
                                                                    Exhibit 5.01

May 20, 1998

Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20549

Re:  12,978 shares of Common Stock of Northern States Power
     Company, a Minnesota Corporation.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

      I am participating in the proceedings incident to the proposed issuance by
Northern States Power Company, a Minnesota corporation (the "Company"), of up to
12,978  shares  of  Common  Stock, par value $2.50  per  share  (the  "shares"),
pursuant  to the Company's Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the "Plan").   I  have
examined  all records, instruments, and documents which I have deemed  necessary
to  examine  for  the  purposes  of  this opinion,  including  the  Registration
Statement on Form S-8, as amended, relating to the Plan previously filed by  the
Company  pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, and the proposed Post-Effective
Amendment No. Six to said Registration Statement.

      Based  upon the foregoing and upon my general familiarity with the Company
and its affairs, I am of the opinion:

      1.   That the Company is a duly organized and validly existing corporation
under  the  laws of the State of Minnesota and that it is legally qualified  and
authorized to operate and conduct business in the State of Minnesota.

      2.    When,  as  and if Post-Effective Amendment No. Six to the  Company's
Registration  Statement on Form S-8 to which this opinion is an exhibit  becomes
effective pursuant to the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as  amended,
and  the  shares have been duly issued and delivered, and the consideration  for
the shares has been duly received by the Company, all in the manner contemplated
by  said Registration Statement, the shares will be legally issued, fully  paid,
and nonassessable shares of stock of the Company.

       I  hereby  consent  to  the  incorporation  of  this  opinion  into  said
Registration  Statement  and  the reference to me under  the  heading  "Item  5.
Interests of Named Experts and Counsel" in said Registration Statement.

Respectfully submitted,

/s/
Gary R. Johnson
Vice President and General Counsel




