UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) December 30, 2024
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| Commission File Number | | Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter; State of Incorporation; Address of Principal Executive Offices; and Telephone Number | | IRS Employer Identification Number |
| 001-3034 | | XCEL ENERGY INC. | | 41-0448030 |
| | (a Minnesota corporation) | | |
| | 414 Nicollet Mall | | |
| | Minneapolis | Minnesota | 55401 | | |
| | (612) | 330-5500 | | |
| | | | | | | |
| 001-03789 | | SOUTHWESTERN PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY | | 75-0575400 |
| | (a New Mexico corporation) | | |
| | 790 South Buchanan Street | | |
| | Amarillo | Texas | 79101 | | |
| | (303) | 571-7511 | | |
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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| Title of each class | | Trading Symbol | | Name of each exchange on which registered |
| Common Stock, $2.50 par value per share | | XEL | | Nasdaq Stock Market LLC |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. £
Item 8.01. Other Events
Texas System Resiliency Plan
On December 30, 2024, Southwestern Public Service Company (SPS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Xcel Energy Inc., filed its Texas System Resiliency Plan (SRP), with the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT). Consistent with PUCT requirements, SPS’ proposed plan discusses resiliency-related risks and the five measures that have been designed to help SPS prevent, withstand, mitigate or more promptly recover from resiliency events, including wildfire. In addition to the specific wildfire mitigation measure listed below, the distribution overhead hardening and distribution system protection modernization measures will be prioritized based on wildfire risk.
The SRP includes the following measures:
•Distribution overhead hardening — Replacing and reinforcing key components of the distribution overhead system.
•Distribution system protection modernization — Installing enhanced reclosers, communications equipment and replacing substation relay panels and breakers.
•Communication modernization — Building out a private LTE network, installing fiber optic cable and adding remote terminal units.
•Operational flexibility — Procuring mobile substation equipment and installing additional switching devices.
•Wildfire mitigation — Weather stations, modeling, deploying artificial intelligence and vegetation management.
The plan covers 2025-2028 and includes the following total spend:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (Millions of Dollars) | | Capital | | O&M | | Total |
| Distribution overhead hardening | | $ | 253 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 253 | |
| Distribution system protection modernization | | 92 | | | — | | | 92 | |
| Communication modernization | | 112 | | | — | | | 112 | |
| Operational flexibility | | 44 | | | — | | | 44 | |
| Wildfire mitigation | | 20 | | | 17 | | | 37 | |
| Total | | $ | 521 | | | $ | 17 | | | $ | 538 | |
A procedural schedule is expected in the first quarter of 2025 and a PUCT decision is expected to be received in the second quarter of 2025.
Certain information discussed in this Current Report on Form 8-K is forward-looking information that involves risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements, including statements concerning capital investment and expense amounts, our expectations and intentions regarding the regulatory proceedings, as well as assumptions and other statements are intended to be identified in this document by the words "anticipate," “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” "intend," "may," "objective," "outlook," "plan," "project," "possible," “potential,” "should," "will," "would," and similar expressions. Actual results may vary materially. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we expressly disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking information. The following factors, in addition to those discussed in Xcel Energy's and SPS’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 2023, and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, could cause actual results to differ materially from management expectations as suggested by such forward-looking information: operational safety, including our generation facilities and other utility operations; successful long-term operational planning; commodity risks associated with energy markets and production; rising energy prices and fuel costs; qualified employee workforce and third-party contractor factors; violations of our Codes of Conduct; our ability to recover costs; changes in regulation; reductions in our credit ratings and the cost of maintaining certain contractual relationships; general economic conditions, including recessionary conditions, inflation rates, monetary fluctuations, supply chain constraints and their impact on capital expenditures and/or the ability of SPS to obtain financing on favorable terms; availability or cost of capital; our customers’ and counterparties’ ability to pay their debts to us; assumptions and costs relating to funding our employee benefit plans and health care benefits; tax laws; uncertainty regarding epidemics, the duration and magnitude of business restrictions including shutdowns (domestically and globally), the potential impact on the workforce, including shortages of employees or third-party contractors due to quarantine policies, vaccination requirements or government restrictions, impacts on the transportation of goods and the generalized impact on the economy; effects of geopolitical events, including war and acts of terrorism; cyber security threats and data security breaches; seasonal weather patterns; changes in environmental laws and regulations; climate change and other weather events; natural disaster and resource depletion, including compliance with any accompanying legislative and regulatory changes; costs of potential regulatory penalties and wildfire damages in excess of liability insurance coverage; regulatory changes and/or limitations related to the use of natural gas as an energy source; challenging labor market conditions and our ability to attract and retain a qualified workforce; and our ability to execute on our strategies or achieve expectations related to environmental, social and governance matters including as a result of evolving legal, regulatory and other standards, processes, and assumptions, the pace of scientific and technological developments, increased costs, the availability of requisite financing, and changes in carbon markets.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
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| December 31, 2024 | Xcel Energy Inc. (a Minnesota corporation) |
| Southwestern Public Service Company (a New Mexico corporation) |
| |
| /s/ BRIAN J. VAN ABEL |
| Brian J. Van Abel |
| Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer |
