Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits [Abstract]

Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits

12. Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits

Pension and other postretirement benefit disclosures below generally represent Xcel Energy consolidated information unless specifically identified as being attributable to PSCo.

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost

	Three Months Ended Sept. 30,
	2011			2010			2011			2010
							Postretirement Health
(Thousands of Dollars)	Pension Benefits						Care Benefits
Xcel Energy
Service cost	$	19,330		$	18,286		$	1,206		$	1,002
Interest cost		40,353			41,253			10,522			10,695
Expected return on plan assets		(55,400	)		(58,080	)		(7,991	)		(7,132	)
Amortization of transition obligation		-			-			3,611			3,611
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)		5,633			5,165			(1,233	)		(1,233	)
Amortization of net loss		19,627			12,078			3,324			2,910
Net periodic pension cost		29,543			18,702			9,439			9,853
Costs not recognized and additional cost recognized due to the effects of regulation		(9,299	)		(6,630	)		972			972
Net benefit cost recognized for financial reporting	$	20,244		$	12,072		$	10,411		$	10,825
PSCo
Net periodic benefit cost	$	7,591		$	3,825		$	5,272		$	5,577
Additional cost recognized due to the effects of regulation		-			-			972			972
Net benefit cost recognized for financial reporting	$	7,591		$	3,825		$	6,244		$	6,549

	Nine Months Ended Sept. 30,
	2011			2010			2011			2010
							Postretirement Health
(Thousands of Dollars)	Pension Benefits						Care Benefits
Xcel Energy
Service cost	$	57,990		$	54,860		$	3,618		$	3,005
Interest cost		121,059			123,758			31,565			32,085
Expected return on plan assets		(166,200	)		(174,239	)		(23,972	)		(21,397	)
Amortization of transition obligation		-			-			10,833			10,833
Amortization of prior service cost (credit)		16,899			15,493			(3,699	)		(3,699	)
Amortization of net loss		58,883			36,236			9,971			8,732
Net periodic pension cost		88,631			56,108			28,316			29,559
Costs not recognized and additional cost recognized due to the effects of regulation		(27,899	)		(20,270	)		2,918			2,918
Net benefit cost recognized for financial reporting	$	60,732		$	35,838		$	31,234		$	32,477
PSCo
Net periodic benefit cost	$	22,772		$	11,477		$	15,816		$	16,730
Additional cost recognized due to the effects of regulation		-			-			2,918			2,918
Net benefit cost recognized for financial reporting	$	22,772		$	11,477		$	18,734		$	19,648

Voluntary contributions of $134 million were made to three of Xcel Energy's pension plans in January 2011, including $58.3 million related to PSCo.Based on updated valuation results received in March 2011 for the New Century Energies, Inc. (NCE) Non-Bargaining Pension Plan, Xcel Energy made a required contribution of $3.3 million to the NCE Non-Bargaining Pension Plan in July 2011. Xcel Energy does not expect additional pension contributions during 2011.