<TABLE> <S> <C>
<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE SPR'S
FINANCIAL RECORDS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<NAME> SIERRA PACIFIC RESOURCES
<CIK> 0000741508
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 4,133,834
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 122,579
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 530,705
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 758,846
<OTHER-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 5,545,964
<COMMON> 78,420
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 1,294,153
<RETAINED-EARNINGS> 61,564
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 1,434,137
0
50,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 2,072,558
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 100,112
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 9,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 452,739
0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 80,749
<LEASES-CURRENT> 3,718
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 1,342,951
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 5,545,964
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 893,265
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> (1,800)
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 812,754
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 810,954
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 82,311
<OTHER-INCOME-NET> 5,196
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 87,507
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 77,898
<NET-INCOME> 9,609
1,950
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> (2,013)
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 39,000
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 57,634
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 107,827
<EPS-BASIC> (0.03)
<EPS-DILUTED> (0.03)
</TABLE>
