<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>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    4,133,834
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    122,579
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         530,705
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       758,846
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               5,545,964
<COMMON>                                        78,420
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    1,294,153
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             61,564
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,434,137
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     50,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         2,072,558
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             100,112
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                   9,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  452,739
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     80,749
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 3,718
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,342,951
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                5,545,964
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      893,265
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           (1,800)
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     812,754
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     810,954
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         82,311
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               5,196
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  87,507
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        77,898
<NET-INCOME>                                     9,609
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      1,950
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  (2,013)
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        39,000
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       57,634
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         107,827
<EPS-BASIC>                                     (0.03)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (0.03)