<ARTICLE>                                          UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Southwest
Gas Corporation's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2000 and is qualified
in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                       1,000

                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                  DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                                       JUN-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                       PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                          1,626,123
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                           92,559
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                               133,654
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                   0
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                        46,880
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                     1,899,216
<COMMON>                                              32,988
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            446,613
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                   36,144
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                       515,745
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                      0
<PREFERRED>                                                0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                 860,399
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                    39,075
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                  0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                             0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                          6,802
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                  0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                           0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                       477,195 <F1>
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                      1,899,216
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                            494,449
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                   6,802
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                           435,247
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                           435,247
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                               59,202
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                    (3,194)<F2>
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                        56,008
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             (33,737)
<NET-INCOME>                                          15,469
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                         15,469
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                              12,796
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                  0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                               122,857
<EPS-BASIC>                                           0.50
<EPS-DILUTED>                                           0.49
<FN>
<F1>  Includes:  trust originated preferred securities of $60,000, current
liabilities, net of current long-term debt maturities and short-term debt, of
$180,970 and deferred income taxes and other credits of $236,225
<F2>  Includes distributions related to trust originated preferred securities
of $2,738
</FN>