PUBLIC SERVICE CO OF COLORADO
8-K, 1995-12-20
ELECTRIC & OTHER SERVICES COMBINED
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                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                           Washington, D.C.   20549



                                   FORM 8-K


                                CURRENT REPORT
                    PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) of the 
                        SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


      Date of Report  (date of earliest event reported)December 19, 1995


                      PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF COLORADO
                   ________________________________________
              (exact name of registrant as specified in charter)


                                   Colorado
                             ____________________
                         (State or other jurisdiction 
                               of incorporation)


                      1-3280                          84-0296600
               ________________                    _________________
               (Commission File No.)                 (IRS Employer
                                                   Identification No.)


               1225 Seventeenth Street, Denver,  Colorado           80202
                __________________________________________________________
               (Address of principal executive offices)        (Zip Code)


      Registrant's telephone number, including area code    (303)  571-7511
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ITEM 5.        Other Events

On December 19, 1995, Public Service Company of Colorado ("PSC") announced
that D. D. Hock, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") of PSC, will
step down from the CEO position, effective January 1, 1996, but will remain as
chairman of the board.  Upon completion of a previously announced merger with
Southwestern Public Service Company,  Mr. Hock will retire from his position
as Chairman of PSC.   PSC's board of directors elected Wayne H. Brunetti,
President and Chief Operating Officer, to succeed Hock as CEO.  A press
release issued in connection therewith is filed as exhibit 99, and is
incorporated by reference herein.





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ITEM 7.        Financial Statements and Exhibits

(c)   Exhibits.  The following exhibit is filed herewith:

           99    Press release, dated December 19, 1995, issued by
                 Public Service Company of Colorado regarding change
                 in Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1,
                 1996.




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                                   SIGNATURE


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.




                                 PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF COLORADO

                                             /s/ R. C. Kelly
                                -----------------------------------------
                                                  R. C. Kelly
                                       Senior Vice President, Finance, 
                                      Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer


Dated:          December 20, 1995



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                                 EXHIBIT INDEX


                     99    Press release, dated December 19, 1995, issued by
                           Public Service Company of Colorado regarding change
                           in CEO, effective January 1, 1996.


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                                                                    EXHIBIT 99




      Public Service Co. of Colorado                  Contact: Media Relations
      1225 17th Street, Suite 2000                              (303) 294-8900
      Denver, Colo.  80202


      For Immediate Release

        Reference:  Hock to Relinquish CEO Role, Remain As Chairman 

      December 19, 1995 

         DENVER -- D. D. "Del" Hock, 60, chairman and chief executive officer
      of Public Service Co. of Colorado, announced Tuesday he will step down
      from the CEO position effective Jan. 1, 1996, but will remain as
      chairman of the board until the completion of a previously announced
      merger with Southwestern Public Service Co.
         
         The company's board of directors elected Wayne H. Brunetti, 53,
      president and chief operating officer of the company since July 1994, to
      succeed Hock as CEO effective Jan. 1, 1996.

         "There are tremendous changes taking place in the utility industry
      that are affecting not only the electric and natural gas business, but
      our company as well. My involvement in policy issues surrounding these
      changes and in further developing our energy businesses for a more
      competitive future will consume much of my time as chairman," Hock said.
      
         "Promoting Wayne Brunetti to chief executive officer has been part of
      our succession plan.  He's already had a very positive impact on the
      operations of our company," added Hock, who assisted the board in its
      selection of Brunetti to his position. 

          "I will be relying heavily upon Del Hock as an advisor, and I will
      be looking to his experience and leadership in our continuing effort to
      develop corporate strategy that will enable Public Service Company to 
      hold a competitive position in our changing industry," Brunetti said.
          
          In addition to his responsibilities at the helm of the company's
      board of directors, Hock will provide oversight in the day-to-day
      operations and strategy of the company's non-regulated business sectors,
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      e prime and Natural Fuels, as well as help develop new businesses
      opportunities.

         In August, Public Service Co. and Southwestern Public Service Company
      (SPS), based in Amarillo, Texas, announced they had entered into a
      definitive merger agreement to combine the utilities and form a new
      energy services holding company that will be called New Century
      Energies, Inc.
     
         Hock announced at that time he would retire upon the completion of
      the merger and SPS chairman and chief executive officer, Bill D. Helton,
      will become the holding company's chairman and CEO.  Brunetti will
      become vice chairman, president and chief operating officer of the new
      company.
         
         The merger is subject to approval by the shareholders of both
      companies, and approval or regulatory review by the Federal Energy
      Regulatory Commission, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and state
      regulators in Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, Oklahoma and Kansas.
      
         A native Coloradan, Hock was elected president and chief executive
      officer in October 1988, and became chairman of the board in February
      1989. He began his career with Public Service Co. in 1962 as director of
      auditing.

         Following various management assignments in the accounting and
      operating areas of the company, he was elected to the board of directors
      in 1985 and became president and chief operating officer in 1986.
         
         Hock earned a bachelor's of science degree in accounting from the
      University of Colorado, Boulder, and is a graduate of the University of
      Idaho Public Utilities Executive Course, the University of Colorado
      Executive Education Program for the Gas Industry and the Edison
      Electric Institute Graduate Management Program.
         
         Hock has taken a leadership role in the community and is presently
      serving on the boards of the State Board of Agriculture; Mile High
      United Way; Boy Scouts, Committee for Economic Development; University
      of Colorado Foundation; Economic Club of Colorado; Colorado Symphony;
      Greater Denver Corp.; Mountain States Employers Council and the Western
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      Stock Show Association.  He is a member of the Rotary Club of Denver. 
          
          Hock is also a director of the Edison Electric Institute, Electric
      Power Research Institute, Western Energy Supply and Transmission
      Association, Western Regional Council and the Colorado Forum. 

         Before joining Public Service Co., Brunetti was president and chief
      executive officer of Management Systems International, a Florida
      management consulting firm that he founded in 1991.  Prior to that, he
      was executive vice president of Florida Power & Light Co., where he had
      responsibility for more than half of that company's operations. 
         
         Brunetti holds a bachelor's of science degree in business
      administration from the University of  Florida and is a graduate of the
      Harvard Business School's Program for Management Development.


                                     
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