<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.

<NAME>     SIERRA PACIFIC RESOURCES
<CIK>      0000741508

                             
<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
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     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
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            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)
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      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)