Nevada Power
Contact: Thomas Henley
Phone: (702) 367-5681

For Immediate Release

The Board of Directors of Nevada Power Company announced today it has appointed Michael R. Niggli as chief executive officer. Niggli is filling the position being vacated by Charles A. Lenzie pending his retirement March 31, 1999, when Lenzie will also relinquish his position as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Niggli's appointment was effective yesterday.

Niggli has been with Nevada Power Company since February 1998 and has been integral in the pending merger with Sierra Pacific Resources. The merger is expected to be complete in the middle of the second quarter 1999. Prior to the announcement Niggli was president and chief operating officer of Nevada Power Company and will become chairman and chief executive officer of Sierra Pacific Resources and chairman of its subsidiaries upon completion of the merger.

Nevada Power Company provides electricity and energy services to more than 1.2 million residents of Las Vegas and southern Nevada and is the nation's fastest-growing electric utility. Nevada Power Company can be found on the World Wide Web at www.nevadapower.com.