<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>