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 SEPTEMBER 30, 1998 AND CONSOLIDATED  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>                                3,933,247
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                314,112
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     483,663
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                   372,821
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                   0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                           5,103,843
<COMMON>                                                         0
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                1,302,119
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                        315,392
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                           1,617,511
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                      194,000
<PREFERRED>                                                      0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                     1,532,611
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                               0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                        0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                             404,200
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                              115,442
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                        0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                 35,798
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                             4,975
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                           1,199,306
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                            5,103,843
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                1,690,841
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                        72,184
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                               1,378,711
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                               1,450,895
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                    239,946
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                           6,087
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                             246,033
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   102,213
<NET-INCOME>                                               143,820
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                  5,332
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                              138,488
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                   142,383
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                   86,899
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                     305,377
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                0.000
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                0.000
        

</TABLE>