-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 AUNhK3bA9GheAkmtLXI9+cMDXzVaRty8ZgggmyUniZstR7eLSPkoWORgJd4ixL1y
 AsBIOoGMXw7DqrljmATZcg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000914317-04-000516.txt : 20040205
<SEC-HEADER>0000914317-04-000516.hdr.sgml : 20040205
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040205142700
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000914317-04-000516
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040205

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CHRISTMAS JAMES W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001204507

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13781
		FILM NUMBER:		04569710

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		KCS ENERGY INC
		STREET 2:		5555 SAN FELIPE SUITE 1200
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77056
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7138778006

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KCS ENERGY INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000832820
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS [1311]
		IRS NUMBER:				222889587
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5555 SAN FELIPE ROAD
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77056
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9086321770

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	KCS GROUP INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920310
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form5-christmas_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-12-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>1</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000832820</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>KCS ENERGY INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>KCS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001204507</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CHRISTMAS JAMES W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>KCS ENERGY INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>5555 SAN FELIPE SUITE 1200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77056</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>KCS Energy, Inc. Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-09-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>C</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>66666</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.00</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1004854</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>KCS Energy, Inc. Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>82961</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By 401(k) Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>KCS Energy, Inc. Series A Convertible Preferred Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>3.00</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-09-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>C</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>200</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2001-02-20</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2003-10-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>KCS Energy, Inc. Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>66666</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reporting person converted 200 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (stated value $1,000 per share) , resulting in the acqusition of 66,666 shares of common stock at a conversion price of $3.00 per share of  common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 153,000 shares of restricted stock which have not yet vested.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Includes 36,000 shares held in trust for children, the beneficial ownership of which is disclaimed. This report shall not be deemed an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner of the shares for purposes of Section 16 or any other purpose.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Frederick Dwyer, Power of Attorney for James W. Christmas</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-02-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----