<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Southwest
Gas Corporation's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1998 and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,425,431
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     75,204
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         183,651
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        51,355
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,735,641
<COMMON>                                        31,915
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      421,631
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                720
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 454,266
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           808,807
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              33,325
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    5,128
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 434,115<F1>
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,735,641
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      648,006
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            13,979
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     560,082
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     560,082
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         87,924
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              (3,872)<F2>
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  84,052
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        47,579
<NET-INCOME>                                    22,494
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   22,494
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        17,460
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         157,559
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.80
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.80
<FN>
<F1>Includes: trust originated preferred securities of $60,000, current 
liabilities, net of current long-term debt maturities and short-term debt, of
$149,460, and deferred income taxes and other credits of $224,655.
<F2>Includes distributions related to trust originated preferred securities of $4,106.
</FN>