<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET OF NEVADA POWER COMPANY AS OF MARCH 31, 1998 AND THE
RELATED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND CASH FLOWS FOR THE THREE
MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                   $1,981,799
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     14,200
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         168,658
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       206,492
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,371,149
<COMMON>                                        53,898
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      670,269
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            103,752
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 827,919
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          118,872
<PREFERRED>                                      3,385
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           805,410
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              47,155
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                      250
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                          200
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     87,836
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 4,591
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 475,531
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,371,149
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      165,263
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             2,934
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     141,066
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     144,000
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         21,263
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               1,606
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  22,869
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        15,933
<NET-INCOME>                                     6,936
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         44
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    6,892
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        20,171
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0<F1>
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          19,232
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .14
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0<F1>
<FN>
<F1>INAPPLICABLE
</FN>