TNP ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES              Exhibit 23
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                          Independent Auditors' Consent

The Board of Directors
TNP Enterprises, Inc.:

We consent to incorporation  by reference in the  Registration  Statements (Nos.
333-64215 and 333-17835) on Form S-3 and in the  Registration  Statements  (Nos.
2-93265 and 33-58897) on Form S-8 of TNP  Enterprises,  Inc. of our report dated
January 30, 1997,  relating to the  consolidated  statements  of income,  common
shareholders'  equity, and cash flows of TNP Enterprises,  Inc. and subsidiaries
for the year ended  December 31, 1996 which  report  appears in the December 31,
1998 annual report and Form 10-K of TNP Enterprises, Inc.




                                                                    KPMG LLP


Fort Worth, Texas
March 19, 1999