Press Releases

LAS VEGAS, Oct. 30 --
Southwest Gas Corporation (NYSE: SWX) recorded a net loss of $0.49 per share
for the third quarter of 2002, a $0.02 improvement from the $0.51 per share
loss reported for the third quarter of 2001. Net loss for the third quarter
of 2002 was $16.1 million, compared to the 2001 third quarter net loss of
$16.5 million. Due to the seasonal nature of the business, net losses during
the third quarter are normal and not generally indicative of earnings for a
complete twelve-month period.

According to Michael O. Maffie, President and Chief Executive Officer,
"Operating income for the third quarter of 2002 increased modestly compared to
the third quarter of 2001. The inroads we made in Arizona and Nevada
improving rate design to make the Company less weather sensitive showed up in
operating margin this quarter. As a result, the trend of improved
quarter-over-quarter operating results, which began during the first quarter
of this year, continued."

Operating margin increased $7.3 million, or eight percent, in the third
quarter of 2002 compared to the same period in 2001 resulting primarily from
general rate relief and customer growth. General rate relief granted in
Arizona (annualized at $21.6 million) and Nevada (annualized at $19.4 million)
effective in the fourth quarter of 2001 was the primary driver of the
quarterly increase. Additionally, the Company added 56,000 customers during
the past twelve months, a growth rate of four percent.

Operating expenses increased $6.2 million, or six percent, as a result of
general cost increases and incremental costs associated with continued
expansion of the gas system to accommodate customer growth. Net financing
costs declined $346,000 between periods. Strong cash flows throughout the
year from the recovery of previously deferred purchased gas costs and general
rate relief mitigated the need to externally finance construction
expenditures.

Other income declined $1.4 million, net of tax, between periods. The net
change primarily resulted from lower interest income on the balance of
unrecovered purchased gas costs and a charge associated with the final
settlement of a regulatory issue in California.

For the twelve months ended September 30, 2002, net income was
$37.1 million, or $1.13 per basic share, compared to $38.7 million, or
$1.21 per basic share, during the twelve-month period ended
September 30, 2001.

In the second quarter of 2002, the Company recorded a $14.5 million pretax
charge ($9 million net of tax) related to settlements of three-year old
merger-related litigation with Southern Union Company and ONEOK, Inc.
This charge reduced earnings per share by $0.28 in the current twelve-month
period.

Operating margin increased $28 million between periods. Customer growth,
coupled with increased margin from electric generation and industrial
customers during the fourth quarter of 2001, contributed $17 million in
incremental margin, while rate relief added $37 million. Differences in
heating demand caused by weather variations between periods resulted in a
$26 million margin decrease. Warmer-than-normal temperatures experienced
during the fourth quarter of 2001 and second quarter of 2002 negatively
impacted margin by $13 million. Prior-period margin was $13 million higher
than expected due to temperatures that were ten percent colder than normal.

Other income increased $3.8 million, net of tax, between periods.
The current twelve-month period includes pretax gains of $8.9 million on the
sale of undeveloped property in the first quarter of 2002 and $3 million on
the sale of certain assets in the fourth quarter of 2001, partially offset by
a $2.7 million settlement of a regulatory issue in California. Additionally,
interest income (primarily earned on deferred purchased gas cost balances)
decreased $4.2 million between periods.

Southwest Gas Corporation provides natural gas service to approximately
1,427,000 customers in Arizona, Nevada and California. Its service territory
is centered in the fastest-growing region of the country.

This press release may contain statements which constitute
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995 (Reform Act). All such forward-looking statements are
intended to be subject to the safe harbor protection provided by the Reform
Act. A number of important factors affecting the business and financial
results of the Company could cause actual results to differ materially from
those stated in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, but
are not limited to, the impact of weather variations on customer usage,
customer growth rates, natural gas prices, the effects of
regulation/deregulation, the timing and amount of rate relief, changes in gas
procurement practices, changes in capital requirements and funding,
acquisitions, and competition.