Standard&Poor's Ratings Services said today that it views Xcel Energy Inc.'s (BBB/Watch Dev/A-3) announcement that an agreement has been reached with the major NRG Energy noteholders and bank lenders as very positive for Xcel Energy's credit quality. The 'BBB' corporate credit rating on Xcel Energy is currently on CreditWatch with developing implications, meaning that the rating may be raised, lowered, or stay the same depending on the outcome of the negotiations with NRG's creditors. With the resolution of those settlement discussions, uncertainty has been largely eliminated, the cost to Xcel Energy has been established, and all obligations for NRG have been satisfied. Standard&Poor's intends to review the credit profile of the utilities–-including the impact of the
