<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from
Southwest Gas Corporation's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2000
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<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> 1,656,891
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 94,210
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 155,877
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 0
<OTHER-ASSETS> 47,311
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,954,289
<COMMON> 33,158
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 449,735
<RETAINED-EARNINGS> 19,992
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 502,885
0
0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 860,515
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 100,500
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 6,135
0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0
<LEASES-CURRENT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 484,254 <F1>
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 1,954,289
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 693,411
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> (6,749)
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 638,406
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 638,406
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 55,005
<OTHER-INCOME-NET> (4,550)<F2>
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 50,455
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> (51,415)
<NET-INCOME> 5,789
0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 5,789
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 19,234
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 126,931
<EPS-BASIC> 0.19
<EPS-DILUTED> 0.18
<FN>
<F1> Includes: trust originated preferred securities of $60,000, current
liabilities, net of current long-term debt maturities and short-term debt, of
$181,786 and deferred income taxes and other credits of $242,468. <F2> Includes
distributions related to trust originated preferred securities of $4,106.
</FN>
</TABLE>
