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

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    4,102,782
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    114,948
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         314,320
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       751,950
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               5,284,000
<COMMON>                                        78,420
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    1,294,231
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            102,962
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,475,613
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     50,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,472,724
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             100,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 689,678
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  188,055
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     80,058
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 4,156
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,223,716
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                5,284,000
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      402,897
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            10,015
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     332,183
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     342,198
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         60,699
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               1,004
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  61,703
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        37,715
<NET-INCOME>                                    23,988
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        975
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   18,178
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        19,850
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       25,822
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          83,304
<EPS-BASIC>                                       0.23
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.23