WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE. <ARTICLE> UT <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM NEW CENTURY ENERGIES, INC. CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1998 AND CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATMENTS OF INCOME AND CASH FLOWS FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 5,761,092 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 367,064 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 760,166 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 573,506 <OTHER-ASSETS> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 7,461,828 <COMMON> 111,731 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 1,625,854 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 698,685 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 2,436,270 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 294,000 <PREFERRED> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 2,186,241 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 33,000 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 530,307 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 116,040 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 35,902 <LEASES-CURRENT> 5,077 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 1,824,991 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 7,461,828 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 2,715,023 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 109,322 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 2,222,347 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 2,222,347 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 492,676 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 5,390 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 498,066 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 155,230 <NET-INCOME> 233,514 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 0 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 0 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 194,169 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 125,928 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 502,977 <EPS-PRIMARY> 2.10 <EPS-DILUTED> 2.10