<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET OF NEVADA POWER COMPANY AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND
THE RELATED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME, CASH FLOWS AND RETAINED EARNINGS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                   $1,960,709
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     13,571
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         168,535
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       196,607
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,339,422
<COMMON>                                        53,604
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      662,987
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            117,032
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 833,623
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          118,872
<PREFERRED>                                      3,463
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           805,941
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   15,250
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                          200
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     89,498
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 4,487
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 468,088
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,339,422
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      799,148
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            43,478
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     618,474
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     661,952
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        137,196
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               3,019
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 140,215
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        56,999
<NET-INCOME>                                    83,216
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      1,125
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   82,091
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        79,176
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       50,791
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         110,372
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.65
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0<F1>
<FN>
<F1>INAPPLICABLE
</FN>