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Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits (Details)
$ in Millions
 1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2021
USD ($)
Plan
Sep. 30, 2021
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2020
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2021
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2020
USD ($)
Pension Plan [Member]          
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost [Abstract]          
Service cost   $ 26 $ 24 $ 78 $ 72
Interest Cost [1]   26 31 78 94
Expected Return on Plan Assets [1]   (52) (52) (155) (156)
Amortization of Prior Service Credit [1]   0 (1) (1) (3)
Amortization of Net Loss [1]   27 25 81 74
Net periodic benefit cost (credit)   66 27 120 81
Effects of regulation   (31) 4 (32) 7
Net benefit cost (credit) recognized for financial reporting   35 31 88 88
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Credit), Gain (Loss) Due to Settlement [2]   39 0 39 0
Pension Plan [Member] | Parent Company          
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost [Abstract]          
Contributions to Xcel Energy's pension plans $ 125        
Number of pension plans to which contributions were made | Plan 4        
Other Postretirement Benefits Plan [Member]          
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost [Abstract]          
Service cost   0 0 1 1
Interest Cost [1]   4 5 11 14
Expected Return on Plan Assets [1]   (4) (5) (13) (15)
Amortization of Prior Service Credit [1]   (2) (2) (6) (6)
Amortization of Net Loss [1]   1 1 4 3
Net periodic benefit cost (credit)   (1) (1) (3) (3)
Effects of regulation   1 1 2 2
Net benefit cost (credit) recognized for financial reporting   0 0 (1) (1)
Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Credit), Gain (Loss) Due to Settlement [2]   $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0
[1] The components of net periodic cost other than the service cost component are included in the line item “Other (expense) income, net” in the consolidated statements of income or capitalized on the consolidated balance sheets as a regulatory asset
[2] A settlement charge is required when the amount of all lump-sum distributions during the year is greater than the sum of the service and interest cost components of the annual net periodic pension cost. In the third quarter of 2021 as a result of lump-sum distributions during the 2021 plan year, Xcel Energy recorded a total pension settlement charge of $39 million, the majority of which was not recognized in earnings due to the effects of regulation. A total of $4 million of that amount was recorded in other expense in the third quarter 2021