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