Exhibit 23.02


                    INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT


              We consent to the incorporation by reference in 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 in 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 8, 1995,
appearing in this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Northern States Power Company
(Minnesota) (File No. 1-3034) for the year ended December 31, 1996.





/s/

DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Minneapolis, Minnesota
March 27, 1997