Xcel Energy Announces All-Source Generation RFP for Its Colorado Customers

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Xcel Energy will seek to acquire approximately 2,200 megawatts of electric generation supply for its Colorado customers between now and 2015, through an all-source request for proposal (RFP) issued today by the company. The RFP is part of the most recent 2007 Colorado Resource Plan (CRP) approved by state regulators in December.

“Our request today marks the next important chapter in meeting the future energy needs of Colorado, and it will have significant emphasis on ensuring that we add those generation sources that are in keeping with Xcel Energy’s environmental leadership strategy and the state’s New Energy Economy”

Xcel Energy is seeking to add up to 700 megawatts of additional wind and solar generation through the RFP. In addition, the company will consider acquiring up to 600 megawatts from solar thermal generation with storage capability or natural gas backup.

Under Colorado Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) rules, all forms of electric generation greater than 30 megawatts – both fossil fuels and renewables – can be bid, although this RFP restricts coal-fired bids to those from facilities that capture and sequester at least 50 percent of their carbon dioxide emissions.

“Our request today marks the next important chapter in meeting the future energy needs of Colorado, and it will have significant emphasis on ensuring that we add those generation sources that are in keeping with Xcel Energy’s environmental leadership strategy and the state’s New Energy Economy,” said Tim Taylor, president and CEO for Public Service Co. of Colorado, an Xcel Energy company.

Xcel will sponsor a pre-bid conference on Jan. 28 in Denver, with parties interested in offering power supply proposals to the company through this RFP. Proposals are due on April 10. Xcel Energy expects to offer “self-build” proposals to compete in the overall process.

Xcel Energy expects to complete the resource evaluation process by the fall of 2009. An independent evaluator selected by the CPUC will perform a parallel evaluation of proposals.

Complete RFP documents related to the process can be found online at www.xcelenergy.com. Select the top menu item “Company,” select the left menu item “About Energy and Rates,” then select left menu item “Energy RFPs” and then select the link for the “2009 PSCo All-Source RFP.”

One megawatt of generation in Colorado typically serves the needs of approximately 750 homes. Xcel Energy currently has about 7,700 megawatts of generation capacity available on its system, either owned or secured through power-purchase agreements.

Xcel Energy (NYSE: XEL) is a major U.S. electricity and natural gas company with regulated operations in eight Western and Midwestern states. Xcel Energy provides a comprehensive portfolio of energy-related products and services to 3.3 million electricity customers and 1.8 million natural gas customers through its regulated operating companies. Company headquarters are located in Minneapolis. More information is available at www.xcelenergy.com.