<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000741612
<NAME> TNP ENTERPRISES, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1000 
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      924,970
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      5,736
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<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        27,917
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,020,236
<COMMON>                                       186,983
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            117,204
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 304,187
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                      3,420
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           497,041
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                      100
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<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
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<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 215,488
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,020,236
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      461,981
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            15,444
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     372,111
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     387,555
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         74,426
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 957
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  75,383
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<NET-INCOME>                                    32,235
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        120
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   32,115
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         9,613
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       39,989
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          68,517
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.44
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.44