(Editor's note: This corrects a mistake in the ratings list below.) On June 24, Standard&Poor's lowered electric utility holding company Xcel Energy Inc.'s corporate credit ratings to BBB/A-3 from A-/A-2 and removed them from CreditWatch. The ratings were placed on CreditWatch with negative implications on Feb. 11, 2002, when management announced that it would acquire the outstanding shares of NRG Energy Inc. The outlook on Xcel and all of its subsidiaries is negative, pending the outcome of management's plan to sell NRG's international assets and a few U.S. assets. The proceeds would be used to reduce debt. Minneapolis, Minn.-based Xcel Energy has about $15 billion in outstanding debt. Until now, Xcel's corporate credit rating has not incorporated NRG's
