Southwest Gas 10-Q 2002 Q1 Quarterly report

EXHIBIT 12.1

SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION
COMPUTATION OF RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
(Thousands of dollars)

	For the Twelve Months Ended
	March 31,		December 31,
	2002		2001		2000		1999		1998		1997
1. Fixed charges:
A) Interest expense	$	78,933	$	80,139	$	70,659	$	63,110	$	63,416	$	63,247
B) Amortization		1,950		1,886		1,564		1,366		1,243		1,164
C) Interest portion of rentals		9,490		9,346		8,572		8,217		7,531		6,973
D) Preferred securities distributions		5,475		5,475		5,475		5,475		5,475		5,475
Total fixed charges	$	95,848	$	96,846	$	86,270	$	78,168	$	77,665	$	76,859
2. Earnings (as defined):
E) Pretax income from
continuing operations	$	71,958	$	56,741	$	51,939	$	60,955	$	83,951	$	21,328
Fixed Charges (1. above)		95,848		96,846		86,270		78,168		77,665		76,859
Total earnings as defined	$	167,806	$	153,587	$	138,209	$	139,123	$	161,616	$	98,187
		1.75		1.59		1.60		1.78		2.08		1.28