<TABLE> <S> <C>
<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE BALANCE
SHEET OF EL PASO ELECTRIC COMPANY AS OF JUNE 30, 2000 AND THE RELATED
STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND CASH FLOWS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2000 AND
IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 1,389,507
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 129,529
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 77,665
<OTHER-ASSETS> 14,032
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,610,733
<COMMON> 60,606
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 244,062
<RETAINED-EARNINGS> 169,202
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 419,937<F1>
0
0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 730,959
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 34,664
0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 25,437
<LEASES-CURRENT> 23,348
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 376,388
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 1,610,733
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 309,509
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 16,499
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 232,931
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 249,430
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 60,079
<OTHER-INCOME-NET> (794)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 59,285
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 35,561
<NET-INCOME> 23,175<F2>
0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 23,175
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 62,440
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 68,176
<EPS-BASIC> 0.423
<EPS-DILUTED> 0.417
<FN>
<F1>Includes ($53,933) related to 5,980,072 shares of treasury stock.
<F2>Net income is net of extraordinary loss on repurchased debt (net of income
tax benefit) of ($549).</FN>
</TABLE>
