8-K 1 a10-7371_18k.htm 8-K

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

 

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)  March 31, 2010

 


 

Commission File
Number

 

Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter; State of
Incorporation; Address of Principal Executive Offices; and
Telephone Number

 

IRS Employer
Identification
Number

001-3034

 

XCEL ENERGY

 

41-0448030

 

 

(a Minnesota corporation)

 

 

 

 

414 Nicollet Mall

 

 

 

 

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401

 

 

 

 

(612) 330-5500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

000-31387

 

NORTHERN STATES POWER COMPANY

 

41-1967505

 

 

(a Minnesota corporation)

 

 

 

 

414 Nicollet Mall

 

 

 

 

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401

 

 

 

 

(612) 330-5500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

001-03140

 

NORTHERN STATES POWER COMPANY

 

39-0508315

 

 

(a Wisconsin corporation)

 

 

 

 

1414 W. Hamilton Avenue

 

 

 

 

Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54701

 

 

 

 

(715) 839-2625

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

001-3280

 

PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF COLORADO

 

84-0296600

 

 

(a Colorado corporation)

 

 

 

 

1225 17th Street

 

 

 

 

Denver, Colorado 80202

 

 

 

 

(303) 571-7511

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

001-03789

 

SOUTHWESTERN PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY

 

75-0575400

 

 

(a New Mexico corporation)

 

 

 

 

Tyler at Sixth

 

 

 

 

Amarillo, Texas 79101

 

 

 

 

(303) 571-7511

 

 

 


 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

o    Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

o    Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

o    Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 



 

Item 8.01  Other Events

 

Health Care Reform on Medicare Part D Subsidy Reimbursements On March 23, 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590), which was subsequently amended on March 30, 2010, was signed into law.  The law includes provisions to generate tax revenue to help offset the cost of the new legislation.  One of these provisions would reduce the deductibility of retiree health care costs, to the extent of federal subsidies received by plan sponsors, which provide retiree prescription drug benefits equivalent to Medicare Part D coverage, beginning in 2013.  Based on this provision, many employers including Xcel Energy are subject to additional taxes and are required to reverse previously recorded tax benefits in the period of enactment.

 

As a result, Xcel Energy expects to expense approximately $17 million, or 4 cents per share, of previously recognized tax benefits relating to Medicare Part D subsidies during the first quarter ending March 31, 2010.  The $17 million of additional tax expense will not reoccur in future periods.  However, the 2010 effective tax rate is expected to increase due to additional tax expense of approximately $4 million associated with current year retiree health care accruals.

 

Xcel Energy reaffirms its 2010 ongoing earnings guidance of $1.55 to $1.65 per share.  Xcel Energy does not consider the 4 cents per share charge to be part of ongoing earnings, as the adjustment results from a new law that is not expected to reoccur in the future.

 

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Except for the historical statements contained in this 8-K, the matters discussed herein, including our 2010 full year EPS guidance, are forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions.  Such forward-looking statements may be identified in this document by the words “would,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “likely,” “may,” “possible,” “potential,” “should” and similar expressions.  Actual results may vary materially.  Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update them to reflect changes that occur after that date. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to: general economic conditions, including the availability of credit and its impact on capital expenditures and the ability of Xcel Energy and its subsidiaries to obtain financing on favorable terms; business conditions in the energy industry; actions of credit rating agencies; competitive factors, including the extent and timing of the entry of additional competition in the markets served by Xcel Energy and its subsidiaries; unusual weather; effects of geopolitical events, including war and acts of terrorism; state, federal and foreign legislative and regulatory initiatives that affect cost and investment recovery, have an impact on rates or have an impact on asset operation or ownership; structures that affect the speed and degree to which competition enters the electric and natural gas markets; costs and other effects of legal and administrative proceedings, settlements, investigations and claims; actions of accounting regulatory bodies; and the other risk factors listed from time to time by Xcel Energy in reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including Risk Factors in Item 1A and Exhibit 99.01 of each of Xcel Energy’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2009.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

March 31, 2010

Xcel Energy Inc.

 

(a Minnesota corporation)

 

Northern States Power Company

 

(a Minnesota corporation)

 

Northern States Power Company

 

(a Wisconsin corporation)

 

Public Service Company of Colorado

 

(a Colorado corporation)

 

Southwestern Public Service Company

 

(a New Mexico corporation)

 

 

 

/s/ DAVID M. SPARBY

 

David M. Sparby

 

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

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