Sierra Pacific Resources
Contact: Sonya Headen
Phone: (702) 367-5680

For Immediate Release

Sierra Pacific Resources, combining the scores of Nevada Power and Sierra Pacific Power ranked highest in overall customer satisfaction in the Western Region in the J.D. Power and Associates 2001 Midsize Business Customer Satisfaction Study.

The companies were ranked first in the Western Region in all six categories used by J.D. Power&Associates to define customer satisfaction. Those areas include: company image, price and value, power quality and reliability, billing and payment, customer service, and field crews.

"In the midst of massive change in the electric utility industry nationwide, and against the landscape of an energy crisis in the West, our employees are creating an exceptional reputation for customer service." said Sierra Pacific Resources CEO and Chairman Walt Higgins."This is the second consecutive year our employees have been distinguished by J.D. Power and Associates as the highest ranking utility in the West in this study."

In the nationwide survey, J.D. Power&Associates interviewed representatives from more than 7,200 midsize businesses, including manufacturers, retailers, business and consumer service firms, health care providers and other midsize businesses throughout the United States. Midsize business is defined as those who normally spend $1,500 to $25,000 per month on electricity.

Headquartered in Nevada, Sierra Pacific Resources is a holding company whose principal subsidiaries are Nevada Power Company, the electric utility for southern Nevada, and Sierra Pacific Power Company, the electric utility for most of northern Nevada and the Lake Tahoe area of California, and a natural gas and water distributor in the Reno-Sparks area. Other subsidiaries include the Tuscarora Gas Pipeline Company, which owns 50% interest in an interstate natural gas transmission partnership and Sierra Pacific Communications, a telecommunications company.

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