<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000741612
<NAME> TNP ENTERPRISES, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1995
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      944,636
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      1,159
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          87,439
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        46,639
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,079,873
<COMMON>                                       134,860
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             82,677
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 217,537
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            3,800
<PREFERRED>                                      3,780
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           616,588
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   31,870
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 206,298
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,079,873
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      378,470
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            11,548
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     289,631
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     301,179
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         77,291
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               9,983
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  87,274
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        56,736
<NET-INCOME>                                    38,983
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        520
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   38,463
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         6,537
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       54,227
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          65,858
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     3.53
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     3.53