<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
The schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
consolidated financial statements filed on Form 10-Q for the period ended
September 30, 1996, for Sierra Pacific Resources and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,513,718
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     44,168
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          11,934
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       148,728
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,825,498
<COMMON>                                        30,755
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      450,779
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            117,438
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 598,972
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           48,500
<PREFERRED>                                     73,115
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           632,951
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  26,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   10,423
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 435,537
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,825,498
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      474,812
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            33,402
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     355,734
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     389,136
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         85,676
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               4,710
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  90,386
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        30,141
<NET-INCOME>                                    60,245
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      5,676
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   54,569
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        17,975
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        1,662
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          96,563
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.80
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.80