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 NEW CENTURY
ENERGIES,  INC.  CONSOLIDATED  CONDENSED  BALANCE SHEET AS OF MARCH 31, 1998 AND
CONSOLIDATED  CONDENSED  STATMENTS OF INCOME AND CASH FLOWS FOR THE THREE MONTHS
ENDED MARCH 31, 1998 AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS  ENTIRETY  BY  REFERENCE  TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                                    1,000
       
<S>                                                 <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                         DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                              MAR-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                 PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                   5,600,940
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                   365,200
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                        741,222
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                      582,531
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                      0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                              7,289,893
<COMMON>                                                      111,240
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                   1,604,912
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                           680,667
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                              2,396,819
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                         139,253
<PREFERRED>                                                   140,002
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                        1,947,652
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                            305,261
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                           0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                303,500
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                 202,562
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                       2,576
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                    38,531
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                4,924
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                              1,808,813
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                               7,289,893
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                     939,504
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                           47,119
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                    757,667
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                    757,667
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                       181,837
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                784
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                182,621
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                       49,353
<NET-INCOME>                                                   86,149
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                         0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                       0
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                       64,538
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                      40,473
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                        207,832
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                    0.78
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                    0.78
        

</TABLE>