News Releases

RED WING, Minn. - Operators safely shut down Prairie Island Nuclear Generating
Plant Unit 2 at 2:05 a.m. CDT Sunday to remove an obstruction in drain piping from a
pump.

The work is expected to be completed in a few days. The situation poses no danger to
the public or plant workers. Unit 1 continues to operate at full power.

The Prairie Island nuclear plant is 28 miles southeast of Minneapolis-St. Paul and
about six miles northwest of Red Wing. The plant's two pressurized water reactors
generate 1,076 megawatts of electricity. Minneapolis-based Xcel Energy owns and operates
the plant.

When both units are operating, Prairie Island generates enough electricity to power
nearly 1 million homes. During outages, Xcel Energy purchases electricity from the
Midcontinent Independent System Operator or other utilities or increases electricity
production at its other generating plants to ensure an adequate power supply for
customers.

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Xcel Energy (NYSE: XEL) is a major U.S. electricity and natural gas company that
provides a comprehensive portfolio of energy-related products and services to 3.5 million
electricity customers and 1.9 million natural gas customers through its regulated operating
companies in eight Western and Midwestern states. Company headquarters are located in
Minneapolis.

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