<ARTICLE> OPUR1
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM SPR'S
FINANCIAL RECORDS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>   0000741508
<NAME>  SIERRA PACIFIC RESOURCES

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    4,073,529
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    105,880
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         316,269
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       752,008
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               5,247,686
<COMMON>                                        78,414
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    1,293,990
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            104,725
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,477,129
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     50,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,474,203
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             100,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 654,979
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  198,126
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     82,424
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 4,583
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,206,242
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                5,247,686
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,309,131
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            26,086
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,111,887
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,137,973
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        171,158
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               (142)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 171,016
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        99,960
<NET-INCOME>                                    71,056
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      2,396
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   51,750
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        73,514
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       81,731
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         211,089
<EPS-BASIC>                                        .83
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .83