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Xcel Energy releases Triple Bottom Line Report

MINNEAPOLIS - Xcel Energy this week unveiled its annual Triple Bottom Line Report, an in-depth view of the company’s core values, accomplishments and vision. 

“The demand for energy continues to grow, and it is important to meet our customers’ needs in sustainable ways,” said Dick Kelly, Xcel Energy chairman, president and CEO. “To accomplish this, we use the Triple Bottom Line approach as our guideline: acting with purpose and vision in the areas of environmental leadership, social responsibility and economic performance.”

The 110-page report, available online at www.xcelenergy.com, describes Xcel Energy’s corporate priorities and policies, systematic business processes and overall 2007 performance.

         “2007 was a very good year for us,” said Kelly. “It confirmed our belief that we’re pursuing the right strategy of Building the Core, which for us means being an environmental leader, investing in more company-owned generation and transmission, and maximizing operational efficiency. We met or exceeded most of our financial and environmental targets for the year.”

Report highlights for 2007 -

· Xcel Energy continued to be the nation’s largest provider of wind energy to retail customers, a distinction it has received for three years in a row.
· The company purchased more than 5.4 million megawatt hours of wind power and added more than 1,370 megawatts of wind energy to its system in 2007 (for a total of 2,700 megawatts on its system).
· The Windsource program continued to be the No. 1 voluntary green energy program in the country with more than 70,000 customers participating.
· Xcel Energy filed groundbreaking resource plans in Colorado and Minnesota by proposing carbon dioxide reductions while meeting its customers’ growing needs.
· Xcel Energy began purchasing 8.2 megawatts of solar power from the Alamosa Central Solar Plant in Colorado.
· Xcel Energy was named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the second consecutive year.
· The company had more than 1,000 participants in our Solar*Rewards program, resulting in $18 million paid in rebates and renewable energy credits.
· Xcel Energy was recognized at the Clinton Global Initiative Conference for its efforts in partnering with other utilities to utilize energy efficiency programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
· Xcel Energy received national honors from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy for its demand-side management programs.
· Xcel Energy completed its first Metro Emissions Reduction Project in Minnesota, at the Allen S. King Plant.
· Xcel Energy received the Spirit of America Award—the United Way’s highest national honor—in recognition of its commitment to improve lives in local communities.
· Xcel Energy supported dramatic increases in renewable energy standards in both Minnesota (30 percent by 2020) and Colorado (20 percent by 2020).
· Xcel Energy became a founding reporter of the Climate Registry, which was established to measure and publicly report greenhouse gas emissions in a common, accurate and transparent manner.

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Xcel Energy (NYSE: XEL) is a major U.S. electricity and natural gas company with regulated operations in eight Western and Midwestern states. Xcel Energy provides a comprehensive portfolio of energy-related products and services to 3.3 million electricity customers and 1.8 million natural gas customers through its regulated operating companies. Company headquarters are located in Minneapolis. More information is available at www.xcelenergy.com.