Exhibit 23.01


          CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


     We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the
Registration Statement No. 333-00415 on Form S-3 (relating to
the Northern States Power Company Dividend Reinvestment and
Stock Purchase Plan), Registration Statement No. 2-61264 on Form
S-8 (relating to the Northern States Power Company Employee
Stock Ownership Plan), Registration Statement No. 33-38700 on
Form S-8 (relating to the Northern States Power Company
Executive Long-Term Incentive Award Stock Plan), and
Registration Statement No. 33-63243 on Form S-3 (relating to the
Northern States Power Company $300,000,000 Principal Amount of
First Mortgage Bonds) of our report dated February 5, 1996
appearing in this Form 10-K.




(Price Waterhouse LLP)
PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
Minneapolis, Minnesota
March 27, 1996