Diversity of geography, fuel, economy. Regulatory support. Plant operating efficiency. Continuing cost reduction program. Parent company debt increases debt service burden for utilities. Purchased power adds $800 million to $1 billion debt equivalent to consolidated balance sheet. The corporate credit rating on Xcel Energy Inc. is based on the consolidated credit profile of Xcel and its subsidiaries, Northern States Power Co. (NSP-Minnesota), Northern States Power Wisconsin (NSP-Wisconsin), Public Service Co. of Colorado (PSCO) and Southwestern Public Service Co. (SPS). The rating reflects the strength of the utilities' business profile ('4' on a scale of '1' to '10', with '10' being the weakest), which incorporates the generally supportive state regulation that governs each utility's rates, the relatively low-cost power supply and
