<ARTICLE>                         UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM SOUTHWESTERN
PUBLIC  SERVICE  COMPANY  AND  SUBSIDIARIES  CONSOLIDATED  BALANCE  SHEET  AS OF
DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND  CONSOLIDATED  STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND CASH FLOWS FOR THE
FOUR MONTHS  ENDED  DECEMBER  31, 1996 AND IS  QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>

<MULTIPLIER>                             1,000
       
                                
<PERIOD-TYPE>                            4-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                  DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                       DEC-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                          PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>            1,666,489
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>             58,144
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                 168,391
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>               148,186
<OTHER-ASSETS>                               0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                       2,041,210
<COMMON>                                40,918
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>              307,484
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                    383,350
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>         731,752
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                        0
<PREFERRED>                                  0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                   620,400
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                           0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                    0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>          53,836
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>           15,231
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                    0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                  0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                             0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>         619,991
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>        2,041,210
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>              295,579
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                    15,772
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>             232,615
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>             248,387
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                 47,192
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                     (10,017)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>          37,175
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                18,038
<NET-INCOME>                            19,137
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                  0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>           19,137
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                22,504
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>               15,548
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                  40,989
<EPS-PRIMARY>                            0.470
<EPS-DILUTED>                            0.470