NORTHERN STATES POWER CO /MN/
8-K, 1994-10-07
ELECTRIC & OTHER SERVICES COMBINED
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               SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                     Washington, D.C. 20549




                            FORM 8-K



                         CURRENT REPORT



               Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
               the Securities Exchange Act of 1934




Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)            October 5, 1994    


                    Northern States Power Company                              
     (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


                               Minnesota                                       
         (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)


       1-3034                                                  41-0448030      
(Commission File Number)                  (IRS Employer Identification No.)


414 Nicollet Mall, Mpls, MN                                        55401       
(Address of principal executive offices)                         (Zip Code)



Registrant's telephone number, including area code               612-330-5500  


                                                                               
  (Former name of former address, if changed since last report)


Item 5.   Other Events


On October 5, 1994, Northern States Power Company, a Minnesota corporation (the
"Company") entered into an Underwriting Agreement and filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission a prospectus supplement relating to $150,000,000 in
aggregate principal amount of the Company's First Mortgage Bonds, Series due
October 1, 2001.


Item 7.   Financial Statements and Exhibits

          Exhibits

    1.01  Underwriting Agreement, dated October 5, 1994, between Northern
          States Power Company and Kidder, Peabody & Co. Incorporated,
          Citicorp Securities, Inc., Lehman Brothers, J. P. Morgan Securities
          Inc., NatWest Capital Markets Limited, and Salomon Brothers Inc
          relating to $150,000,000 First Mortgage Bonds, Series due October 1,
          2001.

    4.01  Supplemental Trust Indenture dated October 1, 1994, between Northern
          States Power Company and Harris Trust and Savings Bank as Trustee,
          creating $150,000,000 principal amount First Mortgage Bonds, Series
          due October 1, 2001.

   12.01  Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges.


                           SIGNATURES


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                              Northern States Power Company
                              (a Minnesota Corporation)


                              By  (Edward J. McIntyre)
                                  Edward J. McIntyre
                                  Vice President and Chief Financial Officer



Dated: October 7, 1994

                          EXHIBIT INDEX

Method of        Exhibit
 Filing            No.      Description

   DT             1.01      Underwriting Agreement for the New Bonds.
   DT             4.01      Supplemental Trust Indenture for the New Bonds.
   DT            12.01      Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges.

DT -- Filed electronically with this direct transmission.



<PAGE>
                         NORTHERN STATES POWER COMPANY
                           (A MINNESOTA CORPORATION)
                              FIRST MORTGAGE BONDS
                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

To the Representatives named in Schedule I
  hereto of the Underwriters named in
  Schedule II hereto

Dear Sirs:

    Northern  States  Power Company,  a  Minnesota corporation  (the "Company"),
proposes  to  sell  to  the  underwriters  named  in  Schedule  II  hereto  (the
"Underwriters"),   for   whom   you   are   acting   as   representatives   (the
"Representatives"), its First Mortgage Bonds of the designation, with the  terms
and  in  the aggregate  principal  amount specified  in  Schedule I  hereto (the
"Bonds") to be issued under its Trust  Indenture, dated as of February 1,  1937,
from  the Company to Harris Trust and  Savings Bank, as trustee (the "Trustee"),
as heretofore supplemented and amended  by supplemental trust indentures and  as
to  be  further  supplemented  and amended  by  a  supplemental  trust indenture
relating to the Bonds (such Trust  Indenture as so supplemented and amended  and
as  to  be so  supplemented and  amended  being hereinafter  referred to  as the
"Indenture"). If the firm or firms listed in Schedule II hereto include only the
firm or firms  listed in Schedule  I hereto, then  the terms "Underwriters"  and
"Representatives," as used herein, shall each be deemed to refer to such firm or
firms.

    1.   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES BY  THE COMPANY.  The Company represents
and warrants to, and agrees with, each Underwriter that:

        (a) The Company  meets the requirements  for use of  Form S-3 under  the
    Securities  Act  of 1933,  as amended  (the  "Act") and  has filed  with the
    Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  (the  "Commission")  a   registration
    statement  on such Form, including a  prospectus, for the registration under
    the Act of  the Bonds,  which registration statement  has become  effective.
    Such  registration  statement  and  prospectus  may  have  been  amended  or
    supplemented from time to  time prior to the  date of this Agreement  (which
    date  is set forth in  Schedule I hereto). Any  such amendment or supplement
    was filed with the Commission and  any such amendment has become  effective.
    The  Company  will file  with the  Commission  a prospectus  supplement (the
    "Prospectus Supplement") relating to  the Bonds pursuant  to Rule 424  under
    the  Act. Copies  of such  registration statement  and prospectus,  any such
    amendment or supplement and all documents incorporated by reference  therein
    which  were  filed with  the  Commission on  or prior  to  the date  of this
    Agreement have been delivered to you and copies of the Prospectus Supplement
    will be delivered  to you promptly  after it is  filed with the  Commission.
    Such registration statement, as amended prior to the date of this Agreement,
    and  such prospectus, as amended and supplemented  prior to the date of this
    Agreement and as supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement, are  hereinafter
    called  the "Registration Statement" and the "Prospectus", respectively. Any
    reference herein to the  Registration Statement or  the Prospectus shall  be
    deemed  to  refer to  and include  the  documents incorporated  by reference
    therein pursuant  to  Item  12  of  Form S-3  which  were  filed  under  the
    Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934, as  amended (the  "Exchange Act")  on or
    before the date  of this Agreement  and, if the  Company files any  document
    pursuant  to the Exchange Act after the  date of this Agreement and prior to
    the termination of  the offering  of the  Bonds by  the Underwriters,  which
    documents  are deemed to  be incorporated by  reference into the Prospectus,
    the term "Prospectus" shall refer also to said prospectus as supplemented by
    the documents so filed from and after the time said documents are filed with
    the Commission.  There are  no  contracts or  documents  of the  Company  or

                                       1
<PAGE>
    any  of its subsidiaries  that are required  to be filed  as exhibits to the
    Registration Statement or any documents incorporated by reference therein by
    the Act, the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder which have
    not been so filed.

        (b) No order preventing or suspending  the use of the Prospectus or  the
    Registration   Statement  has  been   issued  by  the   Commission  and  the
    Registration Statement,  at the  date  of this  Agreement, complied  in  all
    material  respects with the requirements of the Act, the Trust Indenture Act
    of 1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act") and the respective rules and
    regulations of  the Commission  thereunder and  did not  contain any  untrue
    statement of a material fact or omit any material fact required to be stated
    therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading;
    and,  at the time the Prospectus Supplement is filed with the Commission and
    at the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined), the Prospectus will comply  in
    all  material respects  with the  Act and the  rules and  regulations of the
    Commission thereunder  and  will  not  contain any  untrue  statement  of  a
    material  fact or  omit to  state any  material fact  required to  be stated
    therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; PROVIDED
    that the Company makes no representations or warranties as to (A) that  part
    of  the  Registration  Statement  which shall  constitute  the  Statement of
    Eligibility (Form T-1) under the Trust  Indenture Act of the Trustee or  (B)
    the  information contained in or omitted  from the Registration Statement or
    the Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished
    in writing to the  Company by or  on behalf of  any Underwriter through  the
    Representatives  specifically  for  use  in  the  Registration  Statement or
    Prospectus.

        (c) The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, when they
    were filed with the  Commission, conformed in all  material respects to  the
    requirements  of  the Exchange  Act  and the  rules  and regulations  of the
    Commission thereunder,  and  any  documents so  filed  and  incorporated  by
    reference subsequent to the date of this Agreement will, when they are filed
    with the Commission, conform in all material respects to the requirements of
    the   Exchange  Act,  and  the  rules  and  regulations  of  the  Commission
    thereunder; and none of  such documents include or  will include any  untrue
    statement of a material fact or omit or will omit to state any material fact
    required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein in
    the light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading.

        (d) Deloitte & Touche, which audited certain of the financial statements
    incorporated  by reference  in the  Registration Statement,  are independent
    public accountants as required by the  Act and the rules and regulations  of
    the Commission thereunder.

        (e)  The  financial  statements  of  the  Company  and  its consolidated
    subsidiaries filed  as  a  part  of or  incorporated  by  reference  in  the
    Registration  Statement or Prospectus fairly  present the financial position
    of the Company and its consolidated  subsidiaries as of the dates  indicated
    and  the results of  their operations and changes  in financial position for
    the periods specified, and have  been prepared in conformity with  generally
    accepted  accounting principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the
    periods involved, except as disclosed in the Prospectus Supplement.

        (f) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as  a
    corporation  in good standing under the laws  of the State of Minnesota with
    due corporate authority to carry on the business in which it is engaged  and
    to  own and operate the properties used by it in such business, as described
    in the Prospectus;  the Company  is qualified to  do business  as a  foreign
    corporation  and is in good  standing under the laws  of the States of North
    Dakota and South Dakota; and  the Company is not  required by the nature  of
    its  business to be  licensed or qualified  as a foreign  corporation in any
    other state or  jurisdiction; and,  except as  set forth  in the  Prospectus
    Supplement,  the Company has all material licenses and approvals required at
    the date hereof to conduct its business.

        (g) Each  subsidiary  of the  Company  named  in Exhibit  22.01  to  the
    Company's  most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K ("Significant Subsidiary")
    has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in  good
    standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation and is duly
    qualified  as  a foreign  corporation to  transact business  and is  in good
    standing in  each  jurisdiction  in  which it  owns  or  leases  substantial
    properties   or  in  which  the  conduct   of  its  business  requires  such
    qualification; all of

                                       2
<PAGE>
    the issued and outstanding  capital stock of each  such subsidiary has  been
    duly authorized and validly issued and is fully paid and non-assessable; and
    the  capital stock of each such subsidiary owned by the Company, directly or
    through  subsidiaries,  is  owned  free  and  clear  of  any  pledge,  lien,
    encumbrance, claim or equity.

        (h)  Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has sustained since
    the date of the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated
    by reference in the  Prospectus any material loss  or interference with  its
    business  from  fire, explosion,  flood or  other  calamity, whether  or not
    covered by insurance,  or from any  labor dispute or  court or  governmental
    action,  order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the
    Prospectus  Supplement;  and,  since  the  respective  dates  as  of   which
    information  is  given  in  the Registration  Statement  and  the Prospectus
    Supplement, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has incurred any
    liabilities or  obligations,  direct  or contingent,  or  entered  into  any
    transactions,  not in the ordinary course of business, which are material to
    the Company and its subsidiaries, and there has not been any material change
    in the  capital  stock or  long-term  debt of  the  Company or  any  of  its
    subsidiaries  or any material adverse change, or any development involving a
    prospective material adverse  change, in or  affecting the general  affairs,
    management,   financial  position,   stockholders'  equity   or  results  of
    operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, otherwise than as set  forth
    or contemplated in the Prospectus Supplement.

        (i)  Neither  the  execution  and delivery  of  this  Agreement  and the
    Indenture, the issuance and delivery of  the Bonds, the consummation of  the
    transactions  herein contemplated, the fulfillment  of the terms hereof, nor
    compliance with the terms  and provisions of this  Agreement, the Bonds  and
    the  Indenture will conflict  with, or result  in the breach  of, any of the
    terms, provisions or conditions of  the Restated Articles of  Incorporation,
    as  amended, or  by-laws of  the Company, or  of any  contract, agreement or
    instrument to which the  Company is a  party or in which  the Company has  a
    beneficial  interest or by which the Company  is bound or of any order, rule
    or regulation applicable to the  Company of any court  or of any federal  or
    state  regulatory body or  administrative agency or  other governmental body
    having jurisdiction over the Company or over its properties.

        (j) The Bonds have been duly  authorized for issuance and sale  pursuant
    to  this Agreement and,  when executed and  authenticated in accordance with
    the Indenture and delivered  and paid for as  provided herein, will be  duly
    issued  and will  constitute valid  and binding  obligations of  the Company
    enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as limited by bankruptcy,
    insolvency and other  laws affecting enforcement  of creditors' rights,  and
    will   be  entitled  to  the  benefits   of  the  Indenture  which  will  be
    substantially in the form heretofore delivered to you.

        (k) The Indenture has  been duly and validly  authorized by the  Company
    and,  when  duly  executed  and  delivered  by  the  Company,  assuming  due
    authorization,  execution  and  delivery   thereof  by  the  Trustee,   will
    constitute  a valid  and binding  obligation of  the Company  enforceable in
    accordance with its terms, except as  enforcement thereof may be limited  by
    bankruptcy,  insolvency or  other laws  affecting enforcement  of creditors'
    rights.

        (l) The  Minnesota  Public Utilities  Commission  has issued  its  order
    approving  capital  structure which  order  authorizes the  issuance  of the
    Bonds, and  no  other approval  of  any  regulatory public  body,  state  or
    federal,  is,  or will  be  at the  Closing  Date (as  hereinafter defined),
    necessary in connection with the issuance and sale of the Bonds pursuant  to
    this  Agreement,  other  than approvals  that  may be  required  under state
    securities laws.

       (m) The Company has good and valid  title to all real and fixed  property
    and  leasehold rights described or enumerated  in the Indenture (except such
    properties as have been  released from the lien  thereof in accordance  with
    the   terms  thereof),  subject  only  to  taxes  and  assessments  not  yet
    delinquent; the  lien  of  the  Indenture; as  to  parts  of  the  Company's
    property,  certain easements, conditions,  restrictions, leases, and similar
    encumbrances which do not affect the  Company's use of such property in  the
    usual  course of its business, and certain minor defects in titles which are
    not material, and  defects in  titles to  certain properties  which are  not
    essential  to  the  Company's  business; and  mechanics'  lien  claims being
    contested or not  of record or  for the satisfaction  or discharge of  which
    adequate provision

                                       3
<PAGE>
    has  been  made by  the  Company pursuant  to  the Indenture;  and  any real
    property and buildings held under lease by  the Company is held by it  under
    valid,  subsisting and  enforceable leases with  such exceptions  as are not
    material and do not interfere with the  use made and proposed to be made  of
    such property and buildings by the Company.

        (n)  Other than as set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus as of the
    date hereof, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which
    the Company or any of its subsidiaries  is a party or of which any  property
    of  the  Company  or  any  of its  subsidiaries  is  the  subject  which, if
    determined adversely  to  the Company  or  any of  its  subsidiaries,  would
    individually  or  in the  aggregate have  a material  adverse effect  on the
    consolidated  financial  position,  stockholders'   equity  or  results   of
    operations  of the  Company and  its subsidiaries; and,  to the  best of the
    Company's knowledge, no such proceedings  are threatened or contemplated  by
    governmental authorities or threatened by others.

        (o) The Company is not an "investment company" or an entity "controlled"
    by  an "investment company,  " as such  terms are defined  in the Investment
    Company Act of 1940, as amended.

        (p) Except as set  forth in the Prospectus  Supplement, the Company  and
    its  subsidiaries (A) are in compliance with any and all applicable federal,
    state and local  laws and regulations  relating to the  protection of  human
    health  and  safety, the  environment or  hazardous  or toxic  substances or
    wastes, pollutants or contaminants ("Environmental Laws"), (B) have received
    all permits, licenses or other  approvals required of them under  applicable
    Environmental  Laws  to  conduct  its respective  business  and  (C)  are in
    compliance with all terms  and conditions of any  such permits, licenses  or
    approvals,  except where such noncompliance with Environmental Laws, failure
    to receive  required permits,  licenses  or other  approvals or  failure  to
    comply  with the terms and conditions of such permits, licenses or approvals
    would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the
    Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

    2.  PURCHASE AND SALE.  Subject to the terms and conditions and in  reliance
upon  the representations and warranties herein set forth, the Company agrees to
sell to the Representatives and each other Underwriter, and the  Representatives
and  each other Underwriter  agree, severally and not  jointly, to purchase from
the Company,  at  the  purchase  price  set forth  in  Schedule  I  hereto,  the
respective  principal amounts of  the Bonds set  forth opposite their respective
names in Schedule II hereto.

    3.  DELIVERY AND PAYMENT.   Delivery of and payment  for the Bonds shall  be
made  at the place, date and time specified  in Schedule I hereto (or such other
place, date and time not later than  eight full business days thereafter as  the
Representatives  and the  Company shall designate),  which date and  time may be
postponed by agreement between  the Representatives and  the Company (such  date
and time being herein called the "Closing Date"). Delivery of the Bonds shall be
made  to  the  Representatives  for  the  respective  accounts  of  the  several
Underwriters  against   payment  by   the  several   Underwriters  through   the
Representatives  of  the purchase  price thereof  to  or upon  the order  of the
Company by  certified or  official bank  check  or checks  payable in  New  York
Clearing  House (next day)  funds or, if  so indicated in  Schedule I hereto, in
federal (same day) funds. The Bonds  will be delivered in definitive  registered
form  except that, if for any reason the  Company is unable to deliver the Bonds
in definitive  form,  the  Company  reserves  the  right,  as  provided  in  the
Indenture,  to make delivery in temporary form. Any Bonds delivered in temporary
form will be exchangeable without charge for Bonds in definitive form. The Bonds
will be registered in the names of the Underwriters and in the principal amounts
set forth in Schedule II  hereto except that if  the Company receives a  written
request  from  the  Representatives prior  to  noon  on the  third  business day
preceding the  Closing Date  giving  the names  in which  the  Bonds are  to  be
registered  and the  principal amounts  thereof (which shall  in each  case be a
multiple of $1,000) the Company will deliver the Bonds so registered. The  Bonds
will  be made  available to  the Representatives for  checking in  New York, New
York, not  later  than 2:00  p.m.,  New York  City  time, on  the  business  day
preceding the Close Date.

    4.  AGREEMENTS.  The Company agrees with the several Underwriters that:

        (a)  With the consent of the Representatives, the Company will cause the
    Prospectus Supplement to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (b) under the Act and
    will notify the Representatives promptly of such

                                       4
<PAGE>
    filing. During the period  for which a prospectus  relating to the Bonds  is
    required to be delivered under the Act, the Company will promptly advise the
    Representatives  (i) when any amendment  to the Registration Statement shall
    have become effective, (ii) when any subsequent supplement to the Prospectus
    (including documents  deemed  to  be  incorporated  by  reference  into  the
    Prospectus)  has been filed, (iii) of any  request by the Commission for any
    amendment of or supplement to  the Registration Statement or the  Prospectus
    or  for  any  additional  information,  and  (iv)  of  the  issuance  by the
    Commission  of  any   stop  order  suspending   the  effectiveness  of   the
    Registration  Statement or the institution or threatening of any proceedings
    for  that  purpose.  The  Company  will  not  file  any  amendment  of   the
    Registration  Statement or supplement to the Prospectus (including documents
    deemed to  be incorporated  by  reference into  the Prospectus)  unless  the
    Company has furnished to the Representatives a copy for your review prior to
    filing  and will not file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which
    the Representatives reasonably object. The Company will use its best efforts
    to prevent the issuance of any such stop order and, if issued, to obtain  as
    soon as possible the withdrawal thereof.

        (b)  If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the Bonds is required
    to be delivered under  the Act, any  event occurs as a  result of which  the
    Prospectus  as  then  amended  or  supplemented  would  include  any  untrue
    statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to
    make the statements therein, in the  light of the circumstances under  which
    they  were made, not misleading, or if it  shall be necessary at any time to
    amend or supplement the  Prospectus to comply with  the Act or the  Exchange
    Act  or the respective  rules and regulations  of the Commission thereunder,
    the Company  promptly, subject  to paragraph  (a) of  this Section  4,  will
    prepare  and  file an  amendment or  supplement to  the Prospectus  with the
    Commission or will make a filing with the Commission pursuant to Section  13
    or  14 of the Exchange Act, which will correct such statement or omission or
    will effect such compliance.

        (c) The Company will  make generally available  to its security  holders
    and to the Representatives a consolidated earnings statement (which need not
    be  audited) of the  Company, for a twelve-month  period beginning after the
    date of the Prospectus  Supplement filed pursuant to  Rule 424(b) under  the
    Act,  as soon as is reasonably practicable after the end of such period, but
    in any event no later than eighteen months after the "effective date of  the
    Registration  Statement" (as  defined in Rule  158(c) under  the Act), which
    will satisfy the provision  of Section 11(a)  of the Act  and the rules  and
    regulations  of the  Commission thereunder (including  at the  option of the
    Company, Rule 158).

        (d) The Company  will furnish to  each of the  Representatives a  signed
    copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and of each amendment
    thereto,  including the Form T-1 of the  Trustee and all powers of attorney,
    consents and exhibits filed therewith  (other than exhibits incorporated  by
    reference),  and will deliver to the Representatives conformed copies of the
    Registration Statement, the Prospectus (including all documents incorporated
    by reference  therein)  and, so  long  as delivery  of  a prospectus  by  an
    Underwriter  or dealer  may be  required by the  Act, all  amendments of and
    supplements to such documents, in each case as soon as available and in such
    quantities as the Representatives may reasonably request.

        (e) The Company will furnish such information, execute such  instruments
    and  take such action as may be required to qualify the Bonds for sale under
    the laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may designate and will
    maintain  such  qualifications  in  effect  so  long  as  required  for  the
    distribution  of the Bonds; PROVIDED that  the Company shall not be required
    to qualify  to do  business  in any  jurisdiction where  it  is not  now  so
    qualified  or  to take  any  action which  would  subject it  to  general or
    unlimited service of  process in  any jurisdiction where  it is  not now  so
    subject.

        (f)  So long as the Bonds are  outstanding, the Company will furnish (or
    cause to be furnished) to each of the Representatives, upon request,  copies
    of  (i) all reports to stockholders of  the Company and (ii) all reports and
    financial statements filed  with the Commission  or any national  securities
    exchange.

        (g)  During the  period beginning  from the  date of  this Agreement and
    continuing to  the  Closing Date,  the  Company  will not  offer,  sell,  or
    otherwise  dispose of any first mortgage  bonds of the Company (except under
    prior contractual commitments which have been disclosed to you), without the
    prior written consent  of the  Representatives, which consent  shall not  be
    unreasonably withheld.

                                       5
<PAGE>
    5.   EXPENSES.   Whether or not the  transactions contemplated hereunder are
consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company will pay all costs  and
expenses  incident  to  the  performance  of  the  obligations  of  the  Company
hereunder, including,  without limiting  the generality  of the  foregoing,  all
costs, taxes and expenses incident to the issue and delivery of the Bonds to the
Underwriters,  all fees and  expenses of the  Company's counsel and accountants,
all costs and  expenses incident to  the preparing, printing  and filing of  the
Registration   Statement  (including  all   exhibits  thereto),  the  Prospectus
(including all documents incorporated by  reference therein) and any  amendments
thereof  or  supplements thereto,  all costs  and  expenses (including  fees and
expenses of counsel) incurred in connection with "blue sky" qualifications,  the
determination  of  the legality  of the  Bonds  for investment  by institutional
investors and  the rating  of  the Bonds,  and all  costs  and expenses  of  the
printing and distribution of all documents in connection with this underwriting.
Except as provided in this Section 5 and Section 8 hereof, the Underwriters will
pay  all their own costs  and expenses, including the  fees of their counsel and
any advertising expenses in connection with any offer they may make.

    6.  CONDITIONS TO THE OBLIGATIONS  OF THE UNDERWRITERS.  The obligations  of
the  Underwriters to purchase the  Bonds shall be subject,  in the discretion of
the Representatives, to the  accuracy of the  representations and warranties  on
the  part of the Company contained herein as  of the date hereof and the Closing
Date, to  the  accuracy  of the  statements  of  Company officers  made  in  any
certificates  given pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the
Company of its obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

        (a) The  Prospectus Supplement  relating to  the Bonds  shall have  been
    filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) within the applicable time
    period prescribed for such filing by the rules and regulations under the Act
    and  in accordance  with Section 4(a)  hereof; no stop  order suspending the
    effectiveness of the Registration Statement  or any part thereof shall  have
    been  issued and no proceeding for that purpose shall have been initiated or
    threatened by the Commission; and all requests for additional information on
    the  part  of  the  Commission  shall   have  been  complied  with  to   the
    Representatives' reasonable satisfaction.

        (b)  The  Representatives shall  be furnished  with opinions,  dated the
    Closing Date,  of  Gary R.  Johnson,  Vice President,  General  Counsel  and
    Corporate  Secretary of the  Company, substantially in  the form included as
    Exhibit A.

        (c) The  Representatives  shall have  received  from Gardner,  Carton  &
    Douglas,  Chicago, Illinois, counsel  for the Underwriters,  such opinion or
    opinions dated the  Closing Date with  respect to the  incorporation of  the
    Company,  this  Agreement, the  validity of  the  Indenture, the  Bonds, the
    Registration Statement,  the Prospectus  and other  related matters  as  the
    Representatives may reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished
    to such counsel such documents as they reasonably request for the purpose of
    enabling them to pass upon such matters.

        (d)   The  Company  shall  have   furnished  to  the  Representatives  a
    certificate of the President or any Vice President of the Company, dated the
    Closing Date, as  to the matters  set forth in  clause (a) and  (h) of  this
    Section  6 and to  the further effect  that the signers  of such certificate
    have carefully examined the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and  this
    Agreement and that:

           (i)  the  representations  and  warranties  of  the  Company  in this
       Agreement are true and  correct on and  as of the  Closing Date with  the
       same  effect as if made on the Closing Date, and the Company has complied
       with all the agreements and satisfied  all the conditions on its part  to
       be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date; and

           (ii)  there has been  no material adverse change  in the condition of
       the  Company  and  its  subsidiaries  taken  as  a  whole,  financial  or
       otherwise,  or  in the  earnings, affairs  or  business prospects  of the
       Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, whether or not arising  in
       the  ordinary course of business, from  that set forth or contemplated by
       the Registration Statement or Prospectus Supplement.

                                       6
<PAGE>
        (e) The  Representatives shall  have received  letters from  Deloitte  &
    Touche (dated the date of this Agreement and Closing Date, respectively, and
    in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives) advising that (i)
    they are independent public accountants as required by the Act and published
    rules  and regulations of the Commission  thereunder, (ii) in their opinion,
    the   consolidated   financial   statements   and   supplemental   schedules
    incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and covered by their
    opinion  filed  with the  Commission under  Section 13  of the  Exchange Act
    comply as to form  in all material respects  with the applicable  accounting
    requirements  of the Exchange Act and the published rules and regulations of
    the Commission thereunder, (iii) they have performed limited procedures, not
    constituting an audit, including a  reading of the latest available  interim
    financial  statements of  the Company  and its  consolidated subsidiaries, a
    reading of the  minutes of meetings  of the Board  of Directors,  committees
    thereof,  and of the Shareholders, of the Company and its subsidiaries since
    the date  of  the  most  recent audited  financial  statements  included  or
    incorporated  by reference in the Prospectus,  inquiries of officials of the
    Company and its  subsidiaries responsible for  financial accounting  matters
    and  such other inquiries and procedures as may be specified in such letter,
    and on the basis of such limited review and procedures nothing came to their
    attention that caused them to  believe that: (a) any material  modifications
    should  be made  to any unaudited  consolidated financial  statements of the
    Company included or incorporated by reference in the Registration  Statement
    or  Prospectus  for  them  to  be  in  conformity  with  generally  accepted
    accounting principles or any unaudited consolidated financial statements  of
    the  Company  included  or  incorporated by  reference  in  the Registration
    Statement or Prospectus do  not comply as to  form in all material  respects
    with  the applicable  accounting requirements  of the  Exchange Act  and the
    rules and regulations of  the Commission applicable to  Form 10-Q; (b)  with
    respect  to the period subsequent  to the date of  the most recent financial
    statements included  or  incorporated by  reference  in the  Prospectus  and
    except  as set  forth in  or contemplated  by the  Registration Statement or
    Prospectus, there were any changes, at  a specified date not more than  five
    business  days prior to the date of the  letter, in the capital stock of the
    Company, increases in long-term debt or decreases in stockholders' equity or
    net current  assets of  the  Company and  its consolidated  subsidiaries  as
    compared  with the  amounts shown  on the  most recent  consolidated balance
    sheet included or incorporated in the Prospectus, or for the period from the
    date of the  most recent  financial statements included  or incorporated  by
    reference in the Prospectus to such specified date there were any decreases,
    as  compared  with  the  corresponding  period  in  the  preceding  year, in
    operating revenues, operating income, net  income, or earnings per share  of
    Common  Stock of the  Company and its subsidiaries,  except in all instances
    for changes or decreases set forth in such letter, in which case the  letter
    shall be accompanied by an explanation by the Company as to the significance
    thereof   unless   said  explanation   is  not   deemed  necessary   by  the
    Representatives;  and  (iv)  they  have  carried  out  specified  procedures
    performed   for  the  purpose  of   comparing  certain  specified  financial
    information and  percentages  (which  is limited  to  financial  information
    derived  from  general  accounting  records  of  the  Company)  included  or
    incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and Prospectus  with
    indicated  amounts in the financial statements  or accounting records of the
    Company and (excluding  any questions  of legal  interpretation) have  found
    such  information  and  percentages to  be  in agreement  with  the relevant
    accounting and  financial information  of the  Company referred  to in  such
    letter in the description of the procedures performed by them.

        (f)  Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given
    in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there shall not have  been
    any  change or decrease  specified in the  letter or letters  referred to in
    paragraph (e) of this Section 6 which makes it impractical or inadvisable in
    the judgment of the Representatives to  proceed with the public offering  or
    the delivery of the Bonds on the terms and in the manner contemplated by the
    Prospectus.

        (g)  Subsequent to the date hereof,  no downgrading shall have occurred,
    nor  shall  any  notice  have  been  given  of  any  intended  or  potential
    downgrading  or of any review  for a possible change  that does not indicate
    the direction of the possible change,  in the rating accorded the  Company's
    debt securities or preferred stock by any "nationally recognized statistical
    rating organization," as that term is defined by the Commission for purposes
    of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Act.

                                       7
<PAGE>
        (h)  (i)  Neither the  Company nor  any of  its subsidiaries  shall have
    sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements included
    or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus any loss or interference with
    its business from fire, explosion, flood  or other calamity, whether or  not
    covered  by insurance,  or from any  labor dispute or  court or governmental
    action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in  the
    Prospectus  Supplement, and (ii)  since the date  of this Agreement, neither
    the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall have incurred any  liabilities
    or  obligations, direct or contingent, or entered into any transactions, not
    in the ordinary course  of business, which are  material to the Company  and
    its  subsidiaries, and there shall  not have been any  change in the capital
    stock or long-term debt  of the Company  or any of  its subsidiaries or  any
    change,  or any development involving a  prospective change, in or affecting
    the general affairs, management, financial position, stockholders' equity or
    results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries otherwise than  as
    set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus Supplement, the effect of which,
    in  any such case described in clause (i)  or (ii) is in the judgment of the
    Underwriters so  material  and  adverse  as  to  make  it  impracticable  or
    inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Bonds
    on the terms and in the manner contemplated by the Prospectus.

        (i)   No  Representative  shall  have   advised  the  Company  that  the
    Registration  Statement  or  Prospectus,  or  any  amendment  or  supplement
    thereto,  contains  an untrue  statement  of fact  which  in the  opinion of
    counsel for the Underwriters is material or  omits to state a fact which  in
    the  opinion of counsel for the Underwriters  is material and is required to
    be stated  therein  or is  necessary  to  make the  statements  therein  not
    misleading.

        (j)  Prior to the Closing Date, the  Company shall have furnished to the
    Representatives such further information, certificates and documents as they
    may reasonably request.

    If any of the  conditions specified in  this Section 6  shall not have  been
fulfilled  when and as required by this Agreement, or if any of the opinions and
certificates mentioned  above  or  elsewhere  in this  Agreement  shall  not  be
satisfactory  in form  and substance to  the Representatives  and their counsel,
this Agreement  and  all  obligations  of  the  Underwriters  hereunder  may  be
cancelled  at, or at any time prior to, the Closing Date by the Representatives.
Notice of such  cancellation shall be  given to  the Company in  writing, or  by
telephone or telegraph confirmed in writing.

    7.   CONDITIONS OF COMPANY'S OBLIGATIONS.  The obligations of the Company to
sell and deliver the Bonds are subject to the following conditions:

        (a)  Prior  to  the   Closing  Date,  no   stop  order  suspending   the
    effectiveness  of the Registration  Statement shall have  been issued and no
    proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or, to the knowledge
    of the Company or the Representative, threatened.

        (b) The order of the  Minnesota Public Utilities Commission referred  to
    in paragraph (1) of Section 1 shall be in full force and effect.

    If  any of the  conditions specified in  this Section 7  shall not have been
fulfilled, this Agreement and  all obligations of the  Company hereunder may  be
cancelled  on or at any time prior to the Closing Date by the Company. Notice of
such cancellation shall be given to the Underwriters in writing or by  telephone
or facsimile transmission confirmed in writing.

    8.   REIMBURSEMENT  OF UNDERWRITERS'  EXPENSES.   If the  sale of  the Bonds
provided for herein is not consummated because any condition to the  obligations
of the Underwriters set forth in Section 6 hereof is not satisfied or because of
any  refusal, inability  or failure on  the part  of the Company  to perform any
agreement herein or comply with any provision hereof, other than by reason of  a
default  by any of the Underwriters, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters
severally upon  demand  for all  out-of-pocket  expenses that  shall  have  been
reasonably incurred by them in connection with the proposed purchase and sale of
the Bonds.

                                       8
<PAGE>
    9.   INDEMNIFICATION.  (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless
each Underwriter and each person who controls any Underwriter within the meaning
of either  the Act  or the  Exchange Act  against any  and all  losses,  claims,
damages  or liabilities,  joint or  several, to  which they  or any  of them may
become subject  under  the Act,  the  Exchange Act  or  other federal  or  state
statutory  law or regulation, at common law or otherwise insofar as such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions  in respect thereof) arise out of  or
are  based upon any untrue  statement or alleged untrue  statement of a material
fact contained in the registration statement  for the registration of the  Bonds
as  originally filed or in any amendment thereof, or in the Prospectus or in any
amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or arise  out of or are based upon  the
omission  or alleged omission  to state therein  a material fact  required to be
stated therein or necessary  to make the statements  therein not misleading  and
agrees  to reimburse each such indemnified party for any legal or other expenses
as reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any
such loss, claim, damages, liability or  action; PROVIDED that the Company  will
not  be liable in any such case to  the extent that any such loss, claim, damage
or liability arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged  omission made therein in reliance  upon
and  in conformity with  written information furnished  to the Company  by or on
behalf of  any  Underwriter through  the  Representatives specifically  for  use
therein  and PROVIDED FURTHER  that such indemnity with  respect to a prospectus
included in the  registration statement or  any amendment thereto  prior to  the
supplementing  thereof with  the Prospectus  Supplement shall  not inure  to the
benefit of any  Underwriter (or  any person controlling  such Underwriter)  from
whom  the person asserting  any such loss, claim,  damage or liability purchased
the Bonds which are the subject thereof if  such person was not sent or given  a
copy  of the  Prospectus (but  without the  documents incorporated  by reference
therein) at or  prior to  the confirmation  of the sale  of such  Bonds to  such
person  in any case  where such delivery is  required by the  Act and the untrue
statement or  omission of  a  material fact  contained  in such  prospectus  was
corrected  in the Prospectus, provided that the Company shall have delivered the
Prospectus, in  a timely  manner and  in sufficient  quantities to  permit  such
delivery  by the Underwriters.  This indemnity agreement will  be in addition to
any liability which the Company may otherwise have.

    (b) Each Underwriter  severally agrees  to indemnify and  hold harmless  the
Company,  each  of  its directors,  each  of  its officers  who  has  signed the
Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company  within
the  meaning of either  the Act or the  Exchange Act, to the  same extent as the
foregoing indemnity from the Company to the Underwriters but only with reference
to written  information  furnished  to the  Company  by  or on  behalf  of  such
Underwriter  through the Representatives  specifically for use  in the documents
referred to  in the  foregoing  indemnity, and  agrees  to reimburse  each  such
indemnified party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in
connection  with  investigating  or  defending  any  such  loss,  claim, damage,
liability or  action.  This indemnity  agreement  will  be in  addition  to  any
liability which any Underwriter may otherwise have.

    (c)  Promptly after receipt by an indemnified  party under this Section 9 of
notice of the  commencement of  any action, such  indemnified party  will, if  a
claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this
Section 9, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof;
but  the omission to so  notify the indemnifying party  will not relieve it from
any liability which it  may have to any  indemnified party otherwise than  under
this  Section 9.  In case  any such  action is  brought against  any indemnified
party, and it notifies the indemnifying  party of the commencement thereof,  the
indemnifying  party will be entitled to  participate therein, and, to the extent
that it may elect by written notice delivered to the indemnified party  promptly
after  receiving the aforesaid notice from such indemnified party, to assume the
defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory  to such indemnified party;  PROVIDED
THAT if the defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and
the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded
that  there  may be  legal  defenses available  to  it and/or  other indemnified
parties which  are  different from  or  additional  to those  available  to  the
indemnifying  party, the indemnified  party, or parties shall  have the right to
select  separate  counsel  to  assume  such  legal  defenses  and  to  otherwise
participate in the defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified party or
parties.  Upon receipt of notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified
party of its election so  to assume the defense of  such action and approval  by
the  indemnified party of counsel, the indemnifying  party will not be liable to
such indemnified party  under this  Section 9 for  any legal  or other  expenses
subsequently incurred by such

                                       9
<PAGE>
indemnified  party  in  connection  with  the  defense  thereof  unless  (i) the
indemnified party shall have  employed separate counsel  in connection with  the
assertion of legal defenses in accordance with the proviso to the next preceding
sentence (it being understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not be
liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel and one local counsel,
approved  by the Representatives  in the case  of subparagraph (a), representing
the indemnified parties under subparagraphs (a) or (b), as the case may be,  who
are parties to such action), (ii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed
counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party
within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the action or (iii) the
indemnifying  party has authorized the employment of counsel for the indemnified
party at the expense of the indemnifying  party; and except that, if clause  (i)
or  (iii) is applicable, such liability shall  be only in respect of the counsel
referred to in such clause (i) or (iii).

    (d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 9 is unavailable  to
or  insufficient to hold  harmless an indemnified party  under subsection (a) or
(b) above in respect of any  losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or  actions
in  respect thereof)  referred to  therein, then  each indemnifying  party shall
contribute to the amount paid or payable  by such indemnified party as a  result
of  such losses, claims, damages or  liabilities (or actions in respect thereof)
in such proportion as is appropriate  to reflect the relative benefits  received
by  the Company  on the  one hand  and the  Underwriters on  the other  from the
offering of the Bonds. If, however,  the allocation provided by the  immediately
preceding  sentence is  not permitted  by applicable  law or  if the indemnified
party failed to give the notice  required under subsection (c) above, then  each
indemnifying  party  shall contribute  to such  amount paid  or payable  by such
indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only  such
relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and
the  Underwriters on  the other in  connection with the  statements or omissions
which resulted in  such losses, claims,  damages or liabilities  (or actions  in
respect  thereof), as well  as any other  relevant equitable considerations. The
relative benefits received by the Company  on the one hand and the  Underwriters
on  the other  shall be deemed  to be  in the same  proportion as  the total net
proceeds from the offering (before  deducting expenses) received by the  Company
bear  to  the  total  underwriting discounts  and  commissions  received  by the
Underwriters, in each case as  set forth in the table  on the cover page of  the
Prospectus  Supplement. The relative fault shall  be determined by reference to,
among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact or the omission  or alleged omission  to state a  material fact relates  to
information  supplied by the Company on the  one hand or the Underwriters on the
other and the  parties' relative  intent, knowledge, access  to information  and
opportunity  to correct or  prevent such statement or  omission. The Company and
the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if  contributions
pursuant  to this subsection (d) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if
the Underwriters were treated as  one entity for such  purpose) or by any  other
method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations
referred  to above  in this  subsection (d).  The amount  paid or  payable by an
indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities  (or
actions  in respect thereof) referred  to above in this  subsection (d) shall be
deemed to  include any  legal  or other  expenses  reasonably incurred  by  such
indemnified  party in connection with investigating or defending any such action
or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), no  Underwriter
shall  be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the
total price at which the Bonds underwritten by it and distributed to the  public
were  offered  to  the public  exceeds  the  amount of  any  damages  which such
Underwriter has  otherwise been  required to  pay by  reason of  such untrue  or
alleged  untrue statement or  omission or alleged omission.  No person guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation (within the  meaning of Section  11(f) of the  Act)
shall  be entitled to  contribution from any  person who was  not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters'  obligations in this  subsection
(d)  to contribute  are several in  proportion to  their respective underwriting
obligations and not joint.

    (e) The obligations of the Company under this Section 9 shall be in addition
to any liability which the Company may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the
same terms and conditions, to each person, if any, who controls any  Underwriter
within  the meaning of  the Act; and  the obligations of  the Underwriters under
this Section  9 shall  be in  addition  to any  liability which  the  respective
Underwriters  may  otherwise have  and  shall extend,  upon  the same  terms and
conditions, to each officer and director of  the Company and to each person,  if
any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act.

                                       10
<PAGE>
    10.  DEFAULT BY AN UNDERWRITER.  (a) If any Underwriter shall default in its
obligation  to purchase the Bonds which it  has agreed to purchase hereunder (in
this Section called the "Unpurchased  Bonds"), the Representatives may in  their
discretion  arrange for themselves or another party or other parties to purchase
such Unpurchased Bonds on the terms contained herein. If within thirty-six hours
after such default by any Underwriter the Representatives do not arrange for the
purchase of such  Unpurchased Bonds,  then the Company  shall be  entitled to  a
further  period of  thirty-six hours  within which  to procure  another party or
other parties satisfactory to the  Representatives to purchase such  Unpurchased
Bonds on such terms. In the event that, within the respective prescribed period,
the  Representatives  notify the  Company  that they  have  so arranged  for the
purchase of such Unpurchased Bonds, or the Company notifies the  Representatives
that  it  has  so arranged  for  the  purchase of  such  Unpurchased  Bonds, the
Representatives or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date
for such Unpurchased Bonds for a period of not more than seven days, in order to
effect whatever  changes  may thereby  be  made necessary  in  the  Registration
Statement  or  the  Prospectus  as  amended or  supplemented,  or  in  any other
documents  or  arrangements,  and  the  Company  agrees  to  file  promptly  any
amendments  or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which
in the opinion of  the Representatives may thereby  be made necessary. The  term
"Underwriter"  as used  in this Agreement  shall include  any person substituted
under this Section  with like effect  as if  such person had  originally been  a
party to this Agreement with respect to such Unpurchased Bonds.

    (b)  If, after  giving effect  to any arrangements  for the  purchase of the
Unpurchased  Bonds  of   a  defaulting  Underwriter   or  Underwriters  by   the
Representatives  and  the  Company  as provided  in  subsection  (a)  above, the
aggregate principal amount of such  Unpurchased Bonds which remains  unpurchased
does  not exceed  one-eleventh of the  aggregate principal amount  of the Bonds,
then the Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter
to purchase  the principal  amount of  Bonds which  such Underwriter  agreed  to
purchase  hereunder and, in addition, to require each non-defaulting Underwriter
to purchase its pro  rata share (based  on the principal  amount of Bonds  which
such  Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder) of the Unpurchased Bonds of such
defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been
made; but nothing herein shall  relieve a defaulting Underwriter from  liability
for its default.

    (c)  If, after  giving effect  to any arrangements  for the  purchase of the
Unpurchased  Bonds  of   a  defaulting  Underwriter   or  Underwriters  by   the
Representatives  and  the  Company  as provided  in  subsection  (a)  above, the
aggregate principal  amount  of  Unpurchased  Bonds  which  remains  unpurchased
exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of the Bonds, as referred
to  in subsection  (b) above,  or if  the Company  shall not  exercise the right
described in  subsection (b)  above to  require non-defaulting  Underwriters  to
purchase  Unpurchased Bonds  of a  defaulting Underwriter  or Underwriters, then
this Agreement shall thereupon terminate, without  liability on the part of  any
non-defaulting  Underwriter or the Company, except  for the expenses to be borne
by the Company  and the Underwriters  as provided  in Section 5  hereof and  the
indemnity  and contribution agreements  in Section 9  hereof; but nothing herein
shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for it default.

    11.  TERMINATION.   This Agreement  shall be subject  to termination in  the
absolute discretion of the Representatives, by notice given to the Company prior
to  delivery of and payment for all Bonds,  if prior to such time (i) trading in
securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange shall have been suspended or
limited or minimum prices shall have been established on such Exchange, (ii)  if
a  banking moratorium shall  have been declared either  by Federal, Minnesota or
New York State authorities,  (iii) if trading in  any securities of the  Company
shall  have been suspended or  halted, or (iv) if  there shall have occurred any
outbreak or  escalation  of  hostilities  involving the  United  States  or  the
declaration  by the United  States of a  war or national  emergency or any other
calamity or crisis the effect  of which on the  financial markets in the  United
States  is  such  as  to  make  it,  in  the  judgment  of  the Representatives,
impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or delivery  of
the Bonds on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.

    12.   REPRESENTATIONS AND  INDEMNITIES TO SURVIVE  DELIVERY.  The respective
agreements, representations, warranties, indemnities and other statements of the
Company or its officers and of the Underwriters set

                                       11
<PAGE>
forth in  or made  pursuant to  this Agreement  will remain  in full  force  and
effect,  regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter
or the Company  or any of  their respective officers,  directors or  controlling
persons  within the meaning of the Act, and will survive delivery of and payment
for the Bonds. The provisions  of Sections 5, 8 and  9 hereof shall survive  the
termination or cancellation of this Agreement.

    13.   NOTICES.  All communications hereunder will be in writing and, if sent
to the Representatives, will be  mailed, delivered or transmitted and  confirmed
to  them at their address set forth for that purpose in Schedule 1 hereto or, if
sent to the Company, will be  mailed, delivered or transmitted and confirmed  to
it at 414 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401, attention Secretary.

    14.  SUCCESSORS.  This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding
upon  the parties  hereto and their  respective successors and  the officers and
directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 9 hereof, and no  other
person will have any right or obligation hereunder.

    15.   APPLICABLE LAW.   This Agreement will be  governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Minnesota.

    16.  COUNTERPARTS.  This Agreement  may be executed in counterparts, all  of
which,  taken together, shall constitute a single agreement among the parties to
such counterparts.

    17.  REPRESENTATION OF THE UNDERWRITERS.  The Representatives represent  and
warrant to the Company that they are authorized to act as the representatives of
the Underwriters in connection with this financing and that the Representatives'
execution  and delivery  of this Agreement  and any action  under this Agreement
taken by such Representatives will be binding upon all Underwriters.

    18.   OTHER.   Time  shall  be  of the  essence  for all  purposes  of  this
Agreement.  As  used  herein,  "business  day"  shall  mean  any  day  when  the
Commission's office in Washington D.C. is open for business.

    If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our  agreement,
please  sign  and return  to us  the enclosed  duplicate hereof,  whereupon this
letter and your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement among the Company
and the several Underwriters.

                                  Very truly yours,
                                  NORTHERN STATES POWER COMPANY
                                  By            /s/ ARLAND D. BRUSVEN
                                     ...........................................
                                              Vice President -- Finance

The foregoing Agreement is hereby
confirmed
  and accepted as of the date first
above written.
  KIDDER, PEABODY & CO. INCORPORATED
By            /s/ PETER KIND
   ...................................

   FOR ITSELF OR THEMSELVES AND AS
   REPRESENTATIVES OF
   THE SEVERAL UNDERWRITERS, IF ANY,
   NAMED IN
   SCHEDULE II TO THE FOREGOING
   AGREEMENT.

                                       12
<PAGE>
                                   SCHEDULE I

Underwriting Agreement dated October 5, 1994

Registration Statement No. 33-51593

Representatives and Addresses:  Kidder, Peabody & Co. Incorporated
                            10 Hanover Square
                            New York, NY 10005

Bonds:

   Designation: 7 7/8% First Mortgage Bonds, Series due October 1, 2001

   Principal Amount:   $150,000,000

   Supplemental Indenture dated as of October 1, 1994

   Date of Maturity: October 1, 2001

   Interest Rate:  7 7/8% per annum, payable April 1 and October 1 of each year,
                   commencing April 1, 1995

   Purchase Price:  99.30% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued
                    interest from October 1, 1994 to the date of payment and
                    delivery.

   *Public Offering Price:   99.60% of the principal amount thereof, plus
                             accrued interest from October 1, 1994 to the date
                             of payment and delivery.
Payment to be made in federal (same day) funds. ___ Yes    _X_ No

Closing Date and Location: October 13, 1994
                        Northern States Power Company
                        414 Nicollet Mall
                        Minneapolis, MN 55401

Office for Delivery of Bonds: The Depository Trust Company
                         55 Water Street
                         19th Floor
                         New York, New York 10041

Office for Payment of Bonds: Northern States Power Company
                         414 Nicollet Mall
                         Minneapolis, MN 55401

Office for Checking of Bonds: The Depository Trust Company
                         55 Water Street
                         19th Floor
                         New York, New York 10041

- ------------
* If applicable.

                                       13
<PAGE>
                                  SCHEDULE II

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME                                                                                                    AMOUNT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  --------------
<S>                                                                                                 <C>
Kidder, Peabody & Co. Incorporated................................................................  $   25,000,000
Citicorp Securities, Inc. ........................................................................      25,000,000
Lehman Brothers...................................................................................      25,000,000
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc........................................................................      25,000,000
NatWest Capital Markets Limited...................................................................      25,000,000
Salomon Brothers Inc..............................................................................      25,000,000
                                                                                                    --------------
        Total.....................................................................................  $  150,000,000
                                                                                                    --------------
                                                                                                    --------------
</TABLE>

                                       14
<PAGE>
                                                                       EXHIBIT A

                       FORM OF OPINION OF GARY R. JOHNSON
      RE: $           PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF FIRST MORTGAGE BONDS, SERIES DUE
                                           ,    %
           OF NORTHERN STATES POWER COMPANY, A MINNESOTA CORPORATION.

Gentlemen:

    For  the purpose of rendering this  opinion, I have examined the proceedings
taken by Northern States Power Company, a Minnesota corporation, herein call the
"Company," with respect to the issue  and sale by the Company of  $
principal  amount of First Mortgage Bonds, Series due              ,    % herein
called  the  "Bonds."  In  connection  therewith  I  have  participated  in  the
preparation  of the proceedings for the issuance and sale of the Bonds including
the Underwriting Agreement dated                  , between you and the  Company
relating  to your purchase of the Bonds, herein called the "Agreement," and have
either participated in the preparation of or examined the Trust Indenture  dated
February  1,  1937,  and  the  Supplemental  Trust  Indentures  thereto  and the
Supplemental Trust Indenture dated as of                  , creating the  Bonds,
all  from the Company to Harris Trust  and Savings Bank, as Trustee (which Trust
Indenture and Supplemental Trust Indentures  are herein collectively called  the
"Indenture").  I also  have participated in  the preparation of  or examined the
registration  statement  and  any   amendments  thereto  and  the   accompanying
prospectuses  and any supplements thereto, as  filed under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended  (the "Act"),  with respect to  the Bonds.  Whenever the  terms
"Registration  Statement" or "Prospectus"  are used herein,  they shall have the
respective meanings set forth in the  Agreement. My examination has extended  to
all  statutes, records, instruments, and documents which I have deemed necessary
to examine for the purposes of this opinion.

    I am of the opinion that:

        1. The Company is a legally  existing corporation under the laws of  the
    State of Minnesota; has corporate power, right, and authority to do business
    and  to own  property in  the states of  Minnesota, North  Dakota, and South
    Dakota in  the manner  and as  set forth  in the  Prospectus; has  corporate
    power,  right and authority  to own securities of  its subsidiaries; and has
    corporate power, right, and  authority to make the  Indenture and issue  and
    sell the Bonds;

        2.  The authorized capital stock  of the Company is  as set forth in the
    Prospectus and all of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company have
    been  duly  authorized   and  validly   issued  and  are   fully  paid   and
    non-assessable;

        3.  Each Significant  Subsidiary, as  defined in  the Agreement,  of the
    Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a  corporation
    in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation and
    is  duly qualified as a  foreign corporation to transact  business and is in
    good standing in each  jurisdiction in which it  owns or leases  substantial
    properties   or  in  which  the  conduct   of  its  business  requires  such
    qualification; all  of the  issued  and outstanding  capital stock  of  each
    subsidiary has been duly authorized and validly issued and is fully paid and
    non-assessable;  and the capital stock of  each such subsidiary owned by the
    Company, directly or through  subsidiaries, is owned free  and clear of  any
    pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity;

        4.  The Agreement has  been duly authorized,  executed, and delivered by
    the Company and is a valid and binding obligation of the Company, except  to
    the   extent  that  the  provisions  for  indemnities  may  be  held  to  be
    unenforceable as against public policy;

        5. The  Indenture  has been  duly  authorized by  appropriate  corporate
    proceedings on the part of the Company, has been duly executed and delivered
    and  constitutes  a  legal,  valid, and  binding  instrument  enforceable in
    accordance with its  terms, except as  the provisions of  the United  States
    Bankruptcy  Code may affect the validity of the lien thereof with respect to
    proceeds, products,  rents,  issues,  or profits  realized,  and  additional
    property  acquired, after  the commencement of  a case under  said Code, and
    except as enforcement of the provisions  of the Indenture may be limited  by
    the laws of the states of

                                       1
<PAGE>
    Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota (where property covered thereby is
    located) affecting the remedies for the enforcement of the security provided
    for  in  the Indenture  (which state  laws do  not in  my opinion  make such
    remedies inadequate for  realization of  the benefits of  such security)  or
    except  as the same may be limited by bankruptcy or insolvency laws or other
    similar laws;

        6. The  issuance  of the  Bonds  in accordance  with  the terms  of  the
    Indenture  and the sale  and delivery thereof pursuant  to the provisions of
    the Agreement have been duly authorized by the Company; the statements  made
    under  the captions "Description of New Bonds" and "Supplemental Description
    of Offered Bonds" in  the Prospectus, insofar as  they purport to  summarize
    provisions of documents specifically referred to therein, fairly present the
    information  called for with respect  thereto by Form S-3;  the Bonds are in
    due legal  form, constitute  legal, valid,  and binding  obligations of  the
    Company,  and (subject to the qualifications  expressed in paragraph 5 above
    with respect to the validity and enforceability of certain of the provisions
    of the Indenture) and enforceable in accordance with their terms;

        7. The consummation  of the transactions  contemplated in the  Agreement
    and  the fulfillment of the terms thereof and compliance by the Company with
    all the terms and provisions of the Indenture will not result in a breach of
    any of  the terms  or provisions  of,  or constitute  a default  under,  any
    indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other agreement or instrument known to
    me  to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound, or the Restated
    Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or by-laws of the Company or, to  the
    best  of  my knowledge,  any  order, rule  or  regulation applicable  to the
    Company of  any  court  or  of  any Federal  or  state  regulatory  body  or
    administrative  agency or  other governmental body  having jurisdiction over
    the Company or its property;

        8. The Registration Statement  has become effective  under the Act.  The
    Prospectus  Supplement (as defined in the Agreement) has been filed pursuant
    to Rule 424(b) under the Act, and no proceedings for a stop order have  been
    instituted  or to  the knowledge of  such counsel are  pending or threatened
    under Section 8(d) of the Act; the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission has
    issued its  order  approving the  Company's  capital structure  which  order
    authorizes  the issuance of the Bonds; the Indenture has been duly qualified
    under the Trust  Indenture Act  of 1939,  as amended  (the "Trust  Indenture
    Act");  and no further  approval of, authorization,  consent, certificate or
    order of any  governmental body,  federal, state  or other,  is required  in
    connection  with the issuance and sale of the Bonds by the Company to you as
    provided in the  Agreement, except as  may be required  by state  securities
    laws;

        9.  At  the  time  the  Registration  Statement  became  effective,  the
    Registration Statement (other than  the financial statements and  supporting
    schedules  included or  incorporated by  reference therein,  as to  which no
    opinion is being  expressed) complied as  to form in  all material  respects
    with  the requirements of the Act, the rules and regulations thereunder, the
    Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations thereunder;

        10. I do not know of  any legal or governmental proceedings required  to
    be  described in the Prospectus  which are not described  as required nor of
    any contracts or documents  of a character required  to be described in  the
    Registration  Statement  or Prospectus  or to  be filed  as exhibits  to the
    Registration Statement which are not described and filed as required;

        11. The  Indenture is  in proper  form, conforming  to the  laws of  the
    States  of Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, to give and create the
    lien which it purports to create and  has been and now is duly and  properly
    recorded  or filed  in all  places necessary to  effectuate the  lien of the
    Indenture;

        12. The Company has good and valid title to all real and fixed  property
    and  leasehold rights described or enumerated  in the Indenture (except such
    properties as have been  released from the lien  thereof in accordance  with
    the  terms  thereof), subject  only to:  (a) taxes  and assessments  not yet
    delinquent; (b) the lien of the Indenture; (c) as to parts of the  Company's
    property,  certain easements, conditions,  restrictions, leases, and similar
    encumbrances which do not affect the  Company's use of such property in  the
    usual  course of its business, certain minor defects in titles which are not
    material, defects in titles to certain properties which are not essential to
    the Company's business; and mechanics' lien claims being contested or not of
    record or for the satisfaction or discharge of which adequate provision  has
    been made by the Company pursuant to the Indenture;

                                       2
<PAGE>
        13.  The  Bonds are  secured  by and  entitled  to the  benefits  of the
    Indenture equally and ratably,  except as to  sinking fund provisions,  with
    all  other bonds duly issued and outstanding  under the Indenture by a valid
    and direct first mortgage lien of the Indenture on all of the real and fixed
    properties, leasehold  rights,  franchises, and  permits  now owned  by  the
    Company,  subject only to the items set  forth in the preceding paragraph 12
    of this opinion;

        14. The Bonds also are secured equally and ratably, except as to sinking
    fund provisions, with all other bonds duly issued and outstanding under  the
    Indenture  by a valid  and direct first mortgage  lien (subject to permitted
    liens as defined in the Indenture) on all real and fixed property  hereafter
    acquired  by  the Company  in conformity  with the  terms of  the Indenture,
    except as the United States Bankruptcy  Code may affect the validity of  the
    lien of such Indenture on property acquired after the commencement of a case
    under  such  Act, except  as  to the  prior lien  of  the Trustee  under the
    Indenture in  certain  events specified  therein,  and except  as  otherwise
    provided  in the Indenture in the case of consolidation, merger, or transfer
    of all the mortgaged and pledged property as an entirety;

        15. The  Company has  all necessary  power under  statutory  provisions,
    franchises  (which  expire  at  various  dates),  or  permits  to  serve the
    customers in the jurisdictions where  it provided electric and gas  service,
    except in certain instances that are not material to the Company; and

        16.   All  statements  contained  in   the  Registration  Statement  and
    Prospectus under the caption  "Description of New  Bonds" purporting to  set
    forth  the opinion of counsel or purporting  to be based upon the opinion of
    counsel correctly set forth my opinion on said respective matters.

    These opinions do not cover titles  to easements for water flowage  purposes
or  rights of way for electric and gas transmission and distribution facilities,
steam mains, and telephone lines. However, the Company has the power of  eminent
domain in the states in which it operates.

    In  the course  of my participation  in the preparation  of the Registration
Statement and Prospectus I made investigations as to the accuracy of certain  of
the  statements  of  fact  contained therein,  I  discussed  other  matters with
officers, employees, and representatives of the Company, and I examined  various
corporate  records and data. While  I do not pass  upon or assume responsibility
for, and shall not  be deemed to have  independently verified, the accuracy  and
completeness  of  the  statements  contained in  the  Registration  Statement or
Prospectus (except as to matters set forth in paragraphs 9 and 16 above) nothing
has come to my  attention that would  lead me to  believe that the  Registration
Statement  at the time  it became effective  contained an untrue  statement of a
material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated  therein
or  necessary  to  make  the  statements  therein  not  misleading  or  that the
Prospectus as of the date  of the Agreement or at  the date hereof contained  an
untrue  statement  of  a material  fact  or  omitted to  state  a  material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading.

    In  giving  my  opinion  under  paragraph  12  above,  I  have  relied  upon
examinations of abstracts of titles to properties of the Company, said abstracts
bearing  various dates, and nothing has come to my attention which would lead me
to believe that  anything has occurred  since the dates  of the abstracts  which
would  adversely affect the titles shown on the abstracts. In giving opinions as
to conformity  to  the  laws of  States  other  than Minnesota  and  as  to  the
franchises  and titles to property  of the Company, I  have in certain instances
relied upon the opinion of other counsel employed or retained by the Company  to
render opinions in respect thereto.

                                        Respectfully submitted,

                                        By
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                                     Gary R. Johnson
                                           Vice President, General Counsel and
                                                   Corporate Secretary
                                              Northern States Power Company

                                       3



<PAGE>
                          SUPPLEMENTAL TRUST INDENTURE
                                      FROM
                         NORTHERN STATES POWER COMPANY

                                       TO
                         HARRIS TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK
                                    TRUSTEE
                                 --------------
                             DATED OCTOBER 1, 1994
                                 --------------
                        SUPPLEMENTAL TO TRUST INDENTURE
                             DATED FEBRUARY 1, 1937
                                      AND
                           SUPPLEMENTAL AND RESTATED
                             TRUST INDENTURE DATED
                                  MAY 1, 1988
<PAGE>
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                 --------------

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                PAGE
                                                                                                                -----
<S>                   <C>                                                                                    <C>
Parties....................................................................................................           1

Recitals...................................................................................................           1

Form of Bonds of Series Due October 1, 2001................................................................           2

Form of Trustee's Certificate..............................................................................           5

Further Recitals...........................................................................................           5

                                                       ARTICLE I.
                               SPECIFIC SUBJECTION OF ADDITIONAL PROPERTY TO THE LIEN OF
                                                THE ORIGINAL INDENTURE.
Section 1.01--        Grant of certain property, including personal property to comply with the Uniform
                      Commercial Code, subject to permitted liens and other exceptions contained in 1937
                      Indenture............................................................................           5

                                                      ARTICLE II.
                               FORM AND EXECUTION OF BONDS OF SERIES DUE OCTOBER 1, 2001.

Section 2.01--        Terms of bonds.......................................................................           7

Section 2.02--        Redemption of bonds..................................................................           8

Section 2.03--        Interchangeability of bonds..........................................................           8

Section 2.04--        Charges for exchange or transfer of bonds............................................           8

Section 2.05--        Execution of bonds...................................................................           8

Section 2.06--        Book-Entry System....................................................................           8

                                                      ARTICLE III.
                                          APPOINTMENT OF AUTHENTICATING AGENT.

Section 3.01--        Appointment of agent or agents for bonds of Series due October 1, 2001...............          11

Section 3.02--(a)     Qualification of agents..............................................................          11

            (b)       Continuation of agent upon merger or consolidation...................................          11

            (c)       Termination of successor agent.......................................................          11

            (d)       Compensation of agent................................................................          11

Section 3.03--        Form of alternate certificate of authentication......................................          12

Section 3.04--        Limit on location and number of agents...............................................          12

                                                      ARTICLE IV.
                                         FINANCING STATEMENT TO COMPLY WITH THE
                                                UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE.

Section 4.01--        Names and addresses of debtor and secured party......................................          12

Section 4.02--        Property subject to lien.............................................................          12

Section 4.03--        Maturity dates and principal amounts of obligations secured..........................          12
</TABLE>
<PAGE>

                                       ii

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                PAGE
                                                                                                                -----
<S>                   <C>                                                                                    <C>
Section 4.04--        Financing Statement adopted for all First Mortgage Bonds listed in Section 4.03......          13

Section 4.05--        Recording data for the 1937 Indenture and prior Supplemental Trust Indentures........          13

Section 4.06--        Financing Statement covers additional series of First Mortgage Bonds.................          14

                                                       ARTICLE V.
                                                AMENDMENTS TO INDENTURE.

Section 5.01--        Consent of holders of Bonds..........................................................          14

                                                      ARTICLE VI.
                                                     MISCELLANEOUS.

Section 6.01--        Recitals of fact, except as stated, are statements of the Company....................          14

Section 6.02--        Supplemental Trust Indenture to be construed as a part of the 1937 Indenture, as
                      supplemented.........................................................................          14

Section 6.03--(a)     Trust Indenture Act to control.......................................................          14

            (b)       Severability of conditions contained in Supplemental Trust Indenture and bonds.......          15

Section 6.04--        Word "Indenture" as used herein includes in its meaning the 1937 Indenture and all
                      indentures supplemental thereto......................................................          15

Section 6.05--        References to either party in Supplemental Trust Indenture include successors or
                      assigns..............................................................................          15

Section 6.06--(a)     Provision for execution in counterparts..............................................          15

            (b)       Table of Contents and descriptive headings of Articles not to affect meaning.........          15
                                                     --------------

Schedule A.................................................................................................         A-1
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
    Supplemental Trust Indenture, made as of the 1st day of October 1994, by and
between NORTHERN STATES POWER COMPANY, a corporation duly organized and existing
under  and by virtue of the laws of the State of Minnesota, having its principal
office in the City of  Minneapolis in said State  (the "Company"), party of  the
first  part, and HARRIS TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK, a corporation duly organized and
existing under and by virtue  of the laws of the  State of Illinois, having  its
principal  office  in  the  City  of Chicago  in  said  State,  as  Trustee (the
"Trustee"), party of the second part;

WITNESSETH:

    WHEREAS, the Company heretofore  has executed and  delivered to the  Trustee
its Trust Indenture (the "1937 Indenture"), made as of February 1, 1937, whereby
the  Company granted, bargained, sold,  warranted, released, conveyed, assigned,
transferred, mortgaged, pledged, set over, and confirmed to the Trustee, and  to
its respective successors in trust, all property, real, personal, and mixed then
owned or thereafter acquired or to be acquired by the Company (except as therein
excepted  from  the lien  thereof) and  subject  to the  rights reserved  by the
Company in and  by the  provisions of  the 1937 Indenture,  to be  held by  said
Trustee  in trust in  accordance with provisions  of the 1937  Indenture for the
equal pro  rata benefit  and  security of  all and  every  of the  bonds  issued
thereunder in accordance with the provisions thereof; and

    WHEREAS,  the Company heretofore has executed and delivered to the Trustee a
Supplemental Trust  Indenture, made  as of  June 1,  1942, whereby  the  Company
conveyed,  assigned, transferred, mortgaged, pledged, set over, and confirmed to
the Trustee, and its  respective successors in  said trust, additional  property
acquired by it subsequent to the date of the 1937 Indenture; and

    WHEREAS,  the Company heretofore  has executed and  delivered to the Trustee
the following additional  Supplemental Trust  Indentures which,  in addition  to
conveying,  assigning,  transferring,  mortgaging, pledging,  setting  over, and
confirming to  the  Trustee,  and  its  respective  successors  in  said  trust,
additional  property acquired  by it subsequent  to the preparation  of the next
preceding Supplemental Trust Indenture and adding to the covenants,  conditions,
and  agreements of the 1937  Indenture certain additional covenants, conditions,
and agreements to be  observed by the Company,  created the following series  of
First Mortgage Bonds:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
     DATE OF SUPPLEMENTAL
       TRUST INDENTURE                            DESIGNATION OF SERIES
- ------------------------------  ----------------------------------------------------------
<S>                             <C>
February 1, 1944                Series due February 1, 1974 (retired)
October 1, 1945                 Series due October 1, 1975 (retired)
July 1, 1948                    Series due July 1, 1978 (retired)
August 1, 1949                  Series due August 1, 1979 (retired)
June 1, 1952                    Series due June 1, 1982 (retired)
October 1, 1954                 Series due October 1, 1984 (retired)
September 1, 1956               Series due 1986 (retired)
August 1, 1957                  Series due August 1, 1987 (redeemed)
July 1, 1958                    Series due July 1, 1988 (retired)
December 1, 1960                Series due December 1, 1990 (retired)
August 1, 1961                  Series due August 1, 1991 (retired)
June 1, 1962                    Series due June 1, 1992 (retired)
September 1, 1963               Series due September 1, 1993 (retired)
August 1, 1966                  Series due August 1, 1996 (redeemed)
June 1, 1967                    Series due June 1, 1995 (redeemed)
October 1, 1967                 Series due October 1, 1997 (redeemed)
May 1, 1968                     Series due May 1, 1998 (redeemed)
October 1, 1969                 Series due October 1, 1999 (redeemed)
February 1, 1971                Series due March 1, 2001 (redeemed)
May 1, 1971                     Series due June 1, 2001 (redeemed)
February 1, 1972                Series due March 1, 2002
January 1, 1973                 Series due February 1, 2003
January 1, 1974                 Series due January 1, 2004 (redeemed)
September 1, 1974               Pollution Control Series A (redeemed)
April 1, 1975                   Pollution Control Series B (redeemed)
</TABLE>
<PAGE>

                                       2

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
     DATE OF SUPPLEMENTAL
       TRUST INDENTURE                            DESIGNATION OF SERIES
- ------------------------------  ----------------------------------------------------------
<S>                             <C>
May 1, 1975                     Series due May 1, 2005 (redeemed)
March 1, 1976                   Pollution Control Series C
June 1, 1981                    Pollution Control Series D, E and F (redeemed)
December 1, 1981                Series due December 1, 2011 (redeemed)
May 1, 1983                     Series due May 1, 2013 (redeemed)
December 1, 1983                Pollution Control Series G (redeemed)
September 1, 1984               Pollution Control Series H (redeemed)
December 1, 1984                Resource Recovery Series I
May 1, 1985                     Series due June 1, 2015 (redeemed)
September 1, 1985               Pollution Control Series J, K and L
July 1, 1989                    Series due July 1, 2019
June 1, 1990                    Series due June 1, 2020
October 1, 1992                 Series due October 1, 1997
April 1, 1993                   Series due April 1, 2003
December 1, 1993                Series due December 1, 2000, and December 1, 2005
February 1, 1994                Series due February 1, 1999
October 1, 1994                 Series due October 1, 2001; and
</TABLE>

    WHEREAS,  the 1937  Indenture and  all of  the foregoing  Supplemental Trust
Indentures are referred to herein collectively as the "Original Indenture;" and

    WHEREAS, the Company heretofore has executed and delivered to the Trustee  a
Supplemental  and Restated  Trust Indenture,  dated May  1, 1988  (the "Restated
Indenture"),  which,  in   addition  to   conveying,  assigning,   transferring,
mortgaging,  pledging,  setting over,  and confirming  to  the Trustee,  and its
respective  successors  in  said  trust,  additional  property  acquired  by  it
subsequent   to  the  preparation  of  the  next  preceding  Supplemental  Trust
Indenture, amended and restated the Original Indenture; and

    WHEREAS, the  Restated Indenture  will not  become effective  and  operative
until  all bonds of each series issued under the Original Indenture prior to May
1, 1988 shall have been retired  through payment or redemption (including  those
bonds  "deemed to be  paid" within the meaning  of that term  as used in Article
XVII of the 1937 Indenture) or until, subject to certain exceptions, the holders
of the requisite  principal amount  of such bonds  shall have  consented to  the
amendments  contained in the  Restated Indenture (such  date being herein called
the "Effective Date"); and

    WHEREAS, the Original Indenture and  the Restated Indenture are referred  to
herein collectively as the "Indenture"; and

    WHEREAS,  the Indenture provides that bonds  may be issued thereunder in one
or more series, each series to have such distinctive designation as the Board of
Directors of the Company may select for such series; and

    WHEREAS, the Company  is desirous  of providing for  the creation  of a  new
series of First Mortgage Bonds, said new series of bonds to be designated "First
Mortgage  Bonds, Series  due October 1,  2001," the  bonds of said  series to be
issued as registered  bonds without coupons  in denominations of  a multiple  of
$1000,  and the bonds of said series to  be substantially in the form and of the
tenor following, to-wit:

                 (Form of Bonds of Series due October 1, 2001)
                         NORTHERN STATES POWER COMPANY
            (Incorporated under the laws of the State of Minnesota)
                              First Mortgage Bond
                           Series due October 1, 2001
No. ______________                                              $ ______________
<PAGE>
                                       3

    [Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The
Depositary Trust Company, a New York corporation, to the issuer or its agent for
registration of transfer,  exchange or  payment, and any  certificate issued  is
registered  in the  name of Cede  & Co.  or such other  name as  requested by an
authorized representative of The  Depositary Trust Company  (and any payment  is
made  to Cede &  Co. or to  such other entity  as is requested  by an authorized
representative of The Depositary Trust  Company), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR  OTHER
USE  HEREOF FOR  VALUE OR OTHERWISE  BY OR TO  ANY PERSON IS  WRONGFUL since the
registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.]*

    NORTHERN STATES POWER  COMPANY, a corporation  organized and existing  under
the  laws of the State of Minnesota  (the "Company"), for value received, hereby
promises to pay to                 or  registered assigns, at the office of  the
Trustee, in Chicago, Illinois, or, at the option of the registered owner, at the
agency  of the Company in the Borough of  Manhattan, City and State of New York,
the sum of                    Dollars in  lawful money of  the United States  of
America,  on the first day of October, 2001, and to pay interest hereon from the
date hereof at the rate  of seven and seven-eighths  percent per annum, in  like
money,  until  the Company's  obligation  with respect  to  the payment  of such
principal sum shall be discharged; said interest being payable at the option  of
the  person entitled to  such interest either  at the office  of the Trustee, in
Chicago, Illinois, or at the agency of the Company in the Borough of  Manhattan,
City  and State of New York,  on the first day of April  and on the first day of
October in each year provided  that as long as there  is no existing default  in
the  payment of interest and  except for the payment  of defaulted interest, the
interest payable on any April 1 or October 1 will be paid to the person in whose
name this bond was registered at the  close of business on the record date  (the
March  21 prior  to such April  1 or  the September 20  prior to  such October 1
unless any such date is not a business  day, in which event it will be the  next
preceding business day).

    ["EXCEPT  UNDER THE LIMITED  CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN  THE INDENTURE, THIS
GLOBAL BOND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS  A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITORY OR BY  A
NOMINEE  OF THE DEPOSITORY TO THE DEPOSITORY, ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY,
A SUCCESSOR OF THE DEPOSITORY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR."]*

    This bond is one of a duly authorized issue of bonds of the Company, of  the
series  and  designation indicated  on  the face  hereof,  which issue  of bonds
consists, or may consist, of several series of varying denominations, dates, and
tenor, all issued and to be issued under and equally secured (except insofar  as
a  sinking fund, or similar fund,  established in accordance with the provisions
of the Indenture may  afford additional security for  the bonds of any  specific
series)  by a Trust Indenture dated February  1, 1937 (the "1937 Indenture"), as
supplemented  by   42   supplemental   trust   indentures   (collectively,   the
"Supplemental  Indentures"), a  Supplemental and Restated  Trust Indenture dated
May 1, 1988 (the  "Restated Indenture") and a  new supplemental trust  indenture
for the bonds of this series (the "New Supplemental Indenture"), executed by the
Company  to Harris Trust and Savings Bank,  as Trustee (the "Trustee"). The 1937
Indenture,  as  supplemented  by  the  Supplemental  Indentures,  the   Restated
Indenture and the New Supplemental Indenture herein are referred to collectively
as  the "Indenture". Reference hereby is made to the Indenture for a description
of the property mortgaged  and pledged, the nature  and extent of the  security,
the  rights of the holders of  the bonds as to such  security, and the terms and
conditions upon  which the  bonds may  be  issued under  the Indenture  and  are
secured.  The  principal  hereof  may  be declared  or  may  become  due  on the
conditions, in the manner and at the  time set forth in the Indenture, upon  the
happening of a default as in the Indenture provided.

    With  the  consent of  the Company  and to  the extent  permitted by  and as
provided in the Indenture, the rights and obligations of the Company and of  the
holders  of the bonds, and the terms and  provisions of the Indenture and of any
instruments supplemental thereto may be modified or altered by affirmative  vote
of the holders of at least 80% in principal amount of the bonds then outstanding
under  the Indenture and  any instruments supplemental  thereto (excluding bonds
challenged and  disqualified from  voting by  reason of  the Company's  interest
therein  as provided in the Indenture); provided that without the consent of all
holders of all bonds  affected no such modification  or alteration shall  permit
the  extension of the maturity of the principal  of any bond or the reduction in
the rate of interest thereon or any  other modification in the terms of  payment
of

- ------------------------
*This  legend is  to be included  if the  bonds are issued  as a  Global bond in
book-entry form.
<PAGE>
                                       4

such principal or  interest. The foregoing  80% requirement will  be reduced  to
66 2/3% when all bonds of each series issued under the Indenture prior to May 1,
1985, shall have been retired or all the holders thereof shall have consented to
such reduction.

    The  Restated  Indenture  amends and  restates  the 1937  Indenture  and the
Supplemental Indentures.  The  Restated  Indenture  will  become  effective  and
operative  (the "Effective Date") when all Bonds of each series issued under the
Indenture prior  to May  1, 1988  shall  have been  retired through  payment  or
redemption (including those bonds "deemed to be paid" within the meaning of that
term as used in Article XVII of the 1937 Indenture) or until, subject to certain
exceptions,  the holders of  the requisite principal amount  of such bonds shall
have consented to the amendments contained in the Restated Indenture. Holders of
the bonds of this series and of each subsequent series of bonds issued under the
Indenture likewise will  be bound by  the amendments contained  in the  Restated
Indenture  when they  become effective and  operative. Reference is  made to the
Restated Indenture  for  a  complete description  of  the  amendments  contained
therein to the 1937 Indenture and to the Supplemental Indentures.

    The Company and the Trustee may deem and treat the person in whose name this
bond  is registered as  the absolute owner  hereof for the  purpose of receiving
payment and for all other  purposes and shall not be  affected by any notice  to
the contrary.

    Bonds  of this series are  not redeemable prior to  maturity for any reason,
and are not subject to a sinking fund.

    This bond is transferable as prescribed  in the Indenture by the  registered
owner hereof in person, or by his duly authorized attorney, at the office of the
Trustee in Chicago, Illinois, or at the option of the owner at the agency of the
Company in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York, or elsewhere if
authorized  by the  Company, upon surrender  and cancellation of  this bond, and
thereupon a  new bond  or bonds  of  the same  series and  of a  like  aggregate
principal  amount  will be  issued  to the  transferee  in exchange  therefor as
provided in the Indenture, upon payment of taxes or other governmental  charges,
if any, that may be imposed in relation thereto.

    Bonds  of this series are interchangeable  as to denominations in the manner
and upon the conditions prescribed in the Indenture.

    No charge shall be made by the Company for any exchange or transfer of bonds
of the Series due October  1, 2001, other than  for taxes or other  governmental
charges, if any, that may be imposed in relation thereto.

    No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of or the interest
on  this bond, or any part  thereof, or of any claim  based hereon or in respect
hereof or of said Indenture, against any incorporator, or any past, present,  or
future  shareholder, officer or director of the Company or of any predecessor or
successor corporation, either directly  or through the  Company, or through  any
such  predecessor or successor corporation, or through any receiver or a trustee
in bankruptcy, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute, or rule of law or
by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, all such liability
being, by the acceptance hereof and as  part of the consideration for the  issue
hereof, expressly waived and released, as more fully provided in the Indenture.

    This bond shall not be valid or become obligatory for any purpose unless and
until  the certificate of authentication hereon shall  have been signed by or on
behalf of Harris Trust and Savings Bank, as Trustee under the Indenture, or  its
successor thereunder.
<PAGE>
                                       5

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, NORTHERN STATES POWER COMPANY has caused this bond to be
executed  in its  name by its  President or  a Vice President  and its corporate
seal, or a facsimile thereof, to be hereto affixed and attested by its Secretary
or an Assistant Secretary.
    Dated: ____________________________       NORTHERN STATES POWER COMPANY
        Attest: ________________________  By ___________________________________
         _________ Secretary                       _________ President

                          (Form of Trustee's Certificate)

    This bond is one of the bonds of the Series designated thereon, described in
the within-mentioned Indenture.

                                          HARRIS TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK,
                                                As Trustee,
                                            By _________________________________
                                                      Authorized Officer

and

    WHEREAS, the  Company is  desirous  of conveying,  assigning,  transferring,
mortgaging,  pledging, setting  over, and confirming  to the Trustee  and to its
respective successors in trust, additional property acquired by it subsequent to
the date of the preparation of  the Supplemental Trust Indenture dated  February
1, 1994; and

    WHEREAS,  the  Indenture  provides in  substance  that the  Company  and the
Trustee may enter into indentures  supplemental thereto for the purposes,  among
others, of creating and setting forth the particulars of any new series of bonds
and  of providing  the terms  and conditions of  the issue  of the  bonds of any
series not expressly provided for in the Indenture and of conveying,  assigning,
transferring,  mortgaging, pledging, setting over, and confirming to the Trustee
additional property of the Company, and  for any other purpose not  inconsistent
with the terms of the Indenture; and

    WHEREAS, the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Trust Indenture has
been  duly authorized by a  resolution adopted by the  Board of Directors of the
Company; and

    WHEREAS, the Trustee has duly determined to execute this Supplemental  Trust
Indenture  and to be bound, insofar as it  may lawfully do so, by the provisions
hereof;

    Now THEREFORE,  Northern  States  Power Company,  in  consideration  of  the
premises  and of  one dollar duly  paid to  it by the  Trustee at  or before the
ensealing and  delivery  of these  presents,  the  receipt of  which  is  hereby
acknowledged,  and other good and  valuable considerations, does hereby covenant
and agree  to and  with  Harris Trust  and Savings  Bank,  as Trustee,  and  its
successors in the trust under the Indenture for the benefit of those who hold or
shall  hold the  bonds, or  any of them,  issued or  to be  issued thereunder as
follows:

                                   ARTICLE I.
                 SPECIFIC SUBJECTION OF ADDITIONAL PROPERTY TO
                      THE LIEN OF THE ORIGINAL INDENTURE.

    SECTION 1.01. The Company in order to better secure the payment, of both the
principal and interest,  of all  bonds of the  Company at  any time  outstanding
under  the Indenture according to their tenor  and effect and the performance of
and compliance with the covenants and conditions contained in the Indenture, has
granted, bargained, sold, warranted, released, conveyed, assigned,  transferred,
mortgaged,  pledged, set over,  and confirmed and by  these presents does grant,
bargain,  sell,   warrant,   release,  convey,   assign,   transfer,   mortgage,
<PAGE>
                                       6

pledge, set over, and confirm to the Trustee and to its respective successors in
said  trust forever, subject to the rights reserved by the Company in and by the
provisions of the  Indenture, all  of the  property described  and mentioned  or
enumerated in a schedule annexed hereto and marked Schedule A, reference to said
schedule  being made hereby with  the same force and effect  as if the same were
incorporated herein at  length; together  with all and  singular the  tenements,
hereditaments,  and appurtenances belonging  and in any  way appertaining to the
aforesaid property  or  any part  thereof  with the  reversion  and  reversions,
remainder  and remainders, tolls, rents  and revenues, issues, income, products,
and profits thereof;

    Also, in order to subject the personal property and chattels of the  Company
to  the lien of the Indenture and to  conform with the provisions of the Uniform
Commercial Code,  all  fossil, nuclear,  hydro,  and other  electric  generating
plants,   including  buildings  and   other  structures,  turbines,  generators,
exciters,  boilers,  reactors,  nuclear  fuel,  other  boiler  plant  equipment,
condensing  equipment and all other  generating equipment; substations; electric
transmission and  distribution  systems, including  structures,  poles,  towers,
fixtures,  conduits,  insulators,  wires,  cables,  transformers,  services  and
meters; steam heating  mains and  equipment; gas  transmission and  distribution
systems,  including structures, storage  facilities, mains, compressor stations,
purifier stations, pressure holders, governors, services, and meters;  telephone
plant  and related distribution systems; trucks  and trailers; office, shop, and
other buildings and structures, furniture and equipment; apparatus and equipment
of all other kinds and descriptions;  materials and supplies; all municipal  and
other  franchises, leaseholds, licenses, permits, privileges, patents and patent
rights; all  shares  of  stock, bonds,  evidences  of  indebtedness,  contracts,
claims,  accounts receivable, choses in action  and other intangibles, all books
of account and other corporate records;

    Excluding, however, all merchandise  and appliances heretofore or  hereafter
acquired for the purpose of sale to customers and others;

    All  the estate,  right, title, interest,  and claim, whatsoever,  at law as
well as in equity, which the Company now has or hereafter may acquire in and  to
the  aforesaid property and  every part and parcel  thereof subject, however, to
the right of the Company, until the happening of a completed default as  defined
in  Section 1 of Article  XIII of the Original  Indenture prior to the Effective
Date and upon the occurrence and continuation of a Completed Default as  defined
in  the Indenture on and  after the Effective Date,  to retain in its possession
all shares of stock, notes, evidences of indebtedness, other securities and cash
not expressly  required  by the  provisions  hereof  to be  deposited  with  the
Trustee,  to  retain  in  its  possession  all  contracts,  bills  and  accounts
receivable, motor cars, any stock of goods, wares and merchandise, equipment  or
supplies acquired for the purpose of consumption in the operation, construction,
or  repair  of any  of the  properties of  the Company,  and to  sell, exchange,
pledge, hypothecate, or  otherwise dispose  of any or  all of  such property  so
retained  in  its  possession  free  from the  lien  of  the  Indenture, without
permission or hindrance on the part of  the Trustee, or any of the  bondholders.
No person in any dealings with the Company in respect of any such property shall
be  charged with any notice or knowledge of any such completed default (prior to
the Effective Date) or  Completed Default (after the  Effective Date) under  the
Indenture while the Company is in possession of such property. Nothing contained
herein  or in the Indenture shall be  deemed or construed to require the deposit
with, or delivery to,  the Trustee of  any of such property,  except such as  is
specifically required to be deposited with the Trustee by some express provision
of the Indenture;

    To  have and to hold all said  property, real, personal, and mixed, granted,
bargained,  sold,   warranted,   released,  conveyed,   assigned,   transferred,
mortgaged,  pledged,  set over,  or confirmed  by the  Company as  aforesaid, or
intended so  to be,  to the  Trustee  and its  successors and  assigns  forever,
subject, however, to permitted liens as defined in Section 5 of Article I of the
1937  Indenture prior to the Effective Date and to Permitted Encumbrances on and
after the Effective Date and to the further reservations, covenants, conditions,
uses, and trusts set forth in the Indenture; in trust nevertheless for the  same
purposes and upon the same conditions as are set forth in the Indenture.
<PAGE>
                                       7

                                  ARTICLE II.
           FORM AND EXECUTION OF BONDS OF SERIES DUE OCTOBER 1, 2001

    SECTION  2.01. There hereby is created,  for issuance under the Indenture, a
series of bonds designated Series due October 1, 2001, each of which shall  bear
the descriptive title "First Mortgage Bond, Series due October 1, 2001", and the
form  thereof  shall contain  suitable provisions  with  respect to  the matters
hereafter specified  in  this  Section.  The  bonds  of  said  series  shall  be
substantially  of the tenor and purport  hereinbefore recited. The bonds of said
series shall mature  October 1, 2001,  and shall be  issued as registered  bonds
without  coupons in  denominations of  a multiple of  $1,000. The  bonds of said
series shall bear interest at the rate of 7 7/8% per annum payable semi-annually
on April 1 and October 1 of each year, and the principal shall be payable at the
office of the Trustee in Chicago, Illinois,  or at the option of the  registered
owner  at the agency of the Company in  the Borough of Manhattan, City and State
of New York, in lawful money of  the United States of America, and the  interest
shall  be payable  in like money  at the option  of the person  entitled to such
interest either at said office  of the Trustee in  Chicago, Illinois, or at  the
agency  of the Company in the Borough of  Manhattan, City and State of New York.
Bonds of the  Series due  October 1,  2001, shall be  dated as  of the  interest
payment  date next  preceding the authentication  thereof by  the Trustee except
that (i) if any bond  shall be authenticated before April  1, 1995, it shall  be
dated  as of  October 1,  1994, unless  (iii) below  is applicable,  (ii) if the
Company shall at  the time of  the authentication of  a bond of  the Series  due
October  1, 2001, be in default in the payment of interest upon the bonds of the
Series due October  1, 2001,  such bond shall  be dated  as of the  date of  the
beginning  of the period for which such interest  is so in default, and (iii) as
long as there is no existing default in the payment of interest on the bonds  of
the  Series due October 1, 2001, if any  bond of the Series due October 1, 2001,
shall be authenticated after the close of business on any Record Date but on  or
prior  to the interest  payment date relating  to such Record  Date, it shall be
dated as of such interest payment date.

    As long as there is  no existing default in the  payment of interest on  the
bonds  of the Series due October  1, 2001, the person in  whose name any bond of
the Series due October 1,  2001, is registered at the  close of business on  any
Record  Date with  respect to  any interest  payment date  shall be  entitled to
receive the interest payable on  such interest payment date notwithstanding  any
transfer  or exchange of such bond of the Series due October 1, 2001, subsequent
to the Record Date and on or prior to such interest payment date, except as  and
to  the extent the Company  shall default in the payment  of the interest due on
such interest payment date, in which case such defaulted interest shall be  paid
to  the person in  whose name such  bond of the  Series due October  1, 2001, is
registered on a Special Record Date  for the payment of such defaulted  interest
to  be fixed  by the Trustee,  notice thereof  shall be given  to the registered
holder of any  bond of the  Series due October  1, 2001, not  less than 10  days
prior  to such  Special Record Date,  or may  be paid at  any time  in any other
lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities  exchange
on  which the bonds  of the Series due  October 1, 2001 may  be listed, and upon
such notice as may be required by such exchange.

    The term "Record Date" as used  herein with respect to any interest  payment
date  (April 1 or October  1) shall mean the  March 21 prior to  such April 1 or
September 20 prior to such October 1 unless such March 21 or September 20  shall
not  be  a  business day,  in  which event  "Record  Date" shall  mean  the next
preceding business day. The  term "business day" as  used herein shall mean  any
day  other than  a Saturday or  a Sunday or  a day  on which the  offices of the
Trustee in the City of Chicago,  Illinois, are closed pursuant to  authorization
of law.

    As  used in this Section 2.01, the term "default in the payment of interest"
means  failure  to  pay  interest  on  the  applicable  interest  payment   date
disregarding any period of grace permitted by the Indenture.

    The  "Special Record Date"  as used herein  shall be fixed  in the following
manner. The  Company  shall notify  the  Trustee in  writing  of the  amount  of
defaulted interest proposed to be paid on each bond of the Series due October 1,
2001,  and the date  of the proposed payment,  and at the  same time the Company
shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate  amount
proposed  to  be  paid in  respect  of  such defaulted  interest  or  shall make
arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for  such deposit prior to the date  of
the  proposed payment,  such money when  deposited to  be held in  trust for the
benefit of the persons entitled to  such defaulted interest as provided in  this
Section  2.01. Thereupon  the Trustee  shall fix a  Special Record  Date for the
payment
<PAGE>
                                       8

of such defaulted interest which shall be not more than 15 nor less than 10 days
prior to the date of  the proposed payment and not  less than 10 days after  the
receipt  by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall
promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and  at
the  expense of the Company, shall cause  notice of the proposed payment of such
defaulted interest and  the Special  Record Date  therefor to  be mailed,  first
class  postage prepaid, to each holder of the bonds of the Series due October 1,
2001, at his address as it appears in  the bond register, not less than 10  days
prior  to  such Special  Record Date.  Notice  of the  proposed payment  of such
defaulted interest and the  Special Record Date therefor  having been mailed  as
aforesaid,  such defaulted interest shall be paid  to the persons in whose names
the bonds of  the Series due  October 1,  2001, are registered  on such  Special
Record  Date  and shall  not be  payable pursuant  to the  paragraph immediately
following in this Section 2.01.

    The Company may make payment of  any defaulted interest in any other  lawful
manner  not inconsistent  with the  requirements of  any securities  exchange on
which the bonds of the Series due October 1, 2001, may be listed, and upon  such
notice  as may be  required by such exchange,  if, after notice  is given by the
Company to the Trustee  of the proposed payment  pursuant to this Section  2.01,
such payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

    SECTION 2.02. The bonds of the Series due October 1, 2001 are not redeemable
prior to maturity for any reason and are not subject to a sinking fund.

    SECTION  2.03. The registered owner  of any bond or  bonds of the Series due
October 1, 2001, at his option may  surrender the same with other bonds of  said
series  at the office of  the Trustee in Chicago, Illinois,  or at the agency of
the Company  in  the Borough  of  Manhattan, City  and  State of  New  York,  or
elsewhere  if authorized by the Company, for cancellation, in exchange for other
bonds of the said series of higher or lower authorized denominations, but of the
same aggregate  principal  amount, bearing  interest  from its  date,  and  upon
receipt  of any  payment required under  the provisions of  Section 2.04 hereof.
Thereupon the Company shall execute and  deliver to the Trustee and the  Trustee
shall  authenticate and deliver  such other registered  bonds to such registered
owner at its office or at any other place specified as aforesaid.

    SECTION 2.04. No charge  shall be made  by the Company  for any exchange  or
transfer  of bonds of  the Series due October  1, 2001, other  than for taxes or
other governmental charges, if any, that may be imposed in relation thereto.

    SECTION 2.05. The bonds of the Series due October 1, 2001, shall be executed
on behalf of the Company by the manual signature of its President or one of  its
Vice  Presidents  or with  the  facsimile signature  of  its President,  and its
corporate seal shall be thereunto affixed, or printed, lithographed, or engraved
thereon, in facsimile, and attested by the manual signature of its Secretary  or
one  of  its  Assistant  Secretaries  or with  the  facsimile  signature  or its
Secretary. In  case any  of the  officers who  shall have  signed any  bonds  or
attested  the seal thereon  or whose facsimile  signature shall be  borne by the
bonds shall cease to be such officers of the Company before the bonds so  signed
and sealed actually shall have been authenticated by the Trustee or delivered by
the Company, such bonds nevertheless may be issued, authenticated, and delivered
with  the same force and effect as though  the person or persons who signed such
bonds and attested the seal thereon or whose facsimile signature is borne by the
bonds had not ceased  to be such  officer or officers of  the Company. Any  bond
issuable hereunder may be signed or attested by manual or facsimile signature in
behalf  of the Company by such person as  at the actual date of the execution of
such bond shall be the  proper officer of the Company,  although at the date  of
such bond such person shall not have been an officer of the Company.

    SECTION  2.06. (a) Except as provided in  subsections (c) and (g) below, the
registered holder of all of the bonds of the Series due October 1, 2001 shall be
The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") and the bonds of the Series due October  1,
2001, shall be registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee for DTC. Payment
of  principal of  and interest on  any bonds of  the Series due  October 1, 2001
registered in the  name of  Cede & Co.  shall be  made by transfer  of New  York
Clearing  House or equivalent  next day funds  with respect to  the bonds of the
Series due October 1,  2001 to the account  of Cede & Co.  on each such  payment
date  for the bonds of  the Series due October 1,  2001 at the address indicated
for Cede & Co. in the bond register kept by the Trustee.
<PAGE>
                                       9

    (b) The bonds of the Series due October 1, 2001 shall be initially issued in
the form of a separate single authenticated fully registered certificate in  the
principal  amount of the bonds  of the Series due  October 1, 2001. Upon initial
issuance, the ownership of such bonds of the Series due October 1, 2001 shall be
registered in the bond register kept by the  Trustee in the name of Cede &  Co.,
as nominee of DTC. The Trustee and the Company may treat DTC (or its nominee) as
the  sole and exclusive registered holder of the bonds of the Series due October
1, 2001 registered in its name for  the purposes of payment of the principal  of
and  interest on the bonds of the Series due October 1, 2001 , and of giving any
notice permitted or required to be given to holders under the Indenture,  except
as  provided in Section 2.06(g)  below; and neither the  Trustee nor the Company
shall be affected by  any notice to  the contrary. Neither  the Trustee nor  the
Company shall have any responsibility or obligation to any of DTC's participants
(each  a "Participant"), any person claiming a beneficial ownership in the bonds
of the Series due October 1, 2001, under or through DTC or any Participant (each
a "Beneficial  Owner"), or  any other  person which  is not  shown on  the  bond
register maintained by the Trustee as being a registered holder, with respect to
the accuracy of any records maintained by DTC or any Participant; the payment of
DTC  or any Participant of any amount in respect of the principal of or interest
on the bonds of the Series due October 1, 2001; any notice which is permitted or
required to be given to registered holders  under the Indenture of bonds of  the
Series due October 1, 2001; or any consent given or other action taken by DTC as
bondholder.  The Trustee shall pay all principal of and interest on the bonds of
the Series due October 1, 2001 registered in  the name of Cede & Co. only to  or
"upon  the order of" DTC (as that term is used in the Uniform Commercial Code as
adopted in Minnesota and  New York), and  all such payments  shall be valid  and
effective  to fully satisfy and discharge the Company's obligations with respect
to the principal of and interest on such bonds of the Series due October 1, 2001
to the  extent of  the sum  or sums  so paid.  Except as  otherwise provided  in
Sections  2.06(c)  and  (g)  below,  no  person  other  than  DTC  shall receive
authenticated bond certificates evidencing the obligation of the Company to make
payments of principal of and interest on the bonds of the Series due October  1,
2001.  Upon delivery by DTC to the Trustee  of written notice to the effect that
DTC has determined  to substitute  a new  nominee in place  of Cede  & Co.,  and
subject  to the provisions of the Indenture  with respect to transfers of bonds,
the word "Cede & Co." in this  Supplemental Trust Indenture shall refer to  such
new nominee of DTC.

    (c)  If the  Company in  its discretion  determines that  it is  in the best
interest of the Beneficial Owners that they be able to obtain bond certificates,
the Company  may notify  DTC and  the  Trustee, whereupon  DTC will  notify  the
Participants  of  the availability  through DTC  of  bond certificates.  In such
event, the  Trustee  shall issue,  transfer  and exchange  bond  certificate  as
requested  by DTC  in appropriate  amounts pursuant  to Article  II of  the 1937
Indenture prior to the Effective Date,  Article II of the Restated Indenture  on
and  after  the  Effective Date  and  Section  2.03 of  this  Supplemental Trust
Indenture. The Company shall pay all costs in connection with the production  of
bond  certificates if the Company makes  such a determination under this Section
2.06(c). DTC may determine to discontinue providing its services with respect to
the bonds of the Series due October 1, 2001 at any time by giving written notice
to the Company and the Trustee and discharging its responsibilities with respect
thereto under applicable law. Under such circumstances (if there is no successor
book-entry depository), the Company and the  Trustee shall be obligated (at  the
sole  cost and expense of the Company) to deliver bond certificates as described
in this  Supplemental Trust  Indenture.  If bond  certificates are  issued,  the
provisions of the Indenture shall apply to, among other things, the transfer and
exchange  of such certificates  and the method  of payment and  principal of and
interest on such certificates. Whenever DTC requests the Company and the Trustee
to do so, the Company will direct the  Trustee (at the sole cost and expense  of
the Company) to cooperate with DTC in taking appropriate action after reasonable
notice  (1) to make  available one or more  separate certificates evidencing the
bonds of the Series due October 1, 2001 to any Participant or (2) to arrange for
another book-entry depository to maintain custody of certificates evidencing the
bonds of the Series due October 1, 2001 registered in the name of Cede & Co. Any
successor book-entry depository must  be a clearing  agency registered with  the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission pursuant to  Section 17A  of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 and must enter  into an agreement with the Company and  the
Trustee  agreeing to act as the depository  and clearing agency for the bonds of
the Series due October  1, 2001 (except as  provided in Section 2.06(g)  below).
After  such agreement has become  effective, DTC shall present  the bonds of the
Series due  October 1,  2001 for  registration of  transfer in  accordance  with
Section 12 of Article II of the 1937 Indenture
<PAGE>
                                       10

prior  to the Effective Date  and Section 2.12 of  the Restated Indenture on and
after the Effective Date, and the Trustee shall register them in the name of the
successor book-entry  depository  or  its nominee.  If  a  successor  book-entry
depository  has not  accepted such position  before the effective  date of DTC's
termination of its services, the book-entry system shall automatically terminate
and may not be reinstated without the  consent of all registered holders of  the
bonds of the Series due October 1, 2001.

    (d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Supplemental Trust Indenture
to  the contrary, so  long as any  bonds of the  Series due October  1, 2001 are
registered in the  name of  Cede &  Co., as nominee  of DTC,  all payments  with
respect to the principal of and interest on such Bonds of the Series due October
1,  2001 and all notices with respect to such bonds of the Series due October 1,
2001 shall  be  made  and  given,  respectively,  to  DTC  as  provided  in  the
representation  letter dated  as of  the date  of delivery  of the  bonds of the
Series due October 1, 2001 among DTC,  the Company and the Trustee. The  Trustee
is hereby authorized and directed to comply with all terms of the representation
letter.

    (e)  In connection  with any  notice or  other communication  to be provided
pursuant to the Indenture for the bonds of the Series due October 1, 2001 by the
Company or the Trustee with respect to  any consent or other action to be  taken
by  the registered holders of  the bonds of the Series  due October 1, 2001, the
Company or the Trustee,  as the case  may be, shall seek  to establish a  record
date  to the extent permitted by the  Indenture for such consent or other action
and give DTC notice of such record date not less than fifteen (15) calendar days
in advance of such record date to the extent possible. Such notice to DTC  shall
be given only when DTC is the sole registered holder.

    (f)  NEITHER THE  COMPANY NOR  THE TRUSTEE  WILL HAVE  ANY RESPONSIBILITY OR
OBLIGATIONS TO THE PARTICIPANTS OR THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS WITH RESPECT TO (1) THE
ACCURACY OF ANY RECORDS MAINTAINED BY DTC OR ANY PARTICIPANT; (2) THE PAYMENT BY
DTC OR ANY PARTICIPANT OF ANY AMOUNT  DUE TO ANY BENEFICIAL OWNER IN RESPECT  OF
THE PRINCIPAL OF OR INTEREST ON THE BONDS OF THE SERIES DUE OCTOBER 1, 2001; (3)
THE  DELIVERY BY DTC  OR ANY PARTICIPANT  OF ANY NOTICE  TO ANY BENEFICIAL OWNER
WHICH IS REQUIRED OR PERMITTED UNDER THE  TERMS OF THE INDENTURE TO BE GIVEN  TO
REGISTERED  HOLDERS; OR (4) ANY CONSENT GIVEN OR  OTHER ACTION TAKEN BY DTC AS A
REGISTERED HOLDER.

    SO LONG AS CEDE &  CO. IS THE REGISTERED HOLDER  OF THE BONDS OF THE  SERIES
DUE  OCTOBER 1, 2001 AS NOMINEE OF  DTC, REFERENCES HEREIN TO REGISTERED HOLDERS
OF THE BONDS OF THE SERIES DUE OCTOBER  1, 2001 SHALL MEAN CEDE & CO. AND  SHALL
NOT  MEAN THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS  OF THE BONDS OF THE  SERIES DUE OCTOBER 1, 2001
NOR DTC PARTICIPANTS.

    (g) The Company, in its sole  discretion, may terminate the services of  DTC
with  respect to  the bonds  of the Series  due October  1, 2001  if the Company
determines that:  (i)  DTC is  unable  to discharge  its  responsibilities  with
respect  to the bonds of the Series due  October 1, 2001; or (ii) a continuation
of the requirement that all of the  outstanding bonds of the Series due  October
1,  2001 be registered  with the registration  books kept by  the Trustee in the
name of Cede  & Co.,  as nominee  of DTC, is  not in  the best  interest of  the
Beneficial  Owners of the  bonds of the  Series due October  1, 2001. After such
event and if no  substitute book-entry depository is  appointed by the  Company,
bond certificates will be delivered as described in the Indenture.

    (h) Upon the termination of the services of DTC with respect to the bonds of
the  Series  due October  1, 2001  pursuant to  subsections (c)  or (g)  of this
Section 2.06 after which no  substitute book-entry depository is appointed,  the
bonds  of the Series due October 1, 2001 shall be registered in whatever name or
names holders transferring or exchanging bonds of the Series due October 1, 2001
shall designate in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture.
<PAGE>
                                       11

                                  ARTICLE III.
                      APPOINTMENT OF AUTHENTICATING AGENT.

    SECTION 3.01. The Trustee  shall, if requested  in writing so  to do by  the
Company,  promptly appoint  an agent  or agents  of the  Trustee who  shall have
authority to authenticate registered bonds of the Series due October 1, 2001, in
the name and on behalf of the Trustee. Such appointment by the Trustee shall  be
evidenced  by a certificate of a vice-president  of the Trustee delivered to the
Company prior to the effectiveness of such appointment.

    SECTION 3.02. (a)  Any such authenticating agent shall be acceptable to  the
Company  and at all  times shall be  a corporation which  is organized and doing
business under the  laws of the  United States  or of any  State, is  authorized
under  such laws  to act  as authenticating  agent, has  a combined  capital and
surplus of at least $10,000,000, and is subject to supervision or examination by
Federal or State authority. If  such corporation publishes reports of  condition
at  least annually,  pursuant to  law or  to the  requirements of  the aforesaid
supervising or examining authority, then for  the purposes of this Section  3.02
the  combined capital and surplus of such  corporation shall be deemed to be its
combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition
so published.

    (b)  Any corporation  into which any authenticating  agent may be merged  or
converted  or with  which it may  be consolidated, or  any corporation resulting
from any merger, conversion, or consolidation to which any authenticating  agent
shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate agency business
of  any  authenticating agent,  shall continue  to  be the  authenticating agent
without the execution or filing of any paper  or any further act on the part  of
the Trustee or the authenticating agent.

    (c)   Any  authenticating agent  at any  time may  resign by  giving written
notice of resignation to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at  any
time,  and upon written request  of the Company to  the Trustee shall, terminate
the agency of any authenticating agent  by giving written notice of  termination
to such authenticating agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of
resignation   or  upon  such  a  termination,  or   in  case  at  any  time  any
authenticating  agent  shall  cease  to  be  eligible  in  accordance  with  the
provisions  of this  Section 3.02,  the Trustee,  unless otherwise  requested in
writing by the Company, promptly shall appoint a successor authenticating agent,
which shall be  acceptable to  the Company. Any  successor authenticating  agent
upon  acceptance of its  appointment hereunder shall become  vested with all the
rights, powers, duties, and responsibilities of its predecessor hereunder,  with
like  effect as if originally named.  No successor authenticating agent shall be
appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section 3.02.

    (d)  The  Trustee agrees to  pay to any  authenticating agent, appointed  in
accordance with the provisions of this Section 3.02, reasonable compensation for
its  services,  and the  Trustee shall  be  entitled to  be reimbursed  for such
payments.
<PAGE>
                                       12

    SECTION  3.03. If an appointment  is made pursuant to  this Article III, the
registered bonds of the Series due October 1, 2001, shall have endorsed thereon,
in addition to the Trustee's Certificate, an alternate Trustee's Certificate  in
the following form:

    This bond is one of the bonds of the Series designated thereon, described in
the within-mentioned Indenture.
                                              HARRIS TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK,
                                                                   as Trustee,

                                          By
                                                  Authenticating Agent,

                                          By
                                                   Authorized Officer.

    SECTION  3.04. No provision of this Article III shall require the Trustee to
have at any time more than one such authenticating agent for any one State or to
appoint any such authenticating agent in the State in which the Trustee has  its
principal place of business.

                                  ARTICLE IV.
        FINANCING STATEMENT TO COMPLY WITH THE UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE.

    SECTION  4.01. The name and address of  the debtor and secured party are set
forth below:

           Debtor: Northern States Power Company
                  414 Nicollet Mall
                  Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401

           Secured Party: Harris Trust and Savings Bank, Trustee
                       111 West Monroe Street
                       Chicago, Illinois 60603

    NOTE:  Northern  States  Power  Company,  the  debtor  above  named,  is  "a
transmitting utility" under the Uniform Commercial Code as adopted in Minnesota,
North Dakota and South Dakota.

    SECTION 4.02. Reference to Article I hereof is made for a description of the
property  of the debtor covered by this  Financing Statement with the same force
and effect as if incorporated in this Section at length.

    SECTION 4.03.  The  maturity  dates  and  respective  principal  amounts  of
obligations  of the debtor secured and presently to be secured by the Indenture,
reference to all of which  for the terms and  conditions thereof is hereby  made
with  the same  force and  effect as  if incorporated  herein at  length, are as
follows.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FIRST MORTGAGE BONDS                                                          PRINCIPAL AMOUNT
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------  ----------------
<S>                                                                           <C>
Series due October 1, 1997..................................................   $   100,000,000
Series due February 1, 1999.................................................   $   200,000,000
Series due October 1, 2001..................................................   $   150,000,000
Series due December 1, 2000.................................................   $   100,000,000
Series due March 1, 2002....................................................   $    50,000,000
Series due February 1, 2003.................................................   $    50,000,000
Series due April 1, 2003....................................................   $    80,000,000
Series due December 1, 2005.................................................   $    70,000,000
Pollution Control Series C..................................................   $     8,800,000
Resource Recovery Series I..................................................   $    23,400,000
Pollution Control Series J..................................................   $     5,450,000
Pollution Control Series K..................................................   $     3,400,000
</TABLE>
<PAGE>

                                       13

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FIRST MORTGAGE BONDS                                                          PRINCIPAL AMOUNT
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------  ----------------
<S>                                                                           <C>
Pollution Control Series L..................................................   $     4,850,000
Series due July 1, 2019.....................................................   $    99,000,000
Series due June 1, 2020.....................................................   $    70,000,000
</TABLE>

    SECTION 4.04. This  financing Statement  is hereby  adopted for  all of  the
First Mortgage Bonds of the series mentioned above secured by said Indenture.

    SECTION   4.05.  The  1937  Indenture   and  the  prior  Supplemental  Trust
Indentures, as set forth below,  have been filed or  recorded in each and  every
office  in the States of Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota designated by
law for  the filing  or recording  thereof in  respect of  all property  of  the
Company subject thereto:

    Original Indenture
      Dated February 1, 1937

    Supplemental Indenture
      Dated June 1, 1942

    Supplemental Indenture
      Dated February 1, 1944

    Supplemental Indenture
      Dated October 1, 1945

    Supplemental Indenture
      Dated July 1, 1948

    Supplemental Indenture
      Dated August 1, 1949

    Supplemental Indenture
      Dated June 1, 1952

    Supplemental Indenture
      Dated October 1, 1954

    Supplemental Indenture
      Dated September 1, 1956

    Supplemental Indenture
      Dated August 1, 1957

    Supplemental Indenture
      Dated July 1, 1958

    Supplemental Indenture
      Dated December 1, 1960

    Supplemental Indenture
      Dated August 1, 1961

    Supplemental Indenture
      Dated June 1, 1962

    Supplemental Indenture
      Dated September 1, 1963

    Supplemental Indenture
      Dated August 1, 1966

    Supplemental Indenture
      Dated June 1, 1967

    Supplemental Indenture
      Dated October 1, 1967

    Supplemental Indenture
      Dated May 1, 1968

    Supplemental Indenture
      Dated October 1, 1969

    Supplemental Indenture
      Dated February 1, 1971

    Supplemental Indenture
      Dated May 1, 1971

    Supplemental Indenture
      Dated February 1, 1972

    Supplemental Indenture
      Dated January 1, 1973

    Supplemental Indenture
      Dated January 1, 1974

    Supplemental Indenture
      Dated September 1, 1974

    Supplemental Indenture
      Dated April 1, 1975

    Supplemental Indenture
      Dated May 1, 1975

    Supplemental Indenture
      Dated March 1, 1976

    Supplemental Indenture
      Dated June 1, 1981

    Supplemental Indenture
      Dated December 1, 1981

    Supplemental Indenture
      Dated May 1, 1983

    Supplemental Indenture
      Dated December 1, 1983

    Supplemental Indenture
      Dated September 1, 1984

    Supplemental Indenture
      Dated December 1, 1984

    Supplemental Indenture
      Dated May 1, 1985

    Supplemental Indenture
      Dated September 1, 1985

    Supplemental and Restated Indenture
      Dated May 1, 1988
<PAGE>
                                       14

    Supplemental Indenture
      Dated July 1, 1989

    Supplemental Indenture
      Dated June 1, 1990

    Supplemental Indenture
      Dated October 1, 1992

    Supplemental Indenture
      Dated April 1, 1993

    Supplemental Indenture
      Dated December 1, 1993

    Supplemental Indenture
      Dated February 1, 1994

    Supplemental Indenture
      Dated October 1, 1994

    SECTION  4.06. The property  covered by this  Financing Statement also shall
secure additional series  of First  Mortgage Bonds of  the debtor  which may  be
issued  from time to time in the future in accordance with the provisions of the
Indenture.

                                   ARTICLE V.
                            AMENDMENTS TO INDENTURE.

    SECTION 5.01.  Each holder  or registered  owner  of a  bond of  any  series
originally  authenticated by  the Trustee and  originally issued  by the Company
subsequent to May 1, 1985 and of any coupon pertaining to any such bond, by  the
acquisition,  holding or ownership of such bond and coupon, thereby consents and
agrees to,  and  shall  be  bound  by, the  provisions  of  Article  VI  of  the
Supplemental  Indenture dated May 1, 1985. Each  holder or registered owner of a
bond of  any  series  (including  bonds  of the  Series  due  October  1,  2001)
originally  authenticated by  the Trustee and  originally issued  by the Company
subsequent to May  1, 1988 and  of any coupon  pertaining to such  bond, by  the
acquisition,  holding or ownership of such bond and coupon, thereby consents and
agrees to,  and  shall be  bound  by, the  provisions  of the  Supplemental  and
Restated Trust Indenture dated May 1, 1988 upon the Effective Date.

                                  ARTICLE VI.
                                 MISCELLANEOUS.

    SECTION  6.01.  The recitals  of fact  herein, except  the recital  that the
Trustee has duly determined to execute this Supplemental Trust Indenture and  be
bound,  insofar as it  may lawfully so do,  by the provisions  hereof and in the
bonds shall be taken as statements of the Company and shall not be construed  as
made  by the Trustee. The Trustee makes no representations as to value of any of
the property subjected to the lien of the Indenture, or any part thereof, or  as
to  the title of the Company thereto, or as to the security afforded thereby and
hereby, or as to  the validity of  this Supplemental Trust  Indenture or of  the
bonds  issued  under  the  Indenture  by  virtue  hereof  (except  the Trustee's
certificate), and the Trustee shall incur  no responsibility in respect of  such
matters.

    SECTION  6.02.  This  Supplemental  Trust Indenture  shall  be  construed in
connection with and  as a part  of the  1937 Indenture, as  supplemented by  the
Supplemental  Trust Indentures dated June 1,  1942, February 1, 1944, October 1,
1945, July 1, 1948, August 1, 1949, June 1, 1952, October 1, 1954, September  1,
1956,  August 1, 1957, July  1, 1958, December 1, 1960,  August 1, 1961, June 1,
1962, September 1, 1963, August 1, 1966,  June 1, 1967, October 1, 1967, May  1,
1968,  October 1, 1969, February 1, 1971, May 1, 1971, February 1, 1972, January
1, 1973, January 1, 1974, September 1,  1974, April 1, 1975, May 1, 1975,  March
1,  1976,  June  1, 1981,  December  1, 1981,  May  1, 1983,  December  1, 1983,
September 1,  1984,  December 1,  1984,  May 1,  1985,  September 1,  1985,  the
Supplemental and Restated Trust Indenture dated May 1, 1988 and the Supplemental
Trust  Indentures dated July  1, 1989, June  1, 1990, October  1, 1992, April 1,
1993, December 1, 1993, February 1, 1994 and October 1, 1994.

    SECTION 6.03.  (a) If  any provision  of this  Supplemental Trust  Indenture
limits, qualifies, or conflicts with another provision of the Indenture required
to be included in indentures qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (as
enacted  prior to the date  of this Supplemental Trust  Indenture) by any of the
provisions of Sections  310 to 317,  inclusive, of the  said Act, such  required
provisions shall control.
<PAGE>
                                       15

    (b) In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Supplemental
Trust  Indenture or in the bonds issued hereunder should be invalid, illegal, or
unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality, and enforceability of  the
remaining  provisions  contained herein  and  therein shall  not  in any  way be
affected, impaired, prejudiced, or disturbed thereby.

    SECTION 6.04.  Wherever  in  this  Supplemental  Trust  Indenture  the  word
"Indenture"  is used without  the prefix, "1937,"  "Original" or "Supplemental",
such word  was  used intentionally  to  include in  its  meaning both  the  1937
Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto.

    SECTION  6.05. Wherever in  this Supplemental Trust  Indenture either of the
parties hereto is  named or referred  to, this  shall be deemed  to include  the
successors  or assigns of  such party, and  all the covenants  and agreements in
this Supplemental Trust Indenture contained by or on behalf of the Company or by
or on  behalf  of the  Trustee  shall  bind and  inure  to the  benefit  of  the
respective successors and assigns of such parties, whether so expressed or not.

    SECTION  6.06.  (a)  This  Supplemental  Trust  Indenture  may  be  executed
simultaneously in several counterparts, and  all said counterparts executed  and
delivered,  each  as  an  original,  shall  constitute  but  one  and  the  same
instrument.

    (b) The  Table of  Contents  and the  descriptive  headings of  the  several
Articles  of  this  Supplemental  Trust  Indenture  were  formulated,  used, and
inserted in this Supplemental Trust Indenture for convenience only and shall not
be deemed to affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.
                                 --------------

    The amount of  obligations to  be issued  forthwith under  the Indenture  is
$150,000,000.
                                 --------------
<PAGE>
                                       16

    IN  WITNESS WHEREOF, on this 6th day  of October, A.D. 1994, NORTHERN STATES
POWER COMPANY, a Minnesota corporation, party of the first part, has caused  its
corporate  name and  seal to  be hereunto  affixed, and  this Supplemental Trust
Indenture dated  October 1,  1994,  to be  signed by  its  President or  a  Vice
President,  and attested by its Secretary or  an Assistant Secretary, for and in
its behalf,  and HARRIS  TRUST AND  SAVINGS BANK,  an Illinois  corporation,  as
Trustee,  party of  the second  part, to  evidence its  acceptance of  the trust
hereby created, has caused its corporate  name and seal to be hereunto  affixed,
and this Supplemental Trust Indenture dated October 1, 1994, to be signed by its
President, a Vice President, or an Assistant Vice President, and attested by its
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, for and in its behalf.

<TABLE>
<S>                                             <C>
                                                NORTHERN STATES POWER COMPANY,

                                                BY ARLAND D. BRUSVEN, VICE PRESIDENT

Attest:

GARY R. JOHNSON, SECRETARY.

Executed by Northern States
Power Company in presence of:

MICHELE L. BISHOP                                                             (CORPORATE SEAL)

CHANDRA G. HOUSTON, WITNESSES.

                                                                HARRIS TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK,
                                                                                    as Trustee

                                                BY J. BARTOLINI, VICE PRESIDENT

Attest:

C. POTTER, ASSISTANT SECRETARY.

Executed by Harris Trust and Savings
Bank in presence of:

                                                                              (CORPORATE SEAL)

D. G. DONOVAN

K. RICHARDSON, WITNESSES.
</TABLE>

<PAGE>
                                       17

<TABLE>
<S>                   <C>
STATE OF MINNESOTA
COUNTY OF HENNEPIN    ss.:
</TABLE>

    On  this 6th day  of October, A.D.  1994, before me,  KENNETH A. HUTCHINS, a
Notary Public in and for said County in the State aforesaid, personally appeared
ARLAND D. BRUSVEN and GARY R. JOHNSON,  to me personally known, and to me  known
to  be  Vice President  and Secretary,  respectively,  of Northern  States Power
Company, one of the corporations described in and which executed the within  and
foregoing  instrument, and who, being  by me severally duly  sworn, each did say
that he, the said ARLAND D. BRUSVEN is Vice President, and he, the said GARY  R.
JOHNSON,  is Secretary,  of said Northern  States Power  Company, a corporation;
that the seal affixed  to the within and  foregoing instrument is the  corporate
seal  of said corporation,  and that said  instrument was executed  in behalf of
said corporation by  authority of  its board of  directors; and  said ARLAND  D.
BRUSVEN and GARY R. JOHNSON each acknowledged said instrument to be the free act
and deed of said corporation and that such corporation executed the same.

    WITNESS my hand and notarial seal this 6th day of October, A.D. 1994.

KENNETH A. HUTCHINS
NOTARY PUBLIC, ANOKA COUNTY, MINN.
MY COMMISSION EXPIRES MARCH 1, 1996

                        (NOTARIAL SEAL)

<TABLE>
<S>                   <C>
STATE OF MINNESOTA
COUNTY OF HENNEPIN    ss.:
</TABLE>

    ARLAND  D. BRUSVEN  and GARY  R. JOHNSON,  being severally  duly sworn, each
deposes and says that he, the said ARLAND D. BRUSVEN, is Vice President, and he,
the said GARY R.  JOHNSON, is Secretary, of  Northern States Power Company,  the
corporation   described  in  and   which  executed  the   within  and  foregoing
Supplemental Trust Indenture, as  mortgagor; and each  for himself further  says
that  said Supplemental Trust Indenture was executed  in good faith, and not for
the purpose  of hindering,  delaying, or  defrauding any  creditor of  the  said
mortgagor.

ARLAND D. BRUSVEN
GARY R. JOHNSON

    Subscribed and sworn to before me this 6th day of October, A.D. 1994.

KENNETH A. HUTCHINS
NOTARY PUBLIC, ANOKA COUNTY, MINN.
MY COMMISSION EXPIRES MARCH 1, 1996

                        (NOTARIAL SEAL)
<PAGE>
                                       18

<TABLE>
<S>                <C>
STATE OF ILLINOIS
COUNTY OF COOK     ss.:
</TABLE>

    On  this 6th  day of  October, A.D.  1994, before  me, T.  MUZQUIZ, a Notary
Public in and  for said County  in the State  aforesaid, personally appeared  J.
BARTOLINI  and C.  POTTER, to me  personally known, and  to me known  to be Vice
President and Assistant  Secretary, respectively,  of Harris  Trust and  Savings
Bank,  one of the  corporations described in  and which executed  the within and
foregoing instrument, and who,  being by me severally  duly sworn, each did  say
that she, the said J. BARTOLINI, is Vice President, and she, the said C. POTTER,
is  Assistant Secretary, of  said Harris Trust and  Savings Bank, a corporation;
that the seal affixed  to the within and  foregoing instrument is the  corporate
seal  of said corporation,  and that said  instrument was executed  in behalf of
said corporation by authority of its board of directors; and said J.  BARTOLINI,
and  C. POTTER each acknowledged said instrument to  be the free act and deed of
said corporation and that such corporation executed the same.

    WITNESS my hand and notarial seal this 6th day of October, A.D. 1994.

                                          T. MUZQUIZ
                                          NOTARY PUBLIC, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
                                          MY COMMISSION EXPIRES JULY 12, 1997

(NOTARIAL SEAL)

<TABLE>
<S>                <C>
STATE OF ILLINOIS
COUNTY OF COOK     ss.:
</TABLE>

    J. BARTOLINI and  C. POTTER, being  severally duly sworn,  each for  himself
deposes  and says that she,  the said J. BARTOLINI,  is Vice President, and she,
the said C. POTTER,  is Assistant Secretary, of  Harris Trust and Savings  Bank,
the  corporation  described  in  and which  executed  the  within  and foregoing
Supplemental Trust Indenture, as  mortgagor; and each  for himself further  says
that  said Supplemental Trust Indenture was executed  in good faith, and not for
the purpose of hindering, delaying, or defrauding any creditor of the mortgagor.

    Subscribed and sworn to before me this 6th day of October, A.D. 1994.

                                          T. MUZQUIZ
                                          NOTARY PUBLIC, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
                                          MY COMMISSION EXPIRES JULY 12, 1997

(NOTARIAL SEAL)
<PAGE>
                                      A-1

                                   SCHEDULE A

    The property referred to  in Article I of  the foregoing Supplemental  Trust
Indenture  from Northern States Power Company  to Harris Trust and Savings Bank,
Trustee, made as of October 1, 1994, includes the following property hereinafter
more specifically described. Such description, however, is not intended to limit
or impair the  scope or intention  of the general  description contained in  the
granting clauses or elsewhere in the Original Indenture.

                    I. PROPERTY IN THE STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA

    The  following  described real  property, situate,  lying  and being  in the
County of Cass, State of North Dakota, to-wit:

       That part of Lot 12 of  Arndts-Devener Subdivision to the City  of
       Fargo, Cass County, North Dakota, described as follows: Commencing
       at  the  Southwest Corner  of said  Lot 12,  thence on  an assumed
       bearing of South 88 degrees 40  minutes 51 seconds East along  the
       south  line of said Lot  12, for a distance  of 260.14 feet to the
       point of beginning; thence North 00 degrees 08 minutes 53  seconds
       West  175.96 feet; thence  South 88 degrees  40 minutes 51 seconds
       East 247.56 feet; thence  South 00 degrees  08 minutes 53  seconds
       East  175.96 feet; thence  North 88 degrees  40 minutes 51 seconds
       West along the South line of said Lot 12, for a distance of 247.56
       feet to the point of beginning.  Containing one acre more or  less
       and subject to any existing easements.

                     II. TRANSMISSION LINES OF THE COMPANY

    The  electric transmission  lines of  the Company,  including towers, poles,
pole lines, wire, switch racks,  switchboards, insulators, and other  appliances
and  equipment, and  all other property  forming a part  thereof or appertaining
thereto, and all service lines extending therefrom; together with all rights for
or relating  to the  construction, maintenance  of operation  thereof,  through,
over,  under, or upon any private property  of public streets or highways within
as well  as without  the  corporate limits  of  any municipal  corporation,  and
particularly the following described lines, to-wit:

                          IN THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA

    A  transmission line extending between Split Rock Sub and Pathfinder Peaking
for approximately 0.40 miles in Minnehaha County, South Dakota in Sections 30  &
31, Township 102, Range 48.

                   III. GAS DISTRIBUTION LINES OF THE COMPANY
                          IN THE STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA

    (1)  Approximately  70,000  feet  of 12"  diameter  high  pressure  gas main
       constructed in 1985 in Grand Forks County, known as the "GRAND FORKS  AIR
       FORCE  BASE LINE," serving the Grand Forks Air Force Base and the City of
       Emerado in North Dakota.

                           IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA

    (1) Approximately  55,000  feet  of  6"  diameter  high  pressure  gas  main
       constructed  in 1988 in Kandiyohi County,  known as the "KANDIYOHI LINE,"
       serving the cities of Kandiyohi, Spicer and New London in Minnesota.

    (2) Approximately  55,000  feet  of  4"  diameter  high  pressure  gas  main
       constructed  in 1988 in Benton County,  known as the "SARTELL/RICE LINE,"
       serving the cities of Rice, and Royalton in Minnesota.

    (3) Approximately  11,000  feet  of  8"  diameter  high  pressure  gas  main
       constructed  in 1988 in  Stearns County, known as  the "WAITE PARK LINE,"
       serving the cities of Waite Park and St Cloud in Minnesota.
<PAGE>
                                      A-2

    (4) Approximately 63,000 feet of 6" diameter and approximately 2000 feet  of
       4"  diameter high pressure gas main  constructed in 1989 in Anoka County,
       known as the "ANOKA  COUNTY-LINE," serving the  communities of Ham  Lake,
       East Bethel, Linwood Township and Columbus Township in Minnesota.

    (5)  Approximately 5,000 feet of 8" diameter  and 39,000 feet of 4" diameter
       high pressure gas main constructed in 1989 in Sherburne County, known  as
       the  "BIG LAKE/BECKER  LINE," serving the  communities of  Becker and Big
       Lake Township in Minnesota.

    (6) Approximately 9,000 feet of 6"  diameter and 26,000 feet of 4"  diameter
       high  pressure  gas main  constructed in  1990 in  Blue Earth  County and
       LeSeur County, known as  the "MADISON LAKE LINE,"  serving the cities  of
       Madison  Lake,  St Clair  and Elysian  and the  Lake Washington  and Lake
       Jefferson areas in Minnesota.
<PAGE>
                                      A-3

                                 --------------

                         MORTGAGOR'S RECEIPT FOR COPY.

    The undersigned Northern  States Power Company,  the Mortgagor described  in
the foregoing Mortgage, hereby acknowledges that at the time of the execution of
the  Mortgage, Harris Trust  and Savings Bank,  Trustee, the Mortgagee described
therein, surrendered to  it a  full, true, complete,  and correct  copy of  said
instrument, with signatures, witnesses, and acknowledgments thereon shown.

                                              NORTHERN STATES POWER COMPANY.

                                           BY ARLAND D. BRUSVEN, VICE PRESIDENT

Attest:

GARY R. JOHNSON, SECRETARY                              (CORPORATE SEAL)

                                 --------------

    This  instrument was drafted by Northern  States Power Company, 414 Nicollet
Mall, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401.

    Tax statements for the real property described in this instrument should  be
sent to Northern States Power Company, 414 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, Minnesota
55401.


<TABLE>
NORTHERN STATES POWER COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES                                            Exhibit 12.01
STATEMENT OF COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

<CAPTION>
                                Twelve Months
                                    Ended
                                June 30, 1994           1993       1992          1991         1990         1989
<S>                             <C>                 <C>        <C>           <C>          <C>          <C>
Earnings                                                   (Thousands of dollars)
  Income from continuing
  operations before accounting
  change                             $239,970       $211,740   $160,928      $207,012     $192,971     $219,165
Add
  Taxes based on income
    Federal income taxes (1)          112,989         99,952     71,549        75,905      120,686       92,638
    State income taxes (1)             27,963         28,076     19,148        22,209       34,442       25,566
  Deferred income taxes-net            14,510         12,256      5,185        26,506      (31,794)       7,541
  Investment tax credit
    adjustment - net                  (11,268)        (9,544)    (9,708)       (9,189)     (10,048)     (10,906)
Fixed charges                         110,616        113,562    109,888       110,146      111,826      109,466
       Earnings                      $494,780       $456,042   $356,990      $432,589     $418,083     $443,470


Fixed charges
  Interest charges per
    statement of income              $110,616       $113,562   $109,888      $110,146     $111,826     $109,466


Ratio of earnings to fixed
  charges                                 4.5            4.0        3.2           3.9          3.7          4.1




(1) Includes income taxes included in Miscellaneous Income Deductions and
    Non-operating Taxes.
</TABLE>


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