UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                                    WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                         FORM 8-K
                                     CURRENT REPORT

                            PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                               SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


         Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 1, 1996



                          SOUTHWESTERN PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY
                (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

     New Mexico                          1-3789                   75-0575400
(State or other jurisdiction of    (Commission File No.)      (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                              Identification No.)

                        Tyler at Sixth, Amarillo, Texas 79101
                (Address of principal executive offices)  (Zip Code)

       Registrant's Telephone Number, including area code (806) 378-2121







ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS

       On January 31, 1996, the Annual Meeting of  Shareholders  of Southwestern
Public  Service  Company  ("SPS") was held.  At the meeting,  the holders of SPS
common stock approved an amendment to the SPS Restated Articles of Incorporation
to  provide  for a new class of 10 million  shares of  preferred  stock,  $1 par
value,  which may be issued in series with such terms and  conditions  as may be
set by SPS's board.


ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

           (c)  Exhibits.   The following exhibits are filed herewith:

                3(i)    Restated Articles of Incorporation as amended through  
                         February 1, 1996.


                               SIGNATURES

       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.



SOUTHWESTERN PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY


/s/ Doyle R. Bunch II
Executive Vice President
Accounting and Corporate Development


DATE: February 23, 1996