<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE BALANCE
SHEET OF EL PASO ELECTRIC COMPANY AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND THE RELATED
STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND CASH FLOWS FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<PERIOD-TYPE> OTHER OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 FEB-12-1996<F1>
<PERIOD-END> FEB-11-1996 DEC-31-1996<F2>
<BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 0 1,500,556
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 0 0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 186,041
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 0 128,536
<OTHER-ASSETS> 0 31,057
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 0 1,846,190
<COMMON> 0 60,180
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 0 240,010
<RETAINED-EARNINGS> 0 31,067
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 0 331,257
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 108,426
<PREFERRED> 0 0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 0 1,021,749
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 0 0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0 0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 0 0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 0 0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0 24,424
<LEASES-CURRENT> 0 28,333
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 0 332,001
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 0 1,846,190
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 54,949 523,974
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> (3,450) 23,704
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 53,310 379,483
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 49,860 403,187
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 5,089 120,787
<OTHER-INCOME-NET> 15 7,298
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 5,104 128,085
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 9,157 86,166
<NET-INCOME> 382,471 41,919<F3>
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 0 10,488
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 382,471 31,431
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 0 0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 0 84,831
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 13,180 162,353
<EPS-PRIMARY> 10.76 0.52
<EPS-DILUTED> 0 0.52
<FN>
<F1>SEE NOTE A OF NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - "FRESH-START REPORTING."
<F2>SEE NOTE A OF NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - "FRESH-START REPORTING."
<F3>THE PERIOD FROM JANUARY 1, 1996 TO FEBRUARY 11, 1996, NET INCOME INCLUDES
REORGANIZATION ITEMS (EXPENSE), NET OF INCOME TAX BENEFIT (EXPENSE), OF 122,251
AND EXTRAORDINARY GAIN ON DISCHARGE OF DEBT OF 264,273.
</FN>