Executive Change · Shareholder Vote

UNITED STATES 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) May 22, 2024 Xcel Energy Inc. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Minnesota (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) 001-3034 41-0448030 (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.) 414 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis Minnesota 55401 (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code) 612 330-5500 (Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code) N/A (Former Name, Former Address and Former Fiscal Year, if Changed Since Last Report) Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions: ☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) ☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) ☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) ☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Title of each class Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which registered Common Stock, $2.50 par value per share XEL Nasdaq Stock Market LLC Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2). Emerging growth company ☐ If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐ Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. On May 22, 2024, Xcel Energy Inc. (“Xcel Energy”) held its 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, at which the Xcel Energy shareholders approved the Xcel Energy Inc. 2024 Equity Incentive Plan (“2024 Plan”). Upon approval by shareholders, the 2024 Plan replaced the Xcel Energy Inc. Amended and Restated 2015 Omnibus Incentive Plan. The 2024 Plan reserves 12,000,000 shares of Xcel Energy common stock for issuance of awards under the 2024 Plan, which may be granted pursuant to stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, stock units and other stock-based awards to eligible recipients, who may include employees of Xcel Energy and its subsidiaries and non-employee directors of Xcel Energy. A more detailed summary of the 2024 Plan is set forth in Xcel Energy’s proxy statement for its 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on April 9, 2024 (the “2024 Proxy Statement”). The 2024 Plan is on file with the SEC as Exhibit 4.0 3 to Xcel Energy’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 dated May 22, 2024, which is incorporated herein by reference. On May 22, 2024, the Xcel Energy Board of Directors (the “Board”) approved the Xcel Energy Inc. Stock Program for Non-Employee Directors, a sub-plan under the 2024 Plan pursuant to which equity and deferral awards may be issued to non-employee directors of Xcel Energy. This sub-plan became effective upon the approval of the 2024 Plan by Xcel Energy’s shareholders, and a copy of the sub-plan is filed as Exhibit 10.01 hereto. On May 22, 2024, the Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee of the Board approved forms of award agreements to be used under the 2024 Plan for awards of restricted stock units, performance share units and restricted stock. A copy of the forms of award agreements are filed as Exhibit 10.02, Exhibit 10.03 and Exhibit 10.04 hereto. Item 5.07. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders. Xcel Energy held its 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders on May 22, 2024. At the meeting, shareholders: • elected all 13 directors nominated by the Board; • approved, on an advisory basis, Xcel Energy’s executive compensation as set forth in the 2024 Proxy Statement; • approved the 2024 Plan; and • ratified the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as Xcel Energy’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2024. Set forth below are the final voting results for each of the proposals. Proposal No. 1 — Election of Directors Name For Against Withheld Broker Non-Votes Megan Burkhart 406,188,664 8,864,376 4,705,852 52,010,530 Lynn Casey 413,964,649 4,512,041 1,282,202 52,010,530 Robert Frenzel 397,808,640 20,726,310 1,223,942 52,010,530 Netha Johnson 414,075,654 4,447,870 1,235,368 52,010,530 Patricia Kampling 404,921,915 10,117,007 4,719,970 52,010,530 George Kehl 412,211,407 6,322,629 1,224,856 52,010,530 Richard O’Brien 397,907,959 14,554,760 7,296,173 52,010,530 Charles Pardee 414,072,948 4,470,515 1,215,429 52,010,530 Christopher Policinski 388,594,983 23,895,941 7,267,968 52,010,530 James Prokopanko 413,751,193 4,781,897 1,225,802 52,010,530 Timothy Welsh 416,213,850 2,319,607 1,225,435 52,010,530 Kim Williams 393,911,382 18,495,416 7,352,094 52,010,530 Daniel Yohannes 413,065,107 5,459,278 1,234,507 52,010,530 Proposal No. 2 — Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation (Say on Pay Vote) For Against Abstain Broker Non-Votes 327,887,688 89,832,381 2,038,823 52,010,530 Proposal No. 3 — Approval of the Xcel Energy Inc. 2024 Equity Incentive Plan For Against Abstain Broker Non-Votes 389,539,485 28,446,769 1,772,638 52,010,530 Proposal No. 4 — Ratification of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm For Against Abstain Broker Non-Votes 454,535,691 15,975,246 1,258,485 — Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits. (d) Exhibits Exhibit Description 10.01 Xcel Energy Inc. Stock Program for Non-Employee Directors (Effective May 22, 2024). 10.02 Form of Award Agreement for Restricted Stock Units and/or Performance Share Units under the Xcel Energy Inc. 2024 Equity Incentive Plan. 10.03 Form of Award Agreement for Retention-Based Restricted Stock Units under the Xcel Energy Inc. 2024 Equity Incentive Plan. 10.04 Form of Award Agreement for Restricted Stock under the Xcel Energy Inc. 2024 Equity Incentive Plan. 104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) SIGNATURE 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. May 23, 2024 Xcel Energy Inc. (a Minnesota corporation) /s/ AMY SCHNEIDER Amy Schneider Vice President, Corporate Secretary and Securities