WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

  

<ARTICLE>                          UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM SOUTHWESTERN
PUBLIC  SERVICE  COMPANY  CONDENSED  BALANCE  SHEET  AS OF  MARCH  31,  1999 AND
CONDENSED  STATEMENTS  OF INCOME AND CASH FLOWS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH
31,  1999 AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS  ENTIRETY  BY  REFERENCE  TO SUCH  FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                             1,000
       
                                
<PERIOD-TYPE>                            3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                  DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                       MAR-31-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                          PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>            1,738,600
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>            124,681
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                 141,864
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>               164,066
<OTHER-ASSETS>                               0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                       2,169,211
<COMMON>                                     0
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>              348,402
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                    393,184
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>         741,586
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                  100,000
<PREFERRED>                                  0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                   630,498
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                       9,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                    0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>               0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>           90,113
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                    0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                  0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                             0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>         598,014
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>        2,169,211
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>              202,552
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                    14,365
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>             152,818
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>             167,183
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                 35,369
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                       2,080
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>          37,449
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                14,058
<NET-INCOME>                            23,391
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                  0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>           23,391
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                20,024
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>               10,643
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                  49,767
<EPS-PRIMARY>                            0.000
<EPS-DILUTED>                            0.000