To the editor,

I have been casually following Xcel's proposed 19% rate increase for its North Dakota electrical customers. One of the arguments Xcel is using for this increase is it needs to "invest" in its infrastructure.

As a retired Minnkota Power employee, I realize that building electrical transmission lines, substations and generation facilities is very capital intensive. As a customer of Xcel, what I don't understand is why I'm being asked to "invest" in Xcel.

As a publicly traded company, Xcel's investors are its stock owners. A quick search on the internet shows that Xcel has a history of paying dividends each quarter. Instead of giving its profits to its stock holders in dividends, Xcel could invest those profits in its infrastructure.

Don Schempp

Grand Forks

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