EXHIBIT 12.01

                                                          SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION
                                              COMPUTATION OF RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
                                                            (THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)

                                                                         FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDED
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      DECEMBER 31,   
                                         SEPTEMBER 30,  ------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONTINUING OPERATIONS                        1996           1995           1994           1993           1992           1991
                                         ------------   ------------   ------------   ------------   ------------   ------------
                                                                                                  
1. Fixed charges:
   A) Interest expense                   $     53,712   $     52,844   $     48,688   $     40,883   $     35,533   $     38,028
   B) Amortization                              1,605          1,569          1,426          1,330          1,183          1,089
   C) Interest portion of rentals               5,702          4,435          4,743          4,556          4,468          4,525
   D) Preferred securities distributions        5,019            913             --             --             --             --
                                         ------------   ------------   ------------   ------------   ------------   ------------
      Total fixed charges                $     66,038   $     59,761   $     54,857   $     46,769   $     41,184   $     43,642
                                         ============   ============   ============   ============   ============   ============ 

2. Earnings (as defined):
   E) Pretax income (loss) from
       continuing operations             $       (784)  $      3,493   $     38,119   $     21,959   $     49,752   $     30,397
   Fixed Charges (1. above)                    66,038         59,761         54,857         46,769         41,184         43,642
                                         ------------   ------------   ------------   ------------   ------------   ------------
      Total earnings as defined          $     65,254   $     63,254   $     92,976   $     68,728   $     90,936   $     74,039
                                         ============   ============   ============   ============   ============   ============
3. Ratio of earnings to fixed charges            0.99           1.06           1.69           1.47           2.21           1.70
                                         ============   ============   ============   ============   ============   ============


                                                                         FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDED
                                         ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      DECEMBER 31,
                                         SEPTEMBER 30,  ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             1996           1995           1994           1993           1992          1991
                                         ------------   ------------   ------------   ------------   ------------   ------------
                                                                                                  
ADJUSTED FOR INTEREST ALLOCATED TO
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
1. Fixed charges
   A) Interest expense                   $     53,712   $     52,844   $     48,688   $     40,883   $     35,533   $     38,028
   B) Amortization                              1,605          1,569          1,426          1,330          1,183          1,089
   C) Interest portion of rentals               5,702          4,435          4,743          4,556          4,468          4,525
   D) Preferred securities distributions        5,019            913             --             --             --             --
   E) Allocated interest                        2,409[1]       9,636          7,874          7,874          7,333          5,975
                                         ------------   ------------   ------------   ------------   ------------   ------------
      Total fixed charges                $     68,447   $     69,397   $     62,731   $     54,643   $     48,517   $     49,617
                                         ============   ============   ============   ============   ============   ============

2. Earnings (as defined):
   F) Pretax income (loss) from
       continuing operations             $       (784)  $      3,493   $     38,119   $     21,959   $     49,752   $     30,397
   Fixed Charges (1. above)                    68,447         69,397         62,731         54,643         48,517         49,617
                                         ------------   ------------   ------------   ------------   ------------   ------------
      Total earnings as defined          $     67,663   $     72,890   $    100,850   $     76,602   $     98,269   $     80,014
                                         ============   ============   ============   ============   ============   ============
3. Ratio of earnings to fixed charges            0.99           1.05           1.61           1.40           2.03           1.61
                                         ============   ============   ============   ============   ============   ============


[1]  Represents allocated interest through the period ended December 31, 1995.
Carrying costs for the period subsequent to year end through the disposition
of the discontinued operations were accrued and recorded as disposal costs.