<ARTICLE>                          UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM SOUTHWESTERN
PUBLIC SERVICE  COMPANY  BALANCE SHEET AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND STATEMENTS OF
INCOME AND CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED  DECEMBER  31, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN
ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                             1,000
       
                                
<PERIOD-TYPE>                            YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                  DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                       DEC-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                          PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>            1,714,544
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>            124,868
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                 158,093
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>               183,988
<OTHER-ASSETS>                               0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                       2,181,493
<COMMON>                                     0
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>              348,402
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                    349,988
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>         698,390
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                  100,000
<PREFERRED>                                  0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                   620,598
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                      25,160
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                    0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>         154,244
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>              173
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                    0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                  0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                             0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>         582,928
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>        2,181,493
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>              979,283
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                    48,795
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>             771,207
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>             820,002
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                159,281
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                     (26,602)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>         132,679
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                57,104
<NET-INCOME>                            75,575
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                  0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>           75,575
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>               108,937
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>               46,356
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                 116,311
<EPS-PRIMARY>                            0.000
<EPS-DILUTED>                            0.000