Xcel Energy 2009 Annual Report Download - page 8

licenses for the two units at the Prairie Island
nuclear generating plant and to increase the
plant’s generating capacity.
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission
(MPUC) approved our requests for additional
dry cask storage to accommodate 20-year life
extension for each of the plant’s two reactors,
allowing operation to 2033 and 2034. That
decision is stayed until June 1 to allow Minnesota
lawmakers to review it if they wish during their
2010 legislative session.
We also asked for MPUC approval to make plant
modifications that would result in an additional
82 megawatts of generating capacity per unit,
which would bring the total plant capacity to
1,264 megawatts. Meanwhile, the plant’s license
renewal application awaits action by the federal
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), which
is expected in 2010. If approved, we will then
ask permission of the NRC to increase
generating capacity.
KEEPING
CUSTOMERS
SATISFIED
Another powerful way to achieve a clean energy
future is to work with customers to conserve
energy and manage its use, an effort we’ve driven
for more than two decades. In addition to the
environmental benefits, customers save energy
and money, and we avoid the need to build new
power plants. Since 1992, we estimate that
customers have conserved enough energy
to avoid building 12 mid-sized power plants.
The reliability of our system is also important
to customers. In 2009, we more than met our
reliability targets and achieved the best results
we’ve seen in five years. Our customer satisfaction
levels were also strong. We exceeded our goal for
residential customer satisfaction when 92 percent
of customers gave us positive scores.
Reliability and customer satisfaction
illustrate operational excellence. So do safety
results. In 2009, we significantly reduced employee
safety incidents, which is an ongoing effort we
take seriously.
CARING FOR
THE COMMUNITY
We also care about the communities in our
service territory and contribute to their health
and well-being through Xcel Energy Foundation
grants, in-kind donations to nonprofit organizations
and matching gifts.
Our employees are thoroughly connected to
their communities and contribute their time and
energy in countless volunteer activities. They also
contribute financially, in particular through the
company’s annual United Way campaign. We are
proud of the fact that despite a tight economy, our
employees and retirees pledged $2.6 million to
local United Way organizations in 2009, an amount
that the company matched. They also greatly
increased their volunteer efforts.
Employees are the heart of Xcel Energy’s
connections. We achieved significant
accomplishments in 2009 because we have
outstanding employees. For example, they carefully
managed costs during these difficult economic
times without sacrificing reliability or customer
service. They also completed an employee-driven
effort called the Performance Excellence Program
(PEP) that took a comprehensive look at how we
operate. About 200 PEP team members made
many process improvements related to planning,
productivity, increased revenues and customer
service. Since the completion of the project, we’ve
incorporated PEP concepts in each of our operating
companies, where employees continue to look for
efficiencies and operating improvements.