Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefits, Postretirement Benefit Plan Benefit Obligations, Cash Flows and Benefit Costs (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2025

Dec. 31, 2024

Dec. 31, 2023

Change in Projected Benefit Obligation [Roll Forward]

Defined Benefit Plan, Plan Assets, Payment for Settlement

$ 168

Funded Status of Plans at Dec. 31 [Abstract]

Noncurrent liabilities

$ (365)

(477)

Pension Plan [Member]

Change in Projected Benefit Obligation [Roll Forward]

Obligation at Jan. 1

2,752

2,943

Service cost

$ 74

Interest cost

155

151

158

Actuarial loss

(77)

Plan participants' contributions

Medicare subsidy reimbursements

Benefit payments

(230)

(341)

^[1]

Obligation at Dec. 31

2,820

2,752

2,943

Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets [Roll Forward]

Fair value of plan assets at Jan. 1

2,504

^[2]

2,690

Actual return (loss) on plan assets

291

Employer contributions

125

100

Participant contributions

Benefit payments

(230)

(341)

Fair value of plan assets at Dec. 31

2,690

^[2]

2,504

^[2]

2,690

Funded status

(130)

(248)

Funded Status of Plans at Dec. 31 [Abstract]

Assets for Plan Benefits, Defined Benefit Plan

Current liabilities

Noncurrent liabilities

(130)

(248)

Net postretirement amounts recognized on consolidated balance sheets

(130)

(248)

Amounts Not Yet Recognized as Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost [Abstract]

Net loss

1,029

1,074

Prior service (credit) cost

(6)

(8)

Total

1,023

1,066

Amounts Not Yet Recognized as Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost Have Been Recorded as Follows Based Upon Expected Recovery in Rates [Abstract]

Current regulatory assets

Noncurrent regulatory assets

938

983

Current regulatory liabilities

Noncurrent regulatory liabilities

Deferred income taxes

Net-of-tax accumulated other comprehensive income

Total

$ 1,023

$ 1,066

Significant Assumptions Used to Measure Benefit Obligations [Abstract]

Discount rate for year-end valuation (as a percent)

5.78%

5.88%

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Credit) [Abstract]

Service cost

$ 76

Interest cost

155

151

158

Expected return on plan assets

(208)

(206)

(209)

Amortization of prior service cost (credit)

(2)

(1)

Amortization of net loss

Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Credit), Gain (Loss) Due to Settlement

^[3]

(67)

Net periodic benefit cost

$ 49

$ 116

$ 44

Significant Assumptions Used to Measure Costs [Abstract]

Discount rate (as a percent)

5.88%

5.49%

5.80%

Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used Calculating Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Rate of Compensation Increase

4.25%

Expected average long-term rate of return on assets (as a percent)

7.13%

6.93%

Defined Benefit Plan, Costs Not Recognized Due To Regulation

$ 10

$ (37)

$ 30

Net benefit cost recognized for financial reporting

Other Postretirement Benefits Plan [Member]

Change in Projected Benefit Obligation [Roll Forward]

Obligation at Jan. 1

427

394

Service cost

Interest cost

Actuarial loss

Plan participants' contributions

Medicare subsidy reimbursements

Benefit payments

(55)

(53)

Obligation at Dec. 31

430

427

394

Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets [Roll Forward]

Fair value of plan assets at Jan. 1

344

^[4]

356

Actual return (loss) on plan assets

Employer contributions

Participant contributions

Benefit payments

(55)

(53)

Fair value of plan assets at Dec. 31

342

^[4]

344

^[4]

356

Funded status

(88)

(83)

Funded Status of Plans at Dec. 31 [Abstract]

Assets for Plan Benefits, Defined Benefit Plan

Current liabilities

(2)

(4)

Noncurrent liabilities

(93)

(89)

Net postretirement amounts recognized on consolidated balance sheets

(88)

(83)

Amounts Not Yet Recognized as Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost [Abstract]

Net loss

117

113

Prior service (credit) cost

Total

117

113

Amounts Not Yet Recognized as Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost Have Been Recorded as Follows Based Upon Expected Recovery in Rates [Abstract]

Current regulatory assets

Noncurrent regulatory assets

125

127

Current regulatory liabilities

(1)

Noncurrent regulatory liabilities

(15)

(18)

Deferred income taxes

Net-of-tax accumulated other comprehensive income

Total

$ 117

$ 113

Significant Assumptions Used to Measure Benefit Obligations [Abstract]

Discount rate for year-end valuation (as a percent)

5.66%

5.88%

Defined Benefit Plan, Health Care Cost Trend Rate Assumed, Pre-65

7.00%

Defined Benefit Plan, Health Care Cost Trend Rate Assumed, Post-65

7.50%

Ultimate health care trend assumption rate (as a percent)

4.50%

Defined Benefit Plan, Ultimate Health Care Cost Trend Rate; Post - 65

4.50%

Period until ultimate trend rate is reached (in years)

8 years

9 years

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Credit) [Abstract]

Service cost

$ 1

Interest cost

Expected return on plan assets

(20)

(17)

Amortization of prior service cost (credit)

(1)

Amortization of net loss

Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Credit), Gain (Loss) Due to Settlement

^[3]

Net periodic benefit cost

$ 9

$ 7

$ 6

Significant Assumptions Used to Measure Costs [Abstract]

Discount rate (as a percent)

5.88%

5.54%

5.80%

Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used Calculating Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Rate of Compensation Increase

0.00%

Expected average long-term rate of return on assets (as a percent)

6.25%

5.00%

Defined Benefit Plan, Costs Not Recognized Due To Regulation

$ 0

Net benefit cost recognized for financial reporting

$ 9

$ 7

$ 6

[1]	Includes $168 million of lump-sum benefit payments used in the determination of settlement charges in 2024.
[2]	See Note 10 for further information regarding fair value measurement inputs and methods.
[3]	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 2024, as a result of lump-sum distributions during the plan year, Xcel Energy recorded a total pension settlement charge of $67 million, the majority of which was not recognized due to the effects of regulation. A total of $8 million was recorded in the consolidated statements of income in 2024. There were no settlement charges recorded for the qualified pension plans in 2025 and 2023.
[4]	See Note 10 for further information on fair value measurement inputs and methods.

XCEL ENERGY INC 10-K