Xcel Energy (XEL) S-8 Registration of securities for employees

EXHIBIT 5

XCEL ENERGY INC.
800 Nicollet Mall, Suite 3000, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402-2023
Voice: (612) 330-7623  Fax: (612) 330-6222  Email: gary.r.johnson@nspco.com

October 19, 2000

Xcel Energy Inc.
800 Nicollet Mall
Suite 3000
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402-2023

Re:    3,731,525 Shares of Common Stock, par value $2.50 per share, issued pursuant to New Century Energies, Inc. Omnibus Incentive Plan, Public Service Company of Colorado Omnibus Incentive Plan, Southwestern Public Service Company 1989 Stock Incentive Plan, Southwestern Public Service Company Employee Investment Plan and Southwestern Public Service Company Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan (the "Plans")

Ladies and Gentlemen:

    I serve as Vice President and General Counsel of Xcel Energy Inc. (the "Company"), and in such capacity I have acted as counsel to the Company in connection with the proposed issuance of the Common Stock referred to above (the "Shares") pursuant to the Plans. The Shares are the subject of the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to which this opinion, with my consent, is attached as an exhibit.

    As to certain questions of fact, I have relied upon statements and certificates of certain officers of the Company and other professionals retained by the Company. I have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to me as originals, the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all natural persons and the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to me as copies. I have examined all records, instruments and documents which I have deemed necessary for the purpose of this opinion.

    Based upon the foregoing and upon my general familiarity with the properties and affairs of the Company, I am of the opinion that:

1.

The Company is a validly organized and legally-existing corporation under the law of the State of Minnesota.



2.

When, as and if the Shares have been duly issued and delivered, and the consideration for the Shares has been duly received by the Company in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Shares will be legally issued, fully paid, and non-assessable shares of stock of the Company.

Very truly yours,

 
/s/ GARY R. JOHNSON   

 
Gary R. Johnson

Vice President and General Counsel