<ARTICLE> UT <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION'S FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1998 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 1,459,362 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 73,926 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 247,386 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 0 <OTHER-ASSETS> 50,020 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,830,694 <COMMON> 32,040 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 424,840 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 19,520 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 476,400 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 812,906 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 52,000 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 5,270 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LEASES-CURRENT> 0 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 484,118<F1> <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 1,830,694 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 917,309 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 36,414 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 763,139 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 763,139 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 154,170 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> (6,865)<F2> <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 147,305 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 63,354 <NET-INCOME> 47,537 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 0 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 47,537 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 23,676 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 0 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 203,517 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.66 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.65 <FN> <F1>Includes: trust originated preferred securities of $60,000, current liabilities, net of current long-term debt maturities and short-term debt, of $193,524 and deferred income taxes and other credits of $230,594. <F2>Includes distributions related to trust originated preferred securities of $5,475. </FN>