<ARTICLE> UT <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED FINACIAL STATEMENTS FILED ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE THREE MONTH PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 1997, FOR SIERRA PACIFIC RESOURCES AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 1,552,280 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 44,011 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 137,160 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 154,146 <OTHER-ASSETS> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,887,597 <COMMON> 30,871 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 453,797 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 123,004 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 607,672 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 48,500 <PREFERRED> 73,115 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 637,742 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 0 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 46,000 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 25,440 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LEASES-CURRENT> 0 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 449,128 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 1,887,597 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 173,313 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 12,289 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 35,349 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 142,396 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 30,917 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 2,513 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 33,430 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 10,189 <NET-INCOME> 23,241 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 2,408 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 20,833 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 10,456 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 0 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 36,155 <EPS-PRIMARY> .675 <EPS-DILUTED> .675