-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 CxgmLSZEa7EuqX3UNZjl/lyKZ3jdSi4vCaB6FBE+Ggc+DrUmcaf9c1UfTOzhfc4W
 GaJqJ1CbZcRi5OgrHJIrPQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001162782-03-000115.txt : 20030930
<SEC-HEADER>0001162782-03-000115.hdr.sgml : 20030930
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030930163809
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001162782-03-000115
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030929
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030930

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			XCEL ENERGY INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000072903
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTRIC & OTHER SERVICES COMBINED [4931]
		IRS NUMBER:				410448030
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		800 NICOLLET MALL
		CITY:			MINNEAPOLIS
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55402
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6123305500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		800 NICOLLET MALL
		CITY:			MINNEAPOLIS
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55401

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	NORTHERN STATES POWER CO /MN/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BURGESS C CONVEY
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001083770
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTRIC SERVICES [4911]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-03034
		FILM NUMBER:		03917997

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1000 E MAIN ST
		CITY:			PLAINFIELD
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46168
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3178399611

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1225 17TH ST
		STREET 2:		STE 439
		CITY:			DENVER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80201-0840
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-09-29</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000072903</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>XCEL ENERGY INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>XEL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001083770</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BURGESS C CONVEY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1225 17TH ST</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>STE 439</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DENVER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>80201-0840</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>
  <nonDerivativeTable>
    <nonDerivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Common</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>5156.24</value>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeHolding>
    <nonDerivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Common</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>3638.29</value>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>I</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <natureOfOwnership>
              <value>Herring Bancorp Inc</value>
          </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeHolding>
  </nonDerivativeTable>
  <derivativeTable>
   <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Phantom Stock Units</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>0.00</value>
              <footnoteId id="F3" />
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-09-29</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>654.97</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionPricePerShare>
              <value>15.39</value>
          </transactionPricePerShare>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>A</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
          <value>1988-08-08</value>
              <footnoteId id="F4" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
          <value>1988-08-08</value>
              <footnoteId id="F4" />
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Common</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <value>654.97</value>
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>18073.50</value>
              <footnoteId id="F5" />
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeTransaction>
  </derivativeTable>
<footnotes>
   <footnote id="F1">Includes 128.38 shares of stock acquired pursuant to investment of dividends.  </footnote>
   <footnote id="F2">Includes 90.53 shares of stock acquired pursuant to reinvestment of dividends.  </footnote>
   <footnote id="F3">Security converts to common stock on a one-for-one basis.  </footnote>
   <footnote id="F4">Shares of phantom stock are payable in shares of common stock following termination of reporting person's service.  Partial share
s are payable in cash.  </footnote>
   <footnote id="F5">Includes 386.01 shares of stock acquired pursuant to reinvestment of dividends.  </footnote>
</footnotes>
    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>Carol J. Peterson, Attorney-in-Fact for C. Coney Burgess</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2003-09-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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