<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000741612
<NAME> TNP ENTERPRISES, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
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<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      9,006
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<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  22,271
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,020,252
<COMMON>                                       196,686
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
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<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 331,431
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                      1,844
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           341,222
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  100,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 245,755
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,020,252
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      190,570
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             8,340
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     156,619
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     164,959
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         25,611
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 426
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  26,037
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        10,990
<NET-INCOME>                                    15,047
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         25
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   15,022
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        11,704
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        9,298
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          64,730
<EPS-BASIC>                                       1.12
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.12