Exhibit 5.1

                         BEST, BEST & KRIEGER
                         400 Mission Square
                         3750 University Avenue
                         Post Office Box 1028
                         Riverside, CA 92502-1028

                                        September 15, 1995



Nevada Power Company
6226 West Sahara Avenue
Las Vegas, NV 89102

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     At  your   request,  we   have  examined  the  form  of
Registration Statement, including the documents incorporated
therein by reference, to be filed by you with the Securities
and Exchange  Commission in connection with the registration
under the  Securities Act  of 1933, as amended, of 4,000,000
shares of common stock (the "Common Stock"), par value $1.00
per share.   We  are familiar with the proceedings taken and
proposed to  be taken by you in connection with the proposed
authorization, issuance and sale of the Common Stock.

     It is  our opinion  that, subject  to such  proceedings
being taken  and completed  by you as now contemplated prior
to said issuance and sale, the Common Stock, when issued and
sold  in   the  manner   referred  to  in  the  Registration
Statement, will  constitute your legally issued, fully paid,
nonassessable and validly outstanding securities.

     We consent  to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to
said Registration  Statement and  to the  use  of  our  name
wherever  it   appears  therein,  including  the  Prospectus
constituting a part thereof, and any amendments thereof.

                              Respectfully submitted,

                              Best, Best & Krieger