<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                                         UT
<LEGEND>
     THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM
SOUTHWESTERN PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES  CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
AS OF JUNE 30, 1997 AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND CASH FLOWS FOR THE
SIX MONTHS  ENDED JUNE 30, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                              1,000
       
<S>                                                    <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                      DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                           JUN-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                              PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                1,719,130
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                 22,481
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     157,023
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                   171,126
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                   0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                           2,069,760
<COMMON>                                                    40,918
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                  307,484
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                        362,938
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                             711,340
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                            0
<PREFERRED>                                                      0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                       620,516
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                               0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                        0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                             144,330
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                  173
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                        0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                      0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                             593,401
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                            2,069,760
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                  464,516
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                        16,078
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                  70,727
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                 390,389
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                     74,127
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                         (21,595)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                              52,532
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                    27,934
<NET-INCOME>                                                24,598
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                      0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                               24,598
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                    45,010
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                        0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                      21,857
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                0.600
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                0.600
        

</TABLE>