<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000741612
<NAME> TNP ENTERPRISES, INC
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      921,248
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      5,344
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          39,099
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        27,119
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 992,810
<COMMON>                                       190,267
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            112,096
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 302,363
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                      3,240
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           374,436
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  130,100
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 182,671
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  992,810
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      125,399
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             2,366
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     105,045
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     107,411
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         17,988
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 198
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  18,186
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        13,561
<NET-INCOME>                                     4,625
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         38
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    4,587
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         3,569
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       12,498
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                        (10,963)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.35
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.35