NEW YORK (Standard&Poor's CreditWire) Aug. 17, 2000--Standard&Poor's today assigned its single-'A'-minus long-term corporate credit rating and its 'A-2' short-term corporate credit and commercial paper ratings to Xcel Energy. Standard&Poor's also assigned to Xcel Energy its triple-'B' preferred stock rating. Xcel Energy is the new parent company of Northern States Power Co. (Minnesota), Northern States Power Wisconsin, Public Service Co. of Colorado, and Southwestern Public Service Co. (Texas). Consequently, Standard&Poor's lowered its ratings on Northern States Power, Northern States Power Wisconsin, and Southwestern Public Service (except Southwestern Public Service's senior unsecured debt which was affirmed) and removed the ratings from CreditWatch (see list below). Standard&Poor's affirmed its ratings on Public Service
