-----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,
 Vx7de28FUGEl0c3PxJfkpA/9VjrpEGh2NmdKwqMLr4m1pN2uNiYYwfeTthXb5BS8
 rghQbP2aGUVa3Mgsysco9g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000914317-04-002657.txt : 20040702
<SEC-HEADER>0000914317-04-002657.hdr.sgml : 20040702
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040702111231
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000914317-04-002657
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040701
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040702

REPORTING-OWNER:	

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

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13781
		FILM NUMBER:		04897837

	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>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4-61269_jcex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-07-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <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>1</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman</officerTitle>
            <otherText>Chief Executive Officer</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Options to aquire KCS Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>13.30</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-07-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-07-01</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-07-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>KCS Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">One-third of the Securities become exercisable on the anniversary date of the transaction (07/01/04) in 2005, 2006, and 2007.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Awarded as a grant</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Frederick Dwyer, By Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-07-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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