SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS NOTE 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES The significant accounting policies for both utility and non-utility operations are as follows: Basis of Presentation The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of NV Energy, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, NPC, SPPC, Sierra Pacific Communications, Lands of Sierra, Inc., NVE Insurance Company, Inc. and Sierra Gas Holding Company. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of certain assets and liabilities. These estimates and assumptions also affect the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of certain revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates. In the opinion of the management of NVE, NPC and SPPC, the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements contain normal and recurring adjustments necessary to present fairly the consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods shown. These consolidated financial statements do not contain the complete detail concerning accounting policies and other matters, which are included in full year financial statements; therefore, they should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements included in the 2011 Form 10-K. The results of operations and cash flows of NVE, NPC and SPPC for the three months ended March 31, 2012, are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. Reclassifications Certain financial statement line items for prior periods have been reclassified to conform with current year presentation. The reclassifications have not affected previously reported reports of operations, statements of financial position or shareholders' equity. Accounting Policies Consolidations of VIEs To identify potential variable interests, management reviewed contracts under leases, long-term purchase power contracts, tolling contracts and jointly owned facilities. The Utilities identified certain long-term purchase power contracts that could be defined as variable interests. However, the Utilities are not the primary beneficiary as they primarily lacked the power to direct the activities of the entity, including the ability to operate the generating facilities and make management decisions. The Utilities' maximum exposure to loss is limited to the cost of replacing these purchase power contracts if the providers are unable to deliver power. However, the Utilities believe their exposure is mitigated as they would likely recover these costs through their deferred energy accounting mechanism. As of March 31, 2012, the carrying amount of assets and liabilities in the Utilities' balance sheets that relate to their involvement with VIEs are predominately related to working capital accounts and generally represent the amounts owed by the Utilities for the deliveries associated with the current billing cycle under the contracts. Derivatives and Hedging Activities NVE, NPC and SPPC apply the accounting guidance as required by the Derivatives and Hedging Topic of the FASC. The accounting guidance for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts and for hedging activities, requires that an entity recognize all derivatives as either assets or liabilities in the statement of financial position, measure those instruments at fair value, and recognize changes in the fair value of the derivative instruments in earnings in the period of change, unless the derivative meets certain defined conditions and qualifies as an effective hedge. The accounting guidance for derivative instruments also provides a scope exception for commodity contracts that meet the normal purchases and normal sales criteria specified in the standard. The normal purchases and normal sales exception requires, among other things, physical delivery in quantities expected to be used or sold over a reasonable period in the normal course of business. Contracts that are designated as normal purchases and normal sales are accounted for under deferred energy accounting and not recorded on the consolidated balance sheets of NVE and the Utilities at fair value. As a result of the suspension of the Utilities' hedging program, derivative transactions were immaterial for the period ended March 31, 2012.

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The significant accounting policies for both utility and non-utility operations are as follows:

Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of NV Energy, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, NPC, SPPC, Sierra Pacific Communications, Lands of Sierra, Inc., NVE Insurance Company, Inc. and Sierra Gas Holding Company. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of certain assets and liabilities. These estimates and assumptions also affect the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of certain revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

In the opinion of the management of NVE, NPC and SPPC, the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements contain normal and recurring adjustments necessary to present fairly the consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods shown. These consolidated financial statements do not contain the complete detail concerning accounting policies and other matters, which are included in full year financial statements; therefore, they should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements included in the 2011 Form 10-K.

The results of operations and cash flows of NVE, NPC and SPPC for the three months ended March 31, 2012, are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

Reclassifications

Certain financial statement line items for prior periods have been reclassified to conform with current year presentation. The reclassifications have not affected previously reported reports of operations, statements of financial position or shareholders' equity.

Accounting Policies

Consolidations of VIEs

To identify potential variable interests, management reviewed contracts under leases, long-term purchase power contracts, tolling contracts and jointly owned facilities. The Utilities identified certain long-term purchase power contracts that could be defined as variable interests. However, the Utilities are not the primary beneficiary as they primarily lacked the power to direct the activities of the entity, including the ability to operate the generating facilities and make management decisions. The Utilities' maximum exposure to loss is limited to the cost of replacing these purchase power contracts if the providers are unable to deliver power. However, the Utilities believe their exposure is mitigated as they would likely recover these costs through their deferred energy accounting mechanism. As of March 31, 2012, the carrying amount of assets and liabilities in the Utilities' balance sheets that relate to their involvement with VIEs are predominately related to working capital accounts and generally represent the amounts owed by the Utilities for the deliveries associated with the current billing cycle under the contracts.

Derivatives and Hedging Activities

NVE, NPC and SPPC apply the accounting guidance as required by the Derivatives and Hedging Topic of the FASC. The accounting guidance for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts and for hedging activities, requires that an entity recognize all derivatives as either assets or liabilities in the statement of financial position, measure those instruments at fair value, and recognize changes in the fair value of the derivative instruments in earnings in the period of change, unless the derivative meets certain defined conditions and qualifies as an effective hedge. The accounting guidance for derivative instruments also provides a scope exception for commodity contracts that meet the normal purchases and normal sales criteria specified in the standard. The normal purchases and normal sales exception requires, among other things, physical delivery in quantities expected to be used or sold over a reasonable period in the normal course of business. Contracts that are designated as normal purchases and normal sales are accounted for under deferred energy accounting and not recorded on the consolidated balance sheets of NVE and the Utilities at fair value. As a result of the suspension of the Utilities' hedging program, derivative transactions were immaterial for the period ended March 31, 2012.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for all significant accounting policies of the reporting entity.

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