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Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits, Pension Benefits (Details) (USD $)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP) and Nonqualified Pension Plan
     
Pension Benefits [Abstract]      
Total benefit obligation $ 600,000 $ 600,000  
Pension Plans
     
Pension Benefits [Abstract]      
Total benefit obligation 163,930,000 179,995,000 159,766,000
Minimum number of years historical achieved weighted average annual returns are used to determine investment return assumptions (in years) 20 years    
Expected average long-term rate of return on assets (in hundredths) 7.25% 7.50% 8.00%
Expected average long-term rate of return on assets for next fiscal year (in hundredths) 7.25%    
Target Pension Asset Allocations [Abstract]      
Target pension asset allocations (in hundredths) 100.00% 100.00%  
Pension Plans | Domestic and international equity securities
     
Target Pension Asset Allocations [Abstract]      
Target pension asset allocations (in hundredths) 31.00% 29.00%  
Pension Plans | Long-duration fixed income and interest rate swap securities
     
Target Pension Asset Allocations [Abstract]      
Target pension asset allocations (in hundredths) 29.00% 30.00%  
Pension Plans | Short-to-intermediate fixed income securities
     
Target Pension Asset Allocations [Abstract]      
Target pension asset allocations (in hundredths) 16.00% 12.00%  
Pension Plans | Alternative investments
     
Target Pension Asset Allocations [Abstract]      
Target pension asset allocations (in hundredths) 22.00% 27.00%  
Pension Plans | Cash
     
Target Pension Asset Allocations [Abstract]      
Target pension asset allocations (in hundredths) 2.00% 2.00%  
Xcel Energy Inc. | Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP) and Nonqualified Pension Plan
     
Pension Benefits [Abstract]      
Total benefit obligation 36,500,000 39,400,000  
Net benefit cost recognized for financial reporting $ 6,600,000 $ 15,600,000