EXHIBIT 23.01

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT

We consent to the incorporation by reference in:

o    Registration Statements on Form S-8:

     -    No. 333-54460 (relating to the Xcel Energy Executive Annual Incentive
          Award Plan)

     -    No. 333-51786 (relating to the Xcel Energy Executive Long-Term
          Incentive Award Stock Plan)

     -    No. 2-61264 (relating to the Northern States Power Company Employee
          Stock Ownership Plan)

     -    No. 33-38700 and 333-91495 (relating to the Northern States Power
          Company Executive Long-Term Incentive Award Stock Plan)

     -    No. 333-48610 (relating 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)

     -    No. 333-48604 (relating to New Century Energies, Inc. Employee
          Investment Plan for Bargaining Unit Employees and Former
          Non-Bargaining Unit Employees; New Century Energies, Inc. Employees'
          Savings and Stock Ownership Plan for Bargaining Unit Employees and
          Former Non-Bargaining Unit Employees; and New Century Energies, Inc.
          Employees' Savings and Stock Ownership Plan for Non-Bargaining Unit
          Employees)

     -    No. 333-48590 (relating to the Xcel Energy Omnibus Incentive Plan)

     -    No. 333-104507 (relating to the Xcel Energy 401(k) Savings Plan)

o    Registration Statements on Form S-3:

     -    No. 333-46842 (relating to the Xcel Energy $1,000,000,000 Principal
          Amount of Debt Securities)

     -    No. 333-36270 and 333-74996 (relating to the Xcel Energy Direct
          Purchase Plan)

     -    No. 333-35482 (relating to the acquisition of Natrogas, Inc.)

     -    No. 333-082352 (relating to Xcel Energy Inc.'s $1,000,000,000 Debt
          Securities, Common Stock, and Rights to Purchase Common Stock)

     -    No. 333-108446 (relating to the Xcel Energy Dividend Reinvestment
          Plan)


o    Post-Effective Amendment No. A-1 on Form S-8 to Registration Statement on
     Form S-4 No. 333-84264 (relating to the NRG Energy, Inc. Tender Offer)

o    Registration Statement on Form S-4 No. 333-109601 (related to the exchange
     of Xcel Energy Inc. senior notes)

of our report dated February 27, 2004 (which expresses an unqualified opinion
based on our audits and as it relates to 2002 and 2001, the report of other
auditors, and includes emphasis of a matter paragraphs relating to the adoption
of SFAS No. 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets," and SFAS No. 144,
"Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets," effective
January 1, 2002, SFAS No. 143, "Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations,"
effective January 1, 2003, and Derivatives Implementation Group Issue No. C20,
"Scope Exceptions: Interpretation of the Meaning of Not Clearly and Closely
Related in Paragraph 10(b) Regarding Contracts with a Price Adjustment Feature,"
effective October 1, 2003) appearing in this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Xcel
Energy Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2003.

/S/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Minneapolis, Minnesota
March 15, 2004