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 BALANCE SHEET AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1998
     AND  CONSOLIDATED  STATEMENTS  OF INCOME  AND CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED
     DECEMBER  31, 1998 AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS  ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
     FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                               1,000
       
                                 
<PERIOD-TYPE>                               YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                    DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                         DEC-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                            PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>              5,882,023
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>              405,436
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                   802,557
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                 581,948
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                         7,671,964
<COMMON>                                 114,491
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>              1,751,895
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                      740,677
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>         2,614,827
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                    294,000
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                   2,169,954
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                        36,438
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                      0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>           487,956
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>            134,005
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                      0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>               35,591
<LEASES-CURRENT>                           4,160
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>         1,895,033
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>          7,671,964
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>              3,610,905
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                     135,596
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>             2,960,404
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>             2,960,404
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                  650,501
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                        31,851
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>           682,352
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                 199,467
<NET-INCOME>                             341,957
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                5,332
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  0
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                 260,330
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                185,745
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                   659,539
<EPS-PRIMARY>                               3.06
<EPS-DILUTED>                               3.05