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Karl Walquist (775) 834-3891

Sierra Pacific Power Company announced today it set a new record for electric and natural gas meters installed in one year.  Company employees set 11,244 new electric meters on new homes and businesses in 2004.  The number surpasses the previous record of 10,067 electric meters set in 2003 by nearly 12 percent.  A total of 5,647 new natural gas meters were also set during 2004, surpassing the previous record of 5,446 gas meters set in 2001 by nearly 4 percent.

Northern Nevada has been one of the fastest growing areas in the nation for the past 15 years.  The installation of new meters follows the number of new homes or businesses constructed in the area over the past year.

“We're extremely proud of our employees, who are setting a record number of meters with greater efficiencies and at less cost with a workforce that has remained stable,” said Mike Smart, regional operations executive for Sierra Pacific Power Company.  Smart attributed the achievement to great employees, excellent work practices, better use of technology and increased communications with area builders.

According to Smart, the cost per new meter installation is less today that it was five years ago.  For example, Smart said Sierra Pacific hooks up a new electric meter and service today for $1,908, which is $796 less than it cost in 1999. Ã¢â‚¬Å“The process has been reduced from several months to a few weeks from the time the builder walks in the door until the new meter is set and the home or business has electricity,” he said.

Electric and gas meters installed on homes and businesses register the amount of a customer's energy consumption.  Sierra Pacific serves 335,000 electric customers in northern Nevada and northeastern California, plus 130,000 natural gas customers in the Reno-Sparks metropolitan area.