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PNM Resources Posts Higher Earnings

Highlights

• Third quarter diluted GAAP earnings per share of $0.45, up $0.18; ongoing diluted earnings per share were up 2.3 percent from the third quarter 2003.
• Year-to-date ongoing diluted earnings per share were up 3.7 percent to $1.13.
• Refinancing activities drove down interest expense in the quarter and full year results.
• San Juan plant operating performance continues to be favorable.
• Coal costs continue to decline in the third quarter and year-to-date 2004 results.
• Strong retail electric and gas customer growth and wholesale long-term contracts drove increases in revenues.
• PNM continued to control operating costs in the third quarter of 2004.
• Cooler weather experienced in the third quarter 2004 dampened retail and wholesale margins.

PNM Resources (NYSE: PNM) today reported consolidated GAAP earnings of $27.4 million, or $0.45 per diluted share, for the three months ended September 30, 2004, compared to net earnings of $16.6 million, or $0.27 per diluted share, in the third quarter 2003.

Non-recurring items

There were no one-time items reported in the latest quarter of 2004. The third quarter of 2003 included a one-time charge of $0.17 per diluted share associated with the early retirement of debt. Ongoing earnings for the third quarter 2004 were $0.45 per diluted share, compared to $0.44 per diluted share in the same period last year.

There were no one-time gains or charges recorded in the first nine months of 2004. In the first nine months of 2003 the company reported a non-cash gain (net of tax) of $37.4 million or $0.62 per diluted share, and one-time charges of $0.35 per diluted share, increasing earnings by $0.27 per diluted share.

Reconciliation of GAAP reported to ongoing
earnings per share September 30, 2004

Quarter performance summary

Consolidated gross margin (operating revenues less cost of energy) for the quarter decreased $10.7 million, or 6.3 percent, from the comparable period last year. The reduction in gross margin for the third quarter 2004 was offset by improved operating costs and lower interest charges.

Retail electric, gas, and transmission gross margin decreased $6.7 million, from $143.7 million in the third quarter 2003 to $137.0 million in the latest quarter. The reduction in utility gross margin for the third quarter 2004 was primarily due to the electric rate decrease implemented in September 2003 and to decreased sales volumes caused by cooler weather, as cooling degree days declined over 28 percent quarter-over-quarter. However, weather adjusted electric load growth remains strong at 4 percent for the quarter. In addition, improved cost performance at the San Juan plant partially offset the decrease in margin.

Wholesale electric gross margin decreased $4.2 million for the current quarter due to cooler weather that reduced demand, a non-recurring settlement with a transmission provider of $2.2 million, and slightly higher purchased power costs associated with higher gas costs. Average short-term power prices fell 3.5 percent quarter-over-quarter to $47.75. Revenues associated with the addition of long-term power purchases largely offset these reductions in margin.

YTD performance summary

Consolidated gross margin for the nine months to date was $490.8 million. This is a decrease of $6.6 million, or 1.3 percent from the comparable period in 2003. The decrease in margin was more than offset by improved operating costs, excluding higher plant maintenance cost associated with planned outages, and lower interest charges from refinancing activities executed in 2003.

Retail electric, gas, and transmission gross margin decreased by $1.6 million. This is the result of the electric rate reduction that took effect in September 2003 and cooler weather in the third quarter of 2004. Cooling degree-days decreased 21 percent over the ninth month period ending 2003. The decrease in margin was partially offset by the gas rate increase that went into effect in January of 2004, favorable San Juan plant operating performance, and reduced coal costs. Weather adjusted electric load growth of 4 percent and gas customer growth of 2 percent remained strong.

Wholesale gross margin decreased by $5.3 million for the nine months ending September 30, 2004. Cooler weather in the third quarter, unplanned outages at Palo Verde in the second quarter, and a non-recurring contract settlement contributed to the decrease. Increased long-term contract sales partially offset the decline in gross margin.

2004 earnings guidance

Based on results for the first nine months and its financial and operating forecasts for the remainder of the year, PNM Resources is narrowing its earnings guidance range for 2004. The company expects 2004 ongoing earnings (not including one-time gains and charges) will range between $1.35 and $1.45 per share.

PNM Resources is an energy holding company based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. PNM, the principal subsidiary of PNM Resources, serves about 460,000 natural gas customers and 405,000 electric customers in New Mexico. The company also sells power on the wholesale market in the Western U.S. PNM Resources stock is traded primarily on the NYSE under the symbol PNM.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
Statements made in this news release and documents we file with the SEC that relate to future events or our expectations, projections, estimates, intentions, goals, targets and strategies, both with respect to PNM Resources and with respect to the proposed acquisition of TNP Enterprises, are made pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You are cautioned that all forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations and estimates and we assume no obligation to update this information. Because actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, PNM Resources cautions you not to place undue reliance on these statements. Many factors could cause actual results to differ, and will affect our future financial condition, cash flow and operating results. These factors include, risks and uncertainties relating to the receipt of regulatory approvals of the proposed transaction, the risks that the businesses will not be integrated successfully, the risk that the benefits of the transaction will not be fully realized or will take longer to realize than expected, disruption from the transaction making it more difficult to maintain relationships with customers, employees, suppliers or other third parties, conditions in the financial markets relevant to the proposed transaction, interest rates, weather, fuel costs, risk management and commodity risk transactions, seasonality and other changes in supply and demand in the market for electric power, wholesale power prices, market liquidity, the competitive environment in the electric and natural gas industries, the performance of generating units and transmission system, state and federal regulatory and legislative decisions and actions, the outcome of legal proceedings, changes in applicable accounting principles and the performance of state, regional and national economies. For a detailed discussion of the important factors that affect PNM Resources and that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements, please see "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our current and future Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and our current and future Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC.

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