NV Energy Requests PUCN Approval to Begin Construction of North-South Transmission Line

NV Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NVE) today announced that its two utility subsidiaries have filed amendments to Integrated Resource Plans with the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) which outline plans for power supply and transmission initiatives that include requesting authority to begin construction of a transmission line, called the One Nevada Transmission Line (ON Line), that would for the first time connect Nevada’s two major electric systems.

ON Line’s interconnection of NV Energy’s northern and southern service territories will allow renewable resources to be delivered throughout the state, greatly improving NV Energy’s ability to comply with Nevada’s portfolio standard in an economically efficient manner.

"This transmission line will allow customers to benefit from the abundant renewable resources located all across our state,” said Michael Yackira, NV Energy president and CEO. "ON Line will provide the opportunity to keep more renewable energy in Nevada for the benefit of Nevadans, thereby improving the environment and diversifying the economy.”

Yackira added, "ON Line will also allow NV Energy to utilize the traditional generating resources in the state more effectively for the benefit of our customers.”

The proposed 235-mile, 500 kV transmission line, with an initial transfer capability of approximately 600 megawatts, will run from Robinson Summit (near Ely) to the existing Harry Allen 500 kV substation northeast of Las Vegas. The projected in-service date is mid-2012 depending on the timing of regulatory approvals.

This filing represents another example of the company's continuing commitment to additional renewable resources, the addition of efficient generation facilities to be used during peak demand periods, and expanded demand side management programs designed to reduce energy consumption.

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 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.

Certain matters in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, NV Energy’s ability to obtain any necessary local, state and federal regulatory approvals and permits, risks related to construction of transmission lines, changes in the anticipated costs of the projects, the utilities' ability to maintain access to the capital markets to obtain financing on favorable terms, and regulatory treatment of costs associated with constructing and operating the projects. Additional cautionary statements regarding other risk factors that could have an effect on the future performance of NV Energy are contained in the Annual Reports of NV Energy, Inc., Nevada Power Company d/b/a NV Energy and Sierra Pacific Power Company d/b/a NV Energy on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, filed with the SEC. NV Energy undertakes no obligation to release publicly the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.