TNP ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES               Exhibit 23
                --------------------------------------


                     Independent Public Accountants' Consent

The Board of Directors
TNP Enterprises, Inc.:

     As  independent  public  accountants,  we hereby  consent to the use of our
reports included in this Form 10-K, into TNP Enterprises, Inc's previously filed
Registration  Statements  on Form S-8  (File  Nos.  2-93265  and  33-58897)  and
Registration  Statements  on Form S-3 (File Nos.  333-64215 and  333-17835).  It
should be noted that we have not audited any financial statements of the company
subsequent to December 31, 1998 or performed any audit procedures  subsequent to
the date of our report.

                                                            Arthur Andersen LLP


Fort Worth, Texas
March 19, 1999