SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                                Washington, D.C.

                                   FORM U-6B-2

                           Certificate of Notification

     Filed by a registered  holding  company or subsidiary  thereof  pursuant to
Rule U-20-(d) [Reg. ss. 250.20,  P. 36,652] or U-47 [Reg. ss. 250.47, P. 36,620]
adopted under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935

     Certificate is filed by:  Southwestern  Public Service Company  ("SPS"),  a
subsidiary of New Century Energies, Inc.

         This  certificate is notice that the above named subsidiary has issued,
renewed or guaranteed the security or securities  described  herein which issue,
renewal or guaranty was exempted from the  provisions of Section 6(a) of the Act
and was neither  the subject of a  declaration  or  application  on Form U-1 nor
included  within the  exemption  provided  by Rule U-48  [Reg.  ss.  250.48,  P.
36,621].

     1.   Type  of the  security  or  securities  ("draft,"  promissory  note"):
          Promissory note.

     2.   Issue,  renewal or guaranty:  Renewal and increase in  commitments  of
          lenders under the credit agreements from $180,000,000 in the aggregate
          to  $200,000,000  in the  aggregate.  This  renewal  and  increase  in
          commitment of lenders  replaces the following  credit  facilities:  a)
          $150,000,000  credit  facility  through First National Bank of Chicago
          (Agent),  which  matured on February 28, 1998. b)  $30,000,000  credit
          facility  through  Boatmen's  First  National Bank of Amarillo,  Texas
          (Agent), which matured on February 27, 1998.

     3.   Principal  amount  of  each  security:   up  to  $200,000,000  in  the
          aggregate.

     4.   Rate of interest per annum of each security:

          a)   First National Bank of Chicago base rate or;
          b)   Fixed  rate  equal  to the  sum of  .1875%  per  annum  plus  the
               Eurodollar rate or;
          c)   First  National  Bank of Chicago  Fixed  C.D.Rate  plus .325% per
               annum.

     5.   Date of issue,  renewal or guaranty of each security:

          a)   $200,000,000 Facility

               i)   Issuance date: February 27, 1998.
               ii)  No upstream guaranty provided.

     6.   If renewal of security, give date of original issue:

          a)   $150,000,000  facility - original issue date:  December 30, 1992.
               This facility was increased to $200,000,000 on February 27, 1998.
          b)   $30,000,000  facility - original  issue date:  October 31,  1983.
               This   facility  was   terminated   upon  issuance  of  the  said
               $200,000,000 facility (6a).

     7.   Date of maturity of each security: May 26, 1999.

     8.   Name of the  person to whom  each  security  was  issued,  renewed  or
          guaranteed: Southwestern Public Service Company.

     9.   Collateral given with each security, if any:

          a)   None
          b)   None

     10.  Consideration received for each security:

          a)   .06% per annum  commitment fee on the  unborrowed  portion of the
               Lender's commitment.
          b)   An annual administrative fee to the Agent.

     11.  Application of proceeds of each security:

          a)   Primarily as a back-up line of credit to support SPS's commercial
               paper program which is used to fund general corporate needs.

     12.  Indicate by a check after the applicable  statement  below whether the
          issue,  renewal or  guaranty  of each  security  was  exempt  from the
          provisions of Section 6(a) because of:

          a)   the  provisions  contained in the first sentence of Section 6(b):
               Not applicable.
          b)   the provisions  contained in the fourth sentence of Section 6(b):
               Not applicable.
          c)   the provisions contained in any rule of the commission other than
               Rule U-48: Yes.

     13.  If the  security of  securities  were exempt  form the  provisions  of
          Section 6(a) by virtue of the first sentence of Section 6(b), give the
          figures  which  indicate  that the  security or  securities  aggregate
          (together  with all  other  than  outstanding  notes  and  drafts of a
          maturity of nine  months or less,  exclusive  of days of grace,  as to
          which such company is primarily or secondarily liable) not more than 5
          per  centum  of the  principal  amount  and  par  value  of the  other
          securities of such company then outstanding. (Demand notes, regardless
          of how long they may have been  outstanding,  shall be  considered  as
          maturing  in not more than nine months for  purposes of the  exemption
          from Section 6(a) or the Act granted by the first  sentence of Section
          6(b): Not applicable.

     14.  If the  security  or  securities  are exempt  from the  provisions  of
          Section 6(a) because of the fourth  sentence of Section 6(b), name the
          security  outstanding  on January 1,  1935,  pursuant  to the terms of
          which the security or securities  herein  described  have been issued.
          Not applicable.

     15.  If the  security  or  securities  are exempt  from the  provisions  of
          Section  6(a)  because of any rule of the  Commission  other than Rule
          U-48 [Reg.  ss.  250.48,  P.  36,621]  designate  the rule under which
          exemption is claimed. Rule 52(a).



                                            Southwestern Public Service Company




                                            By:    /s/ James D. Steinhilper
                                            Name:  James D. Steinhilper
                                            Title: Treasurer