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DENVER (AP) — Xcel Energy has abandoned plans to have Colorado ratepayers pay for expensive dinners and luxury hotel stays for its employees.

The Minneapolis-based utility has agreed to remove $280,000 in charges meant to cover expenses and perks like Colorado Avalanche tickets. They had been included in its pending $136 million electricity rate increase.

The expenses came to light in September after the Minnesota attorney general questioned similar spending attached to a proposed rate request there. Lawyers for Colorado's Public Utilities Commission asked for a breakdown of such expenses in Xcel's rate request.

Among the items was $45,000 for a one-week trip to Europe for two executives attending investor meetings. The company had planned to charge Colorado ratepayers for $10,361 of that.

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