Xcel Energy (XEL 0.44%) is leaving the light on for its shareholder payouts. The company has declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.28 per share, to be handed out on October 20 to shareholders of record as of September 19. That amount matches the firm's previous distribution, which was dispensed last month. Prior to that, it was less generous by $0.01, handing out $0.27 per share.

Typically for a firm in the utility sector, Xcel Energy has been a sturdy and consistent dividend payer over the years. It has handed out a disbursement every quarter since January 1990.

The just-declared dividend annualizes to $1.12 per share. That yields 4.1% at Xcel Energy's current stock price of $27.54.