-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 SHCFmLra47ySU4lqUapBsi+IvVGgS1slBZirFLKEzDnKRzgpVFMgllie2aWALAuf
 q/fS6z/eLDB1iLeIkb8OwQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001162782-03-000080.txt : 20030708
<SEC-HEADER>0001162782-03-000080.hdr.sgml : 20030708
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030708113250
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001162782-03-000080
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030703
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030708

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LESHER CYNTHIA L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001159199

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-03034
		FILM NUMBER:		03778021

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		800 NICOLLET MALL
		CITY:			MINNEAPOLIS
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55402
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6122155359

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			XCEL ENERGY INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000072903
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTRIC & OTHER SERVICES COMBINED [4931]
		IRS NUMBER:				410448030
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		800 NICOLLET MALL
		CITY:			MINNEAPOLIS
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55402
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6123305500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		800 NICOLLET MALL
		CITY:			MINNEAPOLIS
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55401

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	NORTHERN STATES POWER CO /MN/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-07-03</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000072903</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>XCEL ENERGY INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>XEL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001159199</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LESHER CYNTHIA L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP, Xcel Energy Services Inc.</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>
   <derivativeSecurity>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Phantom Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>0.00</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-07-03</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>4.28</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionValue>
              <value>0</value>
          </transactionValue>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>A</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
          <value>1988-08-18</value>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
          <value>1988-08-08</value>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Common</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <value>4.28</value>
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>49.14</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeSecurity>
<footnotes>
   <footnote id="F1">Shares of phantom stock are payable in cash following termination of reporting person's employment.  </footnote>
</footnotes>
    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>Cynthia L. Lesher</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2003-07-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>Carol J. Peterson, Attorney-in</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2003-07-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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