Filing with Public Utilities Commission Includes Additional Conservation Programs

Las Vegas,Nev. --  Nevada Power Company today announced a partnership with dozens of southern Nevada's top home builders, with more expected, on an innovative air conditioning rebate program that is designed to proactively provide customers significant savings on energy costs as well as help reduce the amount of energy that Nevada Power must purchase.

The program, which requires approval by Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN), would pay 50 percent of the cost of installing high-efficiency air conditioners in new homes 13 SEER units -- which are 30 percent more efficient that the standard 10 SEER units currently utilized.  The more efficient units could save the homeowner approximately $200 per year on a typical five ton unit.

“Pulte Homes/Del Webb is pleased to be working with Nevada Power's conservation division on its air conditioning rebate program.  The program has influenced our decision to upgrade our A/C units and has also stimulated new conservation activity within our company on potential additional methods of making our homes more energy efficient,” said Ed Matatall, director of purchasing for Pulte Homes/Del Webb.

“It just makes good business sense to work closely with Nevada Power on energy conservation efforts,” said Grant Lefgren director of purchasing for KB Homes. “Doing so benefits us as a company because we are able to offer a more energy efficient product, which will ultimately provide long-termbenefits for our homeowners and community.”

Sierra Pacific Resources, the parent company of Nevada Power and Sierra Pacific Power Company, submitted a filing to the PUCN that includes this rebate program as well as increases to already successful programs such as Energy Star appliances, commercial Sure Bet incentives and refrigerator recycling at Nevada Power and promotion of Energy Star appliances and the refrigerator recycling program at Sierra Pacific Power.

In 2005, the Nevada State Legislature passed legislation (AB3) which gives the utilities the opportunity to earn credit toward the renewable portfolio standard through conservation and energy-efficiency programs.

“This group of programs not only provides Sierra Pacific Power and Nevada Power a way to help meet the renewable standards, it also affords us a wonderful opportunity to increase our focus on how we help our customers use energy more wisely,” said Bob Balzar, director of energy efficiency and customer strategy for the company. Ã¢â‚¬Å“The less energy we use as customers, the less fuel and purchased power we must acquire as a company.  And that saves all of us money in the long run.”

The 25 homebuilders participating in the program are American West, Astoria Homes, Avante Homes, Beazer Homes, Christopher Homes, Concordia Homes, Desert Wind, DR Horton, KB Homes, Lennar Homes, Meritage Homes, Nevada Homes Group, Pardee Homes, Pinnacle Homes, Pulte Homes, Richmond American, Rhodes Homes, R/S Development, Signature Homes, Toll Brothers, Inc., Warmington Homes Nevada, Woodside Homes, William Lyon Homes and Story Book Homes.

Headquartered in Nevada, Sierra Pacific Resources is a holding company whose principal subsidiaries are Nevada Power Company, the electric utility for most of southern Nevada, and Sierra Pacific Power Company, the electric utility for most of northern Nevada and the Lake Tahoe area of California. Sierra Pacific Power Company also distributes natural gas in the Reno-Sparks area of northern Nevada. Other subsidiaries include the Tuscarora Gas Pipeline Company, which owns 50 percent interest in an interstate natural gas transmission partnership and several unregulated energy services companies.

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