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Media, Sonya Headen, (702) 367-5222
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Nevada Power Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sierra Pacific Resources (NYSE: SRP), today announced that it has completed its newest power plant, a 75-megawatt, natural gas-fired combustion turbine facility at its Harry Allen Generating site near Las Vegas.

"We're pleased that this unit is now completed and ready to serve the growing needs of southern Nevada customers,"said Roberto Denis, corporate senior vice president of generation and energy supply of Sierra Pacific Resources.

"Along with the 1,160-megawatt Chuck Lenzie Generating Station, which became fully operational earlier this month, these facilities are a valuable addition to our generation supply portfolio,"Denis added.

The new facility is adjacent to a similar 72-megawatt combustion turbine at the Harry Allen site that was placed in service in May of 1995. The generating units are located approximately 20 miles northeast of Las Vegas along Interstate 15.

Denis said both combustion turbines are"peaking"units, meaning they're typically operated only during periods when there is exceptionally strong demand for electricity.

Nevada Power Company is a regulated public utility engaged in the distribution, transmission, generation, purchase and sale of electric energy in the southern Nevada communities of Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson, Searchlight, Laughlin and their adjoining areas. The Company also provides electricity to Nellis Air Force Base, the Department of Energy at Mercury and Jackass Flats at the Nevada Test Site. Nevada Power Company provides electricity to approximately 750,000 residential and business customers in a 4,500 square mile service area.

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.