MINNEAPOLIS – Xcel Energy’s board of directors today named Tim O’Connor senior vice president and chief nuclear officer.

O’Connor has been serving as acting CNO since September, when he succeeded former CNO Dennis Koehl. O’Connor, who has more than 30 years of experience in the nuclear industry, joined Xcel Energy in 2007 as site vice president at Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant.

“Tim has done a great job in the acting CNO role and has a solid plan for moving nuclear operations and safety performance in a continued positive direction,” said Ben Fowke, chairman, president and CEO of Xcel Energy. “He has my complete support and the board’s support as the company’s chief nuclear officer to accomplish the vision that we have laid out.”

As CNO, O’Connor will oversee operations at Xcel Energy’s three nuclear units in Minnesota, the single unit Monticello plant and the two unit Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant. The plants provide about 30 percent of the power Xcel Energy supplies its customers in the Upper Midwest.

Tim O’Connor, Senior Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer, Xcel Energy