Media Contact:  Chelsie Campbell, (702) 402-5252

Project REACH Funding Now $550,000 for'08

Nevada Power Company announced today that it has increased its energy assistance funding by $100,000 to $500,000 for Project REACH which is administered by United Way of Southern Nevada and that Harrah's Foundation committed $50,000, bringing this year's total funding to over a half million dollars.

Project REACH (Relief through Energy Assistance to prevent Customer Hardships) is a partnership between Nevada Power and United Way designed to help vulnerable adults over the age of 62 years, medically fragile or Reserve and National Guard members who meet the income guidelines with their electric bills.

"We are thrilled and grateful that Harrah's is joining us this year to help customers in need,"said Michael Yackira, president and CEO of Sierra Pacific Resources, parent company of Nevada Power."We understand that utility bills can be a hardship for customers in light of the high cost of natural gas, the fuel used to produce most of our electricity.  It's partnerships like these that enable us to most effectively address and help reduce some of the challenges facing our community."

Nevada Power and Harrah's share the same goal of supporting at risk individuals, in particular the senior population.

"Harrah's and The Harrah's Foundation donates millions of dollars into our communities to ensure the diversity and economic vitality of the communities in which we operate,"said Thom Reilly, vice president of community reinvestment. "Project REACH enhances the lives of our senior citizens with the overriding goal of making our community a healthy and vibrant place to live and work."

Dan Goulet, executive director of United Way added,"To date, Nevada Power has provided more than 25,076 households with over $3.3 million.  With the company's increase in their funding and Harrah's participation, we will be able to serve a substantial number of customers during an unstable economy and that is significant."

Customers may visit nevadapower.com/help or call 402-5200 to see if they qualify for Project REACH.