<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                                         UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM SOUTHWESTERN
PUBLIC  SERVICE  COMPANY  CONDENSED  BALANCE  SHEET  AS OF  MARCH  31,  1998 AND
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>                                1,715,978
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                124,930
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     144,516
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                   179,931
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                   0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                           2,165,355
<COMMON>                                                         0
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                  348,402
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                        343,125
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                             691,527
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                      100,000
<PREFERRED>                                                      0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                       620,667
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                          17,660
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                        0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                             158,762
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                  114
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                        0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                      0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                             576,625
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                            2,165,355
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                  199,732
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                        11,225
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                 157,168
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                 168,393
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                     31,339
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                           1,075
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                              30,264
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                    14,275
<NET-INCOME>                                                18,139
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                      0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                               18,139
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                    25,002
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                   10,943
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                      53,340
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                0.000
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                0.000
        

</TABLE>