<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Southwest
Gas Corporation's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999 and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,581,102
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     84,850
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         209,138
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                             0
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  48,352
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,923,422
<COMMON>                                        32,615
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      439,262
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             33,548
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 505,425
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           859,291
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              61,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    7,931
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 489,795<F1>
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,923,442
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      936,866
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            21,645
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     805,654
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     805,654
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        131,212
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             (7,055)<F2>
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 124,157
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        63,202
<NET-INCOME>                                    39,310
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   39,310
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        25,164
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         178,560
<EPS-BASIC>                                       1.28
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.27
<FN>
<F1>Includes: trust originated preferred securities of $60,000, current
    liabilities, net of current long-term debt maturities and short-term debt,
    of $195,959 and deferred income taxes and other credits of $233,836.

<F2>Includes distributions related to trust originated preferred securities of
    $5,475.
</FN>