LAS VEGAS, Jan. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Board of Directors for Southwest Gas Corporation (NYSE: SWX) has declared the following first quarter cash dividend:

    (Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010823/SWXLOGO )

     Common Stock
     Payable              March 3, 2003
     Of Record            February 18, 2003
     Dividend             $.205 per share

The dividend equates to 82 cents per share on an annualized basis. The Company has paid quarterly dividends continuously since going public in 1956.

About Southwest Gas

Southwest Gas Corporation purchases, transports and distributes natural gas to approximately 1.4 million residential, commercial, industrial and other customers in geographically diverse portions of Arizona, Nevada and California. Its service territories are centered in the fastest-growing region of the country. For more information about Southwest Gas, please visit www.swgas.com .

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, natural gas prices, the effects of regulation/deregulation, the timing and amount of rate relief, changes in capital requirements and funding, acquisitions, and competition.

SOURCE Southwest Gas Corporation