<TABLE> <S> <C>
<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
The 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> 9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 3,923,934
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 132,838
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 572,430
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 748,061
<OTHER-ASSETS> 260,384
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 5,637,647
<COMMON> 78,451
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 1,294,412
<RETAINED-EARNINGS> 25,119
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 1,397,982
0
50,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 2,072,147
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 205,175
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 452,716
0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 78,347
<LEASES-CURRENT> 3,270
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 1,378,010
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 5,637,647
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 1,736,035
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> (17,310)
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 1,659,265
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 1,641,955
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 94,080
<OTHER-INCOME-NET> 6,064
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 100,144
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 111,176
<NET-INCOME> (11,032)
2,624
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> (21,561)
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 59,000
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 89,337
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 34,343
<EPS-BASIC> (0.27)
<EPS-DILUTED> (0.27)
</TABLE>
