bonds 5.35 Nov. 1, 2039 300 300 First mortgage bonds 4.85 Aug. 15, 2040 250 250 First mortgage bonds 3.40 Aug. 15, 2042 500 500 First mortgage bonds 4.125 May 15, 2044 300 300 First mortgage bonds 4.00 Aug. 15, 2045 300 300 First mortgage bonds 3.60 May 15, 2046 350 350 First mortgage bonds 3.60 Sept. 15, 2047 600 600 First mortgage bonds 2.90 March 1, 2050 600 600 First mortgage bonds 2.60 June 1, 2051 700 700 First mortgage bonds 3.20 April 1, 2052 425 425 First mortgage bonds (a) 4.50 June 1, 2052 500 500 First mortgage bonds (b) 5.10 May 15, 2053 800 — Other long-term debt 2 3 Unamortized discount ( 49 ) ( 45 ) Unamortized debt issuance cost ( 73 ) ( 66 ) Current maturities — ( 400 ) Total long-term debt $ 7,330 $ 6,542 (a) 2022 financing. (b) 2023 financing. 59 Table of Contents NSP-Wisconsin Financing Instrument Interest Rate Maturity Date 2023 2022 First mortgage bonds 3.30 % June 15, 2024 $ 100 $ 100 First mortgage bonds 3.30 June 15, 2024 100 100 First mortgage bonds 6.375 Sept. 1, 2038 200 200 First mortgage bonds 3.70 Oct. 1, 2042 100 100 First mortgage bonds 3.75 Dec. 1, 2047 100 100 First mortgage bonds 4.20 Sept. 1, 2048 200 200 First mortgage bonds 3.05 May 1, 2051 100 100 First mortgage bonds 2.82 May 1, 2051 100 100 First mortgage bonds (a) 4.86 Sept. 15, 2052 100 100 First mortgage bonds (b) 5.30 June 15, 2053 125 — Unamortized discount ( 3 ) ( 3 ) Unamortized debt issuance cost ( 11 ) ( 11 ) Current maturities ( 200 ) — Total long-term debt $ 1,011 $ 1,086 (a) 2022 financing. (b) 2023 financing. PSCo Financing Instrument Interest Rate Maturity Date 2023 2022 First mortgage bonds 2.50 % March 15, 2023 $ — $ 250 First mortgage bonds 2.90 May 15, 2025 250 250 First mortgage bonds 3.70 June 15, 2028 350 350 First mortgage bonds 1.90 Jan. 15, 2031 375 375 First mortgage bonds 1.875 June 15, 2031 750 750 First mortgage bonds (a) 4.10 June 1, 2032 300 300 First mortgage bonds 6.25 Sept. 1, 2037 350 350 First mortgage bonds 6.50 Aug. 1, 2038 300 300 First mortgage bonds 4.75 Aug. 15, 2041 250 250 First mortgage bonds 3.60 Sept. 15, 2042 500 500 First mortgage bonds 3.95 March 15, 2043 250 250 First mortgage bonds 4.30 March 15, 2044 300 300 First mortgage bonds 3.55 June 15, 2046 250 250 First mortgage bonds 3.80 June 15, 2047 400 400 First mortgage bonds 4.10 June 15, 2048 350 350 First mortgage bonds 4.05 Sept. 15, 2049 400 400 First mortgage bonds 3.20 March 1, 2050 550 550 First mortgage bonds 2.70 Jan. 15, 2051 375 375 First mortgage bonds (a) 4.50 June 1, 2052 400 400 First mortgage bonds (b) 5.25 April 1, 2053 850 — Unamortized discount ( 41 ) ( 37 ) Unamortized debt issuance cost ( 59 ) ( 53 ) Current maturities — ( 250 ) Total long-term debt $ 7,450 $ 6,610 (a) 2022 financing . (b) 2023 financing. SPS Financing Instrument Interest Rate Maturity Date 2023 2022 First mortgage bonds 3.30 % June 15, 2024 $ 150 $ 150 First mortgage bonds 3.30 June 15, 2024 200 200 Unsecured senior notes 6.00 Oct. 1, 2033 100 100 Unsecured senior notes 6.00 Oct. 1, 2036 250 250 First mortgage bonds 4.50 Aug. 15, 2041 200 200 First mortgage bonds 4.50 Aug. 15, 2041 100 100 First mortgage bonds 4.50 Aug. 15, 2041 100 100 First mortgage bonds 3.40 Aug. 15, 2046 300 300 First mortgage bonds 3.70 Aug. 15, 2047 450 450 First mortgage bonds 4.40 Nov. 15, 2048 300 300 First mortgage bonds 3.75 June 15, 2049 300 300 First mortgage bonds 3.15 May 1, 2050 350 350 First mortgage bonds 3.15 May 1, 2050 250 250 First mortgage bonds (a) 5.15 June 1, 2052 200 200 First mortgage bonds (b) 6.00 Sept. 15, 2053 100 — Unamortized discount ( 10 ) ( 10 ) Unamortized debt issuance cost ( 29 ) ( 29 ) Current maturities ( 350 ) — Total long-term debt $ 2,961 $ 3,211 (a) 2022 financing. (b) 2023 financing . Other Subsidiaries Financing Instrument Interest Rate Maturity Date 2023 2022 Various Eloigne affordable housing project notes 0.00% - 8.00% 2024 - 2055 $ 27 $ 27 Current maturities ( 2 ) ( 1 ) Total long-term debt $ 25 $ 26 Maturities of long-term debt: (Millions of Dollars) 2024 $ 552 2025 1,103 2026 501 2027 501 2028 1,133 Deferred Financing Costs — Deferred financing costs of approximately $ 209 million and $ 193 million, net of amortization, are presented as a deduction from the carrying amount of long-term debt as of Dec. 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Equity through DRIP and Benefits Program — Xcel Energy issued $ 88 million of equity in 2023 and $ 84 million of equity in 2022 through the DRIP and benefits programs. The program allows shareholders to reinvest their dividends directly in Xcel Energy Inc. common stock. ATM Equity Offering — In November 2021, Xcel Energy Inc. filed a prospectus supplement under which it may sell up to $ 800 million of its common stock through an ATM program. In 2021, 5.33 million shares of common stock were issued (approximately $ 350 million in net proceeds and $ 3 million in transaction fees paid). In 2022, 4.30 million shares of common stock were issued (approximately $ 300 million in net proceeds and $ 3 million in transaction fees paid). In 2023, 0.90 million shares of common stock were issued ($ 62 million in net proceeds and $ 1 million in transaction fees paid). In October 2023, the 2021 ATM offering was closed. 60 Table of Contents In October 2023, Xcel Energy Inc. filed a prospectus supplement under which it may sell up to $ 2.5 billion of its common stock through an ATM program. In the fourth quarter, through this ATM Program, Xcel Energy Inc. issued 3.12 million shares of common stock ($ 188 million in net proceeds and $ 2 million in transaction fees paid). Capital Stock — Preferred stock authorized/outstanding: Preferred Stock Authorized (Shares) Par Value of Preferred Stock Preferred Stock Outstanding (Shares) 2023 and 2022 Xcel Energy Inc. 7,000,000 $ 100 — PSCo 10,000,000 0.01 — SPS 10,000,000 1.00 — Xcel Energy Inc. had the following common stock authorized/outstanding: Common Stock Authorized (Shares) Par Value of Common Stock Common Stock Outstanding (Shares) as of Dec. 31, 2023 Common Stock Outstanding (Shares) as of Dec. 31, 2022 1,000,000,000 $ 2.50 554,941,703 549,578,018 Dividend and Other Capital-Related Restrictions — Xcel Energy depends on its utility subsidiaries to pay dividends. Xcel Energy Inc.’s utility subsidiaries’ dividends are subject to the FERC’s jurisdiction, which prohibits the payment of dividends out of capital accounts. Dividends are solely to be paid from retained earnings. Certain covenants also require Xcel Energy Inc. to be current on interest payments prior to dividend disbursements. State regulatory commissions impose dividend limitations for NSP-Minnesota, NSP-Wisconsin and SPS, which are more restrictive than those imposed by the FERC. Requirements and actuals as of Dec. 31, 2023: Equity to Total Capitalization Ratio Required Range Equity to Total Capitalization Ratio Actual Low High 2023 NSP-Minnesota 47.2 % 57.6 % 52.3 % NSP-Wisconsin (a) 52.5 N/A 52.7 SPS (b) 45.0 55.0 54.6 (a) Cannot pay annual dividends in excess of forecasted levels if its average equity-to-total capitalization ratio falls below the commission authorized level. (b) Excludes short-term debt. (Amounts in Millions) Unrestricted Retained Earnings Total Capitalization Limit on Total Capitalization NSP-Minnesota $ 1,508 $ 15,702 $ 16,140 NSP-Wisconsin 9 2,520 N/A SPS (a) 617 7,298 N/A (a) May not pay a dividend that would cause a loss of its investment grade bond rating. Issuance of securities by Xcel Energy Inc. is not generally subject to regulatory approval. However, utility financings and intra-system financings are subject to the jurisdiction of state regulatory commissions and/or the FERC. Xcel Energy may seek additional authorization as necessary. Amounts authorized to issue as of Dec. 31, 2023: (Millions of Dollars) Long-Term Debt Short-Term Debt NSP-Minnesota 52.8% of total capitalization (a) $ 2,400 (a) NSP-Wisconsin $ 625 150 PSCo 450 800 SPS 100 600 (a) NSP-Minnesota has authorization to issue long-term securities provided the equity-to-total capitalization remains within the required range, and to issue short-term debt provided it does not exceed 15 % of total capitalization. 6. Revenues Revenue is classified by the type of goods/services rendered and market/customer type. Xcel Energy’s operating revenues consisted of the following: Year Ended Dec. 31, 2023 (Millions of Dollars) Electric Natural Gas All Other Total Major revenue types Revenue from contracts with customers: Residential $ 3,560 $ 1,560 $ 59 $ 5,179 C&I 5,703 833 30 6,566 Other 150 — 13 163 Total retail 9,413 2,393 102 11,908 Wholesale 815 — — 815 Transmission 649 — — 649 Other 63 156 — 219 Total revenue from contracts with customers 10,940 2,549 102 13,591 Alternative revenue and other 506 96 13 615 Total revenues $ 11,446 $ 2,645 $ 115 $ 14,206 Year Ended Dec. 31, 2022 (Millions of Dollars) Electric Natural Gas All Other Total Major revenue types Revenue from contracts with customers: Residential $ 3,542 $ 1,814 $ 53 $ 5,409 C&I 5,807 998 32 6,837 Other 148 — 10 158 Total retail 9,497 2,812 95 12,404 Wholesale 1,354 — — 1,354 Transmission 675 — — 675 Other 97 178 — 275 Total revenue from contracts with customers 11,623 2,990 95 14,708 Alternative revenue and other 500 90 12 602 Total revenues $ 12,123 $ 3,080 $ 107 $ 15,310 61 Table of Contents Year Ended Dec. 31, 2021 (Millions of Dollars) Electric Natural Gas All Other Total Major revenue types Revenue from contracts with customers: Residential $ 3,194 $ 1,222 $ 45 $ 4,461 C&I 5,050 640 30 5,720 Other 127 — 7 134 Total retail 8,371 1,862 82 10,315 Wholesale 1,540 — — 1,540 Transmission 604 — — 604 Other 61 148 — 209 Total revenue from contracts with customers 10,576 2,010 82 12,668 Alternative revenue and other 629 122 12 763 Total revenues $ 11,205 $ 2,132 $ 94 $ 13,431 7. Income Taxes Total income tax expense from operations differs from the amount computed by applying the statutory federal income tax rate to income before income tax expense. Effective income tax rate for years ended Dec. 31: 2023 2022 2021 Federal statutory rate 21.0 % 21.0 % 21.0 % State income tax on pretax income, net of federal tax effect 4.9 4.9 5.0 (Decreases) increases in tax from: Wind PTCs (a) ( 28.1 ) ( 27.4 ) ( 23.4 ) Plant regulatory differences (b) ( 5.6 ) ( 5.5 ) ( 6.2 ) Other tax credits, net NOL & tax credit allowances ( 1.3 ) ( 1.3 ) ( 1.1 ) Other, net 0.1 ( 0.1 ) 0.1 Effective income tax rate ( 9.0 ) % ( 8.4 ) % ( 4.6 ) % (a) Wind PTCs net of estimated transfer discount are credited to customers (reduction to revenue) and do not materially impact net income. (b) Plant regulatory differences primarily relate to the credit of excess deferred taxes to customers through the average rate assumption method. Income tax benefits associated with the credit are offset by corresponding revenue reductions . Components of income tax expense for years ended Dec. 31: (Millions of Dollars) 2023 2022 2021 Current federal tax expense $ 113 $ 1 $ 15 Current state tax expense (benefit) 16 3 ( 2 ) Current change in unrecognized tax (benefit) expense ( 21 ) 5 1 Deferred federal tax benefit ( 331 ) ( 239 ) ( 183 ) Deferred state tax expense 75 96 99 Deferred change in unrecognized tax expense 7 3 5 Deferred ITCs ( 5 ) ( 4 ) ( 5 ) Total income tax benefit $ ( 146 ) $ ( 135 ) $ ( 70 ) Components of deferred income tax expense as of Dec. 31: (Millions of Dollars) 2023 2022 2021 Deferred tax expense (benefit) excluding items below $ 129 $ ( 138 ) $ 148 Adjustments to deferred income taxes for wind production tax credit cash transfers (a) ( 190 ) — — Amortization and adjustments to deferred income taxes on income tax regulatory assets and liabilities ( 188 ) 8 ( 221 ) Tax benefit allocated to other comprehensive income and other — ( 10 ) ( 6 ) Deferred tax benefit $ ( 249 ) $ ( 140 ) $ ( 79 ) (a) Proceeds from tax credit transfers are included in cash received (paid) for income taxes in the consolidated statement of cash flows. Components of net deferred tax liability as of Dec. 31: (Millions of Dollars) 2023 2022 (a) Deferred tax liabilities: Differences between book and tax bases of property $ 6,744 $ 6,442 Regulatory assets 538 484 Operating lease assets 327 325 Pension expense 151 159 Deferred fuel costs 67 222 Other 84 90 Total deferred tax liabilities $ 7,911 $ 7,722 Deferred tax assets: Tax credit carryforward $ 1,718 $ 1,679 Regulatory liabilities 730 718 Operating lease liabilities 327 325 Other employee benefits 117 102 Deferred investment tax credits 16 14 NOL carryforward — 57 NOL and tax credit valuation allowances ( 70 ) ( 62 ) Other 188 133 Total deferred tax assets 3,026 2,966 Net deferred tax liability $ 4,885 $ 4,756 (a) Prior periods have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation . Other Income Tax Matters — NOL amounts represent the tax loss that is carried forward and tax credits represent the deferred tax asset. NOL and tax credit carryforwards as of Dec. 31: (Millions of Dollars) 2023 2022 Federal NOL carryforward $ — $ 20 Federal tax credit carryforwards 1,644 1,593 Valuation allowances for federal credit carryforwards ( 10 ) — State NOL carryforwards 11 1,022 Valuation allowances for state NOL carryforwards ( 2 ) ( 3 ) State tax credit carryforwards, net of federal detriment (a) 74 85 Valuation allowances for state credit carryforwards, net of federal benefit (b) ( 60 ) ( 62 ) (a) State tax credit carryforwards are net of federal detriment of $ 20 million and $ 23 million as of Dec. 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. (b) Valuation allowances for state tax credit carryforwards were net of federal benefit of $ 16 million as of Dec. 31, 2023 and 2022. Federal carryforward periods expire between 2037 and 2043 and state carryforward periods expire starting 2024. 62 Table of Contents Unrecognized Tax Benefits Federal Audit — Statute of limitations applicable to Xcel Energy’s consolidated federal income tax returns expire as follows: Tax Year(s) Expiration 2014 - 2016 March 2025 2020 September 2024 Additionally, the statute of limitations related to the federal tax credit carryforwards will remain open until those credits are utilized in subsequent returns. Further, the statute of limitations related to the additional federal tax loss carryback claim filed in 2020 has been extended. As of Dec. 31, 2023 the IRS issued its Revenue Agent’s Report related to the federal tax loss carryback claim. The Company materially agrees with the report and re-recognized the related benefit in December 2023. State Audits — Xcel Energy files consolidated state tax returns based on income in its major operating jurisdictions and various other state income-based tax returns. As of Dec. 31, 2023, Xcel Energy’s earliest open tax years (subject to examination by state taxing authorities in its major operating jurisdictions) were as follows: State Tax Year(s) Expiration Colorado 2014 - 2016 March 2026 Colorado 2019 October 2024 Minnesota 2014 - 2016 September 2025 Minnesota 2019 May 2024 Texas 2016, 2018 May 2024 Texas 2017 July 2025 Texas 2019 August 2024 Wisconsin 2016 - 2018 May 2024 Wisconsin 2019 October 2024 • In 2020, Minnesota began an audit of tax years 2015 - 2018. In 2022, the state of Minnesota issued its audit report and in 2023, the Company agreed to the report without any material adjustments. • In 2021, Texas began an audit of tax years 2016 - 2019. As of Dec. 31, 2023, no material adjustments have been proposed. • In 2021, Wisconsin began an audit of tax years 2016-2019. As of Dec. 31, 2023, no material adjustments have been proposed. • No other state income tax audits are in progress for its major operating jurisdictions as of Dec. 31, 2023. Unrecognized tax benefit balance includes permanent tax positions, which if recognized would affect the ETR. In addition, the unrecognized tax benefit balance includes temporary tax positions for which deductibility is highly certain, but for which there is uncertainty about the timing. A change in the period of deductibility would not affect the ETR but would accelerate the payment to the taxing authority. Unrecognized tax benefits - permanent vs. temporary: (Millions of Dollars) Dec. 31, 2023 Dec. 31, 2022 Unrecognized tax benefit — Permanent tax positions $ 41 $ 55 Unrecognized tax benefit — Temporary tax positions — 12 Total unrecognized tax benefit $ 41 $ 67 Changes in unrecognized tax benefits: (Millions of Dollars) 2023 2022 2021 Balance at Jan. 1 $ 67 $ 58 $ 52 Additions based on tax positions related to the current year 5 7 5 Additions for tax positions of prior years 1 6 2 Reductions for tax positions of prior years ( 29 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) Reductions for tax positions related to settlements with taxing authorities ( 1 ) ( 1 ) — Reductions for tax positions related to statute of limitations ( 2 ) ( 2 ) — Balance at Dec. 31 $ 41 $ 67 $ 58 Unrecognized tax benefits were reduced by tax benefits associated with NOL and tax credit carryforwards: (Millions of Dollars) Dec. 31, 2023 Dec. 31, 2022 NOL and tax credit carryforwards $ ( 35 ) $ ( 40 ) As IRS audits resume and as state audits progress, it is reasonably possible that the amount of unrecognized tax benefit could decrease up to approximately $ 14 million in the next 12 months. Payable for interest related to unrecognized tax benefits is partially offset by the interest benefit associated with NOL and tax credit carryforwards. Interest payable related to unrecognized tax benefits: (Millions of Dollars) 2023 2022 2021 Payable for interest related to unrecognized tax benefits at Jan. 1 $ ( 4 ) $ ( 3 ) $ ( 3 ) Interest benefit (expense) related to unrecognized tax benefits 3 ( 1 ) — Payable for interest related to unrecognized tax benefits at Dec. 31 $ ( 1 ) $ ( 4 ) $ ( 3 ) No penalties were accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits as of Dec. 31, 2023, 2022 or 2021. 8. Share-Based Compensation Incentive Plan Including Share-Based Compensation — Xcel Energy has authorized 7.0 million equity shares under an incentive plan (the Amended and Restated 2015 Omnibus Incentive Plan). Equity Awards — Xcel Energy‘s Board of Directors has granted equity awards under the 2015 Omnibus Incentive Plan, which includes various vesting conditions and performance goals. At the end of the restricted period, such grants will be awarded if vesting conditions and/or performance goals are met. Certain employees are granted equity awards with a portion subject only to service conditions, and the other portion subject to performance conditions. The total time-based equity shares granted subject only to service conditions was 0.4 million in 2023 and 0.2 million in 2022 and 2021 respectively. The performance conditions for a portion of the awards granted from 2021 to 2023 are based on relative TSR and environmental goals. Equity awards with performance conditions will be settled after three years , with payouts ranging from zero to 200 % depending on achievement. Equity award units granted to employees: (Units in Thousands) 2023 2022 2021 Granted units 586 395 421 Weighted average grant date fair value $ 67.06 $ 68.43 $ 66.03 63 Table of Contents Equity awards vested: (Units in Thousands, Fair Value in Millions) 2023 2022 2021 Vested Units 329 319 392 Total Fair Value $ 20 $ 22 $ 27 Changes in the nonvested portion of equity award units: (Units in Thousands) Units Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Nonvested Units at Jan. 1, 2023 708 $ 67.35 Granted 586 67.06 Forfeited ( 184 ) 68.42 Vested ( 329 ) 66.23 Dividend equivalents 38 67.65 Nonvested Units at Dec. 31, 2023 819 67.36 Stock Equivalent Units — Non-employee members of Xcel Energy‘s Board of Directors may elect to receive their annual equity grant as stock equivalent units in lieu of common stock. Each unit’s value is equal to one share of common stock. The annual equity grant is vested as of the date of each member’s election to the Board of Directors; there is no further service or other condition. Directors may also elect to receive their fees as stock equivalent units in lieu of cash. Stock equivalent units are payable as a distribution of common stock upon a director’s termination of service. Stock equivalent units granted: (Units in Thousands) 2023 2022 2021 Granted units 38 29 31 Weighted average grant date fair value $ 63.12 $ 71.97 $ 68.15 Changes in stock equivalent units: (Units in Thousands) Units Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Stock equivalent units at Jan. 1, 2023 597 $ 41.75 Granted 38 63.12 Units distributed ( 134 ) 33.90 Dividend equivalents 16 64.95 Stock equivalent units at Dec. 31, 2023 517 46.07 Liability Awards — Xcel Energy’s Board of Directors has granted TSR liability awards under the 2015 Omnibus Incentive Plan. This plan allows Xcel Energy to attach various performance goals to the awards granted. The liability awards have been historically dependent on relative TSR measured over a three -year period. Xcel Energy Inc.’s TSR is compared to a peer group of other utility companies. Potential payouts of the awards range from zero to 200 %. Liability awards granted: (In Thousands) 2023 2022 2021 Awards granted 216 165 221 Liability awards settled: (Units In Thousands, Settlement Amount in Millions) 2023 2022 2021 Awards settled 282 411 446 Settlement amount (cash, common stock and deferred amounts) $ 19 $ 27 $ 27 TSR liability awards of $ 13 million were settled in cash in 2023. Share-Based Compensation Expense — Award settlement determination (permitting cash or share settlement) is made by Xcel Energy, not the participants. Equity awards have not been previously settled in cash and Xcel Energy plans to continue electing share settlement. Grant date fair value of equity awards is expensed over the service period. TSR liability awards are accounted for as liabilities, as historically they are partially settled in cash. As liability awards, the fair value on which ratable expense is based, as employees vest in their rights to those awards, is remeasured each period based on the current stock price and performance achievement, and final expense is based on the market value of the award on the date the settlement date. Compensation costs related to share-based awards: (Millions of Dollars) 2023 2022 2021 Cost for share-based awards (a) $ 27 $ 36 $ 31 Tax benefit recognized in income 7 9 8 (a) Compensation costs for share-based payments are included in O&M expense. Amount for equity awards (non-cash) was $ 25 million in 2023. There was approximately $ 38 million and $ 37 million as of Dec. 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested share-based compensation awards. Xcel Energy expects to recognize the unrecognized amount over a weighted average period of 1.7 years. 9. Earnings Per Share Basic EPS was computed by dividing the earnings available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted EPS was computed by dividing the earnings available to common shareholders by the diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other agreements to issue common stock (i.e., common stock equivalents) were settled. The weighted average number of potentially dilutive shares outstanding used to calculate diluted EPS is calculated using the treasury stock method. Common Stock Equivalents — Common stock equivalents include commitments to issue common stock related to time-based equity compensation awards. Stock equivalent units granted to Xcel Energy’s Board of Directors are included in common shares outstanding upon grant date as there is no further service, performance or market condition following the grant of these awards. Restricted stock issued to employees under the Executive Annual Incentive Award Plan is included in common shares outstanding when granted. Share-based compensation arrangements for which there is currently no dilutive impact to EPS include the following: • Equity awards subject to a performance condition; included in common shares outstanding when all necessary conditions for settlement have been satisfied by the end of the reporting period. • Liability awards subject to a performance condition; any portions settled in shares are included in common shares outstanding upon settlement. 64 Table of Contents Common shares outstanding used in the basic and diluted EPS computation: (Shares in Millions) 2023 2022 2021 Basic 552 547 539 Diluted (a) 552 547 540 (a) Diluted common shares outstanding included common stock equivalents of 0.3 million shares for 2023, 2022 and 2021. 10. Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities Fair Value Measurements Accounting guidance for fair value measurements and disclosures provides a hierarchical framework for disclosing the observability of the inputs utilized in measuring assets and liabilities at fair value. • Level 1 — Quoted prices are available in active markets for identical assets or liabilities as of the reporting date. The types of assets and liabilities included in Level 1 are actively traded instruments with observable actual trading prices. • Level 2 — Pricing inputs are other than actual trading prices in active markets but are either directly or indirectly observable as of the reporting date. The types of assets and liabilities included in Level 2 are typically either comparable to actively traded securities or contracts or priced with models using highly observable inputs. • Level 3 — Significant inputs to pricing have little or no observability as of the reporting date. The types of assets and liabilities included in Level 3 include those valued with models requiring significant judgment or estimation. Specific valuation methods include: Investments in equity securities and other funds — Equity securities are valued using quoted prices in active markets. The fair values for commingled funds are measured using NAVs. The investments in commingled funds may be redeemed for NAV with proper notice. Private equity commingled funds require approval of the fund for any unscheduled redemption, and such redemptions may be approved or denied by the fund at its sole discretion. Unscheduled distributions from real estate commingled funds may be redeemed with proper notice, however, withdrawals may be delayed or discounted as a result of fund illiquidity. Investments in debt securities — Fair values for debt securities are determined by a third party pricing service using recent trades and observable spreads from benchmark interest rates for similar securities. Interest rate derivatives — Fair values of interest rate derivatives are based on broker quotes that utilize current market interest rate forecasts. Commodity derivatives — Methods used to measure the fair value of commodity derivative forwards and options utilize forward prices and volatilities, as well as pricing adjustments for specific delivery locations, and are generally assigned a Level 2 classification. When contracts relate to inactive delivery locations or extend to periods beyond those readily observable on active exchanges, the significance of the use of less observable inputs on a valuation is evaluated and may result in Level 3 classification. Electric commodity derivatives held by NSP-Minnesota and SPS include transmission congestion instruments, generally referred to as FTRs. FTRs purchased from an RTO are financial instruments that entitle or obligate the holder to monthly revenues or charges based on transmission congestion across a given transmission path. The values of these instruments are derived from, and designed to offset, the costs of transmission congestion. In addition to overall transmission load, congestion is also influenced by the operating schedules of power plants and the consumption of electricity pertinent to a given transmission path. Unplanned plant outages, scheduled plant maintenance, changes in the relative costs of fuels used in generation, weather and overall changes in demand for electricity can each impact the operating schedules of the power plants on the transmission grid and the value of these instruments. FTRs are recognized at fair value and adjusted each period prior to settlement. Given the limited observability of certain variables underlying the reported auction values of FTRs, these fair value measurements have been assigned a Level 3 classification. Net congestion costs, including the impact of FTR settlements, are shared through fuel and purchased energy cost recovery mechanisms. As such, the fair value of the unsettled instruments (i.e., derivative asset or liability) is offset/deferred as a regulatory asset or liability. Non-Derivative Fair Value Measurements Nuclear Decommissioning Fund The NRC requires NSP-Minnesota to maintain a portfolio of investments to fund the costs of decommissioning its nuclear generating plants. Assets of the nuclear decommissioning fund are legally restricted for the purpose of decommissioning these facilities. The fund contains cash equivalents, debt securities, equity securities and other investments. NSP-Minnesota uses the MPUC approved asset allocation for the investment targets by asset class for the qualified trust. NSP-Minnesota recognizes the costs of funding the decommissioning over the lives of the nuclear plants, assuming rate recovery of all costs. Realized and unrealized gains on fund investments over the life of the fund are deferred as an offset of NSP-Minnesota’s regulatory asset for nuclear decommissioning costs. Consequently, any realized and unrealized gains and losses on securities in the nuclear decommissioning fund are deferred as a component of the regulatory asset. Unrealized gains for the nuclear decommissioning fund were $ 1.2 billion and $ 1.0 billion as of Dec. 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and unrealized losses were $ 29 million and $ 90 million as of Dec. 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Non-derivative instruments with recurring fair value measurements in the nuclear decommissioning fund: Dec. 31, 2023 Fair Value (Millions of Dollars) Cost Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 NAV Total Nuclear decommissioning fund (a) Cash equivalents $ 41 $ 41 $ — $ — $ — $ 41 Commingled funds 721 — — — 1,049 1,049 Debt securities 784 — 771 9 — 780 Equity securities 508 1,339 2 — — 1,341 Total $ 2,054 $ 1,380 $ 773 $ 9 $ 1,049 $ 3,211 (a) Reported in nuclear decommissioning fund and other investments on the consolidated balance sheets, which also includes $ 244 million of equity method investments and $ 144 million of rabbi trust assets and other miscellaneous investments. 65 Table of Contents Dec. 31, 2022 Fair Value (Millions of Dollars) Cost Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 NAV Total Nuclear decommissioning fund (a) Cash equivalents $ 29 $ 29 $ — $ — $ — $ 29 Commingled funds 803 — — — 1,178 1,178 Debt securities 738 — 669 6 — 675 Equity securities 406 999 1 — — 1,000 Total $ 1,976 $ 1,028 $ 670 $ 6 $ 1,178 $ 2,882 (a) Reported in nuclear decommissioning fund and other investments on the consolidated balance sheets, which also includes $ 219 million of equity investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and $ 133 million of rabbi trust assets and other miscellaneous investments. For the years ended Dec. 31, 2023 and 2022, there were immaterial Level 3 nuclear decommissioning fund investments or transfer of amounts between levels. Contractual maturity dates of debt securities in the nuclear decommissioning fund as of Dec. 31, 2023: Final Contractual Maturity (Millions of Dollars) Due in 1 Year or Less Due in 1 to 5 Years Due in 5 to 10 Years Due after 10 Years Total Debt securities $ 4 $ 261 $ 269 $ 246 $ 780 Rabbi Trusts Xcel Energy has established rabbi trusts to provide partial funding for future deferred compensation plan distributions. The fair value of assets held in the rabbi trusts were $ 88 million and $ 80 million at Dec. 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, comprised of cash equivalents and mutual funds (level 1 valuation methods). Amounts are reported in nuclear decommissioning fund and other investments on the consolidated balance sheet. Derivative Activities and Fair Value Measurements Xcel Energy enters into derivative instruments, including forward contracts, futures, swaps and options, for trading purposes and to manage risk in connection with changes in interest rates, and utility commodity prices. Interest Rate Derivatives — Xcel Energy enters into contracts that effectively fix the interest rate on a specified principal amount of a hypothetical future debt issuance. These financial swaps net settle based on changes in a specified benchmark interest rate, acting as a hedge of changes in market interest rates that will impact specified anticipated debt issuances. These derivative instruments are designated as cash flow hedges for accounting purposes, with changes in fair value prior to occurrence of the hedged transactions recorded as other comprehensive income. As of Dec. 31, 2023, accumulated other comprehensive loss related to interest rate derivatives included $ 2 million of net losses expected to be reclassified into earnings during the next 12 months as the hedged transactions impact earnings. As of Dec. 31, 2023, Xcel Energy had unsettled interest swaps outstanding with a notional amount of $ 420 million. These interest rate derivatives were designated as cash flow hedges, with changes in fair value recorded to other comprehensive income. See Note 13 for the financial impact of qualifying interest rate cash flow hedges on Xcel Energy’s accumulated other comprehensive loss included in the consolidated statements of common stockholder’s equity and in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Wholesale and Commodity Trading — Xcel Energy Inc.’s utility subsidiaries conduct various wholesale and commodity trading activities, including the purchase and sale of electric capacity, energy, energy-related instruments and natural gas-related instruments, including derivatives. Xcel Energy is allowed to conduct these activities within guidelines and limitations as approved by its risk management committee, comprised of management personnel not directly involved in the activities governed by this policy. Derivative instruments entered into for trading purposes are presented in the consolidated statements of income as electric revenues, net of any sharing with customers. These activities are not intended to mitigate commodity price risk associated with regulated electric and natural gas operations. Sharing of these margins is determined through state regulatory proceedings as well as the operation of the FERC-approved joint operating agreement. Commodity Derivatives — Xcel Energy enters into derivative instruments to manage variability of future cash flows from changes in commodity prices in its electric and natural gas operations. This could include the purchase or sale of energy or energy-related products, natural gas to generate electric energy, natural gas for resale and FTRs. The most significant derivative positions outstanding at Dec. 31, 2023 and 2022 for this purpose relate to FTR instruments administered by MISO and SPP. These instruments are intended to offset the impacts of transmission system congestion. Higher congestion costs in recent years have led to an increase in the fair value of FTRs. Settlements of FTRs are shared with electric customers through fuel and purchased energy cost-recovery mechanisms. When Xcel Energy enters into derivative instruments that mitigate commodity price risk on behalf of electric and natural gas customers, the instruments are not typically designated as qualifying hedging transactions. The classification of unrealized losses or gains on these instruments as a regulatory asset or liability, if applicable, is based on approved regulatory recovery mechanisms. As of Dec. 31, 2023, Xcel Energy had no commodity contracts designated as cash flow hedges. Gross notional amounts of commodity forwards, options and FTRs: (Amounts in Millions) (a)(b) Dec. 31, 2023 Dec. 31, 2022 MWh of electricity 48 61 MMBtu of natural gas 84 131 (a) Not reflective of net positions in the underlying commodities. (b) Notional amounts for options included on a gross basis but weighted for the probability of exercise. Consideration of Credit Risk and Concentrations — Xcel Energy continuously monitors the creditworthiness of counterparties to its interest rate derivatives and commodity derivative contracts prior to settlement and assesses each counterparty’s ability to perform on the transactions set forth in the contracts. Impact of credit risk was immaterial to the fair value of unsettled commodity derivatives presented on the consolidated balance sheets. Xcel Energy’s utility subsidiaries’ most significant concentrations of credit risk with particular entities or industries are contracts with counterparties to their wholesale, trading and non-trading commodity activities. 66 Table of Contents As of Dec. 31, 2023, four of Xcel Energy’s ten most significant counterparties for these activities, comprising $ 49 million or 23 % of this credit exposure, had investment grade credit ratings from S&P Global Ratings, Moody’s Investor Services or Fitch Ratings. Five of the ten most significant counterparties, comprising $ 78 million or 37 % of this credit exposure, were not rated by these external ratings agencies, but based on Xcel Energy’s internal analysis, had credit quality consistent with investment grade. One of these significant counterparties, comprising $ 45 million or 21 % of this credit exposure, had credit quality less than investment grade, based on internal analysis. Eight of these significant counterparties are municipal or cooperative electric entities, RTOs or other utilities. Credit Related Contingent Features — Contract provisions for derivative instruments that the utility subsidiaries enter, including those accounted for as normal purchase and normal sale contracts and therefore not reflected on the consolidated balance sheets, may require the posting of collateral or settlement of the contracts for various reasons, including if the applicable utility subsidiary’s credit ratings are downgraded below its investment grade credit rating by any of the major credit rating agencies. As of Dec. 31, 2023 and 2022, there were $ 12 million and $ 4 million, respectively, of derivative liabilities with such underlying contract provisions, respectively. Also, certain contracts may contain cross default provisions that may require the posting of collateral or settlement of the contracts if there was a failure under other financing arrangements related to payment terms or other covenants. As of Dec. 31, 2023 and 2022, there were approximately $ 88 million and $ 76 million of derivative liabilities with such underlying contract provisions, respectively. Certain derivative instruments are also subject to contract provisions that contain adequate assurance clauses. These provisions allow counterparties to seek performance assurance, including cash collateral, in the event that a given utility subsidiary’s ability to fulfill its contractual obligations is reasonably expected to be impaired. Xcel Energy had no collateral posted related to adequate assurance clauses in derivative contracts as of Dec. 31, 2023 and 2022. Recurring Derivative Fair Value Measurements Impact of derivative activity: Pre-Tax Fair Value Gains (Losses) Recognized During the Period in: (Millions of Dollars) Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Regulatory (Assets) and Liabilities Year Ended Dec. 31, 2023 Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges Interest rate $ ( 2 ) $ — Total $ ( 2 ) $ — Other derivative instruments Electric commodity $ — $ ( 137 ) Natural gas commodity — ( 13 ) Total $ — $ ( 150 ) Year Ended Dec. 31, 2022 Interest rate $ 22 $ — Total $ 22 $ — Other derivative instruments Electric commodity $ — $ ( 10 ) Natural gas commodity — ( 16 ) Total $ — $ ( 26 ) Year Ended Dec. 31, 2021 Interest rate $ 5 $ — Total $ 5 $ — Other derivative instruments Electric commodity $ — $ 32 Natural gas commodity — ( 4 ) Total $ — $ 28 67 Table of Contents Pre-Tax (Gains) Losses Reclassified into Income During the Period from: Pre-Tax Gains (Losses) Recognized During the Period in Income (Millions of Dollars) Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Regulatory Assets and (Liabilities) Year Ended Dec. 31, 2023 Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges Interest rate $ 5 (a) $ — $ — Total $ 5 $ — $ — Other derivative instruments Commodity trading $ — $ — $ ( 7 ) (b) Electric commodity — 123 (c) — Natural gas commodity — 15 (d) ( 27 ) (d)(e) Total $ — $ 138 $ ( 34 ) Year Ended Dec. 31, 2022 Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges Interest rate $ 7 (a) $ — $ — Total $ 7 $ — $ — Other derivative instruments Commodity trading $ — $ — $ 25 (b) Electric commodity — 3 (c) — Natural gas commodity — 10 (d) ( 27 ) (d)(e) Total $ — $ 13 $ ( 2 ) Year Ended Dec. 31, 2021 Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges Interest rate $ 8 (a) $ — $ — Total $ 8 $ — $ — Other derivative instruments Commodity trading $ — $ — $ 63 (b) Electric commodity — ( 23 ) (c) — Natural gas commodity — 5 (d) ( 22 ) (d)(e) Total $ — $ ( 18 ) $ 41 (a) Recorded to interest charges. (b) Recorded to electric revenues. Presented amounts do not reflect non-derivative transactions or margin sharing with customers. (c) Recorded to electric fuel and purchased power. These derivative settlement gains and losses are shared with electric customers through fuel and purchased energy cost-recovery mechanisms and reclassified out of income as regulatory assets or liabilities, as appropriate. FTR settlements are shared with customers and do not have a material impact on net income. Presented amounts reflect changes in fair value between FTR auction and settlement dates, but exclude the original auction fair value. (d) Recorded to cost of natural gas sold and transported. These losses are subject to cost-recovery mechanisms and reclassified out of income to a regulatory asset, as appropriate. (e) Relates primarily to option premium amortization. Xcel Energy had no derivative instruments designated as fair value hedges during the years ended Dec. 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021. 68 Table of Contents Derivative assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis were as follows: Dec. 31, 2023 Dec. 31, 2022 Fair Value Fair Value Total Netting (a) Total Fair Value Fair Value Total Netting (a) Total (Millions of Dollars) Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Current derivative assets Other derivative instruments: Commodity trading $ 8 $ 51 $ 32 $ 91 $ ( 59 ) $ 32 $ 32 $ 259 $ 33 $ 324 $ ( 242 ) $ 82 Electric commodity — — 62 62 ( 7 ) 55 — — 177 177 ( 2 ) 175 Natural gas commodity — 14 — 14 — 14 — 19 — 19 — 19 Total current derivative assets $ 8 $ 65 $ 94 $ 167 $ ( 66 ) 101 $ 32 $ 278 $ 210 $ 520 $ ( 244 ) 276 PPAs (b) 3 3 Current derivative instruments $ 104 $ 279 Noncurrent derivative assets Other derivative instruments: Commodity trading $ 14 $ 51 $ 45 $ 110 $ ( 34 ) $ 76 $ 34 $ 71 $ 74 $ 179 $ ( 89 ) $ 90 Total noncurrent derivative assets $ 14 $ 51 $ 45 $ 110 $ ( 34 ) 76 $ 34 $ 71 $ 74 $ 179 $ ( 89 ) 90 PPAs (b) — 3 Noncurrent derivative instruments $ 76 $ 93 Dec. 31, 2023 Dec. 31, 2022 Fair Value Fair Value Total Netting (a) Total Fair Value Fair Value Total Netting (a) Total (Millions of Dollars) Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Current derivative liabilities Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges: Interest rate $ — $ 17 $ — $ 17 $ — $ 17 $ — $ 1 $ — $ 1 $ — $ 1 Other derivative instruments: Commodity trading 6 86 5 97 ( 60 ) 37 29 297 6 332 ( 287 ) 45 Electric commodity — — 7 7 ( 7 ) — — — 2 2 ( 2 ) — Natural gas commodity — 12 — 12 — 12 — 13 — 13 — 13 Total current derivative liabilities $ 6 $ 115 $ 12 $ 133 $ ( 67 ) 66 $ 29 $ 311 $ 8 $ 348 $ ( 289 ) 59 PPAs (b) 8 17 Current derivative instruments $ 74 $ 76 Noncurrent derivative liabilities Other derivative instruments: Commodity trading $ 16 $ 50 $ 37 $ 103 $ ( 39 ) $ 64 $ 43 $ 97 $ 41 $ 181 $ ( 98 ) $ 83 Total noncurrent derivative liabilities $ 16 $ 50 $ 37 $ 103 $ ( 39 ) 64 $ 43 $ 97 $ 41 $ 181 $ ( 98 ) 83 PPAs (b) 22 30 Noncurrent derivative instruments $ 86 $ 113 (a) Xcel Energy nets derivative instruments and related collateral on its consolidated balance sheets when supported by a legally enforceable master netting agreement. At Dec. 31, 2023 and 2022, derivative assets and liabilities include no obligations to return cash collateral. At Dec. 31, 2023 and 2022, derivative assets and liabilities include rights to reclaim cash collateral of $ 7 million and $ 53 million, respectively. Counterparty netting amounts presented exclude settlement receivables and payables and non-derivative amounts that may be subject to the same master netting agreements. (b) Xcel Energy currently applies the normal purchase exception to qualifying PPAs. Balance relates to specific contracts that were previously recognized at fair value prior to applying the normal purchase exception, and are being amortized over the remaining contract lives along with the offsetting regulatory assets and liabilities. 69 Table of Contents Changes in Level 3 commodity derivatives: Year Ended Dec. 31 (Millions of Dollars) 2023 2022 2021 Balance at Jan. 1 $ 236 $ 19 $ ( 49 ) Purchases (a) 176 406 65 Settlements (a) ( 154 ) ( 350 ) ( 158 ) Net transactions recorded during the period: Gains recognized in earnings (b) 6 151 49 Net (losses) gains recognized as regulatory assets and liabilities (a) ( 174 ) 10 112 Balance at Dec. 31 $ 90 $ 236 $ 19 (a) Relates primarily to NSP-Minnesota and SPS FTR instruments administered by MISO and SPP. (b) Relates to commodity trading and is subject to substantial offsetting losses and gains on derivative instruments categorized as levels 1 and 2 in the income statement. See above tables for the income statement impact of derivative activity, including commodity trading gains and losses. Fair Value of Long-Term Debt As of Dec. 31, other financial instruments for which the carrying amount did not equal fair value: 2023 2022 (Millions of Dollars) Carrying Amount Fair Value Carrying Amount Fair Value Long-term debt, including current portion $ 25,465 $ 22,927 $ 23,964 $ 20,897 Fair value of Xcel Energy’s long-term debt is estimated based on recent trades and observable spreads from benchmark interest rates for similar securities. Fair value estimates are based on information available to management as of Dec. 31, 2023 and 2022, and given the observability of the inputs, fair values presented for long-term debt were assigned as Level 2. 11. Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits Pension and Postretirement Health Care Benefits Xcel Energy has several noncontributory, qualified, defined benefit pension plans that cover almost all employees. All newly hired or rehired employees participate under the Cash Balance formula, which is based on pay credits using a percentage of annual eligible pay and annual interest credits. The average annual interest crediting rates for these plans was 4.72 , 4.89 and 2.03 % in 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively. Some employees may participate under legacy formulas such as the traditional final average pay or pension equity. Xcel Energy’s policy is to fully fund into an external trust the actuarially determined pension costs subject to the limitations of applicable employee benefit and tax laws. In addition to the qualified pension plans, Xcel Energy maintains a SERP and a nonqualified pension plan. The SERP is maintained for certain executives who participated in the plan in 2008, when the SERP was closed to new participants. The nonqualified pension plan provides benefits for compensation that is in excess of the limits applicable to the qualified pension plans, with distributions funded by Xcel Energy’s consolidated operating cash flows. Obligations of the SERP and nonqualified plan as of Dec. 31, 2023 and 2022 were $ 12 million and $ 11 million, respectively. Xcel Energy recognized net benefit cost for the SERP and nonqualified plans of $ 2 million in 2023 and $ 17 million in 2022. Xcel Energy’s postretirement health care benefit plan is a continuation of certain welfare benefit programs for current employees. A full time employee’s date of hire or a retiree’s date of retirement determine eligibility for each of the programs. Xcel Energy’s investment-return assumption considers the expected long-term performance for each of the asset classes in its pension and postretirement health care portfolio. Xcel Energy considers the historical returns achieved by its asset portfolios over long time periods, as well as the long-term projected return levels from investment experts. Pension cost determination assumes a forecasted mix of investment types over the long-term. • Investment returns in 2023 were above the assumed level of 6.93 %. • Investment returns in 2022 were below the assumed level of 6.49 %. • Investment returns in 2021 were above the assumed level of 6.49 %. • In 2024, expected investment-return assumption is 6.93 %. Pension plan and postretirement benefit assets are invested in a portfolio according to Xcel Energy’s return, liquidity and diversification objectives to provide a source of funding for plan obligations and minimize contributions to the plan, within appropriate levels of risk. The principal mechanism for achieving these objectives is the asset allocation given the long-term risk, return, correlation and liquidity characteristics of each particular asset class. There were no significant concentrations of risk in any industry, index, or entity. Market volatility can impact even well-diversified portfolios and significantly affect the return levels achieved by the assets in any year. State agencies also have issued guidelines to the funding of postretirement benefit costs. SPS is required to fund postretirement benefit plans for Texas and New Mexico equal to amounts collected in rates. These assets are invested in a manner consistent with the investment strategy for the pension plan. Xcel Energy’s ongoing investment strategy is based on plan-specific investment recommendations that seek to minimize potential investment and interest rate risk as a plan’s funded status increases over time. The investment recommendations consider many factors and generally result in a greater percentage of long-duration fixed income securities being allocated to specific plans having relatively higher funded status ratios and a greater percentage of growth assets being allocated to plans having relatively lower funded status ratios. 70 Table of Contents Plan Assets For each of the fair value hierarchy levels, Xcel Energy’s pension plan assets measured at fair value: Dec. 31, 2023 (a) Dec. 31, 2022 (a) (Millions of Dollars) Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Measured at NAV Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Measured at NAV Total Cash equivalents $ 233 $ — $ — $ — $ 233 $ 129 $ — $ — $ — $ 129 Commingled funds 491 — — 1,235 1,726 935 — — 882 1,817 Debt securities — 683 4 — 687 — 682 3 — 685 Equity securities 35 — — — 35 47 — — — 47 Other — 9 — — 9 — 7 — — 7 Total $ 759 $ 692 $ 4 $ 1,235 $ 2,690 $ 1,111 $ 689 $ 3 $ 882 $ 2,685 (a) See Note 10 for further information regarding fair value measurement inputs and methods. For each of the fair value hierarchy levels, Xcel Energy’s postretirement benefit plan assets that were measured at fair value: Dec. 31, 2023 (a) Dec. 31, 2022 (a) (Millions of Dollars) Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Measured at NAV Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Measured at NAV Total Cash equivalents $ 33 $ — $ — $ — $ 33 $ 31 $ — $ — $ — $ 31 Insurance contracts — 40 — — 40 — 41 — — 41 Commingled funds 22 — — 72 94 54 — — 63 117 Debt securities — 187 1 — 188 — 175 1 — 176 Other — 1 — — 1 — ( 1 ) — — ( 1 ) Total $ 55 $ 228 $ 1 $ 72 $ 356 $ 85 $ 215 $ 1 $ 63 $ 364 (a) See Note 10 for further information on fair value measurement inputs and methods. Immaterial assets were transferred in or out of Level 3 for 2023 and 2022. Funded Status — Comparisons of the actuarially computed benefit obligation, changes in plan assets and funded status of the pension and postretirement health care plans for Xcel Energy are as follows: Pension Benefits Postretirement Benefits (Millions of Dollars) 2023 2022 2023 2022 Change in Benefit Obligation: Obligation at Jan. 1 $ 2,871 $ 3,718 $ 405 $ 511 Service cost 74 97 1 2 Interest cost 158 110 22 15 Plan amendments ( 3 ) 1 — — Actuarial (gain) loss 126 ( 703 ) 14 ( 85 ) Plan participants’ contributions — — 8 8 Medicare subsidy reimbursements — — — 2 Benefit payments (a) ( 283 ) ( 352 ) ( 56 ) ( 48 ) Obligation at Dec. 31 $ 2,943 $ 2,871 $ 394 $ 405 Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets: Fair value of plan assets at Jan. 1 $ 2,685 $ 3,670 $ 364 $ 442 Actual return on plan assets 238 ( 683 ) 29 ( 51 ) Employer contributions 50 50 11 13 Plan participants’ contributions — — 8 8 Benefit payments ( 283 ) ( 352 ) ( 56 ) ( 48 ) Fair value of plan assets at Dec. 31 2,690 2,685 356 364 Funded status of plans at Dec. 31 $ ( 253 ) $ ( 186 ) $ ( 38 ) $ ( 41 ) Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheet at Dec. 31: Noncurrent assets $ 1 $ 15 $ 28 $ 33 Current liabilities — — ( 3 ) ( 2 ) Noncurrent liabilities ( 254 ) ( 201 ) ( 63 ) ( 72 ) Net amounts recognized $ ( 253 ) $ ( 186 ) $ ( 38 ) $ ( 41 ) (a) Includes lump-sum benefit payments used in the determination of a settlement charges of $ 195 million of in 2022. 71 Table of Contents Pension Benefits Postretirement Benefits Significant Assumptions Used to Measure Benefit Obligations: 2023 2022 2023 2022 Discount rate for year-end valuation 5.49 % 5.80 % 5.54 % 5.80 % Expected average long-term increase in compensation level 4.25 % 4.25 % N/A N/A Mortality table PRI-2012 PRI-2012 PRI-2012 PRI-2012 Health care costs trend rate — initial: Pre-65 N/A N/A 6.50 % 6.50 % Health care costs trend rate — initial: Post-65 N/A N/A 5.50 % 5.50 % Ultimate trend assumption — initial: Pre-65 N/A N/A 4.50 % 4.50 % Ultimate trend assumption — initial: Post-65 N/A N/A 4.50 % 4.50 % Years until ultimate trend is reached N/A N/A 6 7 Accumulated benefit obligation for the pension plan was $ 2,728 million and $ 2,672 million as of Dec. 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Credit) — Net periodic benefit cost (credit), other than the service cost component, is included in other income (expense) in the consolidated statements of income. Components of net periodic benefit cost (credit) and amounts recognized in other comprehensive income and regulatory assets and liabilities: Pension Benefits Postretirement Benefits (Millions of Dollars) 2023 2022 2021 2023 2022 2021 Service cost $ 74 $ 97 $ 104 $ 1 $ 2 $ 2 Interest cost 158 110 104 22 15 15 Expected return on plan assets ( 209 ) ( 208 ) ( 206 ) ( 17 ) ( 18 ) ( 18 ) Amortization of prior service credit ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 1 ) ( 6 ) ( 8 ) Amortization of net loss 22 75 107 1 2 5 Settlement charge (a) — 71 59 — — — Net periodic pension cost (credit) 44 144 167 6 ( 5 ) ( 4 ) Effects of regulation 30 ( 30 ) ( 46 ) — 3 2 Net benefit cost (credit) recognized for financial reporting $ 74 $ 114 $ 121 $ 6 $ ( 2 ) $ ( 2 ) Significant Assumptions Used to Measure Costs: Discount rate 5.80 % 3.08 % 2.71 % 5.80 % 3.09 % 2.65 % Expected average long-term increase in compensation level 4.25 3.75 3.75 — — — Expected average long-term rate of return on assets 6.93 6.49 6.49 5.00 4.10 4.10 (a) A settlement charge is required when the amount of all lump-sum distributions during the year is greater than the sum of the service and interest cost components of the annual net periodic pension cost. There were no settlement charges recorded for the qualified pension plans in 2023. In 2022 and 2021, as a result of lump-sum distributions during each plan year, Xcel Energy recorded a total pension settlement charge of $ 71 million and $ 59 million, respectively, the majority of which was not recognized due to the effects of regulation. A total of $ 9 million and $ 7 million was recorded in the consolidated statements of income in 2022 and 2021, respectively. Pension Benefits Postretirement Benefits (Millions of Dollars) 2023 2022 2023 2022 Amounts Not Yet Recognized as Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost: Net loss $ 1,096 $ 1,021 $ 64 $ 63 Prior service credit ( 9 ) ( 7 ) — ( 1 ) Total $ 1,087 $ 1,014 $ 64 $ 62 Amounts Not Yet Recognized as Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost Have Been Recorded as Follows Based Upon Expected Recovery in Rates: Current regulatory assets $ 20 $ 21 $ 2 $ — Noncurrent regulatory assets 1,014 943 79 78 Current regulatory liabilities — — ( 1 ) ( 1 ) Noncurrent regulatory liabilities — — ( 19 ) ( 20 ) Deferred income taxes 14 14 1 1 Net-of-tax accumulated other comprehensive income 39 36 2 4 Total $ 1,087 $ 1,014 $ 64 $ 62 Measurement date Dec. 31, 2023 Dec. 31, 2022 Dec. 31, 2023 Dec. 31, 2022 72 Table of Contents Cash Flows — Funding requirements can be impacted by changes to actuarial assumptions, actual asset levels and other calculations prescribed by the requirements of income tax and other pension-related regulations. Required contributions were made in 2021 - 2024 to meet minimum funding requirements. Voluntary and required pension funding contributions: • $ 100 million in January 2024. • $ 50 million in 2023. • $ 50 million in 2022. • $ 131 million in 2021. The postretirement health care plans have no funding requirements other than fulfilling benefit payment obligations when claims are presented and approved. Additional cash funding requirements are prescribed by certain state and federal rate regulatory authorities. Voluntary postretirement funding contributions: • $ 11 million expected during 2024. • $ 11 million during 2023. • $ 13 million during 2022. • $ 15 million during 2021. Targeted asset allocations: Pension Benefits Postretirement Benefits 2023 2022 2023 2022 Long-duration fixed income securities 38 % 38 % — % — % Domestic and international equity securities 31 33 9 16 Alternative investments 20 18 13 12 Short-to-intermediate fixed income securities 9 9 77 71 Cash 2 2 1 1 Total 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % The asset allocations above reflect target allocations approved in the calendar year to take effect in the subsequent year. Plan Amendments — In 2023, Xcel Energy amended the Xcel Energy Pension Plan and Xcel Energy Inc. Nonbargaining Pension Plan (South) to reduce supplemental social security benefits for all active participants on and after Jan. 1, 2024. There were no significant plan amendments made in 2022 which affected the postretirement benefit obligation. In 2021, Xcel Energy amended the Xcel Energy Pension Plan and Xcel Energy Inc. Nonbargaining Pension Plan (South) to reduce supplemental benefits for non-bargaining participants as well as to allow the transfer of a portion of non-qualified pension obligations into the qualified plans. Projected Benefit Payments Xcel Energy’s projected benefit payments: (Millions of Dollars) Projected Pension Benefit Payments Gross Projected Postretirement Health Care Benefit Payments Expected Medicare Part D Subsidies Net Projected Postretirement Health Care Benefit Payments 2024 $ 398 $ 42 $ 2 $ 40 2025 214 40 2 38 2026 217 39 2 37 2027 223 37 2 35 2028 226 36 2 34 2029 - 2033 1,131 161 12 149 Voluntary Retirement Program Incremental to amounts presented above for postretirement benefits, Xcel Energy recognized new postemployment costs and obligations in the fourth quarter of 2023 for employees accepted to a voluntary retirement program. Utilizing employee information and the following inputs, the estimated costs of the program of $ 34 million for health plan subsidies and $ 5 million for other medical benefits, each commencing in 2024, were recognized in the fourth quarter of 2023. These unfunded obligations are presented in other current liabilities and noncurrent pension and employee benefit obligations in the consolidated balance sheet as of Dec. 31, 2023. Significant Assumptions to Measure Benefit Obligations: 2023 Discount rate for year-end valuation 5.50 % Mortality table PRI-2012 Health care costs trend rate and ultimate trend assumption 7.00 % Defined Contribution Plans Xcel Energy maintains 401(k) and other defined contribution plans that cover most employees. Total expense to these plans was approximately $49 million in 2023, $ 46 million in 2022 and $ 43 million in 2021. Multiemployer Plans NSP-Minnesota and NSP-Wisconsin each contribute to several union multiemployer pension and other postretirement benefit plans, none of which are individually significant. These plans provide pension and postretirement health care benefits to certain union employees who may perform services for multiple employers and do not participate in the NSP-Minnesota and NSP-Wisconsin sponsored pension and postretirement health care plans. Contributing to these types of plans creates risk that differs from providing benefits under NSP-Minnesota and NSP-Wisconsin sponsored plans, in that if another participating employer ceases to contribute to a multiemployer pension plan, additional unfunded obligations may need to be funded over time by remaining participating employers. 12. Commitments and Contingencies Legal Xcel Energy is involved in various litigation matters in the ordinary course of business. The assessment of whether a loss is probable or is a reasonable possibility, and whether the loss or a range of loss is estimable, often involves a series of complex judgments about future events. Management maintains accruals for losses probable of being incurred and subject to reasonable estimation. Management is sometimes unable to estimate an amount or range of a reasonably possible loss in certain situations, including but not limited to when (1) the damages sought are indeterminate, (2) the proceedings are in the early stages, or (3) the matters involve novel or unsettled legal theories. In such cases, there is considerable uncertainty regarding the timing or ultimate resolution, including a possible eventual loss. For current proceedings not specifically reported herein, management does not anticipate that the ultimate liabilities, if any, would have a material effect on Xcel Energy’s consolidated financial statements. Legal fees are generally expensed as incurred. 73 Table of Contents Gas Trading Litigation — e prime is a wholly owned subsidiary of Xcel Energy. e prime was in the business of natural gas trading and marketing but has not engaged in natural gas trading or marketing activities since 2003. Multiple lawsuits involving multiple plaintiffs seeking monetary damages were commenced against e prime and its affiliates, including Xcel Energy, between 2003 and 2009 alleging fraud and anticompetitive activities in conspiring to restrain the trade of natural gas and manipulate natural gas prices. Cases were all consolidated in the U.S. District Court in Nevada. One case remains active which includes a multi-district litigation matter consisting of a Wisconsin purported class (Arandell Corp.). The Court issued a ruling in June 2022 granting plaintiffs’ class certification. In April 2023, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals heard the defendants’ appeal challenging whether the district court properly assessed class certification. A decision relating to class certification is expected imminently. Xcel Energy considers the reasonably possible loss associated with this litigation to be immaterial. Comanche Unit 3 Litigation — In 2021, CORE filed a lawsuit in Denver County District Court, alleging PSCo breached ownership agreement terms by failing to operate Comanche Unit 3 in accordance with prudent utility practices. In April 2022, CORE filed a supplement to include damages related to a 2022 outage. Also in 2022, CORE sent notice of withdrawal from the ownership agreement based on the same alleged breaches. In February 2023, the court granted PSCo’s motion precluding CORE from seeking damages related to its withdrawal as part of the lawsuit. In October 2023, the jury ruled that CORE may not withdraw as a joint owner of the facility but awarded CORE lost power damages of $ 26 million. PSCo recognized a $ 34 million loss for the verdict in the third quarter of 2023, including estimated interest and other costs. PSCo intends to file an appeal of this decision. Marshall Wildfire Litigation — In December 2021, a wildfire ignited in Boulder County, Colorado (the “Marshall Fire”), which burned over 6,000 acres and destroyed or damaged over 1,000 structures. On June 8, 2023, the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office released its Marshall Fire Investigative Summary and Review and its supporting documents (the “Sheriff’s Report”). According to an October 2022 statement from the Colorado Insurance Commissioner, the Marshall Fire is estimated to have caused more than $ 2 billion in property losses. According to the Sheriff’s Report, on Dec. 30, 2021, a fire ignited on a residential property in Boulder, Colorado, located in PSCo’s service territory, for reasons unrelated to PSCo’s power lines. According to the Sheriff’s Report, approximately one hour and 20 minutes after the first ignition, a second fire ignited just south of the Marshall Mesa Trailhead in unincorporated Boulder County, Colorado, also located in PSCo’s service territory. According to the Sheriff’s Report, the second ignition started approximately 80 to 110 feet away from PSCo’s power lines in the area. The Sheriff’s Report states that the most probable cause of the second ignition was hot particles discharged from PSCo’s power lines after one of the power lines detached from its insulator in strong winds, and further states that it cannot be ruled out that the second ignition was caused by an underground coal fire. According to the Sheriff’s Report, no design, installation or maintenance defects or deficiencies were identified on PSCo’s electrical circuit in the area of the second ignition. PSCo disputes that its power lines caused the second ignition . PSCo is aware of 302 complaints, most of which have also named Xcel Energy Inc. and Xcel Energy Services, Inc. as additional defendants, relating to the Marshall Fire. The complaints are on behalf of at least 4,047 plaintiffs, and one complaint is filed on behalf of a putative class of first responders who allegedly were exposed to the threat of serious bodily injury, or smoke, soot and ash from the Marshall Fire. The complaints generally allege that PSCo’s equipment ignited the Marshall Fire and assert various causes of action under Colorado law, including negligence, premises liability, trespass, nuisance, wrongful death, willful and wanton conduct, negligent infliction of emotional distress, loss of consortium and inverse condemnation. In addition to seeking compensatory damages, certain of the complaints also seek exemplary damages. In September 2023, the Boulder County District Court Judge consolidated eight lawsuits that were pending at that time into a single action for pretrial purposes and has subsequently consolidated additional lawsuits that have been filed. At the case management conference in February 2024, a trial date was set for September 2025. Colorado courts do not apply strict liability in determining an electric utility company’s liability for fire-related damages. For inverse condemnation claims, Colorado courts assess whether a defendant acted with intent to take a plaintiff’s property or intentionally took an action which has the natural consequence of taking the property. For negligence claims, Colorado courts look to whether electric power companies have operated their system with a heightened duty of care consistent with the practical conduct of its business, and liability does not extend to occurrences that cannot be reasonably anticipated. Colorado law does not impose joint and several liability in tort actions. Instead, under Colorado law, a defendant is liable for the degree or percentage of the negligence or fault attributable to that defendant, except where the defendant conspired with another defendant. A jury’s verdict in a Colorado civil case must be unanimous. Under Colorado law, in a civil action other than a medical malpractice action, the total award for noneconomic loss is capped at $ 0.6 million per defendant for claims that accrued at the time of the Marshall Fire unless the court finds justification to exceed that amount by clear and convincing evidence, in which case the maximum doubles. Colorado law caps punitive or exemplary damages to an amount equal to the amount of the actual damages awarded to the injured party, except the court may increase any award of punitive damages to a sum up to three times the amount of actual damages if the conduct that is the subject of the claim has continued during the pendency of the case or the defendant has acted in a willful and wanton manner during the action which further aggravated plaintiff’s damages. In the event Xcel Energy Inc. or PSCo was found liable related to this litigation and were required to pay damages, such amounts could exceed our insurance coverage of approximately $ 500 million and have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. However, due to uncertainty as to the cause of the fire and the extent and magnitude of potential damages, Xcel Energy Inc. and PSCo are unable to estimate the amount or range of possible losses in connection with the Marshall Fire. 74 Table of Contents Rate Matters and Other Xcel Energy’s operating subsidiaries are involved in various regulatory proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. Until resolution, typically in the form of a rate order, uncertainties may exist regarding the ultimate rate treatment for certain activities and transactions. Amounts have been recognized for probable and reasonably estimable losses that may result. Unless otherwise disclosed, any reasonably possible range of loss in excess of any recognized amount is not expected to have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements. Sherco — In 2018, NSP-Minnesota and SMMPA (Co-owner of Sherco Unit 3) reached a settlement with GE related to a 2011 incident, which damaged the turbine at Sherco Unit 3 and resulted in an extended outage. NSP-Minnesota notified the MPUC of its proposal to refund settlement proceeds to customers through the FCA. In March 2019, the MPUC approved NSP-Minnesota’s settlement refund proposal. Additionally, the MPUC decided to withhold any decision as to NSP-Minnesota’s prudence in connection with the incident at Sherco Unit 3 until after conclusion of an appeal pending between GE and NSP-Minnesota’s insurers. In February 2020, the Minnesota Court of Appeals affirmed the district court’s judgment in favor of GE. In January 2021, the OAG and DOC recommended that NSP-Minnesota refund approximately $ 17 million of replacement power costs previously recovered through the FCA. NSP-Minnesota responded that it acted prudently in connection with the Sherco Unit 3 outage, the MPUC has previously disallowed $ 22 million of related costs and no additional refund or disallowance is appropriate. In July 2022, the MPUC referred the matter to the Office of Administrative Hearings to conduct a contested case on the prudence of the replacement power costs incurred by NSP-Minnesota. In 2023, NSP-Minnesota and various parties filed recommendations, including the DOC which recommended a $ 56 million customer refund. The Xcel Large Industrial customer group recommended a refund of $ 72 million. A final decision by the MPUC is expected in mid-2024. A loss related to this matter is deemed remote. MISO ROE Complaints — In November 2013 and February 2015, customer groups filed two ROE complaints against MISO TOs, which includes NSP-Minnesota and NSP-Wisconsin. The first complaint requested a reduction in base ROE transmission formula rates from 12.38 % to 9.15 % for the time period of Nov. 12, 2013 to Feb. 11, 2015, and removal of ROE adders (including those for RTO membership). The second complaint requested, for a subsequent time period, a base ROE reduction from 12.38 % to 8.67 %. The FERC subsequently issued various related orders related to ROE methodology/calculations and timing. NSP-Minnesota has processed refunds to customers for applicable complaint periods based on the ROE in the most recent applicable opinions. The MISO TOs and various other parties have filed petitions for review of the FERC’s most recent applicable opinions at the D.C. Circuit. In August 2022, the D.C. Circuit ruled that FERC had not adequately supported its conclusions, vacated FERC’s related orders and remanded the issue back to FERC for further proceedings, which remain pending. Additional exposure, if any related to this matter is expected to be immaterial. Environmental New and changing federal and state environmental mandates can create financial liabilities for Xcel Energy, which are normally recovered through the regulated rate process. Site Remediation Various federal and state environmental laws impose liability where hazardous substances or other regulated materials have been released to the environment. Xcel Energy Inc.’s subsidiaries may sometimes pay all or a portion of the cost to remediate sites where past activities of their predecessors or other parties have caused environmental contamination. Environmental contingencies could arise from various situations, including sites of former MGPs; and third-party sites, such as landfills, for which one or more of Xcel Energy Inc.’s subsidiaries are alleged to have sent wastes to that site. MGP, Landfill and Disposal Sites Xcel Energy is investigating, remediating or performing post-closure actions at 12 historical MGP, landfill or other disposal sites across its service territories, excluding sites that are being addressed under current coal ash regulations (see below). Xcel Energy has recognized approximately $ 20 million of costs/liabilities from final resolution of these issues; however, the outcome and timing are unknown. In addition, there may be insurance recovery and/or recovery from other potentially responsible parties, offsetting a portion of costs incurred. Environmental Requirements — Water and Waste Coal Ash Regulation — Xcel Energy’s operations are subject to federal and state regulations that impose requirements for handling, storage, treatment and disposal of solid waste, including the CCR Rule. As a specific requirement of the CCR Rule, utilities must complete groundwater sampling around their applicable landfills and surface impoundments as well as perform corrective actions where offsite groundwater has been impacted. If certain impacts to groundwater are detected, utilities are required to perform additional groundwater investigations and/or perform corrective actions beginning with an Assessment of Corrective Measures. Investigation and/or corrective action related to groundwater impacts are currently underway at four Xcel Energy sites under the federal CCR program at a current estimated cost of at least $ 40 million. A liability has been recorded and is expected to be fully recoverable through regulatory mechanisms. For required coal ash disposal, PSCo has executed an agreement with a third party that will excavate and process ash for beneficial use (at two sites) at a cost of approximately $ 45 million. An estimated liability has been recorded and amounts are expected to be fully recoverable through regulatory mechanisms. Federal Clean Water Act Section 316(b) — The Federal Clean Water Act requires the EPA to regulate cooling water intake structures to assure they reflect the best technology available for minimizing impingement and entrainment of aquatic species. Estimated capital expenditures of approximately $ 50 million may be required to comply with the requirements. Xcel Energy anticipates these costs will be recoverable through regulatory mechanisms. 75 Table of Contents Environmental Requirements — Air Clean Air Act NOx Allowance Allocations — In June 2023, the EPA published final regulations for ozone under the “Good Neighbor” provisions of the Clean Air Act. The final rule applies to generation facilities in Minnesota, Texas and Wisconsin, as well as other states outside of our service territory. The rule establishes an allowance trading program for NOx that will impact subject Xcel Energy fossil fuel-fired electric generating facilities. Subject facilities will have to secure additional allowances, install NOx controls and/or develop a strategy of operations that utilizes the existing allowance allocations. Guidelines are also established for allowance banking and emission limit backstops. While the financial impacts of the final rule are uncertain and dependent on market forces and anticipated generation, Xcel Energy anticipates the annual costs could be significant, but would be recoverable through regulatory mechanisms. SPS and NSP-Minnesota have joined other companies in litigation challenging the EPA’s disapproval of Texas and Minnesota state implementation plans. Currently, the regulation is under a judicial stay for both Texas and Minnesota. The regulation may become applicable in those states in the future, depending on the outcome of the litigation. The rule is in effect in NSP-Wisconsin but has been managed without the additional need for allowances. In February 2024, the EPA proposed to partially disapprove New Mexico’s state implementation plan and bring New Mexico into the federal Good Neighbor plan. Xcel Energy continues to evaluate impacts to generation units at SPS. Regional Haze Rules — The EPA has proposed rules addressing Regional Haze compliance in Texas, which address requirements for reasonable progress at Tolk and BART at Harrington. As proposed, these rules would not require additional controls at either facility, in part due to the conversion of Harrington to gas in 2025 and the planned retirement of Tolk. These rules will be monitored until final versions are published. AROs — AROs have been recorded for Xcel Energy’s assets. For nuclear assets, the ARO is associated with the decommissioning of NSP-Minnesota nuclear generating plants. Aggregate fair value of NSP-Minnesota’s legally restricted assets, for funding future nuclear decommissioning was $ 3.2 billion and $ 2.9 billion for 2023 and 2022, respectively. Xcel Energy’s AROs were as follows: (Millions of Dollars) Jan. 1, 2023 Amounts Incurred (a) Amounts Settled Accretion Cash Flow Revisions (b) Dec. 31, 2023 Electric Nuclear $ 2,160 $ — $ — $ 105 $ ( 158 ) $ 2,107 Wind 514 10 — 19 ( 17 ) 526 Steam, hydro and other production 348 — ( 1 ) 15 ( 1 ) 361 Distribution 48 — — 1 — 49 Natural gas Transmission and distribution 307 — 14 ( 149 ) 172 Other Miscellaneous 3 — — — — 3 Total liability $ 3,380 $ 10 $ ( 1 ) $ 154 $ ( 325 ) $ 3,218 (a) Amounts incurred relate to the Northern Wind farm placed in service in NSP-Minnesota. (b) In 2023, AROs were revised for changes in timing and estimates of cash flows. Revisions in wind and nuclear AROs were primarily incurred due to changes in useful lives. Changes in gas transmission and distribution AROs were a result of updated gas line mileage and number of services, as well as changes to inflation and discount rate assumptions. (Millions of Dollars) Jan. 1, 2022 Amounts Incurred (a) Accretion Cash Flow Revisions (b) Dec. 31, 2022 Electric Nuclear $ 2,056 $ — $ 104 $ — $ 2,160 Wind 478 25 19 ( 8 ) 514 Steam, hydro and other production 288 34 12 14 348 Distribution 47 — 1 — 48 Natural gas Transmission and distribution (c) 279 — 12 16 307 Other Miscellaneous 3 — — — 3 Total liability $ 3,151 $ 59 $ 148 $ 22 $ 3,380 (a) Amounts incurred related to the wind farms placed in service in 2022 for NSP-Minnesota (Dakota Range and Rock Aetna) and steam production pond remediation costs for PSCo. (b) In 2022, AROs were revised for changes in timing and estimates of cash flows. Revisions in steam, hydro and other production AROs were primarily related to changes in cost estimates for remediation of ash containment facilities. Changes in gas transmission and distribution AROs were primarily related to changes in labor rates coupled with increased gas line mileage and number of services. (c) Prior periods have been reclassified to conform with current year presentation. Indeterminate AROs — Outside of the recorded asbestos AROs, other plants or buildings may contain asbestos due to the age of many of Xcel Energy’s facilities, but no confirmation or measurement of the cost of removal could be determined as of Dec. 31, 2023. Therefore, an ARO was not recorded for these facilities. 76 Table of Contents Nuclear Nuclear Insurance — NSP-Minnesota’s public liability for claims from any nuclear incident is limited to $ 16.2 billion under the Price-Anderson amendment to the Atomic Energy Act. NSP-Minnesota has $ 450 million of coverage for its public liability exposure with a pool of insurance companies. The remaining $ 15.8 billion of exposure is funded by the Secondary Financial Protection Program available from assessments by the federal government. NSP-Minnesota is subject to assessments of up to $ 166 million per reactor-incident for each of its three reactors, for public liability arising from a nuclear incident at any licensed nuclear facility in the United States. The maximum funding requirement is $ 25 million per reactor-incident during any one year. Maximum assessments are subject to inflation adjustments. NSP-Minnesota purchases insurance for property damage and site decontamination cleanup costs from NEIL and EMANI. The coverage limits are $ 2.8 billion for each of NSP-Minnesota’s two nuclear plant sites. NEIL also provides business interruption insurance coverage up to $ 490 million and $ 420 million at Monticello and Prairie Island, respectively, including the cost of replacement power during 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 and EMANI 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. NSP-Minnesota could be subject to annual maximum assessments of $ 15 million for business interruption insurance and $ 32 million for property damage insurance if losses exceed accumulated reserve funds. Nuclear Fuel Disposal — NSP-Minnesota is responsible for temporarily storing spent nuclear fuel from its nuclear plants. The DOE is responsible for permanently storing spent fuel from U.S. nuclear plants, but no such facility is yet available. NSP-Minnesota owns temporary on-site storage facilities for spent fuel at its Monticello and PI nuclear plants, which consist of storage pools and dry cask facilities. The Monticello dry-cask storage facility currently stores all 30 of the authorized canisters. Monticello’s future spent fuel will continue to be placed in its spent fuel pool. The decommissioning plan addresses the disposition of spent fuel at the end of the licensed life. In October 2023, a CON for additional storage at the Monticello site was approved by the MPUC to support possible life extension to 2040. The PI dry-cask storage facility currently stores 50 of the 64 authorized casks. In February 2023, NSP-Minnesota filed a CON with the MPUC for additional storage at PI to support possible life extension to 2054. Regulatory Plant Decommissioning Recovery — Decommissioning activities for NSP-Minnesota’s nuclear facilities are planned to begin at the end of each unit’s authorized retirement dates, which can be different than the currently approved NRC operating licenses. These decommissioning activities are planned to be completed at both facilities by 2101. NSP-Minnesota’s current operating licenses allow continued use of its Monticello nuclear plant until 2030 and its PI nuclear plant until 2033 for Unit 1 and 2034 for Unit 2. The MPUC reaffirmed a 60-year DECON scenario, where Monticello continues operations under a 10-year license extension (approved in August 2022). NRC approval of the extension is pending. In February 2023, NSP-Minnesota also filed an application with the NDPSC for an Advance Determination of Prudence for continued operation of the Monticello Plant until at least 2040. A decision is expected in 2024. Future decommissioning costs of nuclear facilities are estimated through triennial periodic studies that assess the costs and timing of planned nuclear decommissioning activities for each unit. The MPUC ordered the next triennial decommissioning study be filed by Dec. 1, 2024. Obligations for decommissioning are expected to be funded 100 % by the external decommissioning trust fund. NSP-Minnesota had $ 3.2 billion and $ 2.9 billion of assets held in external decommissioning trusts at Dec. 31, 2023, and 2022, respectively. See Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements for additional discussion. Leases Xcel Energy evaluates contracts that may contain leases, including PPAs and arrangements for the use of office space and other facilities, vehicles and equipment. A contract contains a lease if it conveys the exclusive right to control the use of a specific asset. A contract determined to contain a lease is evaluated further to determine if the arrangement is a finance lease. ROU assets represent Xcel Energy's rights to use leased assets. The present value of future operating lease payments is recognized in other current liabilities and noncurrent operating lease liabilities. These amounts, adjusted for any prepayments or incentives, are recognized as operating lease ROU assets. Most of Xcel Energy’s leases do not contain a readily determinable discount rate. Therefore, the present value of future lease payments is generally calculated using the applicable Xcel Energy subsidiary’s estimated incremental borrowing rate (weighted average of 4.4 %). For currently exiting asset classes, Xcel Energy has elected the practical expedient under which non-lease components, such as asset maintenance costs included in payments, are not deducted from lease payments for the purposes of lease accounting and disclosure. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are classified as short-term leases and are not recognized on the consolidated balance sheet. Operating lease ROU assets: (Millions of Dollars) Dec. 31, 2023 Dec. 31, 2022 PPAs $ 1,832 $ 1,669 Other 315 244 Gross operating lease ROU assets 2,147 1,913 Accumulated amortization ( 930 ) ( 709 ) Net operating lease ROU assets $ 1,217 $ 1,204 ROU assets for finance leases are included in other noncurrent assets, and the present value of future finance lease payments is included in other current liabilities and other noncurrent liabilities. Xcel Energy’s most significant finance lease activities are related to WYCO, a joint venture with CIG, to develop and lease natural gas pipeline, storage and compression facilities. Xcel Energy Inc. has a 50 % ownership interest in WYCO. WYCO leases its facilities to CIG, and CIG operates the facilities, providing natural gas storage and transportation services to PSCo under separate service agreements. 77 Table of Contents PSCo accounts for its Totem natural gas storage service and Front Range pipeline arrangements with CIG and WYCO, respectively, as finance leases. Xcel Energy Inc. eliminates 50 % of the finance lease obligation related to WYCO in the consolidated balance sheet along with an equal amount of Xcel Energy Inc.’s equity investment in WYCO. Finance lease ROU assets: (Millions of Dollars) Dec. 31, 2023 Dec. 31, 2022 Gas storage facilities $ 160 $ 160 Gas pipeline 21 21 Gross finance lease ROU assets 181 181 Accumulated amortization ( 67 ) ( 64 ) Net finance lease ROU assets $ 114 $ 117 Components of lease expense: (Millions of Dollars) 2023 2022 2021 Operating leases PPA capacity payments $ 241 $ 241 $ 251 Other operating leases (a) 42 39 36 Total operating lease expense (b) $ 283 $ 280 $ 287 Finance leases Amortization of ROU assets $ 3 $ 4 $ 7 Interest expense on lease liability 15 16 17 Total finance lease expense $ 18 $ 20 $ 24 (a) Includes short-term lease expense of $ 3 million, $ 6 million, and $ 5 million for 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. (b) PPA capacity payments are included in electric fuel and purchased power on the consolidated statements of income. Expense for other operating leases is included in O&M expense and electric fuel and purchased power. Commitments under operating and finance leases as of Dec. 31, 2023: (Millions of Dollars) PPA (a) (b) Operating Leases Other Operating Leases Total Operating Leases Finance Leases (c) 2024 $ 244 $ 33 $ 277 $ 10 2025 245 26 271 10 2026 216 22 238 9 2027 162 22 184 8 2028 107 22 129 8 Thereafter 259 162 421 173 Total minimum obligation 1,233 287 1,520 218 Interest component of obligation ( 157 ) ( 99 ) ( 256 ) ( 154 ) Present value of minimum obligation $ 1,076 188 1,264 64 Less current portion ( 226 ) ( 2 ) Noncurrent operating and finance lease liabilities $ 1,038 $ 62 Weighted-average remaining lease term in years 8.2 36.8 (a) Amounts do not include PPAs accounted for as executory contracts and/or contingent payments, such as energy payments on renewable PPAs. (b) PPA operating leases contractually expire at various dates through 2039. (c) Excludes certain amounts related to Xcel Energy’s 50 % ownership interest in WYCO. PPAs and Fuel Contracts Non-Lease PPAs — NSP-Minnesota, PSCo and SPS have entered into PPAs with other utilities and energy suppliers for purchased power to meet system load and energy requirements, operating reserve obligations and as part of wholesale and commodity trading activities. In general, these agreements provide for energy payments, based on actual energy delivered, and may also include capacity payments. Certain non-lease PPAs with various expiration dates through 2033, contain minimum energy purchase commitments. Total energy payments on those contracts were $ 214 million, $ 182 million and $ 149 million in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Included in electric fuel and purchased power expenses for PPAs accounted for as executory contracts were payments for capacity of $ 77 million, $ 75 million and $ 69 million in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Capacity and energy payments are contingent on the IPPs meeting contract obligations, including plant availability requirements. Certain contractual payments are adjusted based on market indices. The effects of price adjustments on financial results are mitigated through purchased energy cost recovery mechanisms. At Dec. 31, 2023, the estimated future payments for capacity and energy that the utility subsidiaries of Xcel Energy are obligated to purchase pursuant to these non-lease contracts, subject to availability, were as follows: (Millions of Dollars) Capacity Energy (a) 2024 $ 80 $ 207 2025 45 94 2026 28 47 2027 9 10 2028 1 10 Thereafter 2 18 Total $ 165 $ 386 (a) Excludes contingent energy payments for renewable energy PPAs. Fuel Contracts — Xcel Energy has entered into various long-term commitments for the purchase and delivery of a significant portion of its coal, nuclear fuel and natural gas requirements. These contracts expire between 2024 and 2060. Xcel Energy is required to pay additional amounts depending on actual quantities delivered under these agreements. Estimated minimum purchases under these contracts as of Dec. 31, 2023: (Millions of Dollars) Coal Nuclear fuel Natural gas supply Natural gas storage and transportation 2024 $ 350 $ 142 $ 339 $ 311 2025 157 179 13 284 2026 81 63 — 276 2027 56 180 — 238 2028 21 50 — 111 Thereafter 1 177 — 442 Total $ 666 $ 791 $ 352 $ 1,662 78 Table of Contents VIEs PPAs — Under certain PPAs, NSP-Minnesota, PSCo and SPS purchase power from IPPs for which the utility subsidiaries are required to reimburse fuel costs, or to participate in tolling arrangements under which the utility subsidiaries procure the natural gas required to produce the energy that they purchase. Xcel Energy has determined that certain IPPs are VIEs, however Xcel Energy is not subject to risk of loss from the operations of these entities, and no significant financial support is required other than contractual payments for energy and capacity. In addition, certain solar PPAs provide an option to purchase emission allowances or sharing provisions related to production credits generated by the solar facility under contract. These specific PPAs create a variable interest in the IPP. Xcel Energy evaluated each of these VIEs for possible consolidation, including review of qualitative factors such as the length and terms of the contract, control over O&M, control over dispatch of electricity, historical and estimated future fuel and electricity prices and financing activities. Xcel Energy concluded that these entities are not required to be consolidated in its consolidated financial statements because Xcel Energy does not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entities’ economic performance. The utility subsidiaries had approximately 3,751 MW and 3,961 MW of capacity under long-term PPAs at Dec. 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, with entities that have been determined to be VIEs. These agreements have expiration dates through 2041. Fuel Contracts — SPS purchases all of its coal requirements for its Harrington and Tolk plants from TUCO Inc. under contracts that will expire in December 2024 and December 2027, respectively. TUCO arranges for the purchase, receiving, transporting, unloading, handling, crushing, weighing and delivery of coal to meet SPS’ requirements. TUCO is responsible for negotiating and administering contracts with coal suppliers, transporters and handlers. SPS has not provided any significant financial support to TUCO, other than contractual payments for delivered coal. However, the fuel contracts create a variable interest in TUCO due to SPS’ reimbursement of fuel procurement costs. SPS has determined that TUCO is a VIE, however it has concluded that SPS is not the primary beneficiary because it does not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact TUCO’s economic performance. Low-Income Housing Limited Partnerships — Eloigne and NSP-Wisconsin have entered into limited partnerships with affordable rental housing activities that qualify for low-income housing tax credits. Eloigne and NSP-Wisconsin, as primary beneficiaries of these activities, consolidate these limited partnerships in their consolidated financial statements. Amounts reflected in Xcel Energy’s consolidated balance sheets for these investments include $ 41 million of assets and $ 35 million of liabilities at Dec. 31, 2023, and $ 44 million of assets and $ 35 million of liabilities at Dec. 31, 2022. Other Technology Agreements — Xcel Energy has several contracts for information technology services that extend through 2027. The contracts are cancelable, although there are financial penalties for early termination. Xcel Energy capitalized or expensed $ 28 million, $ 181 million and $ 103 million associated with these vendors in 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Committed minimum payments under these obligations as follows: (Millions of Dollars) Minimum Payments 2024 $ 18 2025 14 2026 13 2027 12 2028 — Thereafter — Guarantees and Bond Indemnifications — Xcel Energy Inc. and its subsidiaries provide guarantees and bond indemnities, which guarantee payment or performance. Xcel Energy Inc.’s exposure is based upon the net liability under the specified agreements or transactions. Most of the guarantees and bond indemnities issued by Xcel Energy Inc. and its subsidiaries have a stated maximum amount. As of Dec. 31, 2023 and 2022, Xcel Energy Inc. and its subsidiaries had no assets held as collateral related to their guarantees, bond indemnities and indemnification agreements. Guarantees and bond indemnities issued and outstanding for Xcel Energy were $ 75 million and $ 62 million at Dec. 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Other Indemnification Agreements — Xcel Energy Inc. and its subsidiaries provide indemnifications through various contracts. These are primarily indemnifications against adverse litigation outcomes in connection with underwriting agreements, as well as breaches of representations and warranties, including corporate existence, transaction authorization and income tax matters with respect to assets sold. Xcel Energy Inc.’s and its subsidiaries’ obligations under these agreements may be limited in terms of duration and amount. Maximum future payments under these indemnifications cannot be reasonably estimated as the dollar amounts are often not explicitly stated. 13. Other Comprehensive Income Changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax, for the years ended Dec. 31: 2023 (Millions of Dollars) Gains and Losses on Interest Rate Cash Flow Hedges Defined Benefit Pension and Postretirement Items Total Accumulated other comprehensive loss at Jan. 1 $ ( 54 ) $ ( 39 ) $ ( 93 ) Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications ( 2 ) ( 4 ) ( 6 ) Losses reclassified from net accumulated other comprehensive loss: Amortization of interest rate hedges 3 (a) — 3 Amortization of net actuarial loss — 2 (b) 2 Net current period other comprehensive income (loss) 1 ( 2 ) ( 1 ) Accumulated other comprehensive loss at Dec. 31 $ ( 53 ) $ ( 41 ) $ ( 94 ) (a) Included in interest charges. (b) Included in the computation of net periodic pension and postretirement benefit costs. See Note 11 for further information. 79 Table of Contents 2022 (Millions of Dollars) Gains and Losses on Interest Rate Cash Flow Hedges Defined Benefit Pension and Postretirement Items Total Accumulated other comprehensive loss at Jan. 1 $ ( 75 ) $ ( 48 ) $ ( 123 ) Other comprehensive gain before reclassifications 16 5 21 Losses reclassified from net accumulated other comprehensive loss: Amortization of interest rate hedges 5 (a) — 5 Amortization of net actuarial loss — 4 (b) 4 Net current period other comprehensive income 21 9 30 Accumulated other comprehensive loss at Dec. 31 $ ( 54 ) $ ( 39 ) $ ( 93 ) (a) Included in interest charges. (b) Included in the computation of net periodic pension and postretirement benefit costs. See Note 11 for further information. 14. Segment Information Xcel Energy evaluates performance by each utility subsidiary based on profit or loss generated from the product or service provided, including the regulated electric utility operating results of NSP-Minnesota, NSP-Wisconsin, PSCo and SPS, as well as the regulated natural gas utility operating results of NSP-Minnesota, NSP-Wisconsin and PSCo. These segments are managed separately because the revenue streams are dependent upon regulated rate recovery, which is separately determined for each segment. Xcel Energy has the following reportable segments: • Regulated Electric — The regulated electric utility segment generates, purchases, transmits, distributes and sells electricity in Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin. In addition, this segment includes sales for resale and provides wholesale transmission service to various entities in the United States. The regulated electric utility segment also includes wholesale commodity and trading operations. • Regulated Natural Gas — The regulated natural gas utility segment purchases, transports, stores, distributes and sells natural gas primarily in portions of Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin. Xcel Energy also presents All Other, which includes operating segments with revenues below the necessary quantitative thresholds. Those operating segments primarily include steam revenue, appliance repair services, non-utility real estate activities, revenues associated with processing solid waste into RDF, investments in rental housing projects that qualify for low-income housing tax credits and equity method investments in EIP funds. Xcel Energy had equity method investments of $ 244 million and $ 219 million as of Dec. 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, included in the natural gas utility and all other segments. Asset and capital expenditure information is not provided for Xcel Energy’s reportable segments. As an integrated electric and natural gas utility, Xcel Energy operates significant assets that are not dedicated to a specific business segment. Reporting assets and capital expenditures by business segment would require arbitrary and potentially misleading allocations, which may not necessarily reflect the assets that would be required for the operation of the business segments on a stand-alone basis. Certain costs, such as common depreciation, common O&M expenses and interest expense are allocated based on cost causation allocators across each segment. In addition, a general allocator is used for certain general and administrative expenses, including office supplies, rent, property insurance and general advertising. Xcel Energy’s segment information: (Millions of Dollars) 2023 2022 2021 Regulated Electric Operating revenues — external $ 11,446 $ 12,123 $ 11,205 Intersegment revenue 2 2 2 Total revenues $ 11,448 $ 12,125 $ 11,207 Depreciation and amortization 2,111 2,122 1,855 Interest charges and financing costs 670 636 568 Income tax benefit ( 135 ) ( 162 ) ( 96 ) Net income 1,686 1,631 1,478 Regulated Natural Gas Operating revenues — external $ 2,645 $ 3,080 $ 2,132 Intersegment revenue 3 2 2 Total revenues $ 2,648 $ 3,082 $ 2,134 Depreciation and amortization 323 276 254 Interest charges and financing costs 96 86 75 Income tax expense 50 68 54 Net income 219 264 231 All Other Total revenues $ 115 $ 107 $ 94 Depreciation and amortization 14 15 12 Interest charges and financing costs 238 203 173 Income tax benefit ( 61 ) ( 41 ) ( 28 ) Net loss ( 134 ) ( 159 ) ( 112 ) Consolidated Total Total revenues $ 14,211 $ 15,314 $ 13,435 Reconciling eliminations ( 5 ) ( 4 ) ( 4 ) Total operating revenues $ 14,206 $ 15,310 $ 13,431 Depreciation and amortization 2,448 2,413 2,121 Interest charges and financing costs 1,004 925 816 Income tax benefit ( 146 ) ( 135 ) ( 70 ) Net income 1,771 1,736 1,597 15. Workforce Reduction In 2023, Xcel Energy implemented workforce actions to align resources and investments with evolving business and customer needs, and streamline the organization for long-term success. In September 2023, Xcel Energy announced a voluntary retirement program to a group of eligible non-bargaining employees, with an enhanced retirement package including certain health care and cash benefits for accepted employees. Approximately 400 employees retired under this program in December 2023. In November 2023, Xcel Energy, Inc. also reduced its non-bargaining workforce by approximately 150 employees through an involuntary severance program. 80 Table of Contents In the fourth quarter of 2023, Xcel Energy recorded total expense of $ 72 million related to these workforce actions, primarily related to the estimated cost of future health plan subsidies and other medical benefits for the voluntary retirement program, as well as severance and other employee payouts and legal and other professional fees. For further information on the estimated costs and obligations for future health plan subsidies and other medical benefits, see Note 11 to the consolidated financial statements. ITEM 9 — CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE None.