Xcel Energy 2006 Annual Report Download - page 9

and actually capture carbon dioxide emissions. If the feasibility
project goes according to plan, we’d begin construction of an
IGCC facility in 2010.
We also are working with the U.S. Department of Energy on a
project that uses wind power to create hydrogen. The hydrogen
could be stored and used to generate electricity when the wind
isn’t blowing or be used as a transportation fuel.
Last but not least, we’ve worked with customers for more than
two decades to conserve energy and manage its use. In 2006,
we helped them conserve more than 305 gigawatt-hours of
electricity, the equivalent amount of power used by 32,000
homes in one year.
Our environmental results give us the credibility to call for a
national strategy to address global climate change, which we
believe is a genuine concern. A national plan should encourage
and set fair ground rules for the kind of efforts Xcel Energy
already is pursuing, including renewable energy, new environ-
mental technology, conservation and emission-free nuclear
energy. We continue to work with a variety of stakeholders
on the climate change issue.
O P E R AT I O N A L E X C E L L E N C E Operational results across the
company also were outstanding in 2006. Our Energy Supply
business area, for example, ended the year with excellent safety
results and major capital projects on schedule. Employees kept
power plants operating despite difficulties such as hot weather,
low water supply and lower coal inventories. In our nuclear area,
we received permission from the Nuclear Regulatory Commis-
sion to extend the operating license of our Monticello nuclear
plant to the year 2030, and the plant set a continuous-run
operating record of 637 days.
Reliability is an important measure of operational success for
our electric business, too. For several years, we’ve invested in
reliability improvements, and those efforts are paying off. In
2006, Xcel Energy significantly improved electric reliability
based on a measure that includes both the number of service
interruptions and the amount of time a customer is out of
service. Reliability improvements, favorable weather and the
skill and expertise of our employees put us in the top quartile
for reliability, as measured by the Edison Electric Institute (EEI),
an association of U.S. shareholder-owned electric companies.
A GENUINE C O M M I T M E N T T O COMMUNITY Our commit-
ment to the communities we serve is as compelling as our
obligation to customers. We contribute to their well-being with
the volunteer efforts of our employees and retirees as well as
our corporate donations. In 2006, Xcel Energy’s contributions to
the community were valued at more than $15 million, including
Xcel Energy Foundation grants, in-kind donations to nonprofit
organizations, matching gifts and United Way contributions. Our
employees and retirees pledged more than $2 million to support
local United Way efforts, which the Foundation matched for a
total contribution of more than $4 million. Employees also
donated more than 35,000 hours of their time to help others.
As proud as we are of our efforts, you don’t have to take our
word for Xcel Energy’s success. We were delighted to receive
important outside recognition in 2006, including EEI’s Edison
Award, which is the electric power industry’s highest honor.
The award recognized us for our pursuit of excellence in
customer service and operations, and our commitment to
cutting-edge technological innovation. In particular, EEI cited
Utility Innovations, an effort that we initiated with several lead-
ing technology vendors. Through Utility Innovations, we are able