Sierra Pacific Power Company
Contact: Gary Aldax
Phone: (775) 834-5508

For Immediate Release

The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) has scheduled a consumer session to allow Sierra Pacific Power Company's natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas (LNG) customers the opportunity to comment on filings made by the company May 15, 2003 to change its rates. The consumer session will be held:

Thursday, August 21, 2003, 6 p.m.
Reno-Sparks Convention Center
4590 South Virginia StreetÂ- Reno
Room B-20

Sierra Pacific has made it's mandatory annual Purchased Gas Adjustment (PGA) filing requesting to decrease the price of natural gas by $5.9 million , or approximately 5%. If the filing is approved, the typical residential customer using 52 therms of natural gas would realize an average decrease in rates of $2.42 per month.

In conjunction with the PGA, Sierra Pacific also filed a Variable Rate Mechanism (VRM) requesting an increase in natural gas rates of $944,603, or approximately 1%. If approved, the monthly impact to a typical residential customers would be an increase of $0.48 per month.

Combined, the net affect of the PGA and VRM, if approved as filed, would be an overall decrease in customers'natural gas rates of approximately 4%.

The company also filed to increase rates for Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) customers by $36,018, or approximately 19%. If the filing is approved, the typical residential customer using 48 therms of LPG per month would realize an average increase in rates of $8.34.

Customers who cannot attend the consumer session, may submit comments in writing to the PUCN at 1150 East Williams Street, Carson City, NV 89701-3109. Copies of the filing are available for review by the public during normal business hours at Sierra Pacific's business offices at 6100 Neil Road in Reno, or at the PUCN's offices in Carson City.

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