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) December 19, 1997
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 or former address, if changed since last report)
Item 5. Other Events
Northern States Power Company (NSP) indicates fourth quarter 1997 earnings per
share will be below 1996 results.
"Warm weather and a write-down at a nonregulated subsidiary will result in lower
fourth quarter earnings this year," said Chief Financial Officer E J (Jim)
McIntyre. Last year's results included eight cents of incremental earnings due
to below normal temperatures in the fourth quarter. This year, December
temperatures have been well above normal for an extended period and the outlook
is for continued warm weather. "We can't predict how much impact the warm
December weather will have on the quarter, but it has already more than offset
the gain from a cool November," McIntyre said.
He also indicated that earnings will be affected by a write-down of a
partnership investment made by NSP's nonregulated subsidiary Energy Masters
International, Inc. (EMI). NSP expects EMI to report a loss of about five cents
per share for the quarter.
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 /s/
E J McIntyre
Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer
Dated: December 19, 1997
