-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 TtippQ5jwUSU9b5jWDmzSEKTQ7Qp2tTB38RXIA3i4oUWAZUptMuvL0Nz/VNzn7Is
 0cpkuAeb+kFO0IeyG9/6gg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001162782-03-000140.txt : 20031231
<SEC-HEADER>0001162782-03-000140.hdr.sgml : 20031231
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031231104033
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001162782-03-000140
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031229
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031231

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STEPHENS W T
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001027017
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTRIC & OTHER SERVICES COMBINED [4931]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CO
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-03034
		FILM NUMBER:		031079398

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1225 17TH ST STE 500
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 840
		CITY:			DENVER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80201-0840
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3035717511

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 840 STE 300
		CITY:			DENVER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80201

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>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-12-29</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000072903</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>XCEL ENERGY INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>XEL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001027017</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STEPHENS W T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3333 EAST PLATTE AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENWOOD VILLAGE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>80121</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>
  <nonDerivativeTable>
    <nonDerivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Common</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>11291.38</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeHolding>
  </nonDerivativeTable>
  <derivativeTable>
   <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Phantom Stock Unit</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>0</value>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-12-29</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>965.95</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionPricePerShare>
              <value>17.33</value>
          </transactionPricePerShare>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>A</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
          <value>1988-08-08</value>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
          <value>1988-08-08</value>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Common</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <value>965.95</value>
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>27869.94</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeTransaction>
  </derivativeTable>
<footnotes>
   <footnote id="F1">Security converts to common stock on a one-for-one basis.  </footnote>
   <footnote id="F2">Shares of phantom stock are payable in shares of common stock following termination of reporting person's service.  Partial share
s are payable in cash.  </footnote>
</footnotes>
<remarks></remarks>    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>Carol J. Peterson, Attorney-in-Fact for W. T. Stephens</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2003-12-31</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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