April 2013 - Volume 13 - Xcel Energy

XTRA
VOLUME 13 • ISSUE 7 • APRIL 2013
D.C. Work:
Federal Government
Affairs staff makes and
maintains connections
Journey
TO
P.I.
New steam
New steam
generators
making
their way
to Minnesota
Texas Storm:
Crews respond to
historic snowstorm
in the Amarillo area
Business
Solutions:
Separating service and
sales making a difference

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Cover
story
page 6
FEATURES
Business Solutions Center 4
A new approach to promoting, selling
and implementing demand-side-management
initiatives has produced dramatic
results for Xcel Energy.
Texas Storm 8
A massive winter storm bearing strong
winds, ice and snow paralyzed portions
of Xcel Energy’s New Mexico and Texas
service area last month.
Power Pioneer 16
Energy for one Prairie Island employee’s
home is supplied completely by renewable
energy, and his primary vehicle is electric.
Making Connections 10
Xcel Energy’s small staff in Washington,
D.C., plays a role in helping shape
policy for the company’s customers and
shareholders.
Prairie Island 6
New steam generators for Prairie Island
are making a long journey to the plant.
House Hearing 14
Ben Fowke, chairman, president and
CEO, addressed the U.S. House Subcommittee
on Energy and Power on March 5.
People 18
The most recent Friends We’ll Miss and
Retirement announcements.
On the Cover
New steam generators for Prairie Island
Nuclear Generating Station’s Unit Two are
making a long voyage across the Atlantic
Ocean and up the Mississippi River to the
plant near Red Wing, Minn. Here, the new
generators are being moved from an oceangoing
vessel to a barge for the journey
from New Orleans to Minnesota. For more
information, please see story on page 10.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
“A wonderful story about one
of your customer service agents’
Dear Xcel Energy:
Please allow me to tell you a wonderful story about one
of your customer service agents at the Customer Contact
Center in Amarillo, Texas – Jan Burchfield.
During a recent evening, my 91-year-old mother was on
the phone with Jan. Knowing Mom, I assume she was trying
to get some help in understanding her gas and electric bill.
During their conversation, Mom said she needed to stop
so she could go take a pill. (Mom had heart palpitations that
could be eased by medication.)
Jan said she would hold on. When Mom came back on
the line, she started to mumble, and Jan asked her if she was
OK. Mom said, “No, I’m not.”
The next thing Jan heard through her earpiece was what
she believed to be the phone falling on the floor. Jan stayed
on the line, and when she did not get a reply and fearing
something was wrong, called 911 in St. Paul, Minn.
Emergency responders were at Mom’s house in five
minutes, but were unable to revive her. When I arrived, the
policeman at the scene told me this incredible story.
On his way out, the policeman said he needed to call Jan
back as she had requested. He said she was very distraught.
The police also provided me with her name and a phone
number. I wanted to personally thank her.
The next day I tried to call Jan, but was unable to connect
with her. I did manage to connect with another customer
service agent who said she would forward my name and
information to Jan’s supervisor to review my request.
Later in the day, I received a call from Jan. She was still
very shaken about the event. Hopefully I convinced her that
there was absolutely nothing more that she could have done,
and that I was extremely grateful for her actions.
Having worked for CenterPoint Energy in Minneapolis
for 10 years as a marketing guy, I know how important people
in the call centers are to the success of the business. Jan’s
actions went over and above anything I have ever heard from
a customer service agent. I hope you can find someway to
publicly recognize her.
Please send my sincere appreciation and deep respect
to Jan for her remarkable actions. I am exceedingly grateful
and will be forever indebted.
–David Prudhomme
PHOTO OP
Bay Front Sunset
Robert Rye, attendant at Bay Front Generating Station in Ashland, Wis., was giving a tour of the plant when he
became the subject of a couple of photos. Here, the sun is setting over Chequamegon Bay, Lake Superior, as
Rye shows the visitor and photographer the view. The photographer is Gary Jackson, a family friend of Rye’s
from Ironwood, Mich.
Editor’s Note: “Photo Op” is a standing feature in Xtra. Each issue, a photo submitted by a reader or produced by a member of Public Policy and External Affairs will be
published. Please submit high-resolution digital photos to the editor at the e-mail address listed on the back page of this publication. By submitting images for “Photo Op,”
employees give Xtra permission to run the photos.

Sales and Service
New approach allows BSC to focus more on DSM sales
A
new approach to promoting, selling and
implementing demand-side-management (DSM) initiatives
has produced dramatic results for Xcel Energy.
The Business Solutions Center (BSC) has adapted its
business model in recent years – separating its service and
sales initiatives. This new approach has allowed the BSC to
focus more on DSM sales, giving staff more clearly defined
goals and priorities, as well as more time to achieve them,
said Tony Beman, BSC team lead at Skypark in Eau Clarie, Wis.
In the past, BSC staff had competing priorities in terms
of providing service versus meeting DSM sales goals, he
said, and had limited resources to work with in meeting those
goals. But in recent years, as DSM has increasingly become a
priority, more sophisticated energy-efficiency options and programs
have been developed.
“When I first came to the Business Solutions Center in
2007, all customer service representatives had just two hours
a week away from their phones to work at promoting our DSM
programs,” Beman said. “I knew that we could do a better job
of supporting these programs and making sales, so I set out to
prove it.”
By devoting 10 hours a week to promoting DSM projects,
within a year he had increased the annual amount of kilowatt
savings tenfold. The obvious and dramatic increase in DSM
program savings was duly noted by management.
A pilot program followed to explore ways to build on
that success, giving a group of customer-service representatives
even more hours a week to focus on promoting DSM
programs, such as those offering incentives for energy saving
improvements through the installation of efficient lighting or
efficiency controls.
Through the pilot program, the team continued to improve
its performance. And today, the BSC has a sales team of 15
people split between Eau Claire, Wis., and Denver, Colo.,
which is dedicated to the various aspects of promoting, selling
and initiating DSM projects across the company.
Tony Beman
Jay Rathbun
4 XTRA APRIL 2013

“We have a full-time, dedicated sales staff now,” Beman said.
“And that’s because we were able to prove that past BSC performance
– in regards to selling DSM programs – had been
stunted and that there was much more potential there.”
In 2010, the pilot project formally expanded to include 10
energy-efficiency specialists, two field representatives and
two sales support specialists. Within a year, the team had increased
the number of gigawatt-hours (reduced through DSM
programs) from 58.62 to 90.98 gigawatt-hours.
DSM savings have continued to increase since then. Today,
total gigawatt-hours saved is roughly 148 a year, Beman
said. That marks an improvement in the annual average representative’s
production from 1 gigawatt-hour to a whopping 14
gigawatt-hours.
“Essentially, in terms of total energy reduction from DSM
programs, we’re now doing with one person what a whole
department was doing back in 2008,” said Jay Rathbun, an
energy efficiency specialist at Skypark.
“We anticipate that we’re going to top the $20 million
mark in rebates by the end of this year,” he added. “And we’re
not done making improvements.”
The secret behind the impressive results?
A strong partnership with Marketing and Account Management
has been critical in driving improved performance
and productivity, Beman said, and in supporting the efforts of
the BSC’s full-time DSM sales team. The clearly defined team
focus, coupled with the necessary resources to meet their
goals, also has been vital as the team shifted from being reactive
to proactive.
Customers are interested in conservation, but challenged
by limited budgets and short-term concerns, Beman said.
“So it’s critical to help them understand the benefits of
DSM projects and make it as easy as possible to take advantage
of them,” he said. “To that end, we’ve put together a
team that is specifically focused on promoting and maximizing
our small business and mid-market customer’s participation in
our DSM programs. And that team shares a single common
plan for meeting that goal.”
But both Beman and Rathbun point to some less tangible,
yet key factors that have helped produce the team’s impressive
successes.
“The most important thing is the ‘why’ behind our work,”
Beman said. “We have a team of people that really believes
in what they’re doing – that we are in the business of working
for our customers, and doing what is best for them and for the
environment.
“We believe we have to earn our customers’ business,”
he added. “So we want to give them the chance to realize
energy savings as cost effectively as possible, and allow them
to reinvest in their business.”
“We have an environment where the work is fun and
rewarding,” Rathbun added. “And it’s one where we constantly
are evolving in how we do our jobs.
“We share a common vision and set our goals in terms
of helping customers save money by improving their efficiency,”
he said, “and we end up helping the environment at the
same time.”
NEWS BRIEFS
CapX2020 Hampton-Rochester-
La Crosse transmission line
construction under way
CapX2020 utilities, which includes Xcel Energy,
have started construction on the estimated $500 million,
150-mile Hampton-Rochester-La Crosse 345-kilovolt
project. The first segment under construction
is the 16-mile 161-kilovolt line between a new North
Rochester Substation near Pine Island and the existing
Northern Hills Substation in northwest Rochester.
The CapX2020 transmission lines will provide reliable
and affordable electricity service to customers
in Minnesota and the surrounding region, while also
expanding access to renewable energy.
“It has been six years since we started the public
outreach, regulatory and routing process, and we will
continue to work closely with landowners and local officials
as construction moves forward,” said Priti Patel,
CapX2020 co-executive director. “The line will provide
immediate benefits by enhancing electricity service
reliability and allow for future growth and economic
development in the area.”
The Minnesota portion of the Hampton-Rochester-La
Crosse project is 345-kilovolt double-circuit capable,
which allows for future capacity expansion on
the existing structures. To reduce land impacts, singlepole
steel structures predominantly will be used. The
poles are spaced about five per mile.
Work on the North Rochester-Northern Hills
161-kilovolt segment will be completed this summer.
Foundation work on the 45-mile, 345-kilovolt segment
between the North Rochester Substation and the Mississippi
River is scheduled to start in August.
Construction in Wisconsin will start in 2014 with
an in-service date of 2015 for the entire project.
The Bemidji-Grand Rapids 230-kilovolt CapX2020
project was energized in fall 2012, and the 28-mile
Monticello-St. Cloud 345-kilovolt line was completed
in December 2011.
Construction continues between St. Cloud and
Fargo, as well as on the Brookings County-Hampton
345-kilovolt project. The CapX2020 utilities expect to
file a regulatory application in South Dakota for the
Big Stone South-Brookings County 345-kilovolt project
in mid-2013.
CapX2020 is a joint initiative of 11 investor-owned,
cooperative and municipal utilities in Minnesota and
the surrounding region to upgrade and expand the
electricity transmission grid to ensure continued reliable
and affordable service.
The CapX2020 projects include four 345-kilovolt
lines and a 230-kilovolt line, and represent the largest
development of new transmission in the Upper Midwest
in 30 years. They are projected to cost more than
$2 billion and cover a distance of nearly 800 miles.
APRIL 2013 5

MOVING
To
P.I.
New steam generators for Prairie Island
Nuclear Generating Station’s Unit Two are making
a long voyage across the Atlantic Ocean and up the
Mississippi River to the plant near Red Wing, Minn.
Employees of the AREVA St. Marcel factory and a handful
of Xcel Energy representatives celebrated the end of the
manufacturing cycle for steam generators in December in
St. Marcel, France, before the two steam generators began
their journey. Xcel Energy personnel were onsite in France
during the manufacturing of the steam generators to ensure
quality standards were met.
New generators Dave Corbesia, senior quality control inspector at Prairie
Island, reviewed all weld radiography film. Scott Redner,
to increase project manager, provided oversight of the replacement steam
generator tubing pre-service inspections. And Jerry Wren,
performance program engineer, assisted with the primary-side vessel welds
pre-service inspections.
In addition, Gerry Daly, authorized nuclear in-service inspector
at Prairie Island, visited the St. Marcel plant to wit-
and efficiency
ness primary side vessel and replacement steam generator
tubing pre-service inspection activities.
The replacement steam generators (RSGs) departed from
the St. Marcel factory a month later and are headed to Prairie
Island. The four components, collectively weighing 660 tons,
will arrive at Prairie Island in mid-April, said John Walters,
Nuclear manager, Project Controls.
6 XTRA APRIL 2013

Loading
The components that make up Prairie Island’s new steam
generators collectively weigh 660 tons and will arrive at the
plant sometime this spring after a trip across the Atlantic
Ocean and up the Mississippi River.
AREVA has direct access to the Saone River, which hits
the Mediterranean Sea at the port of Marseille. From there,
the RSGs were loaded on an ocean vessel, which set sail on
Feb. 9 for the port of New Orleans, La.
After arriving in New Orleans, the RSGs were offloaded
and placed on a shallow-draft barge for continued travel up
the Mississippi River to Prairie Island. Prairie Island’s old
steam generators will be changed out during the Unit Two
outage scheduled for fall 2013.
The new steam generators will increase the unit’s energy
performance and efficiency while reducing future operation,
maintenance and inspection costs, Walters said.
The St. Marcel factory was awarded its first U.S. contract
for the Prairie Island Unit One replacement steam generators
in 1999, and those generators were eventually put into service
in 2004. The order for the Unit Two steam generators was
signed in 2006.
After the generators are installed at the Prairie Island
site, the two parts of each generator will be assembled and
submitted to an inspection called a “hydrotest,” he said. They
also will be inspected to ensure they meet federal standards.
In anticipation of the generators’ arrival, a building was
constructed to store and prepare them for installation. In addition,
a complex of trailers was set up to provide workspace for
the staff dedicated to this project.
Preparations also have included a team representing Prairie
Island meeting with NRC Region III officials to discuss the
project’s oversight, scheduling and technical specifications,
Walters said. This information is provided to help prepare NRC
inspectors for the planned inspection of the generators.
The generators are approximately 70 feet tall and weigh
330 tons each. The total project cost is $280 million.
The replacement project will result in approximately 800
personnel being onsite during the 2013 Unit Two refueling effort,
in addition to the hundreds of outage contractors onsite
for other outage activities. The Unit Two steam generator replacement
outage is expected to take 65 days.
In other Prairie Island news, the plant’s Unit One reactor
returned to full power on Jan. 8 after crews completed a scheduled
maintenance and refueling outage. During the outage,
which began Oct. 23, approximately 600 contractors helped
plant staff complete maintenance tasks to prepare the unit for
its next operating cycle and replaced one-third of the unit’s fuel.
Xcel Energy’s Prairie Island and Monticello nuclear generating
plants are among the company’s lowest-cost sources of
generation on a per megawatt-hour basis. They run 24 hours
a day, seven days per week, except during refueling outages,
and they do not produce any greenhouse gas emissions.
Each of the two 550-megawatt reactors at Prairie Island
is refueled approximately once every 18 months. When both
units are operating, the Prairie Island plant near Red Wing
generates 1,100 megawatts of electricity.
APRIL 2013 7

Texas Storm
A company crew deals with a broken pole during the storm
Tractors used to tow company service vehicles to outage areas
A
massive winter storm bearing strong
winds, ice and snow paralyzed portions of Xcel Energy’s
New Mexico and Texas service area last month.
The storm marked one of the biggest single snowfall
events in the history of Amarillo and much of the Texas Panhandle,
and for the first time ever, closed the Amarillo Customer
Contact Center. A total of 17 inches of snow fell in the
Amarillo area.
Almost all roads in the Texas Panhandle became impassable
during the storm, which hit on a Monday, and whiteout
conditions forced the state Department of Transportation to
pull virtually all of its snowplows off roads until conditions
improved.
Tractors were used to tow Xcel Energy service vehicles
to outage areas; and a convoy was organized to reach 50 customers
in Vega, Texas, stranded by closed roadways. National
Guard units also were mobilized to assist stranded motorists.
“The final customer without power as a result of the Blizzard
of 2013 was restored to service at 4:40 p.m. the day after
the storm,” said Riley Hill, president of SPS. “Our system held
up remarkably well for such a big storm, and we’re proud of
all of the men and women who worked to keep and restore
service in such adverse conditions.
“We sincerely appreciate the patience of our customers
as our restoration team worked tirelessly to get service
back to people who lost it as quickly and safely as possible,”
he added.
Dozens of positive customer comments came in after the
storm. Some comments included:
• “We take you for granted, but are very thankful to you and
your loved ones for keeping us all warm and connected
while snowbound.”
• “What a super job by everyone involved. What a great job
by all the people on the ground who got the job done and
did it safely!”
• “Thank you all employees of Xcel Energy. My family stayed
warm and safe due to your efforts.”
• “Everyone did an awesome job assisting during the Blizzard
of 2013. So glad everyone had their power restored in
a timely manner.”
The blizzard ended up as the second-snowiest event ever
recorded in Amarillo. Wind gusts averaged between 50 and
60 mph, with hurricane-force gusts of 75 mph recorded at Rick
Husband Amarillo International Airport.
8 XTRA APRIL 2013

NEWS BRIEFS
Xcel Energy donates to Colorado teacher
training program for math and science
Xcel Energy recently announced that it will be the
sole industry partner in a state-wide effort to train and
place 150 science and math teachers for the 2013-2014
academic year.
The company is donating $50,000 to this effort,
which helped leverage additional funding from a private
foundation and the National Education Association, to
bring the total money for the program to $400,000.
The Lt. Governor’s Office and the Colorado Department
of Education are developing a new statewide
vision and plan for improving the Colorado Progressive
Science and Progressive Math Initiative STEM (Science,
Technology, Engineering and Math) teacher training
program.
The program was implemented in New Jersey and
has seen increased student achievement in math and
science proficiency with more students participating
and succeeding in advance-placement courses.
“Improving STEM education is imperative for
the energy business and other sectors, as well as our
overall economy,” said David Eves, president of PSCo.
“More than half of our current jobs require STEM
degrees or extensive math or science skills. These are
positions critical to our business.”
Xcel Energy also plans to use this partnership to
leverage the expertise and energy of its employees as
mentors and volunteers in an effort to peak student
interest in STEM careers and educational opportunities.
“In our business, we invest in what works,” Eves
said. “We innovate, test and replicate new technologies,
processes and systems to provide better value for our
customers and shareholders.
“We take this same approach with our charitable
investments,” he added. “What better way to invest,
than to invest in people.”
Xcel Energy in Colorado has been ranked as one of
the most generous companies by The Denver Business
Journal for the past five years. In 2012 the company’s
total giving in Colorado, including foundation grants,
matching gifts for employee contributions and volunteer
hours, and United Way was more than $3.5 million.
Jerome Davis (second from left), regional vice president of
PSCo, stands with a group of students at a recent education
grant announcement.
Monticello begins refueling outage
and capacity-expansion project
Operators at Monticello Nuclear Generating
Station recently began a scheduled refueling outage
during which work to increase the plant’s output by
71 megawatts will be completed.
“Our Monticello and Prairie Island nuclear plants
generate some of our lowest-cost, carbon-free electricity,
which provides great value to our customers,”
said Judy Poferl, president and CEO of NSP-Minnesota.
“We are expanding investments in our nuclear
plants to retain those benefits for another 20 years.”
During the Monticello outage, workers will complete
major equipment upgrades to increase the plant’s
generating capacity, and to ensure continued safe and
reliable operations. The work will increase the unit’s capacity
to 671 megawatts and improve plant efficiency.
Approximately 2,000 contractors – many of
whom come to the Monticello area from other parts
of the country, providing a boon to the local economy
– also will help plant staff complete maintenance and
construction work. The work will prepare the unit for
its next operating cycle, including placing new fuel
assemblies in the reactor. Refueling outages generally
last from four to six weeks. Because of the added
work during this outage, however, this outage is
expected to run a few weeks longer than usual.
APRIL 2013 9

Federal
Government
Affairs
D.C. staff always moving to help shape policy
On a recent Friday, the morning started
out as a normal one in Washington, D.C. –
meaning busy, but not crazy busy. Then the
invitation arrived, and Xcel Energy’s Federal Government
Affairs staff moved into high hear.
Ben Fowke, chairman, president and CEO, had
been invited to testify on Capitol Hill in front of a subcommittee
of the U.S. House of Representative’s Energy
and Commerce Committee. The topic: the Role of
a Diverse Electricity Generation Portfolio.
Once Fowke signed on to travel to D.C. for the testimony
a few short days later, the company’s small staff
in the nation’s capital had plenty of work on its hands.
Among the tasks:
• Start work on both oral and written testimony, joining
with other company resources to work through
the process.
• Look into travel arrangements for Fowke, Roy Palmer,
senior vice president of Public Policy and External
Affairs, and Frank Prager, vice president of Envi-
10 XTRA APRIL 2013

onmental Policy and Services. The trio would need
to leave Minneapolis by 5 a.m. on Tuesday.
• Make numerous visits to the U.S. House offices of
committee members to discuss the hearing and any
thoughts around the testimony.
• Meet with Energy and Commerce Committee staff
leadership and other members involved in the hearing.
• Touch base with the other companies invited to testify,
checking on who will be appearing and what
will be their main points.
The list goes on from there, and this singular day is
a good example of the work and service that Xcel Energy’s
D.C. contingent provides the company. (Please
see related story about Fowke’s subcommittee testimony
at the hearing on Capitol Hill on page 14.)
“We’re always moving,” said John O’Donnell, vice
president of Federal Government Affairs. “Government
regulation dictates to a great extent what we can and
cannot do as a company, so we need to play a role in
helping shape that policy on behalf of our customers.
APRIL 2013 11

12 XTRA APRIL 2013
“We do that by always telling the truth, always following
up,” he added, “and always maintaining and building relationships
with members of Congress and their staff.”
One of the issues currently being discussed is the Consumer
Renewable Credit (CRC).
“The CRC is a bipartisan legislative proposal that creates
a powerful new demand-side incentive for wind and solar,”
said Steve Plevniak, one of the company’s two lobbyists. “It
provides a tax credit for utilities and their customers to help
offset integration costs.”
The concept has been endorsed by a wide coalition, including
business, labor, the environmental community and the
nation’s largest wind developers. The list includes the U.S.
Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers,
the Building and Construction Trade Department–AFL-
CIO, and others.
Other issues the company’s D.C. office is currently advocating
for include:
• Credit for Early Action – Xcel Energy was a leader in reducing
emissions early and significantly, and the company
needs to ensure that its customers don’t pay twice for emissions
reductions.
• Clean Air Act Rulemaking by the EPA – The Environmental
Protection Agency has an aggressive emissions-control agenda,
and Xcel Energy’s D.C. team is working to ensure that rules
will allow for things like renewables and that state energyefficiency
programs count toward emissions reductions.

• Tax Policy – A major issue that was recently settled (for the
time being) was the increased taxation of dividends. But
there are many other tax proposals, such as the deductibility
of interest expense, which could impact the company.
• Nuclear – Post Fukishima regulation and spent-fuel storage
are just a few of the issues being debated now in Congress.
• Cybersecurity – This is now a major initiative for all corporations,
but especially for utilities. It is complex, and
some of the congressional proposals would be expensive
to implement.
For these many issues and others, Federal Government
Affairs’ job is to continually raise the issue, so members of
Congress become familiar with the concept and are supportive
as it moves through the legislative process.
“It’s about follow-up,” Plevniak said. “It needs to be repeated
so everyone knows about the issue and how it will
benefit consumers. Usually an idea needs to be cultivated for
months or years before Congress considers it. We spend most
of our time working to tell the Xcel Energy story.”
It’s fair to say that the company’s D.C. contingent thrives
on human interaction and loves all things political. The group,
which includes O’Donnell, Plevniak, lobbyist Chris Kearney and
specialist Erica Jenkins, has a vast array of connections across
Capitol Hill.
“It’s interesting work,” Kearney said. “I love politics and
policy, and have worked on both sides of the equation, both for
government and for the private sector.”
Connections
Xcel Energy’s D.C. staff has a vast array of connections
across Capitol Hill. Above (left to right), John O’Donnell,
Chris Kearney and Steve Plevniak meet in O’Donnell’s office.
Below, Plevniak discusses the Consumer Renewable Credit
with Congressional staff at a U.S. House office building. On
pages 10 and 11, a view over the Washington Mall. The company’s
offices sit off to the right, out of the photo, close to
Pennsylvania Avenue.
APRIL 2013 13

Fowke on Capitol Hill to address
U.S. House energy subcommittee
Emphasizing fuel diversity and credit for
early action on environmental leadership as important
components of national energy strategy, Ben Fowke addressed
the U.S. House Subcommittee on Energy and Power
on March 5.
“The topic of the hearing – fuel diversity in the power sector
– could not be more important at this critical juncture in
the energy sector,” said Fowke, chairman, president and CEO,
citing Xcel Energy’s diverse mix of fuel sources that includes
coal, natural gas, nuclear, wind, hydro, biomass and solar.
“Our strategy has put us on track to reduce our carbondioxide
emissions by 20
percent from 2005 levels
“
by 2020,” he added. “And
at the same time, we have
been able to maintain power
prices at or below the
national average.”
In his remarks, Fowke
discussed the importance of
allowing individual states to
develop strategies that include
energy-efficiency, renewable-energy
and emissions-reduction
programs,
such as Colorado’s Clean Air
Clean Jobs. Equally important, he said, is giving credit to states
and energy companies that have already acted early to address
carbon issues.
Fowke joined a handful of other utility executives to testify.
They included leaders from Entergy, American Electric
Power, American Municipal Power, Nebraska Public Power
District and the American Wind Energy Association.
“We all share the goal of satisfying the country’s growing
energy demands in the least expensive, most reliable
and cleanest way possible,” Fowke said in his testimony.
“Xcel Energy has been successful in pursuing a strategy that
has reduced customer risk and promoted clean energy, while
maintaining reliable service at a competitive price.
“Fuel diversity is an important part of that strategy,”
he added. “Our system is a strong example of an ‘all of the
above’ strategy.”
Xcel Energy’s generating mix includes a wide range of fuel
sources, he said, and the
company is unique among
utilities in its commitment
to renewable energy, with
“
We are achieving great
results by maintaining
a robust and diverse
system.
nearly 5,000 megawatts of
wind power on its system.
The company also is a leader
in energy efficiency and
innovative state emissionreduction
and fleet-modernization
programs.
“We are achieving
great results by maintaining
a robust and diverse
system,” he said. “Although
clean energy plays an important role in our electric system, we
continue to rely on coal and nuclear power to provide the lowcost
base on which our system depends.”
Xcel Energy has achieved significant emissions reductions
despite the recent addition of a large, new coal unit at Comanche
Generating Station in Pueblo, Colo., he said. The company
14 XTRA APRIL 2013

also is in the process of extending its two nuclear generating
plants in Minnesota for another 20 years of service. Coal and
nuclear energy remain critical to the efficiency and reliability of
the company’s system, he said.
“For that reason, we have been proactive in seeing the
need either to invest in coal-fleet improvements or to retire and
repower aging coal plants through programs like the Colorado
Clean Air-Clean Jobs Act and the Minnesota Emission Reduction
Project,” Fowke explained. “Like many utilities, we have
taken advantage of low natural gas prices to serve growing
customer demand and allow replacement of aging coal plants.
“However, because of our renewable portfolio, we’ve
been able to avoid becoming too reliant on the natural gas market,”
he added. “Wind energy acts as a natural hedge against
fuel-price risk, reduces our emissions and meets our customers’
interest in clean energy.”
In fact, wind is key to Xcel Energy’s strategy, he said. The
company recently contracted for wind power in Colorado at
a price that is competitive with natural gas-fired generation,
even at today’s low gas prices.
“As a result, we’re now integrating wind at levels that we
never before imagined at certain times on our system,” Fowke
said. “Our annual average wind energy will reach 20 percent
this year in Colorado and 14 percent in Minnesota.”
Much of the company’s diversification strategy results
from its longstanding desire to prepare for federal regulation
of carbon dioxide emissions, he added.
“Without passing judgment as to the wisdom of such regulation,
we do believe there are principles that should guide
government action in this regard,” Fowke said. “These principles
include the belief that legislation is better than regulation,
state flexibility is key, and credit for early action is essential.”
Because future legislation is uncertain, the company
is preparing for the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA)
regulation of carbon dioxide from existing power plants.
“We hope that the EPA will allow states to develop diverse
emission-reduction strategies like those that have been
successful in Colorado, Minnesota and elsewhere,” he said.
“For us, it is most critical that any carbon-dioxide regulation
give credit to states and energy companies that have already
acted early to address carbon issues.”
Many customers already are paying for clean-energy
programs, he added, and should be rewarded for having done so.
“With these approaches to policy, the nation can assure
continued diversity of its energy resources,” Fowke said
in closing, “and achieve what Xcel Energy has been working
toward in our states for more than a decade – clean energy
and environmental improvement at a competitive price.”
Hearing Video
On page 14, Ben Fowke (second from right)
prepares to testify at a recent hearing on Capitol
Hill. To see a video of the hearing, scan this code
with a smart phone app or visit the following link:
http://energycommerce.house.gov/hearing/AESI-rolediverse-electricity-generation-portfolio
NEWS BRIEFS
Fowke named to national
cyber-security committee
Ben Fowke, chairman, president and CEO,
has been named to a committee that formed as a
result of a National Infrastructure Advisory Council
(NIAC) recommendation in a 2010 report on electric
and nuclear sector resilience.
The committee, composed of CEOs from the
utility and nuclear sectors, will receive regular
briefings from the Federal Bureau of Investigation,
National Security Agency, Department of Energy
and Department of Homeland Security, and will
begin cooperative efforts to protect cyber-security
issues.
“As one of the largest electricity and natural gas
utilities in the United States, Xcel Energy is very
involved in the cyber-security debate,” Fowke said.
“While we have worked hard already to implement
security measures on all levels, we are very aware
of the threat posed by this evolving issue.
“I am pleased to be a part of a group that will
bring more focus to this issue and shape potential
federal legislation that will likely impact all U.S.
utilities,” he added.
In 2010, the NIAC published a report that outlined
recommendations on how to establish c
ritical infrastructure resilience. One of the focal
points included the electricity and nuclear sector.
Specifically, the first recommendation in the report
suggests:
“The White House initiates an executive-level
dialogue with electric and nuclear sector CEOs
on the respective roles and responsibilities of the
private sector in addressing high-impact infrastructure
risks and potential threats…”
“The group has already received several
directives and is eager to move forward based
on initial conversations,” Fowke said. “Ultimately,
we will be representing a cross-section of the
industry, and we are honored to take that role and help
develop measures that will benefit national
security.”
NIAC advises the U.S. president through
the U.S. secretary of Homeland Security on the
security of critical infrastructure sectors and their
information systems. Several advisory committees
work with NIAC on a variety of security issues,
including communications infrastructure and
emergency management.
APRIL 2013 15

Power Pioneer
Karadza’s home runs on renewable energy, along with his EV
As we explore more efficient and environmentally
friendly energy alternatives, it’s helpful to look
to folks who are already walking down that road and
putting into practice some viable options.
Bosko Karadza is one of those people. Energy for his home
is supplied completely by sunlight, and his
primary vehicle is electric.
Karadza, senior plant engineering analyst
at Prairie Island Nuclear Generating
Station, was first encouraged to install a
photovoltaic (PV) system at his home when
he learned of new solar installations in his
local community and interesting renewable
energy incentives offered by his cooperative.
“Our family supports environmental
stewardship and has the desire to improve
the world we live in – today and for the sake
of generations to come,” Karadza said. “I
wanted to take advantage of technological
advancements that have made it more costeffective
for people to install PV systems. It
just makes good sense – we need to explore
energy alternatives.”
Bosko Karadza
In January 2010, he decided to install a ground-mount PV
system at his family’s home. The PV system is made up of 36
Kyocera 210-watt panels and has a total system rating of 7.56
kilowatts – more than enough to meet all the electric needs of
his home.
Karadza calculates that since he installed his
PV system, he has reduced CO2 emissions by 21
metric tons due to his renewable generation capability.
And recovery of the PV system costs was
achieved within two years, thanks to his handiwork,
and rebate programs offered through Great
River Energy, the State of Minnesota and federal
tax credits.
Karadza admits he has an advantage over
most people who want to install PV systems. He
was able to do much of the installation work himself,
which saved a good deal of money and made
the option all that much more attractive.
“With my mechanical and electrical background,
I was able to do most of the work myself
and realize a tremendous savings,” he said.
“But others who are considering a PV installation
should look at it as long-term investment in some-
16 XTRA APRIL 2013

thing that makes economic sense over time. And the more people
invest, the more the technology will advance and become more
cost effective for others.”
Karadza pointed out, for example, that with incentive programs
offered by utilities and state and federal governments,
he’s seen the costs of production decrease. When he first installed
his PV system, the PV cell price per watt was $2.40, and
today it is as low as 80 cents per watt.
“The PV system has worked flawlessly,” he said. “It’s been
a reliable and maintenance-free system.”
The obvious success of his PV system encouraged him to explore
other energy-efficient possibilities. He purchased a Toyota
Prius hybrid gas/electric vehicle, and loved it.
But he wanted to see about increasing the vehicle’s range
by making modifications to the car’s battery system. He realized,
however, that it would be more cost-effective to purchase a fully
electric vehicle (EV) due to the high cost of batteries required for
the modification.
Karadza eventually found a Nissan Leaf that had been salvaged
and required extensive body and front-end work. He decided
to purchase it, and set about restoring the EV.
“I’ve always had an interest in high-tech, state-of-the-art
technologies,” he said. “So the possibilities of owning an EV
were very attractive.
“The Nissan Leaf I purchased needed a lot of work to get
it back on the road,” Karadza said. “The cost of reconstruction
wouldn’t make sense for most people, but with my past experience
in vehicle restoration and passion for pursuing the project,
it became a reality.
“My EV purchase was based on the same principles of environmental
stewardship and compliments the PV system,” he added,
“as my excess generation capacity now supports EV charging.”
The only drawback with his Nissan Leaf is the limited range
of only 80 to 100 miles. That is fine for his daily 12-mile commute
to Prairie Island, he said, but added that it would be nice to take
the vehicle on vacation trips.
In Minnesota, however, as well as many other states, a network
of charging stations for EVs is not yet well developed. But
there are definitely possibilities for this to happen in the future,
he said.
“Many EVs can recharge in about 20 minutes, about the
time it takes to sit down and have a cup of coffee,” he said.
“Perhaps charging stations could form a strategic alliance with
coffee shops or similar businesses. I look forward to the spread
of dedicated EV charging stations as this technology is hopefully
embraced by a larger population of commuters.”
Renewable
Karadza was able to do much of the installation work
himself on the solar system at his house (pictured
on page 16), which saved a good deal of money and
made the option all that much more attractive. In addition,
he did plenty of work on a damaged Nissan
Leaf (top, before and after) that he bought at auction,
and also has a wind turbine on his property.
APRIL 2013 17

PEOPLE
FRIENDS WE’LL MISS
Alvin F. Baal
77, senior environmental analyst, Environmental
Services, Colorado, died on Feb.
25, 2013. He worked for PSCo from 1957
to 1994.
Garlind Blair
89, custodian thereafter, Colorado, died
on Feb. 1, 2013. He worked for PSCo from
1945 to 1988.
Frederick R. Bones
80, field supervisor, Underground
Construction, Chestnut Service Center,
Minneapolis, Minn., died on Feb. 8, 2013.
He worked for NSP from 1952 to 1988.
James D. Chambers
80, manager, Englewood, Colo., died on
Feb. 18, 2013. He worked for PSCo from
1951 to 1992.
Teddy M. Crownover
78, died on Feb. 4, 2013. He worked for
SPS from 1959 to 1996.
Duane W. Dahl
75, gas street helper, Lakeland, Minn.,
died on Feb. 4, 2013. He worked for NSP
from 1969 to 1974.
Carmen S. Elliott
85, died on Feb. 14, 2013. He worked for
SPS from 1975 to 1991.
Forest E. Erickson
93, gas load controller, Colorado, died on
Jan. 31, 2013. He worked for PSCo from
1946 to 1984.
Deloris A. Holland
72, died on Feb. 8, 2013. She worked for
NSP from 1962 to 1996.
Catherine M. Hopp Thibault
74, died on Feb. 16, 2013. She worked for
NSP from 1957 to 1993.
J. E. Hutchinson
76, engineering supervisor, Pueblo Service
Center, Pueblo, Colo., died on Jan.
23, 2013. He worked for PSCo form 1964
to 1992.
E. J. Kilpatrick
86, died on Jan. 26, 2013. He worked for
SPS from 1969 to 1991.
Gerald J. Nelson
75, shift supervisor, Operations, Sherco
Plant, Becker, Minn., died on Jan. 30,
2013. He worked for NSP from 1976
to 2003.
Henry G. Preiner
81, customer accounting administrator,
Metro Regional Operations, died on Jan.
29, 2013. He worked for NSP from 1951
to 1988.
Eduardo Z. Quijada
77, died on Feb. 19, 2013. He worked for
SPS from 1974 to 2000.
Richard F. Schultz
76, gas utilization serviceman, Gas
Operations, Fargo Service Center, Fargo,
N.D., died on Feb. 7, 2013. He worked for
NSP from 1955 to 1991.
Norma D. Smith
82, operation clerk, Colorado, died on
Jan. 24, 2013. She worked for PSCo from
1963 to 1986.
Wendell D. Wickwar
91, shift supervisor, Production, Colorado,
died on Jan. 26, 2013. He worked for
PSCo from 1968 to 1986.
Rose L. Womack
95, died on Feb. 14, 2013. She worked for
SPS from 1967 to 1982.
RETIRING
Tom Amen
(123Hunting@gmail.com), e-learning
developer, Learning Services, GO, 414
Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, Minn., retired
on Feb. 27, 2013. He worked for Xcel
Energy for 30 years.
John Beckius
(johnbeckius@msn.com), trouble foreman,
Trouble Dept., Chestnut Service
Center, Minneapolis, Minn., retired on
March 29, 2013. He worked for Xcel
Energy for 38 years.
Mark H. Bliss
fitter serviceman, Pueblo Service Center,
Pueblo, Colo., retired on April 15, 2013. He
worked for Xcel Energy for 34 years.
Mike Clemens
(mclemens@greatermngas.com), gas
operations manager, Gas Construction
Support and Utilization, St. Paul, Minn.,
retired on March 8, 2013. He worked for
Xcel Energy for 39 years.
Steve Erickson
electric meter tech, Electric Meter, Minnetonka,
Minn., retired on April 26, 2013.
He worked for Xcel Energy for 32 years.
Garland L. Holland
(garlandh@suddenlink.net), journeyman
maintenance mechanic, Maintenance,
Amarillo, Texas, retired on March 1, 2013.
He worked for Xcel Energy for 35 years.
Faron Jackson Sr.
field representative, Collections, Chestnut
Service Center, Minneapolis, Minn.,
retired on March 1, 2013. He worked for
Xcel Energy for 31 years.
Russell D. James
(Russell@mac2.net), line working foreman,
Amarillo Line, Amarillo, Texas,
retired on April 1, 2013. He worked for
Xcel Energy for 38 years.
Brian E. Johnson
(BJohnson1@gra.midco.net), line crew
foreman, Line Crew, Grand Forks, N.D.,
retired on April 1, 2013. He worked for
Xcel Energy for 28 years.
Nancy Luehman
service designer, Design West, Amery Service
Center, Amery, Wis., retired on Feb. 22, 2013.
She worked for Xcel Energy for 31 years.
Frank Neibauer
operations supervisor, Gas Production,
Eau Claire, Wis., retired on April 2, 2013.
He worked for Xcel Energy for 33 years.
Jan Nelson
(janels@comcast.net), senior market
research analyst, Market Research, GO,
414 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, Minn.,
retired on Nov. 15, 2012. She worked for
Xcel Energy for 11 years.
18 XTRA APRIL 2013

PEOPLE
John Ridlon
(johnrdln@yahoo.com), shift supervisor,
Operations, Plant X, Earth, Texas, retired
on March 31, 2013. He worked for Xcel
Energy for 35 years.
Ronald D. Roberts
(melindaphotography@mac.com), GOTS,
HPG, Mesa County Operations Center,
Grand Junction, Colo., retired on Feb. 28,
2013. He worked for Xcel Energy for 31
years.
Paul F. Seipel
(pfseipel@gmail.com), principal rate
analyst, Regulatory Affairs, Sky Park, Eau
Claire, Wis., retired on Feb. 28, 2013. He
worked for Xcel Energy for 40 years.
Heather Truog
customer service representative, Customer
Service, Sky Park, Eau Claire, Wis.,
retired on March 19, 2013. She worked for
Xcel Energy for 13 years.
Bennie (Butch) Walhood
(bd_walhood@hotmail.com), nuclear
plant helper, Facilities, Monticello
Nuclear Plant, Monticello, Minn., retired
on March 25, 2013. He worked for Xcel
Energy for 20 years.
Steven D. Willert
(sdwillert@hotmail.com), account manager,
Minnesota C & I Account Management,
Mankato Service Center, Minn.,
retired on April 1, 2013. He worked for
Xcel Energy for 36 years.
Xtra retiree web portal
available on xcelenergy.com
The latest issue of Xtra is posted
each month on a webpage on the company’s
website at: xcelenergy.com/retirees.
Retirees and employees are invited
to visit the page to view the latest issue,
as well as a number of back issues of Xtra.
Links on the page also provide access to
various utility shareholder groups.
NEWS BRIEFS
Cherokee agreement reached;
environmentally beneficial projects
targeted for north Denver
Xcel Energy and WildEarth Guardians reached
an agreement last month on a dispute concerning
emissions at Cherokee Generating Station in
Denver. The agreement includes funding of several
community and environmentally beneficial
projects slated for areas in north Denver near the
power plant.
Court proceedings in the case – which was
filed by WildEarth Guardians in August 2009
against Public Service Company of Colorado –
will be dismissed as part of the settlement. Xcel
Energy has agreed to provide funding for projects
– such as solar installations, energy-efficiency
programs and improvement of natural areas in
Denver Council District 9 (the Globeville, Elyria
and Swansea neighborhoods).
“We have always strived to operate our power
plants – including Cherokee Station in Colorado
– in compliance with the Clean Air Act,” said
Frank Prager, vice president for Environmental
Policy. “This case ends without further litigation,
and the agreement avoids substantial cost associated
with protracted proceedings.
“We are pleased that we were able to work
with WildEarth Guardians to ensure that dollars
destined for legal expenses will instead fund valuable
projects in north Denver,” he added. “These
projects are in keeping with our other environmental
efforts throughout the state and are in the
public interest.”
Since the lawsuit was filed, Xcel Energy –
through legislation it supported known as the
Clean Air Clean Jobs Act – has decided to end
coal generation of electricity at Cherokee by 2018.
The facility, which remains a vital part of the company’s
Colorado generation resources, is being
converted to use natural gas for generation. That
process started in October 2012.
The agreement will not become final until
after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
and the U.S. Department of Justice review it and
provide comment.
APRIL 2013 19

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xcelenergy.com
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Xtra
Published monthly by Xcel Energy
Kevin Graham, Editor
1800 Larimer Street, 16th Floor
Denver, CO 80202
Phone: 303-294-2417
Fax: 303-294-2968
email: Kevin.Graham@xcelenergy.com
Contributors: Becka Anders
and Carrie Krueger
Design: Steve Berry
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DYNAMIC ECONOMY
JOBS, PROJECTS AND MORE. Xcel Energy brings more
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We bring resources, programs and projects that help
support dynamic local economies. Because in today’s
world, prosperity requires energy.
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Visit xcelenergy.com for more information.
© 2013 Xcel Energy Inc.