EXHIBIT 12

SOUTHWEST GAS CORPORATION
COMPUTATION OF RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
(Thousands of dollars)

	For the Twelve Months Ended
	Mar 31,		December 31,
	2003		2002		2001		2000		1999		1998
1. Fixed charges:
A) Interest expense	$	80,608	$	79,586	$	80,139	$	70,659	$	63,110	$	63,416
B) Amortization		2,386		2,278		1,886		1,564		1,366		1,243
C) Interest portion of rentals		8,243		8,846		9,346		8,572		8,217		7,531
D) Preferred securities distributions		5,475		5,475		5,475		5,475		5,475		5,475
Total fixed charges	$	96,712	$	96,185	$	96,846	$	86,270	$	78,168	$	77,665
2. Earnings (as defined):
E) Pretax income from
continuing operations	$	36,135	$	65,382	$	56,741	$	51,939	$	60,955	$	83,951
Fixed Charges (1. above)		96,712		96,185		96,846		86,270		78,168		77,665
Total earnings as defined	$	132,847	$	161,567	$	153,587	$	138,209	$	139,123	$	161,616
		1.37		1.68		1.59		1.60		1.78		2.08