<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>          UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM SOUTHWESTERN
PUBLIC  SERVICE  COMPANY  CONDENSED  BALANCE  SHEET AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1998 AND
CONDENSED  STATEMENTS  OF  INCOME  AND  CASH  FLOWS  FOR THE NINE  MONTHS  ENDED
SEPTEMBER  30,  1998 AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS  ENTIRETY  BY  REFERENCE  TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                                 1,000
       
<S>                                               <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                      DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                           SEP-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                              PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                1,727,228
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                124,682
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     146,898
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                   152,855
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                   0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                           2,151,663
<COMMON>                                                         0
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                  348,402
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                        386,822
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                             735,224
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                      100,000
<PREFERRED>                                                      0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                       620,699
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                           9,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                        0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                             126,107
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                  113
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                        0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                      0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                             560,520
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                            2,151,663
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                  748,386
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                        54,709
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                 563,561
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                 618,270
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                    130,116
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                           5,571
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                             135,687
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                    43,702
<NET-INCOME>                                                91,985
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                      0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                               91,985
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                    55,150
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                   32,972
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                     187,540
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                0.000
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                0.000
        

</TABLE>