<ARTICLE>                                           UT
<CIK>                                               0000741612
<NAME>                                              TNP Enterprises, Inc.

<MULTIPLIER>                                   1000

                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  3-Mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAR-31-1999
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<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         (10,166)
<EPS-BASIC>                                  0.23
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