<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM SOUTHWEST
GAS CORPORATION'S FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,278,457
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     71,245
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         159,818
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                             0
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  50,749
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,560,269
<COMMON>                                        28,363
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      349,132
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                              2,121
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 379,616
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           665,221
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             121,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    6,675
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 387,757<F1>
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,560,269
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      644,061
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             3,874
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     572,488
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     572,488
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         71,573
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             (6,212)<F2>
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  65,361
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        54,913
<NET-INCOME>                                     6,574
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    6,574
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        21,311
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          52,195
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.25
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.25
<FN>
<F1>Includes: trust originated preferred securities of $60,000, current
liabilities, net of current long-term debt maturities, of $133,663 and deferred
income taxes and other credits of $194,095.
<F2>Includes distributions related to trust originated preferred securities of
$5,475 and other expense of $737.
</FN>