<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM PUBLIC
SERVICE COMPANY OF COLORADO AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS OF
DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND CASH FLOWS FOR THE
TWELVE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    3,598,895
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     46,550
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         547,157
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       380,046
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,572,648
<COMMON>                                       324,094
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      724,353
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            389,841
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,438,288
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           39,913
<PREFERRED>                                    140,008
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,259,528
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              18,375
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 226,350
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  155,030
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                        2,576
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     49,154
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 9,585
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,292,580
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                4,572,648
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    2,171,386
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            96,331
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     336,100
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,812,902
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        358,484
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                            (18,258)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 340,226
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       149,880
<NET-INCOME>                                   190,346
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     11,848
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  178,498
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       135,111
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       92,205
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         327,614
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    2.780
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    2.780