Xcel Energy is the fourth-largest combination electricity and natural gas energy company in the United States. The Minneapolis-based company directly owns six utility subsidiaries, which provide a portfolio of energy-related products and services to more than 3m electricity customers and 1.7m natural gas customers in 12 states. The group owns over 240,000 conductor miles of electricity transmission and distribution lines, and more than 32,700 miles of natural gas pipelines.