ASSET SALE AGREEMENT
                                     BETWEEN
            TRI-STATE GENERATION AND TRANSMISSION ASSOCIATION, INC.,
                       A COLORADO COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION
                                       AND
                      PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF NEW MEXICO,
                            A NEW MEXICO CORPORATION



                               DATED _____________
                                SEPTEMBER 9, 1999




                                TABLE OF CONTENTS



ARTICLE I.   SALE AND PURCHASE OF ASSETS.................................... 1
         1.1      Sale and Purchase of Assets............................... 1
         1.2      Liability for Taxes, etc.................................. 3
         1.3      Revisions to Exhibits..................................... 3

ARTICLE II.  CONSIDERATION.................................................. 3
         2.1      Purchase Price............................................ 3
         2.2      Allocation of Purchase Price.............................. 3

ARTICLE III. ASSUMPTION OF LIABILITIES...................................... 4
         3.1      Contracts................................................. 4
         3.2      Post-Closing Liabilities.................................. 4
         3.3      Other Liabilities......................................... 4

ARTICLE IV.  PRORATION OF TAXES; OPERATIONS AGREEMENTS...................... 4
         4.1      Proration of Taxes........................................ 4
         4.2      Operations Agreements..................................... 4

ARTICLE V.   GENERAL REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES......................... 4
         5.1      Representatives and Warranties of Seller.................. 4
         5.2      Representations and Warranties of Buyer................... 9
         5.3      Disclosure Schedules......................................10
         5.4      DISCLAIMER OF OTHER REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES........11

ARTICLE VI.  PRE-CLOSING COVENANTS OF SELLER AND BUYER......................11
         6.1      Hart-Scott-Rodino Act.....................................11
         6.2      Good Faith Efforts........................................11
         6.3      Notice of Developments....................................11
         6.4      Environmental Site Assessments............................11

ARCTICLE VII. COVENANTS OF SELLER...........................................11
         7.1      Consents..................................................12
         7.2      NMPRC Approvals...........................................12
         7.3      Operation of the Property.................................12
         7.4      Access....................................................12
         7.5      Additional Covenants of Seller............................13

ARTICLE VIII. COVENANTS OF BUYER............................................13
         8.1      Consents..................................................13
         8.2      NMPRC and FERC Approvals..................................13



ARTICLE IX.   CONDITIONS PRECEDENT..........................................14
         9.1      Conditions to Obligations of Buyer........................14
         9.2      Conditions to Obligations of Seller.......................15

ARTICLE X.    CLOSING AND POST-CLOSING OBLIGATIONS..........................16
         10.1     Closing...................................................16
         10.2     Post-Closing..............................................17

ARTICLE XI.  NON-SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES, COVENANTS
               AND AGREEMENTS...............................................17

ARTICLE XII. TERMINATION....................................................18
         12.1     Termination...............................................18
         12.2     Effect of Agreement Upon Termination......................18

ARTICLE XIII. OTHER AGREEMENTS..............................................19
         13.1     Discharge of Liabilities..................................19
         13.2     Delivery and Maintenance of Records.......................19
         13.3     Arbitration...............................................20
         13.4     Consents Not Obtained.....................................23
         13.5     Navopache Arrangement.....................................23
         13.6     Headquarters Building.....................................23
         13.7     Rights-of-Way Renewals....................................24

ARTICLE XIV. MISCELLANEOUS..................................................24
         14.1     Notices...................................................24
         14.2     Governing Law.............................................24
         14.3     Modification/Waiver.......................................24
         14.4     Assignment................................................25
         14.5     No Brokers................................................25
         14.6     Public Announcements......................................25
         14.7     Severability..............................................25
         14.8     Paragraph Headings........................................25
         14.9     Counterparts..............................................25
         14.10    Entire Agreement..........................................25






                              ASSET SALE AGREEMENT


         THIS ASSET SALE AGREEMENT  (this  "Agreement") is made and entered into
as of the ______  day of  _______________,  1999 (the  "Signing  Date"),  by and
between  TRI-STATE  GENERATION AND  TRANSMISSION  ASSOCIATION,  INC., a Colorado
cooperative association ("Seller"),  and PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF NEW MEXICO, a
New Mexico corporation ("Buyer").

         WHEREAS,  as of March 18, 1999,  Seller and Plains Electric  Generation
and  Transmission  Cooperative,  Inc.  ("Plains")  entered  into  a  Transaction
Agreement (the "Transaction  Agreement") providing for the merger of Plains with
and into Seller (the "Merger"); and

         WHEREAS,  Seller is required to enter into this Agreement with Buyer by
Section 5.3(c) of the Transaction Agreement.

         NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the  premises and of the mutual
covenants and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:

                                   ARTICLE I.

                           SALE AND PURCHASE OF ASSETS
                           ---------------------------

         1.1  Sale  and  Purchase  of  Assets.  Subject  to all  the  terms  and
conditions set forth in this  Agreement,  on the Closing Date and at the Closing
(as such terms are defined in Article X of this Agreement), Seller hereby agrees
to sell,  transfer,  assign and convey to Buyer all of the  following  described
assets (collectively,  the "Assets") which will be owned by Seller following the
Merger,  and Buyer hereby agrees to purchase,  assume and accept the Assets from
Seller:

         (i)      Generating  Assets.  An  ownership  interest,  as specified on
                  Exhibit  1.1(i)  attached  hereto,  in  and  to  the  electric
                  generating facility and related common facilities described on
                  Exhibit 1.1(i),  together with the same ownership  interest in
                  and  to  the  real  property  interests  (including,   without
                  limitation,  any  easements,  rights-of-way,  permits or other
                  equivalent   real  property  usage  rights)   related  thereto
                  (collectively, the "Generating Assets").

         (ii)     Transmission  Assets. An ownership  interest,  as specified on
                  Exhibit 1.1(ii) attached hereto, in and to those  transmission
                  and distribution lines,  interconnections and other components
                  of the system identified on Exhibit 1.1(ii), together with the
                  same ownership  interest in and to the real property interests
                  (including, without limitation, any easements,  rights-of-way,
                  permits  or  other  equivalent  real  property  usage  rights)
                  related thereto (collectively, the "Transmission Assets").


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         (iii)    Substations.  An ownership  interest,  as specified on Exhibit
                  1.1(iii)  attached  hereto,  in  and  to  those   substations,
                  interconnections  and related  components which are identified
                  on Exhibit 1.1(iii), together with the same ownership interest
                  in all of the  real  property  interests  (including,  without
                  limitation,  any  easements,  rights-of-way,  permits or other
                  equivalent   real  property  usage  rights)   related  thereto
                  (collectively the "Substations").

         (iv)     Telecommunications Assets. An ownership interest, as specified
                  on  Exhibit  1.1(iv)   attached   hereto,   in  and  to  those
                  telecommunications  facilities and related equipment described
                  on  Exhibit  1.1(iv),  together  (where  indicated  on Exhibit
                  1.1(iv)) with the same  ownership  interest in all of the real
                  property  interests   (including,   without  limitation,   any
                  easements,  rights-of-way,  permits or other  equivalent  real
                  property     usage     rights)     related     thereto    (the
                  "Telecommunications Assets").

         (v)      Headquarters  Facility.  The headquarters facility and related
                  common facilities described on Exhibit 1.1(v) attached hereto,
                  together with all of the real property  interests  (including,
                  without limitation, any easements,  rights-of-way,  permits or
                  other  equivalent  real property usage rights) related thereto
                  (collectively, the "Headquarters Facility").

         (vi)     Personal Property.  The office furniture,  equipment and other
                  personal property described on Exhibit 1.1(vi) attached hereto
                  (the "Personal Property").

         (vii)    Contracts.  The rights of Plains (and, following  consummation
                  of the  Merger,  of Seller)  under the  contracts,  leases and
                  other agreements  listed on Exhibit 1.1(vii)  attached hereto,
                  to the extent  described on Exhibit 1.1(vii) (to the extent so
                  described, the "Contracts").

         (viii)   Business Records. Subject to Section 13.2 hereof, all business
                  records  associated  with  the  Assets  as of the  time of the
                  Closing,  including but not limited to  financial,  operating,
                  accounting,   tax,   business,   marketing  and  other  files,
                  documents,   instruments,  papers,  customer  list(s),  books,
                  ledgers, records,  insurance policies, and any and all records
                  of annual testing and certification (the "Business Records").

         (ix)     Licenses and  Permits.  To the extent  assignable,  and to the
                  extent  held by  Seller as of the  Closing  Date,  permits  or
                  licenses to the extent that the  parties  agree are  necessary
                  for Buyer to operate the Assets (the "Licenses and Permits").

          (x)     Navopache  Assets.  Subject to Section 13.5  hereof,  the
                  assets  described  on Exhibit  1.1 (ix)  attached  hereto (the
                  "Navopache Assets").



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         1.2 Liability for Taxes,  etc.  Liability for any real estate  transfer
fees and taxes shall be borne by Buyer. The parties expect that no liability for
sales, use or gross receipts tax will result from this transaction,  but, in the
event that such liability does arise, it shall be borne by Buyer.

         1.3  Revisions to Exhibits.  Seller and Buyer  recognize and agree that
the foregoing Exhibits may not completely and/or accurately identify all Assets,
and further agree to cooperate  with each other to prepare,  supplement or amend
any such  Exhibit in order to have a complete and  accurate  description  of the
Assets before the Closing.

                                   ARTICLE II.

                                  CONSIDERATION
                                  -------------

         2.1 Purchase  Price.  The purchase price to be paid for the Assets (the
"Purchase Price") shall be an amount provisionally  estimated by the parties (on
the basis of  Plains'  financial  information  as of  December  31,  1997) to be
Thirteen  Million Two Hundred Forty Eight  Thousand One Hundred  Thirty Four and
03/100  Dollars  ($13,248,134.03),  to be paid in full at the Closing,  together
with the assumption of the  liabilities  described in Article III, to be assumed
at the Closing. Within fifteen (15) business days after the Signing Date, Seller
shall  provide to Buyer  financial  information  as of December 31,  1998,  with
reasonable  supporting  documentation,  that will update the  December  31, 1997
financial  information   previously  provided  to  Buyer.   Notwithstanding  the
foregoing,  Seller will provide to Buyer a revised  estimated  Purchase Price at
least  fifteen  (15) days prior to the Closing  Date,  calculated  in the manner
described  on  Exhibit  2.1  attached  hereto  and on  the  basis  of  financial
information  that is  current  as of the date on which  such  revised  estimated
Purchase Price is established,  and such revised  estimate will be the basis for
the payment of the Purchase  Price on the Closing Date. As soon as possible (but
no more than forty-five days) after the Closing Date, the parties will negotiate
in good faith to agree to and establish a final Purchase Price,  and within five
(5) business days after such final Purchase Price is established, one party will
make to the other a payment to reconcile the difference  between the provisional
Purchase Price (revised as hereinbefore described) and the final Purchase Price.
In the event the parties  are unable to agree on a final  Purchase  Price,  such
dispute will be submitted to arbitration pursuant to Section 13.3 hereof.

         2.2 Allocation of Purchase Price. The Purchase Price shall be allocated
among the Assets in such manner as may be agreed  upon by the  parties  prior to
the Closing in  accordance  with Section  1060 of the  Internal  Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the "Code");  provided,  however,  that if the parties  cannot
mutually  agree upon such  allocation,  such  allocation  shall be  conclusively
determined  by an  independent  appraiser  selected  by the  parties,  who shall
prepare such appraisal in accordance  with Section 1060 of the Code. The parties
agree that any tax filings that they may make in relation to the Assets shall be
consistent with such allocations.


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                                  ARTICLE III.

                            ASSUMPTION OF LIABILITIES
                            -------------------------

         3.1  Contracts.  Subject to all the terms and  conditions  set forth in
this Agreement and in the Operations Agreements described in Section 4.2 hereof,
effective from and after the Closing Date,  Buyer hereby agrees to assume and be
bound by and to perform,  observe  and comply with all of the terms,  covenants,
conditions,  undertakings  and other  provisions of the  Contracts,  in the same
manner and with the same force and  effect as if Buyer had  originally  executed
such Contracts in the place and stead of Seller (or Plains, as the case may be),
and  agrees  faithfully  to  perform  each of the  Contracts  from and after the
Closing Date.

         3.2 Post-Closing  Liabilities.  Subject to all the terms and conditions
set  forth in this  Agreement  and in the  Operations  Agreements  described  in
Section 4.2 hereof,  effective  from and after the Closing  Date,  Buyer  hereby
agrees to assume and be bound by and to pay and discharge all  liabilities  that
arise on or  subsequent to the Closing Date out of the ownership or operation of
any of the Assets.

         3.3 Other  Liabilities.  Except as  expressly  provided in this Article
III, Buyer is not assuming and shall have no responsibility  for any obligations
or liabilities of Seller.

                                   ARTICLE IV.

                    PRORATION OF TAXES; OPERATIONS AGREEMENTS
                    -----------------------------------------

         4.1 Proration of Taxes. Real property taxes and personal property taxes
attributable  to the Assets for the year in which the Closing  occurs,  together
with utility charges and rents, shall be prorated between Buyer and Seller as of
the Closing Date.

         4.2  Operations  Agreements.  On or  prior to the  Closing  Date (or as
otherwise  specified  on Exhibit 4.2  attached  hereto),  Seller and Buyer shall
enter into the operations,  transmission,  power marketing and other  agreements
(collectively, the "Operations Agreements") listed on Exhibit 4.2 hereto.

                                   ARTICLE V.

                     GENERAL REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
                     --------------------------------------

         5.1 Representatives and Warranties of Seller.  Except to the extent set
forth on the  Seller's  Disclosure  Schedule  described  in Section  5.3 hereof,
Seller hereby  represents and warrants to Buyer for and on behalf of itself and,
where  indicated,  for and on behalf of Plains,  that the  following  statements
contained  in this  Section 5.1 will be correct  and  complete as of the date of
delivery of such Disclosure  Schedule and as of the Closing Date (as though made
on the Closing Date):

         (i)      Due Incorporation, etc. Seller is duly incorporated,  existing
                  and in good standing  under the laws of the State of Colorado,
                  and has all requisite corporate power and authority to own its
                  properties  and conduct its  business as  presently  owned and
                  conducted.


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         (ii)     Due  Authorization,  etc.  Seller has the corporate  power and
                  authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this
                  Agreement, this Agreement has been duly and validly authorized
                  by the Board of  Directors of Seller,  and no other  corporate
                  action on the part of Seller is  required in  connection  with
                  this Agreement. When completed, this Agreement and any related
                  agreements  of Seller  hereunder  shall  constitute  valid and
                  binding  obligations  of  Seller  that  shall  be  enforceable
                  against  Seller  in  accordance  with  the  terms  hereof  and
                  thereof.

         (iii)    No  Violation.  This  Agreement and the execution and delivery
                  hereof by Seller do not, and the fulfillment of and compliance
                  with the terms and conditions  hereof and the  consummation of
                  the transactions contemplated hereby will not:

                  (a)      Violate  or  conflict   with  any  provision  of  the
                           articles of incorporation or bylaws,  each as amended
                           to date, of Seller;

                  (b)      Violate  or  conflict  with or require  any  consent,
                           authorization  or approval under any provision of any
                           law or  administrative  regulation  or any  judicial,
                           administrative or arbitration order, award, judgment,
                           writ,  injunction or decree  applicable to or binding
                           upon  Seller   (except  the  approval  of  the  Rural
                           Utilities  Service  ("RUS"),  the New  Mexico  Public
                           Regulation   Commission   ("NMPRC"),    the   Federal
                           Communications  Commission ("FCC") and the expiration
                           or early  termination of the required waiting period,
                           if applicable,  under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust
                           Improvements   Act   of   1976,   as   amended   (the
                           "Hart-Scott-Rodino Act"));

                  (c)      Result  in a  breach  of,  constitute  a  default  or
                           violation under (whether with notice or lapse of time
                           or both) or require  any  consent,  authorization  or
                           approval  under  any  mortgage,  indenture,  loan  or
                           credit agreement or any other agreement or instrument
                           evidencing  indebtedness  for money borrowed to which
                           Seller is a party or by which  any of its  properties
                           or assets is bound; or

                  (d)      Result in the  creation  or  imposition  of any lien,
                           charge,  security  interest or other encumbrance upon
                           the Assets.

         (iv)     Compliance  with Laws and  Regulations.  Seller's  and Plains'
                  ownership and  operation of the Assets is in  compliance  with
                  all applicable laws, regulations, orders, judgments or decrees
                  of any  Governmental  Authority  (as  herein  defined)  having
                  jurisdiction over the Assets,  except such violations as would
                  not have a Material  Adverse  Effect (as herein  defined) with
                  respect to the Assets.  For the  purposes  of this  Agreement,
                  "Governmental  Authority"  shall  mean the  United  States  of
                  America,  any state,  commonwealth,  territory  or  possession
                  thereof and any tribe or pueblo, and any political subdivision
                  of  any of the  foregoing,  including,  but  not  limited  to,
                  courts, departments, commissions, boards, bureaus, agencies or
                  other  instrumentalities;  and "Material  Adverse Effect" with
                  respect to the Assets shall mean a change or occurrence which,
                  in the reasonable judgment of the Buyer, is or is likely to be
                  materially adverse to the value or condition of the Assets.

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         (v)      Taxes.  All taxes,  assessments  and  charges by  Governmental
                  Authorities  which are due and  payable  by Seller  and Plains
                  with  respect to the Assets,  as  applicable,  have been paid,
                  other   than  those   taxes,   assessments   and   charges  by
                  Governmental  Authorities  being  contested  in good faith for
                  which adequate provisions have been made.

         (vi)     Litigation.  There is no action,  suit, or proceeding  pending
                  or, to the knowledge of Seller or Plains,  threatened  against
                  Seller or Plains (i) which  could  reasonably  be  expected to
                  materially   hinder   Seller's   ability  to  consummate   the
                  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement,  or (ii) which
                  specifically concerns the Assets.

         (vii)    Environmental.  Seller and Plains:

                  (a)      Have   operated  the  Assets  in  compliance  in  all
                           respects with all applicable  Environmental  Laws (as
                           herein defined),  except such violations as would not
                           have a Material  Adverse  Effect with  respect to the
                           Assets;   for  the   purposes   of  this   Agreement,
                           "Environmental  Laws"  shall  mean  federal,   state,
                           tribal,   pueblo  or   municipal   laws,   rules  and
                           regulations  governing,  regulating  or  relating  to
                           pollution  or  the  protection  of  the  environment,
                           including,   but  not   limited   to,  the   Resource
                           Conservation  and Recovery  Act of 1976,  as amended,
                           the     Comprehensive     Environmental     Response,
                           Compensation,  and Liability Act of 1980, as amended,
                           the Superfund  Amendments and  Reauthorization Act of
                           1986,  as  amended,  and all similar  state,  tribal,
                           pueblo, municipal and local laws, ordinances,  rules,
                           regulations,  orders, directives,  determinations and
                           requirements  each as in effect on the  Signing  Date
                           for  purposes  of the  representations  given  on the
                           Signing Date and as in effect on the Closing Date for
                           all other purposes of this Agreement;

                  (b)      Have  obtained all  Governmental  Licenses (as herein
                           defined) which are required  under any  Environmental
                           Law  applicable  to the  Assets  except to the extent
                           that the  failure  to  obtain  any such  Governmental
                           License would not have a Material Adverse Effect with
                           respect  to the  Assets;  for  the  purposes  of this
                           Agreement,   "Governmental   Licenses"   shall   mean
                           licenses, permits, certificates of public convenience
                           and  necessity,  consents and other similar  licenses
                           issued by any Governmental Authority;

                  (c)      Have   not   received   written   notice   from   any
                           Governmental Authority of any unresolved violation of
                           or  pending  or  threatened  action,  suit,  inquiry,
                           proceeding   or   investigation   relating   to   any
                           Environmental  Law  applicable  to the  Assets  which
                           unresolved  violation or  investigation  would have a
                           Material  Adverse  Effect with respect to the Assets;
                           and


                                       6


                  (d)      Have   not   received   written   notice   from   any
                           Governmental   Authority  of  any  legally   required
                           environmental   removal,   remediation   or  clean-up
                           obligation with respect to the Assets that would have
                           a Material Adverse Effect on the Assets.

         (viii)   Maintenance of the Assets.  Seller and Plains have  maintained
                  the Assets in  reasonable  operating  condition and repair and
                  the  Assets  are   adequate  to  perform   normal   operations
                  consistent  with Plains'  recent  practices,  except where the
                  failure to maintain  would not have a Material  Adverse Effect
                  with respect to the Assets.

         (ix)     Contracts. Seller and Plains have provided Buyer with complete
                  copies  of the  Contracts  and  all  amendments  thereto.  The
                  Contracts are in full force and effect.  No third party to any
                  Contract  has prepaid more than 30 days in advance any amounts
                  due thereunder. Seller has not waived its remedies for default
                  by, or  expressly  waived any other  rights  against,  a third
                  party  under any  Contract.  Seller and  Plains  have made all
                  payments due thereunder,  if any, except those being contested
                  in good  faith,  and  have  performed  all of  their  material
                  obligations under such Contracts,  except for such failures to
                  make  payments or perform  obligations  which would not have a
                  Material  Adverse  Effect with  respect to the Assets.  To the
                  knowledge of Seller and Plains, there are no written proposals
                  or threats by third parties to cancel, revise or fail to renew
                  any   Contract  or  fail  to  renew,   cancel  or  revise  any
                  right-of-way or easement.

         (x)      Title to Property.  Plains has, and on the Closing Date Seller
                  will have,  good and marketable  title to the Assets,  in each
                  case free and clear of all mortgages, liens, charges, security
                  interests, or other encumbrances except Permitted Encumbrances
                  (as herein  defined).  To the knowledge of Seller,  no adverse
                  title  claims are pending or  threatened  with  respect to any
                  portion of the  Assets and Seller  owns its rights in the same
                  free and  clear of all  mortgages,  liens,  charges,  security
                  interests or other encumbrances except Permitted Encumbrances.
                  For the purposes of this Agreement,  "Encumbrances" shall mean
                  all  liens,  mortgages,  pledges,  claims,  charges,  security
                  interests   or   other   encumbrances,    including,   without
                  limitation,  any leases, subleases,  rights-of-way,  licenses,
                  easements,  options  to  purchase,  encumbrances,   covenants,
                  building use restrictions, exceptions, variances, restrictions
                  or limitations,  and "Permitted  Encumbrances"  shall mean (a)
                  Encumbrances for current real property,  personal  property or
                  ad  valorem  taxes  which  are not yet  due and  payable,  (b)
                  mineral  rights and claims to minerals which do not materially
                  adversely  affect the value,  condition or  usefulness  of the
                  property  affected  thereby,  (c) water  rights  and claims to
                  water  which do not  materially  adversely  affect  the value,
                  condition or usefulness of the property affected thereby,  and


                                       7


                  (d) easements,  covenants,  restrictions and reservations (not
                  arising out of or created in connection  with the borrowing of
                  money,  including the obtaining of advances, or the payment of
                  the  deferred   purchase  price  of  property)  which  do  not
                  materially adversely affect the value, condition or usefulness
                  of the property affected  thereby.  As of the date of delivery
                  of Seller's Disclosure Schedule,  but not on the Closing Date,
                  Permitted    Encumbrances   shall   include   (i)   "Permitted
                  Encumbrances"   as  such  term  is  defined  in  that  certain
                  Consolidated  Mortgage  and  Security  Agreement,  dated as of
                  April 15,  1992,  as  amended,  between  Plains and the United
                  States of America acting through the Administrator of the RUS,
                  the National Rural Utilities  Cooperative Finance Corporation,
                  CoBank ACB and The Bank of New York,  as successor in trust to
                  Sunwest Bank of Albuquerque, National Association (the "Plains
                  Mortgage"),  and (ii) any  encumbrances  created by the Plains
                  Mortgage.

         (xi)     Historical  Operating  Data  and  Financial  Statements.   All
                  historical operating data and financial  information delivered
                  in writing to Buyer was accurate in all  material  respects as
                  of the date provided.

         (xii)    No Third  Party  Options.  There are no  existing  agreements,
                  options,  commitments,  or  rights  with or to any  person  to
                  acquire any of the Assets,  properties  or rights  included in
                  the Assets.

         (xiii)   FERC  Regulation.  None  of the  Assets  is  subject  to  rate
                  regulation or a filed tariff under the Federal Power Act.

         (xiv)    RUS Regulation. Seller and Plains are subject to regulation by
                  the RUS and the Closing is  contingent  upon Seller  obtaining
                  all required  approvals and  authorizations  from the RUS with
                  respect to the execution and performance of this Agreement.

         (xv)     Environmental Assessments. No written environmental assessment
                  of the Assets has been  prepared by a third party on behalf of
                  Seller  or Plains  within  the  5-year  period  preceding  the
                  Signing Date.

         (xvi)    Deeds.  Seller or Plains has provided  Buyer full and complete
                  copies of all deeds under  which such  Seller or Plains  holds
                  fee title to any real  property  that is a part of the Assets.
                  Neither Plains nor Seller has transferred any right,  title or
                  interest in any such fee property.

         (xvii)   Existing Arrangements. Exhibit 5.1(xvii) attached hereto lists
                  the   existing   contractual   arrangements   (the   "Existing
                  Arrangements")  between  Plains  and Buyer and  describes  the
                  proposed  disposition  of the  Existing  Arrangements  through
                  assignment,  termination  or  modification.  Seller  and Buyer
                  agree to use  their  best  efforts  to  promptly  achieve  the
                  assignment,   termination  or  modification  of  the  Existing
                  Arrangements as shown in Exhibit 5.1(xvii).

         (xviii)  Rights-of-Way.    The   Assets    include    all    easements,
                  rights-of-way, permits or other equivalent real property usage
                  rights in respect of any real property  comprising the Assets,
                  as may be reasonably necessary to operate the Assets, and none
                  of such easements, rights-of-way,  permits or other equivalent
                  real property usage rights have expired.


                                       8


         5.2  Representations  and Warranties of Buyer. Except to the extent set
forth on the Buyer's Disclosure Schedule described in Section 5.3 hereof,  Buyer
hereby represents and warrants to Seller that the following statements contained
in this  Section 5.2 will be correct and  complete as of the date of delivery of
such  Disclosure  Schedule  and as of the  Closing  Date (as though  made on the
Closing Date):

         (i)      Due Incorporation,  etc. Buyer is duly incorporated,  existing
                  and in  good  standing  under  the  laws of the  State  of New
                  Mexico, and has all requisite corporate power and authority to
                  own its properties and conduct its business as presently owned
                  and conducted.

         (ii)     Due  Authorization,  etc.  Buyer has the  corporate  power and
                  authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this
                  Agreement, this Agreement has been duly and validly authorized
                  by the Board of  Directors  of Buyer,  and no other  corporate
                  action on the part of Buyer is  required  in  connection  with
                  this Agreement. When completed, this Agreement and any related
                  agreements  of Buyer  hereunder  shall  constitute  valid  and
                  binding obligations of Buyer that shall be enforceable against
                  Buyer in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.

         (iii)    No  Violation.  This  Agreement and the execution and delivery
                  hereof by Buyer do not,  and the  fulfillment  and  compliance
                  with the terms and conditions  hereof and the  consummation of
                  the transactions contemplated hereby will not:

                  (a)      Violate  or  conflict   with  any  provision  of  the
                           certificate  of  incorporation  or  bylaws,  each  as
                           amended to date, of Buyer;

                  (b)      Violate  or  conflict  with or require  any  consent,
                           authorization  or approval under any provision of any
                           law or  administrative  regulation  or any  judicial,
                           administrative or arbitration order, award, judgment,
                           writ,  injunction or decree  applicable to or binding
                           upon Buyer  (except the  approvals of the NMPRC,  the
                           Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC") and the
                           FCC and the  expiration or early  termination  of the
                           required  waiting  period,  if applicable,  under the
                           Hart-Scott-Rodino Act); or

                  (c)      Result  in a  breach  of,  constitute  a  default  or
                           violation under (whether with notice or lapse of time
                           or both) or require  any  consent,  authorization  or
                           approval  under any  mortgage,  contract,  indenture,
                           loan or credit  agreement  or any other  agreement or
                           instrument evidencing indebtedness for money borrowed
                           to which  Buyer  is a party  or by  which  any of its
                           properties or assets is bound.

         (iv)     Litigation.  There is no action,  suit or proceeding,  pending
                  or, to the knowledge of Buyer,  threatened against Buyer which
                  would have a material  adverse effect with respect to Buyer or
                  would  materially  hinder  Buyer's  ability to consummate  the
                  transactions contemplated by this Agreement.


                                       9


         (v)      Funds  Available.  Buyer  has,  or will  have on and after the
                  Closing Date,  sufficient  cash,  available lines of credit or
                  other sources of immediately  available  funds to enable it to
                  pay the Purchase Price.

         (vi)     Qualification. Buyer has, or as of the Closing Date will have,
                  all  Governmental  Licenses  necessary  or required to own and
                  operate the Assets,  and to perform the  obligations of Seller
                  under the Contracts.

         5.3 Disclosure Schedules.  No later than forty five (45) days after the
Signing  Date,  each  party  shall  prepare  and  deliver  to the other  party a
Disclosure  Schedule relating to its respective  representations  and warranties
contained in this Article V. Nothing in any Disclosure  Schedule shall be deemed
adequate to disclose an exception to a  representation  or warranty  made herein
unless the Disclosure  Schedule  identifies the exception with particularity and
describes the relevant facts in detail.  Without  limiting the generality of the
foregoing, the mere listing (or inclusion of a copy) of a document or other item
shall not be deemed  adequate to disclose an  exception to a  representation  or
warranty made herein (unless the  representation  or warranty has to do with the
existence of the document or other item itself).

         5.4  DISCLAIMER  OF OTHER  REPRESENTATIONS  AND  WARRANTIES.  EXCEPT AS
EXPRESSLY PROVIDED HEREIN,  SELLER MAKES NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY,  WHETHER
WRITTEN, ORAL, STATUTORY, COMMON LAW, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, CONCERNING THE ASSETS,
INCLUDING  BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY WARRANTY OF  MERCHANTABILITY  OR FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE.



                                       10



                                   ARTICLE VI.

                    PRE-CLOSING COVENANTS OF SELLER AND BUYER
                    -----------------------------------------

         The parties  agree as follows  with  respect to the period  between the
Signing Date and the Closing Date:

         6.1  Hart-Scott-Rodino  Act.  The parties  agree to make as promptly as
practicable   all   filings,   if  any,   required   in   connection   with  the
Hart-Scott-Rodino Act.

         6.2 Good Faith  Efforts.  Each party will use good faith efforts (i) to
take all action  necessary  to render  accurate,  as of the  Closing  Date,  its
representations and warranties  contained herein, and to refrain from taking any
action which would render any such  representation or warranty  inaccurate as of
the Closing  Date,  (ii) to perform or cause to be  satisfied  each  covenant or
condition to be performed or satisfied by it pursuant to this Agreement,  and to
cause the Closing to occur,  and (iii) to obtain all licenses or other approvals
required to be obtained by it from any  appropriate  governmental  or regulatory
body or other person in connection with its obligations hereunder.

         6.3 Notice of Developments.  Each party will give prompt written notice
to the other of any material adverse  development causing a breach of any of its
own representations and warranties contained herein. Except as specified in such
written  notice,  no disclosure by a party pursuant to this Section 6.3 shall be
deemed to amend or supplement such party's Disclosure  Schedule or to prevent or
cure any misrepresentation, breach of warranty or breach of covenant.

         6.4 Environmental  Site Assessments.  Buyer and Seller agree to conduct
Phase I Environmental  Site Assessments of the Assets prior to the Closing Date,
as mutually  determined  by them,  and shall share the costs of such agreed upon
assessments  based  on  their  respective  agreed  ownership  percentage  of the
specific Asset in question.

                                  ARTICLE VII.

                               COVENANTS OF SELLER
                               -------------------

         Seller covenants and agrees with Buyer that,  except as may be approved
by Buyer in  writing,  which  approval  shall not be  unreasonably  withheld  or
delayed:

         7.1  Consents.  Seller  agrees to use,  and to cause Plains to use, all
reasonable  efforts to obtain and make and to assist Buyer,  as  applicable,  in
obtaining and making, as appropriate, (a) all necessary consents, authorizations
and  approvals,   (b)  all  findings  necessary  for  the  consummation  of  the
transactions  contemplated by this Agreement,  and (c) all Governmental Licenses
necessary for Buyer's operation of the Assets after Closing.

         7.2 NMPRC Approvals. Seller has filed for necessary NMPRC approvals and
agrees to submit as promptly as possible  any  additional  filings  necessary in
connection  with  proceedings  before  the NMPRC for  necessary  approvals  with
respect to the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement and shall use its
reasonable  efforts to obtain such  approvals.  Seller shall  provide Buyer with
copies of any NMPRC  filings  (or  portions  thereof)  prior to  submitting  the
filings to the NMPRC.


                                       11

         7.3      Operation  of the  Property.  From  the  Signing  Date  to the
                  Closing Date:

         (i)      The Assets  shall be operated  and  maintained  in  reasonable
                  operating  condition  and repair  adequate  to perform  normal
                  operations consistent with Plains' past practices; and

         (ii)     Seller shall,  except with respect to commitments already made
                  prior  to the  Signing  Date,  as  set  forth  in  the  Seller
                  Disclosure  Schedule,  obtain  Buyer's prior written  approval
                  (which approval may not be unreasonably  withheld)  before (a)
                  Seller or Plains enters into any material  contract binding on
                  any of the  Assets,  or Buyer in its  capacity as owner of the
                  Assets,  after the Closing Date, except for any month-to-month
                  renewals of any existing  contracts  that  terminate  not more
                  than one month  after the Closing  Date;  (b) Seller or Plains
                  voluntarily abandons any easement that constitutes part of the
                  Assets;  (c) Seller or Plains  sells,  transfers  or otherwise
                  disposes  of any  Assets  except  in the  ordinary  course  of
                  business;  or (d) Seller or Plains encumbers any of the Assets
                  except in the  ordinary  course of business and other than any
                  Encumbrances that do not materially  detract from the value of
                  the Assets.

         7.4  Access.  From the Signing  Date to the closing  date of the Merger
under the Transaction  Agreement,  Seller shall, upon reasonable  advance notice
and during normal  business  hours,  use  reasonable  efforts to cause Plains to
allow Buyer and its  Representatives  (as herein defined),  and thereafter until
the Closing Date shall allow Buyer and its  Representatives,  in either event at
Buyer's sole risk and expense and for the purpose of investigating the Assets in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, to:

         (i)      Inspect and become familiar with the Assets;

         (ii)     Subject to the right of Seller to have its own Representatives
                  present,   consult  with  Seller's   attorneys,   accountants,
                  engineers and other Representatives  concerning the ownership,
                  use or operation of the Assets; and

         (iii)    Examine the Business Records.

For the purpose of this Agreement,  "Representatives"  shall mean the affiliates
of a  person  and its and  their  directors,  officers,  employees,  agents  and
advisors.


                                       12



         7.5      Additional  Covenants of Seller.  From the Signing Date to the
                  Closing Date:

         (i)      Seller  shall  use  reasonable   efforts  to,  and  shall  use
                  reasonable  efforts to cause Plains to,  preserve and maintain
                  in  force  all  of  its  licenses,   permits,   registrations,
                  franchises, and bonds applicable to the Assets.

         (ii)     Seller  shall  use  reasonable   efforts  to,  and  shall  use
                  reasonable  efforts to cause Plains to,  comply with all laws,
                  ordinances,  rules, regulations,  and orders applicable to the
                  Assets,  the  noncompliance  with  which  would  result  in  a
                  Material Adverse Effect on the Assets.

         (iii)    Seller  shall  either  cause  Plains to maintain in effect its
                  excess liability insurance policies with respect to the Assets
                  that are in effect on the Signing  Date or obtain and maintain
                  in effect equivalent "tail coverage" for such periods, if any,
                  as Seller may have an obligation to indemnify  Buyer hereunder
                  for third-party claims covered by such insurance. With respect
                  to the periods set forth  above,  Seller shall not (other than
                  through  contract  terminations  in  the  ordinary  course  of
                  business)  cancel any third party indemnity  rights  regarding
                  the Assets to which such  Seller is entitled as of the Signing
                  Date.

                                  ARTICLE VIII.

                               COVENANTS OF BUYER
                               ------------------

         Buyer covenants and agrees with Seller that,  except as may be approved
by Seller in  writing,  which  approval  shall not be  unreasonably  withheld or
delayed:

         8.1 Consents.  Buyer agrees to use all reasonable efforts to obtain and
make  and  to  assist  Seller,  as  applicable,  in  obtaining  and  making,  as
appropriate,  (a) all necessary  consents,  authorizations and approvals and (b)
all filings  necessary for the consummation of the transactions  contemplated by
this Agreement.

         8.2 NMPRC and FERC  Approvals.  Buyer  has  filed for  necessary  NMPRC
approvals  and agrees to submit as promptly as possible all  additional  filings
necessary  in  connection  with  proceedings  before  the NMPRC and the FERC for
necessary  approvals  and  shall  use its  reasonable  efforts  to  obtain  such
approvals.  Buyer shall provide  Seller with copies of any NMPRC or FERC filings
(or portions  thereof) prior to submitting the filings to the NMPRC or the FERC,
respectively.

                                   ARTICLE IX.

                              CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
                              --------------------

         9.1 Conditions to Obligations of Buyer. All of the obligations of Buyer
under the terms of this Agreement are subject to fulfillment  prior to or on the
Closing Date of each of the following conditions or the waiver thereof by Buyer:


                                       13


         (i)      Material  Discrepancies  or  Breaches.  Buyer  shall  not have
                  discovered any material error, misstatement or omission in the
                  representations  and warranties made by Seller (for itself and
                  on  behalf  of   Plains)  or  any   material   breach  in  the
                  undertakings  and  agreements  by Seller  (for  itself  and on
                  behalf of Plains) as set forth in this Agreement.

         (ii)     Continuing Representations and Warranties. All representations
                  and warranties by Seller which are contained in this Agreement
                  shall  (subject  to  any  disclosures  contained  on  Seller's
                  Disclosure  Schedule)  be correct and complete in all material
                  respects on and as of the Closing  Date as though made on such
                  date. None of the disclosures contained on Seller's Disclosure
                  Schedule  shall  disclose  any  matter  that  would have (i) a
                  material adverse effect on the ability of Seller to consummate
                  the sale of the Assets  hereunder,  or (ii) a Material Adverse
                  Effect  with  respect to the Assets.  If  Seller's  Disclosure
                  Schedule discloses a matter that would have a Material Adverse
                  Effect with respect to one or more  individual  Assets,  Buyer
                  and Seller  shall use their best  efforts  to  negotiate  such
                  adjustments  as may be  necessary  to carry  out the  original
                  intent of the parties with respect to the remaining Assets not
                  affected by the disclosure.

         (iii)    Performance  of  Conditions.  Seller (and,  where  applicable,
                  Plains)  shall  have  performed  and  complied  with all other
                  agreements  and  conditions  required by this  Agreement to be
                  performed  by  and  complied   with  by  Seller  (and,   where
                  applicable, Plains) on or before the Closing Date.

         (iv)     Consents,  etc.  Buyer and  Seller  shall  have  obtained  all
                  regulatory  approvals,  authorizations,   consents,  licenses,
                  permits and acceptances from relevant federal, state and local
                  authorities, in form and substance acceptable to the receiving
                  party,  which are necessary or required to be obtained by such
                  party in order to consummate the transaction, except where the
                  failure  to  obtain  such  approval,  authorization,  consent,
                  license,  permit or acceptance  will not interfere  materially
                  with the consummation of the transaction.

         (v)      Merger.  The  closing  of the  Merger  under  the  Transaction
                  Agreement shall have occurred.

         (vi)     Operations Agreements. The parties shall have entered into the
                  Operations Agreements.

         (vii)    No Orders.  The Closing  shall not violate any order or decree
                  with  respect  to  the   transactions   contemplated  by  this
                  Agreement  issued by any  court or  governmental  body  having
                  competent jurisdiction over such transactions.

         (viii)   Adverse Change.  Since the Signing Date, there shall have been
                  no changes in or losses to the Assets,  not cured by Seller at
                  its option, which have had,  individually or in the aggregate,
                  a Material Adverse Effect on the Assets.


                                       14


         9.2  Conditions to  Obligations  of Seller.  All of the  obligations of
Seller under the terms of this Agreement are subject to fulfillment  prior to or
on the Closing Date of each of the following conditions or the waiver thereof by
Seller:

         (i)      Material  Discrepancies  or  Breaches.  Seller  shall not have
                  discovered any material error, misstatement or omission in the
                  representations  and warranties  made by Buyer or any material
                  breach  in the  undertakings  and  agreements  by Buyer as set
                  forth in this Agreement.

         (ii)     Continuing Representations and Warranties. All representations
                  and  warranties by Buyer which are contained in this Agreement
                  shall  (subject  to  any  disclosures   contained  on  Buyer's
                  Disclosure  Schedule)  be correct and complete in all material
                  respects on and as of the Closing  Date as though made on such
                  date. None of the disclosures  contained on Buyer's Disclosure
                  Schedule  shall disclose any matter that would have a material
                  adverse  effect  on the  ability  of Buyer to  consummate  the
                  purchase of the Assets hereunder.

         (iii)    Performance  of  Conditions.  Buyer shall have  performed  and
                  complied with all other agreements and conditions  required by
                  this  Agreement to be performed by and complied  with by Buyer
                  on or  before  the  Closing  Date,  including  payment  of the
                  Purchase Price.

         (iv)     Consents,  etc.  Buyer and  Seller  shall  have  obtained  all
                  regulatory  approvals,  authorizations,   consents,  licenses,
                  permits and acceptances from relevant federal, state and local
                  authorities, in form and substance acceptable to the receiving
                  party,  which are necessary or required to be obtained by such
                  party in order to consummate the transaction, except where the
                  failure  to  obtain  such  approval,  authorization,  consent,
                  license,  permit or acceptance  will not interfere  materially
                  with the consummation of the transaction.

         (v)      Merger.  The  closing  of the  Merger  under  the  Transaction
                  Agreement shall have occurred.

         (vi)     Operations Agreements. The parties shall have entered into the
                  Operations Agreements.

         (vii)    No Orders.  The Closing  shall not violate any order or decree
                  with  respect  to  the   transactions   contemplated  by  this
                  Agreement  issued by any  court or  governmental  body  having
                  competent jurisdiction over such transactions.


                                       15


                                   ARTICLE X.

                      CLOSING AND POST-CLOSING OBLIGATIONS
                      ------------------------------------

         10.1  Closing.  Subject  to the  other  terms  of this  Agreement,  the
consummation of the transfer of the Assets (the "Closing") shall be held as soon
as  practicable  after the receipt of all  necessary  regulatory  approvals  and
consents,  but not later  than six (6)  months  after the  closing of the Merger
under the Transaction Agreement, or such other date as may be agreed upon by the
parties  (the  "Closing  Date").  At the Closing and on the  Closing  Date,  the
following documents and considerations shall be exchanged between the parties:

         (i)      Deliveries  by Seller at the Closing.  At the Closing,  Seller
                  shall   deliver   to  Buyer  the   following   documents   and
                  considerations  against the simultaneous  delivery by Buyer to
                  Seller  of  the  documents  and  considerations  described  in
                  paragraph 10.1(ii) below:

                  (a)      One or more General  Assignments and Bills of Sale in
                           a   form    reasonably    satisfactory    to   Buyer,
                           transferring,  assigning  and  conveying  such of the
                           Assets as are transferable thereby to Buyer, and such
                           other  documents  of  transfer  as are  necessary  to
                           transfer  the  Licenses  and  Permits  that  are  not
                           transferred by the foregoing  General  Assignment and
                           Bills of Sale.

                  (b)      One  or  more  Special   Warranty  Deeds  in  a  form
                           reasonably  satisfactory to Buyer,  transferring  any
                           real estate  comprising  the Assets to Buyer free and
                           clear  of  all  liens  and  encumbrances  (except  as
                           expressly  provided  therein and consistent  with the
                           representations  as to  title  contained  in  Section
                           5.1(x) hereof).

                  (c)      Certificates  of  officers  of Seller in the forms of
                           Exhibit   10.1(i)(c)-1   and   Exhibit   10.1(i)(c)-2
                           attached hereto.

                  (d)      Opinion   of  counsel   of  Seller   confirming   the
                           representations  made by Seller in  Sections  5.1(i),
                           (ii) and (iii)  hereof,  in  customary  form and with
                           customary qualifications.

                  (e)      Such other  instruments  and  documents  as Buyer may
                           reasonably request.

         (ii)     Deliveries  by Buyer at Closing.  At the Closing,  Buyer shall
                  deliver to Seller the following  documents and  considerations
                  against simultaneous  delivery of documents and considerations
                  by Seller as set forth in paragraph 10.1(i) above:

                  (a)      One  or  more   Assumption   Agreements   in  a  form
                           reasonably  satisfactory  to Seller,  relating to the
                           Contracts.

                  (b)      The  Purchase  Price of the Assets,  as  described in
                           Section 2.1 hereof.


                                       16


                  (c)      Certificates  of  officers  of  Buyer  in the form of
                           Exhibit   10.1(i)(c)-1   and   Exhibit   10.1(i)(c)-2
                           attached hereto.

                  (d)      Opinion   of   Counsel   of  Buyer   confirming   the
                           representations  made by  Buyer in  Sections  5.2(i),
                           (ii) and (iii)  hereof,  in  customary  form and with
                           customary qualifications.

                  (e)      Such other  instruments  and  documents as Seller may
                           reasonably request.

         10.2  Post-Closing.  Seller  agrees  that it will,  upon the request of
Buyer,  execute and  deliver to Buyer from time to time after the Closing  Date,
such other  instruments  of sale,  transfer,  assignment and conveyance and take
such  other  action as Buyer may  reasonably  request to more  effectively  vest
ownership  of the  Assets  in Buyer and to put  Buyer in  possession  of all the
Assets.  Buyer  agrees  that it will from time to time  execute  and  deliver to
Seller such additional instruments and take such additional action as Seller may
reasonably request to evidence the agreements of Buyer under this Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE XI.
                  NON-SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES,
                  --------------------------------------------
                            COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS
                            ------------------------

         The  representations and warranties made by Seller and Buyer in Article
V of this Agreement and in the certificates  contemplated  hereby shall form the
basis for  conditions to Closing only and shall not survive the Closing Date. No
provision of this Agreement  shall form the basis for any action by or on behalf
of either party or any third party for breach, misrepresentation or indemnity at
any time after the Closing Date.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,  any rights and
obligations  of the parties that are expressed to survive the Closing Date shall
so survive the Closing Date,  including (without  limitation) those described in
Section 2.1; Section 2.2; Section 3.1; Section 3.2; Section 10.2;  Section 13.1;
Section  13.2;  Section 13.3 (to the extent  provided  therein);  Section  13.4;
Section 13.5; and Section 13.6.

                                   ARTICLE XII.
                                   TERMINATION
                                   -----------

         12. 1 Termination.  This Agreement may be terminated, at any time at or
prior to the Closing Date, as follows,  except as otherwise  provided in Section
12.2 below:

         (i)      By mutual agreement of Buyer and Seller;

         (ii)     By Buyer or Seller if the Closing  shall not have  occurred on
                  or before the date that is six (6) months after the closing of
                  the Merger under the Transaction  Agreement or such later date
                  as shall be  mutually  agreed upon by the  parties;  provided,
                  however,  that no party can so terminate this Agreement if the
                  Closing  has  failed to occur  because  such  party  failed to
                  perform or  observe  its  material  agreements  and  covenants
                  hereunder;


                                       17


         (iii)    By Buyer or Seller if any  Governmental  Authority  shall have
                  issued  a  final   order,   judgment   or  decree   materially
                  restraining,   enjoining,   prohibiting  or  invalidating  the
                  consummation of the transaction;

         (iv)     By  Buyer or  Seller  if the  NMPRC or the FERC  affirmatively
                  rejects the  transaction;  provided  that the party seeking to
                  make use of this  paragraph  12.1(iv) shall have exhausted all
                  rights to  reargue or appeal  such  rejection  on  meritorious
                  grounds;

         (v)      By Buyer or Seller if any  regulatory  agency or  Governmental
                  Authority  requires  material  changes in this Agreement or in
                  the  transaction  hereunder  as a condition  of  approval,  or
                  imposes   material   conditions  on  this   Agreement  or  the
                  transaction  as a  condition  of  approval,  which  changes or
                  conditions are unacceptable to the terminating party; provided
                  that the terminating  party shall have promptly filed and used
                  reasonable  efforts to seek rehearing or  modification of such
                  order;  and provided that the terminating  party shall provide
                  the other  party with ten days prior  notice to allow time for
                  discussion and consultation between the parties.

         12.2 Effect of Agreement Upon  Termination.  If any party exercises its
rights to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Article XII, then (a) except
as  expressly  provided  in this  Section,  no party  shall  have any  rights or
obligations  under  this  Agreement,  and  such  termination  shall  be  without
liability to any party to this Agreement; (b) if this Agreement is terminated as
a result of the negligent or willful failure of Buyer to perform its obligations
hereunder,  Buyer  shall  be  fully  liable  for any and  all  damages  actually
sustained  by  Seller,   provided  that  Buyer  shall  not  be  liable  for  any
consequential  damages  sustained  or incurred by Seller,  nor for any  punitive
damages;  (c) if this  Agreement is  terminated  as a result of the negligent or
willful failure of Seller to perform its obligations hereunder,  Seller shall be
fully  liable for any and all damages  actually  sustained or incurred by Buyer,
provided that Seller shall not be liable for any consequential damages sustained
or  incurred  by  Buyer,  nor  for  any  punitive  damages;   (d)  the  existing
Confidentiality  Agreement  between  Buyer and Seller shall remain in full force
and effect in accordance with its terms with respect to this transaction and the
materials  furnished to Buyer until the later of (i) the  expiration of the term
of the Confidentiality  Agreement or (ii) two years from the date of termination
of this Agreement.

                                  ARTICLE XIII

                                OTHER AGREEMENTS
                                ----------------

         13.1 Discharge of Liabilities.  From and after the Closing Date,  Buyer
shall, in accordance with its usual timely practices, fulfill, pay and discharge
all obligations, responsibilities and liabilities in respect of the Contracts.

         13.2     Delivery and Maintenance of Records.

         (i)      As  promptly  as  practicable,  but in any case within 90 days
                  after the Closing  Date,  Seller  will  deliver or cause to be
                  delivered  to  Buyer  to a  location  designated  by  Buyer in
                  Albuquerque,   New  Mexico  all  Business  Records;  provided,
                  however, that Seller may retain:


                                       18


                  (a)      Originals  of  all  accounting,   financial  and  tax
                           Business  Records for the Assets  attributable to all
                           periods prior to the Closing Date; provided, however,
                           that Seller  shall  provide  Buyer with copies of all
                           such  accounting,  financial and tax Business Records
                           that Buyer may reasonably request; and

                  (b)      Copies  of any other  Business  Records  that  Seller
                           elects to retain.

         (ii) Until December 31, 2000, Buyer shall:

                  (a)      (A) Retain the  Business  Records  obtained by Buyer,
                           (B) furnish copies of such Business Records to Seller
                           upon  Seller's  written  request and at Seller's sole
                           expense and (C) make such Business Records  available
                           to Seller  and its  Representatives  upon  reasonable
                           notice and during normal business hours; and

                  (b)      Grant Seller or Seller's  Representatives  reasonable
                           access  to  Buyer's  Representatives  on  a  mutually
                           convenient basis to obtain  information,  in addition
                           to  the  Business   Records,   with  respect  to  the
                           continuing  obligations or rights,  if any, of Seller
                           under this  Agreement  or with  respect to the Assets
                           and use its  reasonable  efforts  to  cause  any such
                           Representatives   to   cooperate   with   Seller   by
                           testifying or furnishing evidence, as applicable,  at
                           Seller's  request  and  expense  in  any  proceedings
                           relating  to  the  Assets  or   Seller's   continuing
                           obligations under this Agreement, if any.

         13.3     Arbitration.

         (i)      Any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or related to
                  this Agreement,  or the breach  thereof,  shall be exclusively
                  and finally  settled by  arbitration  pursuant to this Section
                  13.3.  The  arbitration  proceedings  shall  be  conducted  in
                  accordance  with  the  terms  of  this  Section  13.3  and the
                  Commercial  Arbitration  Rules  of  the  American  Arbitration
                  Association  ("AAA"),  as modified by the AAA's  Supplementary
                  Procedures for Large,  Complex  Disputes,  as in effect on the
                  date  hereof  (the  "Rules").   Any   procedural   issues  not
                  determined   under  this   Section  or  such  Rules  shall  be
                  determined  by the  laws  of  New  Mexico,  including  without
                  limitation the New Mexico Uniform  Arbitration Act, N.M. Stat.
                  Ann. ss. 44-7-1 et seq.

         (ii)     Either  Buyer or Seller  may  invoke  arbitration  under  this
                  Section  13.3 at any time on or before  one (1) year after the
                  Closing Date (or, with respect to any right or obligation that
                  survives  the  Closing  Date,  on or before one (1) year after
                  such  right or  obligation  expires),  by serving on the other


                                       19


                  party a written  notice of  arbitration,  which shall  specify
                  with  reasonable  detail  (1) the matter in  dispute,  (2) the
                  relief requested and (3) the grounds therefor. The arbitration
                  shall  be  heard  and  determined  by a  board  of  three  (3)
                  arbitrators (the "Board"), each of whom shall be impartial and
                  independent  of the parties to the  dispute.  The party giving
                  notice of the arbitration  shall appoint its party  arbitrator
                  in such notice of  arbitration.  The other party shall appoint
                  an  arbitrator of its choice within twenty (20) days after its
                  receipt  of the  notice  of  arbitration.  The  parties  shall
                  jointly select and appoint the third arbitrator,  who shall be
                  Chairman  of the Board  (the  "Chairman"),  and shall  jointly
                  determine the fee that each arbitrator  shall receive,  within
                  thirty  (30) days after the  notified  party's  receipt of the
                  notice of  arbitration.  If the parties cannot reach agreement
                  on a Chairman and/or fee, or if any party fails to appoint its
                  party-appointed  arbitrator within the prescribed  period, the
                  missing  arbitrator(s)  and/or  fee shall be  selected  by the
                  Phoenix,  Arizona  office of the AAA pursuant to the selection
                  process  set  forth  in the  Rules  as in  effect  on the date
                  hereof,  provided that all potential  arbitrators submitted to
                  the parties must be chosen from AAA's Large Complex Case Panel
                  or from a panel of the Center for Public Resources and further
                  provided  that  any fee  established  by AAA must  conform  to
                  Section 13.3(vii) below. If an arbitrator should die, withdraw
                  or otherwise become incapable of serving,  a replacement shall
                  be selected  and  appointed  in a like manner as the  original
                  arbitrator.  Any arbitrator  appointed hereunder shall certify
                  in writing that he or she is immediately  available to conduct
                  such arbitration. Upon consultation with the other arbitrators
                  and the  parties,  the  Chairman  shall,  within ten (10) days
                  after  appointment,  set dates for the  hearing.  The Chairman
                  shall  preside at all hearings and  executive  sessions of the
                  Board.  All  decisions  of the Board shall be by a majority of
                  the arbitrators, unless the parties agree otherwise.

         (iii)    (a)      The  arbitration  proceedings  shall  be held in
                           Albuquerque,  Bernalillo  County,  New  Mexico,  at a
                           place to be agreed upon by the parties.

                  (b)      A  stenographic  record of the  proceedings  shall be
                           made and supplied to the Board.

                  (c)      Unless the parties agree  otherwise,  the Board shall
                           require   witnesses   to   testify   under   oath  or
                           affirmation.

                  (d)      The  parties  may offer such  evidence as is relevant
                           and  material to the dispute and shall  produce  such
                           additional  evidence as the Board may deem  necessary
                           to the determination of the dispute.

                  (e)      All evidence to be  considered  by the Board shall be
                           offered    at   the    hearing    and    subject   to
                           cross-examination unless the parties agree otherwise.
                           Exhibits shall be admitted into evidence by the Board
                           only upon the  establishment  of a proper  foundation
                           concerning  authenticity,  unless the  parties  agree
                           otherwise.


                                       20


                  (f)      There  shall be no direct  communication  between any
                           party and any arbitrator  after the third  arbitrator
                           has been appointed and the  arbitrators' fee has been
                           established  except  at  the  hearing  and  at  joint
                           consultations    between   both   parties   and   the
                           arbitrators  on  the  schedule  as  provided  for  in
                           Section 13.3(ii).

                  (g)      Unless the parties agree  otherwise,  the arbitration
                           hearing   (including   any   filing  of  briefs   and
                           submission  of  documents)  shall be closed within 60
                           days of the appointment of the third arbitrator.

         (iv)     The Board shall render its award in writing within thirty (30)
                  days  following  the close of the  hearing.  The  Board  shall
                  render its award  only with  respect  to the  specific  issues
                  submitted by either party,  and shall base its decision solely
                  upon  the  evidence   before  it,   applicable  law  and  this
                  Agreement.

         (v)      Judgment  upon the award may be entered and  execution  had or
                  application may be made for a judicial acceptance of the award
                  and an order of enforcement,  as the case may be, in any court
                  located in Bernalillo County, New Mexico.

         (vi)     The  arbitration  may  proceed in the absence of a party that,
                  after due notice,  fails to be present.  An award shall not be
                  made  solely on the  default of a party,  but the Board  shall
                  require  the party that is present  to submit  such  available
                  evidence as may be  reasonably  required  for the making of an
                  award.

         (vii)    The parties  shall share  equally the cost of the  arbitration
                  proceedings,   including   the  fees  and   expenses   of  the
                  arbitrators  and the  cost of the  stenographic  record.  Each
                  arbitrator  shall be paid an identical  flat fee,  which shall
                  not vary,  irrespective  of the length of service or number of
                  hearings,  and  neither  the AAA nor the Board  shall have any
                  authority  to  authorize  the  payment  of a fee on any  other
                  basis.

         (viii)   All aspects of the arbitration shall be confidential,  and the
                  parties and arbitrators shall maintain the  confidentiality of
                  all information related to the proceedings,  including but not
                  limited to documents  exchanged by the parties,  testimony and
                  other evidence,  briefs and the award,  and shall not disclose
                  the same to any third party.  Upon the motion of either party,
                  and for good cause  shown,  the Board may make any order which
                  justice  requires  to protect a party from the  disclosure  of
                  proprietary,  privileged or confidential business information,
                  including (1) that  hearings be conducted  with no one present
                  except persons designated by the Board, and (2) that exhibits,
                  other  documents  filed with the Board or  transcripts  of the
                  hearing be sealed and not be disclosed  except as specified by
                  the Board.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, each party shall be
                  entitled to disclose such  information  (i) to its affiliates,


                                       21


                  attorneys,   financial   or  lending   institutions,   outside
                  auditors,  insurers,  and entities  involved in negotiation or
                  bidding for the  acquisition of a party,  its stock or assets,
                  provided  that the person or entity to which such  information
                  is disclosed is obligated to hold it confidential, (ii) as may
                  be required by law or by regulation  or order of  Governmental
                  Authority or by the rules of any stock exchange  applicable to
                  such party or its  affiliates,  or as part of any party's good
                  faith attempt to comply with disclosure  obligations under any
                  of the same,  (iii) as Seller or Buyer may deem  necessary  or
                  desirable  to  disclose  to  the  NMPRC,  the  FERC  or  other
                  regulatory  body, and (iv) as may be necessary or desirable to
                  enforce such party's rights hereunder.

         (ix)     The Board shall not distribute the stenographic  record of the
                  proceedings  to  the  parties  unless  an  action  as  may  be
                  permitted   under  the  Rules  and  the  New  Mexico   Uniform
                  Arbitration Act  challenging  the  arbitration  proceedings is
                  filed no later than sixty (60) days  following the issuance of
                  the award.  If no such action is timely  filed,  all copies of
                  the stenographic record shall be destroyed.

         (x)      ANY CHALLENGE TO ANY REQUEST FOR  ARBITRATION  OR  ARBITRATION
                  PROCEEDING  HEREUNDER  SHALL BE  LITIGATED,  IF AT ALL, IN AND
                  BEFORE A STATE OR FEDERAL COURT LOCATED IN BERNALILLO  COUNTY,
                  NEW MEXICO,  TO THE EXCLUSION OF THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER STATE
                  OR COUNTY.

         (xi)     Any  obligation  to  arbitrate  which is  established  by this
                  Section shall survive any  termination  of this  Agreement for
                  the notice period  stipulated in Section 13.3(ii)  hereof,  it
                  being  understood  and agreed  between  the  parties  that any
                  dispute,  controversy  or claim  arising  out of or related to
                  this Agreement,  or the breach  thereof,  that is not notified
                  within such time-frame shall be deemed conclusively waived.

         13.4  Consents  Not  Obtained.  To the extent  that Seller is unable to
obtain a third party consent to transfer any lease,  Contract or other  interest
constituting a part of the Assets and consequently does not assign,  transfer or
sublease  such  Assets  to Buyer,  Seller  shall,  at  Buyer's  written  request
delivered within a reasonable time after Closing,  use its reasonable efforts to
make all benefits of such non-assigned  interests available to Buyer without any
administrative  cost to Buyer,  but shall not be  obligated to incur any cost or
expense  after the Closing Date with respect to such Assets,  all of which shall
be for the account of Buyer.

         13.5 Navopache  Arrangement.  The parties  recognize that the Navopache
Assets are to be  transferred to Buyer as a result of the selection by Navopache
Electric  Cooperative,  Inc.  ("Navopache") of Buyer as its power supplier.  The
parties also  recognize  that it will be necessary for the RUS to release Plains
from its All-Requirements  Contract with Navopache,  and that Navopache likewise
will need to be released by all  necessary  parties  from such  All-Requirements
Contract.  The parties also recognize that it will be necessary for transmission
agreements  identified  on Exhibit  1.1 (vii) to be  assigned  to Buyer and that
other  transmission  arrangements  will  need  to  be  made  between  Buyer  and
Navopache. Finally, the parties recognize that it will also be necessary for the
FERC to approve the new power supply  contract  between Buyer and Navopache.  In
order to make  provision  for the  supply of power to  Navopache  following  the
effective  date  of  the  Merger  in  the  event  that  all  conditions  to  the
effectiveness  of the new power supply contract between Buyer and Navopache have
not been satisfied on or prior to the effective date of the Merger,  and to make
other  transition  arrangements,  the parties  agree to enter into the Navopache
Transition Agreement identified on Exhibit 4.2 attached hereto.


                                       22


         13.6 Headquarters  Building.  Buyer shall, if required by Seller, lease
the  Headquarters  Facility to Seller for a period not exceeding sixty (60) days
after the Closing Date, at a nominal fee of Thirty Dollars  ($30.00) per day. In
addition,  Seller  shall  have the right to occupy  mutually-agreed  upon  space
within the Headquarters  Facility for as long as reasonably  required to operate
the electrical  power system and relocate the computers and Supervisory  Control
and Data Acquisition system in a safe and orderly manner. Moreover, Seller shall
have the right to use the outlying  buildings and facilities at the Headquarters
Facility  for a period of 150 days after the Closing  Date until the  operations
and  maintenance  functions  can  be  relocated.   Buyer's  wholesale  marketing
department  will occupy the control center  facilities no later than thirty (30)
days after the Closing Date.

         13.7  Rights-of-Way  Renewals.  Notwithstanding  Section  13.4  hereof,
Seller  will  promptly  reimburse  Buyer  for fifty  percent  (50%) of the costs
incurred by Buyer to obtain the renewal (for a period not to extend beyond 2020)
of  any  rights-of-way  on  the  West  Mesa-Belen   transmission  line  and  the
Ojo-Hernandez-Norton-Algodones-West  Mesa 115-kV  transmission path. Buyer shall
at  all  times  keep  Seller  fully  apprised  of  the  status  of  the  renewal
negotiations and shall consult with Seller with respect to such negotiations. In
return for its  reimbursement  with  respect to the Ojo-West  Mesa  transmission
path, Seller and Buyer agree to use good faith efforts to negotiate an equitable
credit for Seller against Seller's network service charges from Buyer, with such
credit to be agreed  before any request for  reimbursement  with respect to such
path is  made.  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing:  (i) with  respect  to the West
Mesa-Belen  rights-of-way,  any  reimbursements  by Seller  shall be returned to
Seller to the extent Buyer places these costs in its filed transmission  tariff;
and (ii) with respect to the Ojo-West Mesa  rights-of-way,  Buyer shall have the
right, at its sole  discretion,  to fund more than its fifty percent (50%) share
of the costs of the  right-of-way  renewals,  thereby  reducing  or  eliminating
Seller's credit.


                                       23



                                  ARTICLE XIV.
                                  MISCELLANEOUS
                                  -------------

         14.1 Notices.  Any notice or approval  required or permitted under this
Agreement shall be in writing and shall be sent by registered or certified mail,
postage  prepaid,  or by  facsimile,  to the  following  address or to any other
address designated by prior written notice:

         If to Buyer:

         Public Service Company of New Mexico
         Alvarado Square
         Albuquerque, NM 87158
         Facsimile:  (505) 241-4311
         Attention:  Secretary

         If to Seller:
         Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc.
         P.O. Box 33695
         Denver, CO 80233
         Facsimile:  (303) 254-6007
         Attention:  General Manager

         14.2 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed in all respects by
the laws of the State of New Mexico, excluding its conflict of laws rules.

         14.3  Modification/Waiver.  This Agreement may not be amended, modified
or waived  except by a writing  signed by an authorized  representative  of each
party and may not be amended  except as approved by the RUS. No waiver of or any
failure or omission to enforce any  provision of this  Agreement or any claim or
right arising hereunder shall be deemed to be a waiver of any other provision of
this Agreement or any other claim or right arising hereunder.

         14.4  Assignment.  Neither  party may  assign,  delegate  or  otherwise
transfer its rights, obligations or other interest in this Agreement without the
prior written  consent of both the other party (which consent may be withheld at
such other party's sole discretion) and the RUS.

         14.5 No Brokers.  Seller  represents  and warrants to Buyer that Seller
has not directly or indirectly employed any broker or finder to whom Buyer shall
have any  liability  in  connection  with  this  Agreement  or the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement; and Buyer represents and warrants to Seller that
Buyer has not  directly  or  indirectly  employed  any  broker or finder to whom
Seller  shall  have any  liability  in  connection  with this  Agreement  or the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

         14.6 Public  Announcements.  Prior to the Closing Date,  neither Seller
nor Buyer shall make written  announcements or other written public  disclosures
or issue  press  releases  relating  to the  content  of this  Agreement  or the
transactions contemplated hereby without the prior written approval of the other
party to this  Agreement  to the form and content of the release or  disclosure,


                                       24



which  approval  shall  not  be  unreasonably   withheld.   Notwithstanding  the
foregoing,  each party shall be entitled to disclose  such  information  without
limitation  (i) to its  affiliates,  members,  attorneys,  financial  or lending
institutions,  outside auditors and insurers,  (ii) as may be required by law or
by  regulation or order of  Governmental  Authority or by the rules of any stock
exchange applicable to such party or its affiliates,  or as part of such party's
good faith attempt to comply with disclosure  obligations under any of the same,
(iii) as each party may deem  necessary or  desirable to disclose in  connection
with obtaining regulatory approvals, (iv) to the extent necessary for such party
to obtain  third-party  consents,  and (v) as may be  necessary  or desirable to
enforce such party's rights hereunder.

         14.7  Severability.  If any  provision  of this  Agreement  is declared
illegal,  invalid or otherwise  unenforceable,  such  provision  shall be deemed
severed,  with the remaining provisions of this Agreement being deemed to remain
in full force and effect.

         14.8  Paragraph  Headings.  Article and paragraph  headings  herein are
intended  for  convenience  of reference  only,  and shall not in any way limit,
define,  amplify  or  otherwise  affect the  interpretation  of any term of this
Agreement.

         14.9  Counterparts.  This  Agreement  may be  executed in any number of
counterparts, all of which taken together shall constitute one agreement binding
on each of the parties.

         14.10  Entire  Agreement.  Except  for  the  Confidentiality  Agreement
referred  to in  Section  12.2,  this  Agreement  (including  the  Exhibits  and
Schedules  attached  hereto and  referred to herein)  constitutes  the  complete
agreement  between the parties  relating to the subject matter of this Agreement
and supersedes all prior understandings or arrangements between them relating to
the subject matter hereof.


                                       25




         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  parties  have caused  this  Agreement  to be
executed as of the day and year first above written.


PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY
OF NEW MEXICO

By:  ________________________
Its: ________________________


TRI-STATE GENERATION AND
TRANSMISSION ASSOCIATION, INC.

By:  ________________________
Its: ________________________



                                       26



STATE OF NEW MEXICO  ) ss
                     ) ss
COUNTY OF BERNALILLO ) ss

         This instrument was  acknowledged  before me on  _____________________,
1999 by ________________,  as  ____________________ of PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF
NEW MEXICO, a New Mexico corporation, on behalf of the corporation.



                               Notary Public in and for the State of New Mexico

                               My Commission expires: ___________________




STATE OF COLORADO ) ss
                  ) ss
COUNTY OF         ) ss

         This instrument was acknowledged  before me on ______________,  1999 by
_______________,   as   _____________________   of  TRI-STATE   GENERATION   AND
TRANSMISSION ASSOCIATION, INC., a Colorado cooperative association, on behalf of
the cooperative association.



                               Notary Public in and for the State of Colorado

                               My Commission expires: ___________________




                                       27





Exhibits

Exhibit 1.1(i) - Generating Assets
Exhibit 1.1(ii) - Transmission Assets
Exhibit 1.1(iii) -  Substations
Exhibit 1.1(iv) -  Telecommunications  Assets
Exhibit 1.1(v) -  Headquarters  Facility
Exhibit 1.1(vi) - Personal  Property
Exhibit 1.1(vii) - Contracts
Exhibit 1.1(ix) - Navopache Assets
Exhibit 2.1 -  Methodology  to Adjust  Purchase  Price
Exhibit 4.2 - Operations Agreements
Exhibit  5.1(xvii) - Existing  Arrangements
Exhibit  10.1(i)(c)-1 - Certificate  of Officer  (Incumbency)
Exhibit  10.1(i)(c)-2  -  Certificate  of Officer (Bring-Down)







                                 EXHIBIT 1.1(i)
                                 --------------

                                GENERATING ASSETS

         A fifty percent (50%)  undivided  interest in the Algodones  Generating
Station  (the  "Station")  and all  related  common  facilities  (FASA  310.010,
311.000, 312.100, 312.200, 312.300, 312.400, 314.100, 314.200, 314.300, 314.400,
315.200,  315.300,  315.400, 315.500, 316.00), subject to an option agreement as
hereinafter described.

         Seller will have the right to acquire a 5 acre tract of unimproved real
property  at the  Station,  the  specific  boundaries  of which will be mutually
agreed by the  parties.  Seller's  acquisition  of such  tract  would be for the
purposes of  constructing  operations and  maintenance  facilities and for other
purposes  ancillary  thereto.  Surveying  of such 5 acre  tract  shall be at the
expense of Seller. Consideration to Buyer for the exercise of the option will be
$60,000,  escalated  from the Closing Date in  accordance  with the GDP Implicit
Price  Deflator.  The  option  will  expire at the time  either  party,  or both
parties,  elect to develop the Station for its intended original purposes, or if
the  parties  agree to sell the  site.  The  initial  determination  of the site
location  will  be  shown  in the  Algodones  Generating  Station  Participation
Agreement.  The  parties  will  enter  into an option  agreement  embodying  the
foregoing and other customary terms and conditions.







                                 EXHIBIT 1.1(ii)
                                 ---------------

                               TRANSMISSION ASSETS


                                                                       Undivided
                                                                       Interest
Transmission Asset                                                     To Buyer
- ------------------                                                     ---------

Poles and Fixtures
- ------------------

 1.  Albuquerque (West Mesa) - Algodones (FASA 355.030)                   100%
 2.  Algodones - Espanola (Hernandez) (FASA 355.040)                      100%
 3.  Ojo - Espanola (Hernandez) (FASA 355.150)                            100%

 4.  Albuquerque (West Mesa) - Grants (FASA 355.010)                      100%
 5.  Grants - Bluewater portion of Grants - Gallup (15.54% of
       FASA 355.020)                                                      100%
 6.  Bluewater - Ambrosia (FASA 355.100)                                  100%

 7.  Algodones - Moriarty (FASA 355.110)                                  100%
 8.  Moriarty - Willard (FASA 355.120)                                    100%
 9.  Belen - Willard (FASA 355.240)                                       100%

10.  Albuquerque (West Mesa) - Belen portion of Albuquerque
       (West Mesa) - Socorro (46.71% of FASA 355.190)                     100%


Overhead Conductor and Devices

 1.  Albuquerque (West Mesa) - Algodones (FASA 356.030)                   100%
 2.  Algodones - Espanola (Hernandez) (FASA 356.040)                      100%
 3.  Ojo - Espanola (Hernandez) (FASA 356.150)                            100%

 4.  Albuquerque (West Mesa) - Grants (FASA 356.010)                      100%
 5.  Grants - Bluewater portion of Grants - Gallup (15.54% of
       FASA 356.020)                                                      100%
 6.  Bluewater - Ambrosia (FASA 356.100)                                  100%

 7.  Algodones - Moriarty (FASA 356.110)                                  100%
 8.  Moriarty - Willard (FASA 356.120)                                    100%
 9.  Belen - Willard (FASA 356.240)                                       100%

10.  Albuquerque (West Mesa) - Belen portion of Albuquerque (West Mesa)   100%
          - Socorro (46.71% of FASA 356.190)



                                EXHIBIT 1.1(iii)

                                   SUBSTATIONS


                                                                      Undivided
                                                                      Interest
Substation Assets                                                     To Buyer
- -----------------                                                     --------

Station Equipment
- -----------------

1.  Albuquerque (West Mesa) - A&B Bays (FASA 353.010)                   100%

2.  Albuquerque (West Mesa) - C Bay (FASA 353.030)                      100%

3.  Albuquerque (West Mesa) - D Bay (FASA 353.040)                      100%

4.  Algodones Switching Station (FASA 353.080)                          100%

5.  Belen Switching Station (FASA 353.100)                              100%

6.  Ojo Switching Station (345-kV, 115-kV, and Autotransformer)         100%
      (FASA 353.130)

7.  Rio Rancho Switching Station (Palm Station) (FASA 353.120)          100%

8.  Rio Rancho Tap (FASA 353.160)                                       100%






                                 EXHIBIT 1.1(iv)

                            TELECOMMUNICATION ASSETS


                                                                  Undivided
                                                                  Interest
    Telecommunications Assets with Real Property Interests        To Buyer
    ------------------------------------------------------        ---------

1.  Sandia Crest Communications Site (FASA 397.030)            50% of building
                                                               33% of the tower

2.  Albuquerque (West Mesa) Communications Site (FASA 397.020)       100%

3.  Belen Communications Site (FASA - To Be Determined)              100%


    Telecommunications Equipment Without Real Property Interests
    ------------------------------------------------------------

1.  The Belen Switch radio  terminal and associated  antenna,  transmission
    line  and  ancillary   equipment   located  at  the  Socorro   Mountain
    Communications Site (10% of FASA 397.150) (real property not included).

2.  The Crockett radio terminal and associated  antenna,  transmission line
    and ancillary equipment located at the La Mosca Communications Site (9%
    of FASA 397.050) (real property not included).




                                 EXHIBIT 1.1(v)
                                 --------------

                              HEADQUARTERS FACILITY

All of Seller's  right,  title and interest in and to the real property on which
the headquarters  facility (at 2401 Aztec Road N.E.,  Albuquerque,  NM 87107) is
located,  together with the  Headquarters  Facility and all other  buildings and
improvements located thereon (FASA 390.000 and 389.010).







                                 EXHIBIT 1.1(vi)
                                 ---------------

                                PERSONAL PROPERTY

1.  Office  Furniture,  Equipment  and other  Personal  Property - FASA 391.010,
    391.020, 391.030, 393.000.

2.  Spare parts,  materials and supplies located at the substations and critical
    spare  parts,   materials  and  supplies   associated   with  the  purchased
    transmission  assets. An inventory of these items will be mutually conducted
    by Buyer and Seller and mutual price agreed upon.





                                EXHIBIT 1.1(vii)
                                ----------------

                                    CONTRACTS


1.   Power  Coordination  Agreement  dated April 23,  1980,  between  Plains and
     Arizona Public Service Company, as amended, including service schedules.

2.   Interconnection and Wheeling Agreement dated April 23, 1980, between Plains
     and Salt River Project  Agricultural  Improvement  and Power  District,  as
     amended.

3.   Service and supply contracts  supporting the operations of the Headquarters
     Facility,  to the extent  Buyer  chooses to assume the same.  (Seller  will
     supply a list of such contracts promptly after the Signing Date).








                                 EXHIBIT 1.1(ix)

                                NAVOPACHE ASSETS

                                                              Undivided Interest
         Asset                                                    to Buyer
         -----                                                ------------------

Substation Equipment
- --------------------

1.  Coronado (FASA 362.380 and 25% of FASA 303.100)                  100%

2.  Showlow (FASA 362.400 and FASA 303.200)                          100%

3.  Linden                                                           100%

4.  Zeniff                                                           100%


Telecommunications Facilities
- -----------------------------

1.  Crockett Communications Site (FASA 397.310)                      100%

2.  Greens Peak Communications Equipment (FASA 397.300)              100%

3.  Coronado Communications Equipment (included in Substation        100%
     Account 362.380.0011)

4.  Linden Communications Site (FASA 397.440)                        100%

5.  Showlow Communications Site (FASA 397.290)                       100%

6.  Zeniff Communications Site (FASA 397.450)                        100%




                                   EXHIBIT 2.1

                      METHODOLOGY TO ADJUST PURCHASE PRICE

The following  methodology  will be used to adjust the Purchase  Price from that
stated  in  Section  2.1,   which  is  based  on  December  31,  1997  financial
information.  Reasonable supporting  documentation will be provided by Seller to
allow substantiation of such adjustments by Buyer.

     1.    Transmission    and     Telecommunication     Assets    other    than
     Ojo-Hernadez-Norton-Algodones-West  Mesa 115kv line  facilities,  Algodones
     and West Mesa Station  facilities.  (Relates to the following FASA or share
     of  FASA as  appropriate:  355.010,  355.020,  355.100,  355.110,  355,120,
     355.240,  355.190,  356.010,  356.020,  356.100, 356.110, 356.120, 356.240,
     356.190,  353.100,  353.130,  353.120,  353.160, 397.030, 397.020, 397.150,
     397.050.):

                  12/31/97 Value per Plains account and records ..........
                  Additions (Itemized) ...................................
                  Reductions (itemized) ..................................
                  Value as of the Closing Date ...........................

     2. Other  Assets other than  Algodones  (Relates to the  following  FASA or
     share of FASA as appropriate:  390.000, 389.010, 391.010, 391.020, 391.030,
     393.000.):

                  12/31/97 Value per Plains account and records ..........
                  Additions (Itemized) ...................................
                  Reductions (itemized) ..................................
                  Value as of the Closing Date ...........................

      3.   Ojo-Hernandez-Norton-Algodones-West   Mesa  115kv  line   facilities,
      Algodones and West Mesa Switching Facilities.

                  Ojo-Hernandez-Norton-Algodones-West Mesa 115kv line,
                  poles and conductors-12/31/97  value (FASA 355.030,
                  355.040, 355.150, 356.030, 356.040, 356.150)............

                  Algodones Switching Station
                  ---------------------------

                  1/2 of Algodones Switching Station- (FASA 353.080)
                    12/31/97 value .......................................

                  1/2 of Algodones Switching Station- (FASA 353.080)
                  12/31/97 Value per Plains account and records ..........
                  1/2 Additions (Itemized) ...............................
                  1/2 Reductions (itemized) ..............................
                  Value as of the Closing Date ...........................

                  Total Algodones Switching Station.......................





                  West Mesa Switching Station
                  ---------------------------

                  West Mesa ( A and B ) Facility (FASA  353.010)-
                    12/31/97  value .....................................

                  West Mesa C and D Station Facilities- (FASA
                    353.030, 353.040)
                  12/31/97 Value per Plains account and records .........
                  Additions (Itemized) ..................................
                  Reductions (itemized) .................................
                  Value as of the Closing Date ..........................

                  Total West Mesa Switching  Station.....................

     4.  Algodones Generation Facilities
                  (FASA 310.010,  311.000,  312.100,  312.200,
                  312.300, 314.100, 315.200, 315.300, 315.400,315.500,
                  316.000) 12/31/97 value)...............................

     5.  Premium
                  Algodones:..................................... $860,000.00
                  Transmission:.................................$4,337,653.00

     6. Navopache Assets other than FASA 303.100
                  12/31/97 Value per Plains account and records .........
                  Additions (Itemized) ..................................
                  Reductions (Itemized) .................................
                  Value as of the Closing Date ..........................

     7.  Navopache Assets  FASA 303.100

                  12/31/97 Value per Plains account and records .........
                  Additions (Itemized) ..................................
                  Reductions (Itemized) .................................
                  Value as of the Closing Date ..........................
                  PNM payment = 25% Value as of Closing Date.............





                                   EXHIBIT 4.2
                                   -----------

                              OPERATIONS AGREEMENTS


1.    Algodones Participation Agreement
      ---------------------------------

Under the  provisions  of this  contract,  Buyer will  operate and  maintain the
Algodones  Generating  Station that is jointly  owned by Seller and Buyer and is
currently an idle plant. This contract will cover the power plant only.

2.    Marketing Agreement (and Related Transmission Arrangements)
      -----------------------------------------------------------

This contract will describe the arrangements for Buyer's marketing of power from
Seller's PEGS and San Juan Generating  Station  entitlement  which is surplus to
the needs of Seller's member cooperatives. Seller will make a request to PNM for
point-to-point transmission service between PEGS and Four Corners within 30 days
of Signing Date.

3.    Seller Power Sales Agreement
      ----------------------------

This  contract  will define the terms and  conditions of a 50-MW firm power sale
from Seller to Buyer that is part of the modified joint offer between Seller and
Buyer.  This contract will be effective by the time Buyer  commences power sales
to Navopache.

4.    Telecommunications Sharing Agreement
      ------------------------------------

Seller and Buyer will share  communications  facilities  and channels under this
agreement. The agreement will assign maintenance and replacement  responsibility
for shared facilities.

5.    Network Integration  Transmission  Service (Network Service) Agreement
      ----------------------------------------------------------------------
      and associated  specification sheets (Buyer Service for Seller)
      ------------------------------------

Network  service will be provided by Buyer to Seller  under  Buyer's Open Access
Transmission Tariff that will provide transmission service for Seller loads that
are served on or through Buyer's transmission system.

6.    Navopache Transition Agreement
      ------------------------------

This contract among Seller, Buyer,  Navopache and Plains will provide transition
arrangements, including the arrangements and conditions for service to Navopache
in the event FERC  approval  or  acceptance  for filing for  Buyer's  service to
Navopache has not been obtained, or other conditions have not been satisfied, by
the time of the Merger closing.  This contract will be effective upon the Merger
closing.






7.    Joint Transmission Planning and Development Agreement
      -----------------------------------------------------

This  agreement  will  provide for joint  planning  and  development  activities
between  Seller and Buyer in the former Plains  service area. The agreement will
include  provisions  for first  right of refusal in  facility  improvements  and
rights to interconnect.


8.    Transmission Service Agreement (Seller Service for Buyer)
      ------------------------------

This contract will be a bilateral  transmission  service  contract that provides
for the use of Seller's system to serve isolated Buyer load that is connected to
the Seller system.

9.    Network Operating Agreement
      ---------------------------

This  agreement will set forth terms and conditions to be employed by Seller and
Buyer to coordinate the Buyer and Seller system operations.

10.    Bus License Agreement
       ---------------------

This  license   agreement  will  provide  Buyer  with  rights  through  Seller's
substations where  transmission lines acquired by Buyer are attached to Seller's
substations. Additionally, Buyer will provide Seller with rights through Buyer's
Mimbres Substation.

11.   Algodones Five Acre Option Agreement
      ------------------------------------

This agreement  will include the terms for Seller's  option to purchase a 5 acre
tract at the Algodones Generating Station as described on Exhibit 1.1(i).







                                                           EXHIBIT 5.1(xvii)
                                                           -----------------

                                                         EXISTING ARRANGEMENTS


                          Description                                                       Disposition
                          -----------                                                       -----------

                                                               
   1.   Plains/PNM Interconnection Agreement                      Tri-State will assume this agreement as the successor to Plains.

   2.   Memorandum (Coordination Agreement)                       Terminate.  Incorporate planning coordination provisions into new
                                                                  Tri-State/PNM Network Operating Agreement
   3.   Service Schedule A (Wheeling Service for Smith Lake       Terminate.  Tri-State to provide PNM service under a bilateral
        and Wingate)                                              agreement.  PNM to provide Wingate) service to Tri-State under
                                                                  the PNM OATT.
   4.   Service Schedule C. (Wheeling Service for Rio Rancho,     Terminate.  Each party has agreed in principle that no credit or
        Gulf, and Mimbres)                                        compensation is due.
   5.   Letter Agreement - 8/7/91 (NNMI/SNMI Operating            Terminate.  Agreement is no longer effective.
        Relationship)
   6.   Service Schedule E  (Reciprocal Use Facilities and        Terminate.  Each party has agreed that no credit or compensation
        Balance of Benefits)                                      is due.
   7.   Ambrosia Switchyard Expansion - 7/8/82                    Terminate.
   8.   Service Schedule F (Economy Energy Interchange and WSPP)  Terminate.  Incorporate provisions in new Tri-State/PNM
                                                                  Marketing Agreement.
   9.   Service Schedule G (Master Transmission Agreement)        Terminate.  Tri-State to receive network service from PNM.

   10.  Letter Agreement - 7/19/1994 (Temporary Scheduling        Termination occurs when network service begins.
        Arrangements)
   11.  Service Schedule H (Reciprocal Wheeling Service)          Terminate.  Tri-State to develop bi-lateral transmission agreement
                                                                  for PNM and Tri-State to receive service from PNM under Tariff.
   12.  Service Schedule J (Hazard Sharing)                       Tri-State to assume as the successor to Plains.
   13.  Mutual Emergency  Transmission  Assistance                Tri-State to assume as the successor to Plains.
        Agreement (1971)
   14.  Service Schedule K (Clayton Transmission Service)         Terminate. Tri-State to develop bi-lateral transmission
                                                                  agreement for PNM.
   15.   Letter of Understanding, Clapham Substation              Terminate.
   16.   Transmission Service Agreement to Rowe                   Terminate.  Include Rowe as a Point of Delivery.
   17.   Agreement to Wheel Power (San Juan to Ojo)               Terminate.  Include Ojo as a Point of Delivery.






                          Description                                                       Disposition
                          -----------                                                       -----------
                                                               
   18.   Ojo 345/115-kV Transformer Losses                        Terminate.
   19.   Assistance in PNM Rebuild Alternative                    Terminate.  No longer in force or effect.
   20.   Northern Transmission Project - 3/23/1990                Terminate.  No longer in force or effect.
   21.   Norton Switching Station Agreement - 12/13/1972          Terminate.  PNM will own the former Plains transmission lines.
   22.   Letter Agreement - West Mesa Transformer Operations      Terminate.  Operating limits of West Mesa Transformer to be
                                                                  handled through Network Operating Agreement.
   23.   Miscellaneous Operating Procedures, E&O Letter           Incorporate into the PNM/Tri-State  Network  Operating  Agreement.
         Agreements, and System Operating Limits                  Terminate only those no longer applicable.
   24.   Natural Gas Sales Agreement - Escalante  Plant           Tri-State to assume as the successor to Plains.
         (Contract No. GS 20257)
   25.   Contract of Sale - 4/4/79                                Terminate.






                              EXHIBIT 10.1(i)(c)-1
                              --------------------

                             CERTIFICATE OF OFFICER
                                  (INCUMBENCY)

         I, _________________________________, hereby certify to, as follows:

         1. I am the Secretary of _____________________ organized and existing
under the laws of the State of _____________________ (this "Corporation").

         2. The [Articles]  [Certificate]  of  Incorporation  attached hereto as
Attachment 1 and the Bylaws attached  hereto as Attachment 2 are,  respectively,
true,   complete  and  correct  copies  of  the  [Articles]   [Certificate]   of
Incorporation and Bylaws of this Corporation which [Articles]  [Certificate] and
Bylaws this  Corporation  has duly  adopted and are  presently in full force and
effect.

         3. Attached hereto as Attachment 3 is a true, complete and correct copy
of  Resolutions  which  the  Board of  Directors  of this  Corporation  has duly
adopted, and said Resolutions are now in full force and effect.

         4. The Board of Directors of this  Corporation  has, and at the time it
adopted the Resolutions described in Paragraph 3 above had full power and lawful
authority to adopt such  Resolutions and to confer the powers therein granted to
the persons named therein or referred to therein by title, and such persons have
full power and authority to exercise the same.  The signatures  appearing  below
are the true,  authentic and official  signatures of the persons  referred to in
such Resolutions:

          Name                   Title                 Sample Signature
          ----                   -----                 ----------------


_______________________  ________________________  _________________________


_______________________  ________________________  _________________________


         5. The Resolutions referred to in Paragraph 3 are effective and binding
on this Corporation without approval of its [members] [shareholders].

Dated as of ________________, 1999.



By: ____________________________

    ____________________________, Secretary





                              EXHIBIT 10.1(i)(c)-2
                              --------------------

                             CERTIFICATE OF OFFICER
                                  (BRING-DOWN)

         I, _______________________, hereby certify to ____________________, as
follows:

         1. I am the Secretary of _______________________, a ___________________
organized  and existing  under the laws of the State of _______________ (this
"Corporation").

         2. Except as set forth on the attached  Disclosure  Schedule  (updated,
subject to the limitations in Section 9.1 or 9.2 (as applicable) relating to the
Disclosure  Schedules,  through the date hereof), all of the representations and
warranties of this  Corporation set forth in Section of the Asset Sale Agreement
between  this  Corporation  and  _________________________________  dated  as of
________________, 1999 (the "Asset Sale Agreement"), are correct and complete in
all  material  respects  on and as of the date hereof as though made on the date
hereof.

         3. This  Corporation  [and Plains Electric  Generation and Transmission
Cooperative, Inc. ("Plains")] [has] [have] performed and complied with all other
agreements and  conditions  required by the Asset Sale Agreement to be performed
by and  complied  with by this  Corporation  [and  Plains] on or before the date
hereof.

Dated as of _________________, 1999.


______________________________________________




By: ____________________________

    ____________________________, Secretary