Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits (Details) $ in Millions		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Jan. 31, 2022 USD ($) Plan	Sep. 30, 2022 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2021 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2022 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2021 USD ($)
Pension Plan [Member]
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost [Abstract]
Service cost			$ 24	$ 26	$ 73	$ 78
Interest Cost	[1]		28	26	83	78
Expected Return on Plan Assets	[1]		(52)	(52)	(156)	(155)
Amortization of Prior Service Credit	[1]		0	0	(1)	(1)
Amortization of Net Loss	[1]		19	27	56	81
Net periodic benefit cost (credit)			74	66	109	120
Effects of regulation			(37)	(31)	(30)	(32)
Net benefit cost (credit) recognized for financial reporting			37	35	79	88
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Credit), Gain (Loss) Due to Settlement	[2]		55	39	54	39
Pension Plan [Member] | Parent Company
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost [Abstract]
Contributions to Xcel Energy's pension plans		$ 50
Number of pension plans to which contributions were made | Plan		4
Other Postretirement Benefits Plan [Member]
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost [Abstract]
Service cost			0	0	1	1
Interest Cost	[1]		3	4	11	11
Expected Return on Plan Assets	[1]		(4)	(4)	(13)	(13)
Amortization of Prior Service Credit	[1]		(2)	(2)	(5)	(6)
Amortization of Net Loss	[1]		1	1	2	4
Net periodic benefit cost (credit)			(2)	(1)	(4)	(3)
Effects of regulation			1	1	2	2
Net benefit cost (credit) recognized for financial reporting			(1)	0	(2)	(1)
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Credit), Gain (Loss) Due to Settlement	[2]		$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0

[1] The components of net periodic cost other than the service cost component are included in the line item “Other income, net” in the consolidated statements of income or capitalized on the consolidated balance sheets as a regulatory asset

[2] A settlement charge is required when the amount of all lump-sum distributions during the year is greater than the sum of the service and interest cost components of the annual net periodic pension cost. In the third quarter of 2022 and 2021, as a result of lump-sum distributions during the 2022 and 2021 plan years, Xcel Energy recorded pension settlement charges of $55 million and $39 million, respectively, the majority of which were not recognized in earnings due to the effects of regulation. A total of $7 million and $4 million of those amounts were recorded in other expense in the third quarter of 2022 and 2021, respectively.