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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1

                        CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" and to the
use of our report dated January 7, 1999, in Amendment No. 2 to the Registration
Statement (Form S-1 No. 333-71031) and related Prospectus of Nichols TXEN
Corporation for the registration of 2,625,000 shares of its common stock.


                                        /s/ Ernst & Young LLP


Birmingham, Alabama
June 18, 1999