EXHIBIT 5.01

                                       February 2, 1997

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

Ladies and Gentlemen:

   We have acted as counsel to you, Nevada Power Company, a Nevada corporation 
(the "Company"), in connection with the preparation and filing with the 
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") of a Registration 
Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 33-_______), as amended (the "Registration 
Statement"), under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities 
Act"), relating to the proposed issuance and sale from time to time of up to 
$125,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of (i) the Company's Junior 
Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures (the "Debentures"), each series 
of which will be issued pursuant to a Junior Subordinated Indenture (the 
"Indenture") to be entered into between the Company and IBJ Schroder, as 
Trustee (the "Debenture Trustee"), as such Indenture will be supplemented, in 
connection with the issuance of each such series, by a supplemental indenture 
creating such series (each, a "Supplemental Indenture" and, collectively, the 
"Supplemental Indentures"), (ii) preferred securities (the "Preferred 
Securities") of NPV Capital I, and NPV Capital II, each a



Nevada Power Company
February 2, 1997
Page 2

trust formed under the laws of the State of Delaware (each, an "Issuer" and, 
collectively, the "Issuers"), and (iii) the Company's guarantees with respect 
to the Preferred Securities (each, a "Guarantee" and, collectively, the 
"Guarantees"), each of which Guarantees will be issued pursuant to a 
guarantee agreement between the Company and the Trustee thereunder (each, a 
"Guarantee Agreement" and, collectively, the "Guarantee Agreements"). 
Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the 
meanings ascribed to them in the Registration Statement.

   We have examined the originals, photocopies or conformed copies of all 
such records of the Company and all such agreements, certificates of public 
officials, certificates of officers and representatives of the Company and 
such other documents as we have deemed relevant and necessary as a basis for 
the opinion hereinafter expressed. In such examinations, we have assumed the 
genuineness of all signatures on original documents and the conformity to the 
originals of all copies submitted to us as conformed copies or photocopies. 
As to various questions of fact material to our opinion, we have relied upon 
representations, statements or certificates of officers  and representatives 
of the Company, the Issuers and others. Based on the foregoing, it is our 
opinion that:

   1. The Debentures, when (i) issued and duly executed and authenticated in 
accordance with the terms of (a) the Indenture and (b) the applicable 
Supplemental Indenture creating such series of Debentures, in the forms filed 
as Exhibits 4.01 and 4.13, respectively, to the Registration Statement (and 
assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of the Indenture and 
the applicable Supplemental Indenture by each of the parties thereto), and 
(ii) delivered against payment therefor, will be legally issued and will 
constitute binding obligations of the Company.

   2. The Guarantees, when issued pursuant to the applicable Guarantee 
Agreement, in the form filed as Exhibit 4.12 of the Registration Statement 
(and assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of the applicable 
Guarantee Agreement by each of the parties thereto), will be legally issued 
and will constitute binding obligations of the Company.



Nevada Power Company
February 2, 1997
Page 3

   We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration 
Statement and to the use of our name under the heading "Legal Opinions" in 
the Prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement. In giving such  
consent, we do not thereby concede that we are within the category of persons 
whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules 
and regulations promulgated thereunder.

   We are delivering this opinion to the Company, and no person other than 
the Company may rely upon it without our prior writtten consent.

            Very truly yours,



            Best Best & Krieger LLP