EXHIBIT 5.1

                                October 18, 1994

Nevada Power Company
Post Office Box 230
Las Vegas, NV 89151

Ladies and Gentlemen:

    At  your  request,  we have  examined  the form  of  Registration Statement,
including the documents incorporated  therein by reference, to  be filed by  you
with  the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the registration
under the Securities  Act of  1933, as amended,  of 2,000,000  shares of  Common
Stock  (the "Common Stock"), par value $1.00 per share. We are familiar with the
proceedings taken  and  proposed to  be  taken by  you  in connection  with  the
proposed authorization, issuance and sale of the Common Stock.

    It  is  our  opinion  that,  subject to  such  proceedings  being  taken and
completed by you as now contemplated prior to said issuance and sale, the Common
Stock, when  issued and  sold in  the  manner referred  to in  the  Registration
Statement,  will constitute your  legally issued, fully  paid, nonassessable and
validly outstanding securities.

    We consent to the  use of this  opinion as an  exhibit to said  Registration
Statement  and to the use of our name wherever it appears therein, including the
Prospectus constituting a part thereof, and any amendments thereto.

                                          Respectfully submitted,

                                          BEST, BEST & KRIEGER