NV Energy, Inc., (NYSE: NVE) is one of the nation's most progressive utilities, according to a leading industry publication.

The company was ranked 5th in Intelligent Utility magazine's 2010 UtiliQ rankings, which were announced on Monday. NV Energy posted the greatest improvement of the utilities surveyed, moving up 50 positions from the 2009 rankings. The survey included more than 80 utilities.

The UtiliQ ranking uses five criteria to evaluate utilities: operational efficiency, commitment to renewable energy, smart energy initiatives, energy efficiency programs and information technology investments in support of business process improvements.

"It's an honor to be recognized for our efforts to bring Nevada's electrical system more fully into the digital age," said NV Energy President and CEO Michael Yackira. "Our energy strategy for Nevada emphasizes energy efficiency and conservation, as well as investments in renewable energy, and in efficient electricity generation and transmission - all among the initiatives evaluated by the magazine."

NV Energy's ranking in the survey also received a boost from the company's selection by the Department of Energy for federal matching funds to construct an Advanced Service Delivery system that will incorporate smart meter and smart grid infrastructure improvements. The magazine awarded extra marks to utilities, such as NV Energy, that regularly report on sustainability or corporate social responsibility.

"It was our intent, when we first established the UtiliQ rankings last year, to acknowledge and celebrate the immense accomplishments of electric utilities throughout the United States as they evolve - through hard work, financial and customer commitment, and intense focus - along the path to true, 21st century utility intelligence," said Kate Rowland, editor-in-chief of Intelligent Utility magazine, an Energy Central publication.

About NV Energy

Headquartered in Las Vegas, NV Energy, Inc. is a holding company whose principal subsidiaries, Nevada Power Company and Sierra Pacific Power Company, are doing business as NV Energy. Serving a 54,500-square-mile service territory that stretches north to south from Elko to Laughlin, NV Energy provides a wide range of energy services and products to approximately 2.4 million citizens of Nevada as well as approximately 40 million tourists annually.

About Energy Central

Since 1995 Energy Central, based in Aurora, Colorado, has been widely known as the online hub for power industry professionals. With an unparalleled reach into the power industry, the Energy Central community has grown to encompass six web sites, fourteen eNewsletters, two print magazines -- Intelligent Utility and EnergyBiz, two monthly webcast series, two highly acclaimed industry events and a strong market research arm, Sierra Energy Group. Energy Central champions the development of information-enabled energyâ„¢ by facilitating executive level knowledge sharing events as well as management level events where top government and industry officials provide power industry professionals with insights into the future of the power industry. Topic-specific content includes: Grid T&D - Smart Grid and Metering; Generation and Storage for Renewables, Solar, Nuclear, Hydro and Wind; and End-Use - Demand Response and Energy Efficiency. Energy Central -- we connect the power industry.

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SOURCE: NV Energy, Inc.

CONTACT: Media, Northern Nevada, Karl Walquist, +1-775-834-3891, or
Southern Nevada, Jennifer Schuricht, +1-702-402-5241, both of NV Energy, Inc.

Web Site: http://www.nvenergy.com/