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Reflects significant investment in plant infrastructure over the last three years.

Effective today, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has granted a 7.75% ($5.5 million) overall increase in electric rates for Sierra Pacific Power Company's northern California customers. Since the last General Rate Case in 2005, Sierra Pacific has invested $47.5 million to improve its California electric system in order to serve its California customers.

Sierra Pacific filed this General Rate Case in August 2008, to recover capital expenditures for new investments in the company's electric generating and distribution systems and for maintenance of facilities to distribute electricity. 

The typical residential customer using 650 kilowatt-hours of electricity could see an increase of approximately $5.49, or 7.21% per month, from $76.16 to $81.65.   The new rate becomes effective December 1, 2009.

Additionally, on September 1, 2008, northern California customers were granted a $12.2 million, or overall 15.2% rate decrease.  That decrease was in response to a rate filing made by the company in April 2008 resulting from lower than anticipated fuel costs for power plants and power purchased on behalf of its customers, with no mark-up by the utility.

"In the three years since our last General Rate Case decision we have added more efficient plants, power lines and other electric facilities and programs to serve customers,"said Mary Simmons, vice president of External Affairs for NV Energy. "Ultimately, these investments will help reduce costs to customers and help reduce customers' exposure to volatile market prices from sources outside the area."

About Sierra Pacific Power Company
Sierra Pacific Power Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of NV Energy, Inc., primarily serving the Lake Tahoe area of California.  In April 2009, NV Energy announced it had entered into an agreement to sell its California electric distribution and generation assets to California Pacific Electric Company (CalPeco), a newly formed company jointly owned by Algonquin Power Income Fund and Emera Inc.  Following state and federal regulatory approvals, the companies expect the transaction to close sometime in 2010.

About NV Energy
Headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, NV Energy, Inc. is a holding company whose principal subsidiaries, Nevada Power Company and Sierra Pacific Power Company, are doing business as NV Energy.  Serving a combined 54,500-square-mile service territory that stretches north to south from Elko to Laughlin, NV Energy provides a wide range of energy services and products to approximately 2.4 million citizens of Nevada as well as approximately 40 million tourists annually. For more information, visitwww.nvenergy.com