<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FILED ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE SIX-MONTH
PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 1997, FOR SIERRA PACIFIC RESOURCES AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,575,271
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     44,351
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         112,667
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       151,720
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,884,009
<COMMON>                                        30,891
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      454,338
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            128,903
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 614,132
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           48,500
<PREFERRED>                                     73,115
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           627,527
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  71,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   10,446
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 439,289
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,884,009
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      330,033
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            22,023
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     249,847
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     271,870
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         58,163
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               3,715
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  61,878
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        20,744
<NET-INCOME>                                    41,134
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      4,816
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   36,318
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        21,393
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          63,528
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    1.177
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    1.177