Document:

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                                                                  Exhibit (10) i

                     FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE CREDIT AGREEMENT

         This First Amendment to the Credit Agreement (this "AMENDMENT") dated
as of May 14, 2002 is among KCS ENERGY, INC. (the "BORROWER"), certain
commercial lending institutions named on the signature pages hereto (together
with their respective successors and assigns in such capacity, each as a
"LENDER" and collectively as the "LENDERS"), CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE,
NEW YORK AGENCY, as agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, together with its
successors and assigns, the "AGENT"), CIBC INC., as collateral agent for the
Lenders (in such capacity, the "COLLATERAL AGENT").

                              PRELIMINARY STATEMENT

         A. The Borrower, the Lenders, the Agent and the Collateral Agent have
entered into that certain Credit Agreement dated as of November 28, 2001 (the
"CREDIT AGREEMENT").

         B. The Borrower, the Lenders, the Agent and the Collateral Agent intend
to amend or waive certain provisions of the Credit Agreement as set forth
herein.

         NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual
agreements set forth herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:

         Section 1. DEFINITIONS. Unless otherwise defined in this Amendment,
each capitalized term used in this Amendment has the meaning assigned to such
term in the Credit Agreement.

         Section 2. AMENDMENT OF SECTION 6.20 OF THE CREDIT AGREEMENT. Section
6.20 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended in its entirety to read as
follows:

         "6.20 Interest Coverage Ratio. Permit the ratio of (a) Adjusted EBITDA
for the preceding four fiscal quarters to (b) Interest Expense for the preceding
four fiscal quarters to be less than (i) as of the close of the fiscal quarter
ending March 31, 2002, 2.50 to 1.0; (ii) as of the close of the fiscal quarter
ending June 30, 2002, 2.00 to 1.0; (iii) as of the close of the fiscal quarter
ending September 30, 2002, 2.25 to 1.0; and (iv) as of the close of the fiscal
quarter ending December 31, 2002 and each fiscal quarter thereafter, 2.75 to
1.0."

         Section 3. AMENDMENT OF SECTION 6.21 OF THE CREDIT AGREEMENT. Section
6.21 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended in its entirety to read as
follows:

         "6.21 Debt to Adjusted EBITDA Ratio. Permit the ratio of (a) Debt to
(b) Adjusted EBITDA for the preceding four fiscal quarters to be more than (i)
as of the close of the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2002, 4.25 to 1.0; (ii)
as of the close of the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2002, 4.50 to 1.0; (iii)
as of the close of the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2002, 4.50 to
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1.0; and (iv) as of the close of the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2002 and
each fiscal quarter thereafter, 3.50 to 1.0."

         Section 4. RATIFICATION. The Borrower hereby ratifies and confirms all
of the Obligations under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents. This
Amendment is an amendment to the Credit Agreement, and the Credit Agreement as
amended hereby, is hereby ratified, approved and confirmed in each and every
respect.

         Section 5. EFFECTIVENESS. This Amendment shall be effective as of March
31, 2002, provided that the conditions set forth in this Section 5 are
satisfied:

            (a) The Agent shall have received duly executed counterparts of this
            Amendment from the Borrower, the Agent, the Collateral Agent and
            from all of the Lenders.

            (b) The Borrower shall have confirmed and acknowledged to the Agent,
            the Collateral Agent and the Lenders, and by its execution and
            delivery of this Amendment the Borrower does hereby confirm and
            acknowledge to the Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Lenders, that
            (i) the execution, delivery and performance of this Amendment has
            been duly authorized by all requisite corporate action on the part
            of the Borrower; (ii) the Credit Agreement and each other Loan
            Document to which it is a party constitute valid and legally binding
            agreements enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with their
            respective terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by
            bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent
            transfer or other similar laws relating to or affecting the
            enforcement of creditors' rights generally and by general principles
            of equity, (iii) the representations and warranties by the Borrower
            contained in the Credit Agreement and in the other Loan Documents
            are true and correct on and as of the date hereof in all material
            respects as though made as of the date hereof, except those that by
            their terms relate solely as to an earlier date, in which event they
            shall be true and correct on and as of such earlier date, and (iv)
            no Default or Event of Default exists under the Credit Agreement or
            any of the other Loan Documents.

         Section 6. GOVERNING LAW. THIS AMENDMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

         Section 7. MISCELLANEOUS. (a) On and after the effectiveness of this
Amendment, each reference in each Loan Document to "the Credit Agreement",
"thereunder", "thereof" or words of like import referring to the Credit
Agreement shall mean and be a reference to the Credit Agreement as amended or
otherwise modified by this Amendment; (b) the execution, delivery and
effectiveness of this Amendment shall not, except as expressly provided herein,
operate as a waiver of any default of the Borrower or any right, power or remedy
of the Agent, the Collateral Agent or the Lenders under any of the Loan
Documents, nor constitute a waiver of any provision of any of the Loan
Documents; (c) this Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts and
by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which

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when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same agreement; and (d) delivery of an
executed counterpart of a signature page to this Amendment by telecopier shall
be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Amendment.

         Section 8. FINAL AGREEMENT. THE CREDIT AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN
DOCUMENTS REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE
CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS
OF THE PARTIES. THERE ARE NO ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES.

                  [Remainder of Page Left Intentionally Blank]

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         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be
executed by its officers thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above
written.

                                    BORROWER:

                                    KCS ENERGY, INC.,
                                    a Delaware corporation

                                    By:
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                    Name:  James W. Christmas
                                    Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

                                    AGENTS AND LENDERS:

                                    CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF
                                    COMMERCE, NEW YORK AGENCY,
                                    as Agent

                                    By:
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                    Name:
                                    Title:

                                    CIBC INC.
                                    as Collateral Agent and Lender

                                    By:
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                    Name:
                                    Title:

                                    GUARANTY BANK
                                    as Lender

                                    By:
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                    Name:  Richard Menchaca
                                    Title:

                                      S-1<PAGE>
                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

         THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") between COMFORT SYSTEMS
USA (TEXAS), L.P., a Texas limited partnership (the "Company"), and Gary E. Hess
("Employee") is entered into effective as of the 1st day of April, 2002.

                                    RECITALS

         1.       The Company, Comfort Systems USA, Inc., a Delaware
                  corporation, and its subsidiaries and affiliates
                  (collectively, the "Comfort Group") are engaged in the
                  business of mechanical contracting services, including
                  heating, ventilation and air conditioning, piping, plumbing
                  and electrical and related services ("Services").

         2.       Employee has been employed by the Company in various executive
                  positions through March 31, 2002, most recently as its Chief
                  Operating Officer and President. In connection with the
                  transition of Employee from such position to a new part time
                  role, the Company desires to engage Employee in a part-time
                  capacity to facilitate the transition with respect to various
                  matters with which Employee has been involved and the Company
                  also desires to use Employee as a resource during the term of
                  this Agreement.

         3.       Employee is a party to that certain Employment Agreement dated
                  January 1, 2001 between the Employee and the Company (the
                  "Prior Employment Agreement").

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of such engagement and of the
promises, terms, covenants and conditions set forth herein, the Company and
Employee hereby agree as follows:

1.       PRIOR EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT TERMINATED. Employee hereby agrees that the
         Prior Employment Agreement is hereby irrevocably terminated. As
         consideration for such termination and in complete satisfaction and
         release of all rights and benefits of the Employee under the Prior
         Employment Agreement, Company will pay to Employee a lump-sum payment
         equal to $250,000. The payment will be made on or before April 15, 2002
         and shall be subject to all legally required withholding.

2.       ENGAGEMENT AND DUTIES. The Company hereby engages Employee as a
         part-time Employee for a period commencing on the date hereof, and
         ending on September 30, 2005 (the "Term"), to perform such duties as
         the Company may reasonably specify. Employee hereby accepts this
         engagement and agrees to perform and make himself available from time
         to time to and to devote reasonable time, attention and efforts, but
         not to an average of 90 hours per quarter, to promote and further the
         Company's business as the Company may reasonably require.

3.       COMPENSATION, EXPENSES AND TERMINATION. During the term of Employee's
         engagement with the Company, for all services rendered by Employee to
         the Company, the Company shall pay to Employee $10,715 per calendar
         quarter for each of the fourteen

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         quarters during the Term, for an aggregate total payment of $150,010.
         Payments will made pursuant to the Company's normal pay practices,
         including all required deductions. Employee agrees that as a result of
         his part-time status he will not be entitled to participate in any of
         the Company's welfare benefit programs, including and health and dental
         insurance. If at any time during the Term (i) substantially all of the
         outstanding capital stock or assets of the Comfort Group is acquired,
         by merger or otherwise, or (ii) the Employee is terminated without
         cause, then, within 30 days of such event the Company shall pay to
         Employee a single lump sum payment equal to all of the remaining salary
         payable under this Agreement and shall vest any options that he holds
         that are not vested and that have not otherwise been exercised or
         terminated, provided, however, in the event Employee has accepted
         full-time employment with any third party or has associated himself in
         any capacity with a third party engaged in providing Services, the
         Company may terminate this Agreement without vesting any options or
         paying the remaining salary otherwise payable hereunder.

4.       CONFIDENTIALITY.

         a.       As used herein, the term "Confidential Information" means any
                  information, technical data or know-how of the Company and the
                  other members of the Comfort Group, whether acquired during
                  the Term or prior to the Term in Employee's former capacity,
                  including, but not limited to, that which relates to
                  customers, business affairs, business plans, financial
                  matters, financial plans and projections, pending and proposed
                  acquisitions, operational and hiring matters, contracts and
                  agreements, marketing, sales and pricing, prospects of the
                  Comfort Group, and any information, technical data or know-how
                  that contain or reflect any of the foregoing, whether prepared
                  by the Company, any other member of the Comfort Group,
                  Employee or by any other person or entity; provided, however,
                  that the term "Confidential Information" shall not include
                  information, technical data or know-how that Employee can
                  demonstrate is generally available to the public not as a
                  result of any breach of this Agreement by Employee.

         b.       Except in the performance of Employee's duties as a Employee
                  to the Company, Employee will not, during or after the term of
                  Employee's engagement with the Company, disclose to any person
                  or entity or use, for any reason whatsoever, any Confidential
                  Information.

5.       NON-COMPETITION.

         a.       Employee will not, during the Term and for a period of one
                  year following the Term, for any reason whatsoever, directly
                  or indirectly, on Employee's behalf or on behalf of or in
                  conjunction with any other person, company, partnership or
                  business of whatever nature:

                  (i)      engage within one hundred miles of where the Comfort
                           Group conducts business (the "Territory") in any
                           capacity whatsoever for any business or person
                           engaged in Services;

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                  (ii)     call upon any person who is an employee of the
                           Company or any other member of the Comfort Group for
                           the purpose of enticing such employee away from or
                           out of the employ of the Company or the Comfort
                           Group;

                  (iii)    call upon any person which is, at that time, or which
                           has been, within the term of such Employee's
                           engagement, a customer of the Company or any other
                           member of the Comfort Group for the purpose of
                           selling Services; or

                  (iv)     call upon any prospective acquisition candidate, on
                           Employee's own behalf or on behalf of any competitor,
                           which candidate was called upon by Employee on behalf
                           of the Company or any other member of the Comfort
                           Group or for which an acquisition analysis was made
                           by Employee on behalf of the Company or any other
                           member of the Comfort Group for the purpose of
                           acquiring such entity.

         b.       It is agreed that the period during which this Section 4 shall
                  be effective shall be computed by excluding from such
                  computation of time any time during which Employee is in
                  violation of this Agreement.

6.       RETURN OF COMPANY PROPERTY. All records, plans, manuals, "field
         guides", memoranda, lists, documents, statements and other property
         delivered to Employee by or on behalf of the Company or any other
         member of the Comfort Group, by any customer of the Company or any
         other member of the Comfort Group (including but not limited to, any
         such customers obtained by Employee), by any acquisition candidate of
         the Company or any other member of the Comfort Group, and all records
         compiled by Employee which pertain to the business or activities of the
         Company or any other member of the Comfort Group, whether acquired
         during the Term or before the Term in Employee's prior capacity, shall
         be and remain the property of the Company, and be subject at all times
         to its discretion and control.

7.       SEVERABILITY. The covenants set forth in this Agreement are severable
         and separate, and the unenforceability of any specific covenant shall
         not affect any other covenant or provision set forth herein. In the
         event that any court of competent jurisdiction shall determine that any
         covenant contained herein is unreasonable, it is the intention of the
         parties that such restrictions be enforced to the fullest extent that
         the court deems reasonable, and this Agreement shall thereby be
         reformed.

8.       SURVIVAL. The provisions and covenants of Sections 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7
         shall survive termination of this Agreement.

9.       SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE. Because of the difficulty of measuring economic
         losses to the Company as a result of a breach of the covenants
         contained in Sections 3, 4 and 5 and because of the immediate and
         irreparable damage that could be caused to the Company for which it
         would have no other adequate remedy, Employee agrees that the Company
         shall be entitled to specific performance and that such covenants may
         be enforced by the Company in the event of any breach or threatened
         breach by Employee, by injunctions, restraining orders and other
         appropriate equitable relief. Employee further agrees to waive any
         requirement for the securing or posting of any bond.

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10.      GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
         accordance with the internal laws of the State of Texas.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as
of the day and year first above written.

EMPLOYEE:                               COMPANY:

                                        COMFORT SYSTEMS USA (TEXAS), L.P.
                                        By: Comfort Systems USA G.P., Inc.

/s/ Gary E. Hess
---------------------------
Gary E. Hess                            By: /s/ William George
                                           -------------------------------------
                                                   William George
                                                   Senior Vice President

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