Sierra Pacific Resources
Contact: Andrea Smith
Phone: 702-367-5683

For Immediate Release

Las Vegas, Nev. -- Walter M. Higgins, chairman and CEO of Sierra Pacific Resources (NYSE: SRP) announced today the appointment of John F. Young as senior vice president, energy supply.

"John brings us nearly 20 years of broad experience in the utility industry including power production, fuel acquisition, power plant development, wholesale power marketing, and energy marketing and trading. These skills and experiences will be invaluable to Nevada Power and Sierra Pacific Power, companies which operate in the most difficult power markets in the U.S.," Higgins said.

Young joins Sierra Pacific Resources from Avalon Consulting, a firm specializing in the energy industry, where he served as president and CEO. Prior to that, he spent 17 years with Southern Company, an international electric utility holding company and largest U.S. producer of electricity, and it's various utility affiliates in Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, and Alabama. During his tenure with Southern Company Young was executive vice president, Southern Generation where he directed the activities of the largest wholesale power provider in the southeastern U.S. He held numerous other positions with Southern Company including vice president of business development, general manager of fuel planning and procurement and vice president of investor relations. Young served as a shipboard engineering officer in the United States Navy from 1978 to 1983 and earned a bachelor of science degree from the United States Naval Academy.

"I am eager to contribute to the achievement of the goals of Nevada Power and Sierra Pacific Power as they strive for excellence in power and fuel purchasing, resource planning, and power plant development and operations. These activities are vital to being able to provide safe, reliable, reasonably priced power for their nearly one million customers. I believe my experience will help meet the challenges these fast-growing companies are facing in the volatile western power markets," Young said.

Young will begin his duties with Sierra Pacific Resources on May 29 and will be based in Las Vegas.

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