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

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                                         UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM PUBLIC
SERVICE  COMPANY OF COLORADO AND  SUBSIDIARIES  CONSOLIDATED  CONDENSED  BALANCE
SHEET AS OF MARCH 31, 1998 AND CONSOLIDATED  CONDENSED  STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND
CASH FLOWS FOR THE THREE  MONTHS  ENDED MARCH 31, 1998 AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                                 1,000
       
<S>                                               <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                      DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                           MAR-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                              PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                3,790,715
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                316,518
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     483,536
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                   372,383
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                   0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                           4,963,152
<COMMON>                                                         0
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                1,302,119
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                        342,335
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                           1,644,454
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                       39,253
<PREFERRED>                                                140,002
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                     1,297,986
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                          50,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                        0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                             303,500
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                              202,414
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                    2,576
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                 38,365
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                             4,822
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                           1,239,780
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                            4,963,152
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                  644,642
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                        36,818
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                 507,978
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                 544,796
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                     99,846
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                             561
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                             100,407
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                    31,510
<NET-INCOME>                                                68,897
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                  2,929
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                               65,968
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                    42,913
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                   27,600
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                     177,664
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                0.000
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                0.000
        

</TABLE>