<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
The schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the condensed
consolidated financial statements filed on Form 10-Q for the nine-month period 
ended September 30, 1997, for Sierra Pacific Resources and is qualified in its 
entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,589,781
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     44,099
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         118,838
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       151,108
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,903,826
<COMMON>                                        30,893
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      454,370
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            137,476
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 622,739
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           48,500
<PREFERRED>                                     73,115
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           627,327
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  66,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   10,564
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 455,581
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,903,826
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      490,908
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            33,440
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     370,273
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     403,713
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         87,195
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               5,717
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  92,912
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        31,213
<NET-INCOME>                                    61,699
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      7,222
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   54,477
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        28,732
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         115,986
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    1.764
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    1.764