S-4/A 1 ds4a.htm AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-4 Amendment No. 1 to Form S-4
Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 6, 2006

Registration No. 333-134802

 


SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Amendment No. 1

to

Form S-4

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Under

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

Sierra Pacific Power Company

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

NEVADA

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

4931

(Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code No.)

88-0044418

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

P.O. Box 10100

(6100 Neil Road)

Reno, Nevada 89520-0400, (89511)

(775) 834-4011

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

with a copy to:

Paul J. Kaleta, Esq.

Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

Sierra Pacific Power Company

P.O. Box 10100

(6100 Neil Road)

Reno, Nevada 89520-0400, (89511)

(775) 834-4011

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

with a copy to:

William C. Rogers, Esq.

Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP

Two International Place

Boston, Massachusetts 02110

(617) 248-5000

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale of the securities to the public:    As soon as practicable after this registration statement becomes effective.

If the securities being registered on this Form are being offered in connection with the formation of a holding company and there is compliance with General Instruction G, check the following box.    ¨

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.    ¨

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.    ¨

 


THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a), MAY DETERMINE.

 



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The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not complete the exchange offer and issue and deliver these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and we are not soliciting offers to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

Subject to Completion, Preliminary Prospectus Dated September 6, 2006

PROSPECTUS

LOGO

Exchange Offer

Sierra Pacific Power Company Is Offering To Issue Its

6% General and Refunding Mortgage Notes, Series M, due 2016

(Registered Under the Securities Act of 1933)

In Exchange For Its

6% General and Refunding Mortgage Notes, Series M, due 2016

(Not Registered Under the Securities Act of 1933)

The exchange offer

 

    We will exchange all old notes that are validly tendered and not validly withdrawn for an equal principal amount of new notes.

 

    We are relying on the position of the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission in certain interpretive letters to third parties providing that the new notes will be freely tradable.

 

    You may withdraw tenders of old notes at any time prior to the expiration of the exchange offer.

 

    The exchange offer expires at 5:00 p.m., New York time, on October 10, 2006, unless we extend the offer.

 

    An exchange of old notes for new notes will not constitute a taxable event for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

The new notes

 

    The new notes will:

 

    bear interest at 6% per annum,

 

    mature on May 15, 2016, and

 

    be redeemable, at the option of Sierra Pacific Power Company and at the option of the holders, as described in this prospectus.

 

    The terms of the new notes will be substantially identical to the terms of the old notes issued on March 23, 2006, except that the new notes will not contain terms with respect to restrictions on transfer and will not be entitled to certain registration rights applicable to the old notes.

 

    Like the old notes, the new notes will be secured by the lien of our General and Refunding Mortgage Indenture which covers substantially all of our Nevada properties and is junior to the lien of our First Mortgage Indenture.

 

    There will likely be no public market for the new notes.

You should carefully consider the “ RISK FACTORS” beginning on page 8 of this prospectus before participating in this exchange offer.

Each broker-dealer that receives new notes for its own account pursuant to the exchange offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such new notes. The letter of transmittal states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act. This prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of new notes received in exchange for old notes where such old notes were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. Sierra Pacific Power Company has agreed that, for a period of one year after the Expiration Date (as defined herein), it will make this prospectus available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. See “PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION.”

The Securities and Exchange Commission and state regulators have not approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus is September    , 2006.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

   I

Summary

   1

Risk Factors

   8

Sierra Pacific Power Company

   15

Selected Financial Information

   16

Use Of Proceeds

   17

Certain Relationships With Sierra Pacific Resources And Nevada Power Company

   17

The Exchange Offer

   18

Description Of Notes

   27

Description Of The Indenture

   46

Certain Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences

   56

ERISA Considerations

   61

Plan Of Distribution

   63

Where You Can Find More Information

   64

Incorporation Of Information We File With The Securities And Exchange Commission

   65

Legal Opinions

   66

Experts

   66

THIS PROSPECTUS INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE IMPORTANT BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION ABOUT SIERRA PACIFIC POWER COMPANY. WE ARE PROVIDING TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS PROSPECTUS IS DELIVERED A COPY OF OUR ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2005 AND OUR QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED JUNE 30, 2006. SEE “WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION.” YOU MAY OBTAIN COPIES OF DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO THIS PROSPECTUS FROM US, WITHOUT CHARGE, BY EITHER CALLING OR WRITING TO US AT:

SIERRA PACIFIC POWER COMPANY

P.O. BOX 10100

(6100 NEIL ROAD)

RENO, NEVADA 89520-0440 (89511)

ATTENTION: ASSISTANT TREASURER

TELEPHONE: (702) 367-5000

IN ORDER TO OBTAIN TIMELY DELIVERY, YOU MUST REQUEST DOCUMENTS FROM US NO LATER THAN OCTOBER 2, 2006, WHICH IS FIVE BUSINESS DAYS BEFORE THE EXPIRATION OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER ON OCTOBER 10, 2006.

 


YOU SHOULD RELY ONLY ON THE INFORMATION CONTAINED OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THIS PROSPECTUS OR IN THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL IN CONNECTION WITH THE EXCHANGE OFFER. WE HAVE NOT AUTHORIZED ANY OTHER PERSON TO PROVIDE YOU WITH ANY INFORMATION OTHER THAN THIS PROSPECTUS. IF ANYONE PROVIDES YOU WITH DIFFERENT OR INCONSISTENT INFORMATION, YOU SHOULD NOT RELY ON IT. YOU SHOULD ASSUME THAT THE INFORMATION APPEARING IN THIS PROSPECTUS IS ACCURATE ONLY AS OF THE DATE ON THE FRONT COVER OF THIS PROSPECTUS. OUR BUSINESS, FINANCIAL CONDITION, RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND PROSPECTS MAY HAVE CHANGED SINCE THAT DATE. THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN OFFER TO EXCHANGE THE OLD NOTES FOR THE NEW NOTES, AND IT IS NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER TO EXCHANGE THE OLD NOTES FOR THE NEW NOTES, IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE EXCHANGE OFFER IS NOT PERMITTED.


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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The information in this prospectus includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements relate to anticipated financial performance, management’s plans and objectives for future operations, business prospects, outcome of regulatory proceedings, market conditions and other matters. Words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan” and “objective” and other similar expressions identify those statements that are forward-looking. These statements are based on management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management. Actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. In addition to any assumptions and other factors referred to specifically in connection with such statements, factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in any forward-looking statement include, among others, the following:

 

    unseasonable weather and other natural phenomena, which, in addition to affecting our customers’ demand for power, can have a potentially serious impact on our ability to procure adequate supplies of fuel or purchased power to serve our customers and on the cost of procuring such supplies;

 

    whether we will be able to continue to obtain fuel, power and natural gas from our suppliers on favorable payment terms and favorable prices, particularly in the event of unanticipated power demands (for example, due to unseasonably hot weather), sharp increases in the prices for fuel, power and/or natural gas or a ratings downgrade;

 

    unfavorable or untimely rulings in rate cases filed or to be filed with the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (the “PUCN”), including the periodic applications to recover costs for fuel and purchased power that have been recorded in our deferred energy accounts, and deferred natural gas that we have recorded for our gas distribution business;

 

    our ability to maintain access to the capital markets to support our requirements for working capital, including amounts necessary to finance deferred energy costs, as well as for construction and acquisition costs and other capital expenditures, particularly in the event of unfavorable rulings by the PUCN, a downgrade of our current debt ratings and/or adverse developments with respect to our power and fuel suppliers;

 

    whether we will be able to continue to pay Sierra Pacific Resources dividends under the terms of our financing and credit agreements, our regulatory order from the PUCN and limitations imposed by the Federal Power Act;

 

    wholesale market conditions, including availability of power on the spot market, which affect the prices we have to pay for power as well as the prices at which we can sell any excess power;

 

    the final outcome of our pending lawsuit in Nevada state court seeking to reverse the PUCN’s 2004 decision on our 2003 General Rate case disallowing the recovery of a portion of our costs, expenses and investment in The Piñon Pine Project;

 

    the effect that any future terrorist attacks, wars, threats of war, or epidemics may have on the tourism and gaming industries in Nevada, as well as on the economy in general;

 

    industrial, commercial, and residential growth in our service territories;

 

    the financial decline of any significant customers;

 

    the effect of existing or future Nevada, California or federal legislation or regulations affecting electric industry restructuring, including laws or regulations which could allow additional customers to choose new electricity suppliers or change the conditions under which they may do so;

 

    changes in the business or power demands of our major customers, particularly those engaged in gold mining or gaming, which may result in changes in the demand for our services, including the effect on the Nevada gaming industry of the opening of additional Indian gaming establishments in California and other states;

 

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    changes in environmental laws or regulations, including the imposition of significant new limits on mercury and other emissions from electric generating facilities, such as requirements to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in response to climate change legislation;

 

    the effect that any construction defects or accidents may have on our business, such as the risk of equipment failure, work accidents, fire or explosions, each of which may result in personal injury or loss of life, business interruptions, delay of in-service dates, property and equipment damage, pollution and environmental damage;

 

    changes in tax or accounting matters or other laws and regulations to which we or Sierra Pacific Resources are subject;

 

    future economic conditions, including inflation rates and monetary policy;

 

    financial market conditions, including changes in availability of capital or interest rate fluctuations;

 

    unusual or unanticipated changes in normal business operations, including unusual maintenance or repairs; and

 

    employee workforce factors, including changes in collective bargaining unit agreements, strikes or work stoppages.

Other factors and assumptions not identified above may also have been involved in deriving these forward-looking statements, and the failure of those other assumptions to be realized, as well as other factors, may also cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. We assume no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking statements.

 

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S UMMARY

This summary, which is presented solely to highlight material information with respect to Sierra Pacific Power Company (“Sierra Pacific” or the “Company”), the exchange offer and the new notes, has been selected from the detailed information contained elsewhere in this prospectus (including the documents incorporated by reference). This summary does not contain all of the information that you should consider before making any investment decision. The terms “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Sierra Pacific. You should read the entire prospectus carefully before making any investment decision.

Our Company

We are a regulated public utility primarily engaged in the distribution, transmission, generation, purchase and sale of electric energy and natural gas in Nevada. We have a total generating capacity of 1,045 megawatts of coal and natural gas/oil fired generating plants and provide electricity to approximately 353,000 customers in an area of about 50,000 square miles in western, central and northeastern Nevada, including the cities of Reno, Sparks, Carson City and Elko, and a portion of eastern California, including the Lake Tahoe area. We also provide natural gas service in Nevada to approximately 140,000 customers in an area of about 600 square miles in Nevada’s Reno/Sparks area. Our current operational focus is on enhancing the performance of existing assets, ensuring our liquidity and improving our credit quality. Our long-term strategy is focused on returning our credit quality to investment-grade.

We are a subsidiary of Sierra Pacific Resources, the publicly-traded utility holding company that owns all of our outstanding common stock. Sierra Pacific Resources is also the parent company of Nevada Power Company (“NPC”), the public utility company that provides power to southern Nevada.

 


We are incorporated in Nevada. Our principal executive office is located at 6100 Neil Road, Reno, Nevada 89511 and our telephone number is (775) 834-4011.

 

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The Exchange Offer

On March 23, 2006, we completed a private offering of our 6% General and Refunding Mortgage Notes, Series M, due 2016. In connection with the private offering, we entered into a registration rights agreement with Citigroup Global Markets and UBS Securities LLC, as Representatives of the Initial Purchasers, in which we agreed to file a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 180 days after the date of original issuance of the old notes, with respect to a registered offer to exchange old notes for new notes. Pursuant to the exchange offer, you are entitled to exchange your old notes for new notes that are substantially identical in all material respects to the old notes except that:

 

    the new notes will be registered under the Securities Act of 1933; and

 

    the new notes will not be entitled to certain rights applicable to the old notes under the registration rights agreement.

 

General

We are offering to exchange up to $300 million aggregate principal amount of 6% General and Refunding Mortgage Notes, Series M, due 2016 that have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 for up to $300 million aggregate principal amount of 6% General and Refunding Mortgage Notes, Series M, due 2016 that were issued on March 23, 2006 in a private offering. Old notes may be exchanged in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. We will issue the new notes promptly after the expiration of the exchange offer. See “THE EXCHANGE OFFER.”

 

Expiration Date

The exchange offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York time, on October 10, 2006 unless we decide to extend it. We do not currently intend to extend the expiration date, although we reserve the right to do so, and we have agreed to use our commercially reasonable efforts to commence and complete the exchange offer promptly but no later than January 27, 2007. If extended, the term “expiration date” will mean the latest date and time to which the exchange offer is extended.

 

Resale of New Notes

Based on interpretive letters written by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission to companies other than us, we believe that, subject to certain exceptions, the new notes may generally be offered for resale, resold and otherwise transferred by any holder thereof without compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, provided that such holder

 

    is not our affiliate (as that term is defined under rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933),

 

    is acquiring the new notes in the ordinary course of its business,

 

    is not engaged in, does not intend to engage in, and has no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in, a distribution of the new notes, and

 

    is not prohibited by any law or policy of the Securities and Exchange Commission from participating in the exchange offer.

If our belief is inaccurate, holders of the new notes who offer, resell or otherwise transfer new notes in violation of the Securities Act of

 

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1933 may incur liability under that Act. We will not assume or indemnify holders against this liability.

All participating broker-dealers that receive new notes for their own accounts pursuant to the exchange offer in exchange for old notes that were acquired as a result of market-making or other trading activity must acknowledge that they will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of the new notes. See “PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION.”

 

Conditions to the Exchange Offer

Subject to the terms of our registration rights agreement with Citigroup Global Markets and UBS Securities LLC, as Representatives of the Initial Purchasers of the old notes, we may terminate the exchange offer before the expiration date if we determine that our ability to proceed with the exchange offer could be materially impaired due to

• any legal or governmental action,

• any new law, statute, rule or regulation, or

• any interpretation by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission of any existing law, statute rule or regulation.

See “THE EXCHANGE OFFER — Conditions to the Exchange Offer.”

 

Tender Procedures — Beneficial Owners

If you wish to tender old notes that are registered in the name of a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, you should contact the registered holder promptly and instruct the registered holder to tender on your behalf.

IF YOU ARE A BENEFICIAL HOLDER, YOU SHOULD FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS RECEIVED FROM YOUR BROKER OR NOMINEE WITH RESPECT TO TENDERING PROCEDURES AND CONTACT YOUR BROKER OR NOMINEE DIRECTLY.

 

Tender Procedures — Registered Holders and DTC Participants

If you are a registered holder of old notes and you wish to participate in the exchange offer, you must complete, sign and date the letter of transmittal delivered with this prospectus, or a facsimile thereof. If you are a participant in The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) and you wish to participate in the exchange offer, you must instruct DTC to transmit to the exchange agent a message indicating that you agree to be bound by the terms of the letter of transmittal. You should mail or otherwise transmit the letter of transmittal or facsimile (or DTC message), together with your old notes (in book-entry form if you are a participant in DTC) and any other required documentation to The Bank of New York, as exchange agent.

 

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Withdrawal Rights

You may withdraw tenders of old notes at any time before 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date as provided in “THE EXCHANGE OFFER — Withdrawal of Tenders.” Any old notes not accepted for exchange for any reason will be returned without expense to the tendering holder promptly after the expiration or termination of the exchange offer.

 

Effect on Holders of Old Notes

If you are a holder of old notes and do not tender your old notes in the exchange offer, you will continue to hold the old notes and you will be entitled to all the rights and subject to all the limitations applicable to the old notes in the Indenture, except for any rights under the registration rights agreement that by their terms terminate upon the consummation of the exchange offer.

 

Consequences of Failure to Exchange

All untendered old notes will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer provided for in the old notes. In general, the old notes may not be offered or sold unless registered under the Securities Act of 1933, except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the Securities Act of 1933 and applicable state securities laws. We do not currently anticipate that we will register the old notes under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

Certain Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences

An exchange of old notes for new notes pursuant to the exchange offer will not constitute a taxable event for U.S. federal income tax purposes. See “CERTAIN MATERIAL UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES.”

 

Use of Proceeds

We will not receive any proceeds from the issuance of the new notes in the exchange offer.

 

Exchange Agent

The Bank of New York is the exchange agent for the exchange offer. The address and telephone number of the exchange agent are set forth in this prospectus under “THE EXCHANGE OFFER — Exchange Agent.”

Consequences of Exchanging Old Notes in the Exchange Offer

The following summary is based on interpretations by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission in no action letters issued to third parties. Unless you are an affiliate of Sierra Pacific, generally if you exchange your old notes for new notes in the exchange offer, you may offer those new notes for resale, resell those new notes, and otherwise transfer those new notes without compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act of 1933. However, those new notes must have been acquired by you in the ordinary course of your business. In addition, unless you are a broker-dealer, you must not engage in, intend to engage in or have any arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in, a distribution of new notes.

If you do not exchange your old notes for new notes in the exchange offer, your old notes will continue to be subject to provisions of the indenture under which they were issued regarding transfer and exchange of the old

 

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notes and the restrictions on transfer contained in the legend on the old notes. See “RISK FACTORS” and “THE EXCHANGE OFFER.” If you do not tender your old notes, or do so improperly, you will continue to hold unregistered notes and your ability to transfer such notes will be adversely affected.

The New Notes

The following summary contains basic information about the new notes. It does not contain all the information that may be important to you. For a more complete description of the new notes, please refer to the section of this prospectus entitled “DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES.” The terms of the new notes and the old notes are identical in all material respects, except for:

(1) the transfer restrictions and registration rights relating to the old notes, and

(2) provisions under the registration rights agreements providing for special interest on the old notes under circumstances relating to timing of the exchange offer, which will terminate on completion of the exchange offer.

 

The Issuer

Sierra Pacific Power Company

 

The New Notes

$300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 6% General and Refunding Mortgage Notes, Series M, due 2016

 

Maturity Date

May 15, 2016

 

Interest Payment Dates

May 15 and November 15 of each year, beginning on November 15, 2006

 

Denominations

We will issue the new notes in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 

Optional Redemption

We may redeem the new notes in whole or in part at any time at a redemption price equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of the new notes being redeemed and (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the new notes being redeemed (excluding the portion of any such interest accrued to the date of redemption) discounted (for purposes of determining present value) to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate (as defined below under “DESCRIPTION OF NOTES — Optional Redemption”) plus 30 basis points, plus, in each case, accrued interest thereon to the date of redemption.

 

Change of Control

When a change of control event occurs, each holder of the new notes may require us to repurchase all or a portion of its new notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the new notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any to the date of the repurchase. For more details, see “DESCRIPTION OF NOTES — Repurchase at the Option of Holders Upon Change of Control”

 

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Ranking; Security

The notes will be secured by the lien of the General and Refunding Mortgage Indenture dated as of May 1, 2001, as supplemented to the date hereof (the “Indenture”) between us and The Bank of New York, as trustee, which lien is junior, subject and subordinate to the lien of our Indenture of Mortgage dated as of December 1, 1940 by and between us and U.S. Bank National Association and Gerald R. Wheeler, as successor trustees. See “DESCRIPTION OF NOTES — Security and Ranking” and “DESCRIPTION OF THE INDENTURE — Security.” As of August 28, 2006, we had approximately $289.3 million aggregate principal amount of bonds outstanding under our First Mortgage Indenture. We have agreed not to issue any additional bonds under our First Mortgage Indenture.

The notes will rank equally in right of payment with existing and any future securities issued under our Indenture, and will be senior in right of payment to all of our existing and future subordinated indebtedness. As of August 28, 2006, we had approximately $1.2 billion aggregate principal amount of securities outstanding under our Indenture, which amount includes $350 million of our General and Refunding Mortgage Bonds, Series L, which were issued to secure our $350 million Revolving Credit Facility with Wachovia Bank, N.A.

 

Description of Collateral

The Indenture constitutes a lien on substantially all of our real property and tangible personal property located in the State of Nevada, other than property specifically excepted from such lien. See “DESCRIPTION OF THE INDENTURE — Security — Lien of the Indenture.”

 

Covenants

The new notes will contain covenants that, among other things, will limit our ability and the ability of our subsidiaries to:

 

    create certain liens;

 

    sell assets; and

 

    consolidate, merge or transfer all or substantially all of our assets and the assets of our subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

These covenants are subject to important exceptions and qualifications that are described under the headings “DESCRIPTION OF NOTES —Certain Covenants.”

 

Form of Notes

The new notes initially will be issued in a fully registered book-entry form and will be represented by one or more registered global securities deposited with or on behalf of, and registered in the name of a nominee of The Depository Trust Company.

 

Trustee

The Bank of New York

 

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Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges(1)(2)

Year Ended December 31,

  

Six Months Ended

June 30,

2001

   2002    2003    2004    2005    2005    2006

1.47x

   —      —      1.24x    2.09x    1.70x    1.80x
 

(Dollars in Thousands)

  (1) For the purpose of calculating the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, “Fixed Charges” represent the aggregate of interest charges on short-term and long-term debt, including allowance for borrowed funds used during construction and the portion of rental expense deemed attributable to interest. “Earnings” represents pretax income (or loss) from continuing operations before fixed charges and allowance for borrowed funds used during construction.
  (2) For the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2003, earnings were insufficient to cover fixed charges by $20,317 and $38,788, respectively.

Investment in the new notes involves certain risks. You should carefully read the “RISK FACTORS” section beginning on page 8 of this prospectus before participating in the exchange offer.

 


 

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RISK FACTORS

You should consider carefully all of the information in this prospectus and incorporated by reference in this prospectus. See “WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION.” In particular, you should carefully evaluate the following risks before tendering your old notes in the exchange offer. However, the risk factors set forth below, other than the first risk factor, are generally applicable to the old notes as well as the new notes. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties that are not presently known or that we currently believe to be less significant may also adversely affect us.

Risks Relating to the Exchange Offer

If you do not tender your old notes, or do so improperly, you will continue to hold unregistered notes and your ability to transfer such notes will be adversely affected.

We will only issue new notes in exchange for old notes that are timely received by the exchange agent together with all required documents, including a properly completed and signed letter of transmittal (or agent’s message), as described in this prospectus. Therefore, you should allow sufficient time to ensure timely delivery of the old notes and you should carefully follow the instructions on how to tender your old notes. Neither we nor the exchange agent is required to tell you of any defects or irregularities with respect to your tender of the old notes. If you do not tender your old notes or if we do not accept your old notes because you did not tender your old notes properly, then, after we consummate the exchange offer, you will continue to hold old notes that are subject to the existing transfer restrictions, and you will no longer have any registration rights with respect to the old notes. In addition:

 

    if you tender your old notes for the purpose of participating in a distribution of the new notes, you will be required to comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 in connection with any resale of the new notes; and

 

    if you are a broker-dealer that receives new notes for your own account in exchange for old notes that you acquired as a result of market-making activities or any other trading activities, you will be required to acknowledge that you will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of those new notes.

We have agreed that, for a period of not less than one year after the exchange offer is consummated, we will make a prospectus available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale.

After the exchange offer is consummated, if you continue to hold any old notes, you may have difficulty selling them because there will be fewer old notes outstanding. In addition, if significant amounts of old notes are not tendered or are tendered improperly, the limited amount of new notes that would be issued and outstanding after we consummate the exchange offer could lower the market price of the new notes.

There is no existing market for the new notes, and we cannot assure you that an active trading market will develop.

The new notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. We do not intend to apply for listing of the new notes on any national securities exchange or for quotation of the new notes on any automated dealer quotation system. As a result, we cannot assure you that an active trading market will develop for the new notes.

Risks Relating to Us and Our Business

We may not be able to mitigate fuel and wholesale electricity pricing risks which could result in unanticipated liabilities or increased volatility in our earnings.

Our business and operations are subject to changes in purchased power prices and fuel costs that may cause increases in the amounts we must pay for power supplies on the wholesale market and the cost of producing

 

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power in our generation plants. As evidenced by the western utility crisis that began in 2000, prices for electricity, fuel and natural gas may fluctuate substantially over relatively short periods of time and expose us to significant commodity price risks.

Among the factors that could affect market prices for electricity and fuel are:

 

    prevailing market prices for natural gas, coal, oil and other fuels used in our generation plants, including associated transportation costs, and supplies of such commodities;

 

    changes in the regulatory framework for the commodities markets that we rely on for purchased power and fuel;

 

    liquidity in the general wholesale electricity market;

 

    the actions of external parties, such as the FERC or independent system operators, that may impose price limitations and other mechanisms to address some of the volatility in the western energy markets;

 

    weather conditions impacting demand for electricity or availability of hydroelectric power or fuel supplies;

 

    union and labor relations;

 

    natural disasters, wars, embargoes and other catastrophic events; and

 

    changes in federal and state energy and environmental laws and regulations.

As a part of our risk management strategy, we focus on executing contracts for power deliveries to our physical points of delivery to mitigate the commodity-related risks listed above. To the extent that open positions exist, fluctuating commodity prices could have a material adverse effect on our cash flows and our ability to operate and, consequently, on our financial condition.

Increasing energy commodity prices, particularly with respect to natural gas, have a significant effect on our short-term liquidity. Although we are entitled to recover our prudently incurred power, natural gas and fuel costs through deferred energy rate case filings with the PUCN, if current commodity prices hold or increase, our deferred energy balance will increase, which will negatively affect our cash flow and liquidity until such costs are recovered from customers.

We are also subject to credit risk for losses that we incur as a result of non-performance by counterparties of their contractual obligations to deliver fuel, purchased power, natural gas (for resale) or settlement payments. We often extend credit to counterparties and customers and we are exposed to the risk that we may not be able to collect amounts owed to us. Credit risk includes the risk that a counterparty may default due to circumstances relating directly to it, and also the risk that a counterparty may default due to circumstances that relate to other market participants that have a direct or indirect relationship with such counterparty. Should a counterparty, customer or supplier fail to perform, we may be required to replace existing contracts with contracts at then-current market prices or to honor the underlying commitment.

We are also subject to liquidity risk resulting from the exposure that our counterparties perceive with respect to the possible non-performance by us of our physical and financial obligations under our energy, fuel and natural gas contracts. These counterparties may under certain circumstances, pursuant to our agreements with them, seek assurances of performance from us in the form of letters of credit, prepayment or cash deposits. In periods of price volatility, our exposure level can change significantly, which could have a significant negative impact on our liquidity and earnings.

As of August 28, 2006, we had approximately $8 million letters of credit and no borrowings outstanding under our $350 million Revolving Credit Facility. The combined effects of higher natural gas prices, a significant deferred energy balance and ongoing under-recovery of fuel, energy and natural gas costs may have a negative effect on our short-term liquidity.

 

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If we do not receive favorable rulings in the deferred energy applications that we file with the PUCN and we are unable to recover our deferred purchased power, natural gas and fuel costs, we will experience an adverse impact on cash flow and earnings. Any significant disallowance of deferred energy charges in the future could materially adversely affect our cash flow, financial condition and liquidity.

The rates that we charge our customers and certain aspects of our operations are subject to the regulation of the PUCN, which significantly influences our operating environment and affects our ability to recover costs from our customers. Under Nevada law, purchased power, natural gas and fuel costs in excess of those included in base rates are deferred as an asset on our balance sheet and are not shown as an expense until recovered from our retail customers. We are required to file deferred energy applications with the PUCN at least once every twelve months so that the PUCN may verify the prudence of the energy costs and allow us to clear our deferred energy accounts. Nevada law also requires the PUCN to act on these cases within a specified time period. Any of these costs determined by the PUCN to have been imprudently incurred cannot be recovered from our customers. Past disallowances in our deferred energy cases have been significant.

As of June 30, 2006, our unapproved deferred energy costs, including claims for terminated energy supply contracts, were $34.3 million and our unapproved gas deferred energy costs were approximately $343,000.

Material disallowances of our deferred energy costs, gas costs or inadequate base tariff energy rates would have a significant adverse effect on our financial condition and future results of operations, could cause downgrades of our securities by the rating agencies and could make it more difficult for us to finance operations and construction projects and buy fuel and purchased power from third parties.

If we do not receive favorable rulings in our future general rate cases, it will have a significant adverse effect on our financial condition, cash flows and future results of operations.

Our revenues and earnings are subject to change pursuant to regulatory proceedings known as general rate cases which we file with the PUCN approximately every two years. In our general rate cases, the PUCN establishes, among other things, our recoverable rate base, our return on common equity, overall rate of return, depreciation rates and our cost of capital.

On October 3, 2005, we filed a gas and electric general rate case requesting a $27 million increase in our electric rates, for an overall increase of 3.4%, and a $8.3 million increase in our natural gas rates, for an overall increase of 5.4%. On January 23, 2006, we reduced the amount requested in our electric filing to $3.2 million, for an overall increase of 0.4% in electric rates. On April 26, 2006, the PUCN approved:

 

    electric general revenue decrease of approximately $14 million or 1.5% effective May 1, 2006, a

 

    gas general revenue increase of $4.5 million or 2.3%, effective May 1, 2006, an

 

    electric return on equity and rate of return of 10.6% and 8.96%, respectively, and a

 

    gas return on equity and rate of return of 10.6% and 7.98%, respectively.

We cannot predict what the PUCN will direct in their orders on our pending or future general rate cases. Inadequate base rates would have a significant adverse effect on our financial condition and future results of operations and could cause additional downgrades of our securities by the rating agencies and make it significantly more difficult to finance operations and construction projects and to buy fuel and purchased power from third parties.

 

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Past regulatory decisions significantly adversely affected our liquidity. Adverse regulatory decisions could cause downgrades of our credit ratings which, in turn, could limit our access to the capital markets and make it difficult for us to obtain power necessary for our operations.

On March 29, 2002, the PUCN issued a decision in NPC’s deferred energy rate case disallowing $434 million of its request to recover deferred purchased power and fuel costs through rate increases to its customers. Following this decision by the PUCN, each of Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (“S&P”) and Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) lowered our unsecured debt ratings to below investment grade. As a result of these downgrades, our ability to access the capital markets to raise funds to service our debt obligations and refinance our maturing debt became limited. In addition, because the credit ratings of Sierra Pacific Resources were similarly downgraded, and because of restrictions on our ability to pay dividends on our common stock, Sierra Pacific Resources’ ability to make capital contributions to us became limited. Since that time, we and Sierra Pacific Resources have completed a series of financings that have extended the debt maturities, reduced interest costs, improved our capital structure, increased liquidity and enhanced our credit. As a result, Moody’s improved our credit ratings, S&P changed our credit outlook to “positive” from “negative,” and Fitch Ratings Ltd. (“Fitch”) commenced credit coverage at the equivalent ratings as Moody’s. Currently, Moody’s has our credit rating on “stable” outlook and Fitch has our credit rating on “positive” outlook. We will continue to look for opportunities to improve our financial strength and improve our credit quality. However, any future downgrades would increase our cost of capital and limit our access to the capital markets.

Historically, we have purchased a significant portion of the power that we sell to our customers from power suppliers. If our credit ratings are downgraded, we may experience difficulty entering into new power supply contracts, and to the extent that we must rely on the spot market, we may experience difficulty obtaining such power from suppliers in the spot market in light of our financial condition. In addition, if we experience unexpected failures or outages in our generation facilities, we may need to purchase a greater portion of the power we provide to our customers. If we do not have sufficient funds or access to liquidity to obtain our power requirements, and are unable to obtain power through other means, our business, operations and financial condition will be materially adversely affected.

We plan to make significant capital expenditures to construct new transmission and generating facilities. If we are unable to finance such construction or limit the amount of capital expenditures associated therewith to forecasted levels, our financial condition and results of operation could be adversely affected.

Our long term business objectives include plans to construct new generating and transmission facilities. Such construction will require significant capital expenditures that we may finance through significant additional borrowings under our credit facility, through additional debt financings in private or public offerings or through debt or equity financings by Sierra Pacific Resources. We cannot be sure that we will be able to obtain financing for such capital expenditures on favorable terms, or at all. Neither can we be sure that we will be successful in limiting capital expenditures to planned amounts. Failure to obtain favorable financing arrangements for our planned capital expenditures and to be able to limit such capital expenditures to forecasted amounts would adversely affect our financial condition and results of operation.

Our ability to access the capital markets is dependent on our ability to obtain regulatory approval to do so.

We will need to continue to support working capital and capital expenditures, and to refinance maturing debt, through external financing. We must obtain regulatory approval in Nevada in order to borrow money or to issue securities and will therefore be dependent on the PUCN to issue favorable orders in a timely manner to permit us to finance our operations, construction and acquisition costs and to purchase power and fuel necessary to serve our customers. We cannot assure you that the PUCN will issue such orders or that such orders will be issued on a timely basis.

 

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We have substantial indebtedness that we may be required to refinance. The failure to refinance indebtedness would have an adverse effect on us.

The following is a description of our maturing debt that comes due on or before December 31, 2012.

 

    $320 million of 8.00% General and Refunding Mortgage Notes, Series A, due 2008.

 

    $100 million of 6.25% General and Refunding Mortgage Notes, Series H, due 2012.

 

    $1 million of 6.35% Pollution Control Revenue Bonds, Series 1992B, due 2012.

We also have a $350 million Revolving Credit Facility that terminates on November 4, 2010. As of August 28, 2006, we had approximately $8 million of letters of credit and no borrowings outstanding under this Revolving Credit Facility.

If we do not have sufficient funds from operations to repay our indebtedness at maturity or when otherwise due, we will have to refinance the indebtedness through additional debt financing in private or public offerings. If, at the time of any financing or refinancing, prevailing interest rates or other factors result in higher interest rates on the refinanced debt, the increase in interest expense associated with the refinancing could adversely affect our cash flow, and, consequently, the cash available for payments on our other indebtedness, including the notes. If we are unable to refinance or extend outstanding borrowings on commercially reasonable terms, or at all, we may have to:

 

    reduce or delay capital expenditures planned for replacements, improvements and expansions; and/or

 

    dispose of assets on disadvantageous terms, potentially resulting in losses and adverse effects on cash flow from operating activities.

We cannot assure you that we could effect or implement any of these alternatives on satisfactory terms, if at all. If we are unable to refinance indebtedness as it matures, our cash flow, financial conditions and liquidity could be materially adversely affected.

We may be adversely affected by the financial condition or liquidity problems of our parent, Sierra Pacific Resources, and/or its affiliates. As a wholly-owned subsidiary, we may be adversely affected by Sierra Pacific Resources’ decisions regarding our dividend policy and business and operations.

We are a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sierra Pacific Resources, the parent company of NPC, the public utility that provides power to southern Nevada. As our parent, Sierra Pacific Resources may exercise substantial control over our business and operations, the payment of dividends, our financing and other capital raising activities, mergers or other business combinations, and the acquisition or disposition of assets, among other things.

Sierra Pacific Resources is a holding company with no significant operations of its own. Its cash flows are substantially derived from dividends paid to it by us and by NPC, which are currently utilized to service debt of Sierra Pacific Resources. In the future, subject to various factors to be considered by the Board of Directors of Sierra Pacific Resources, a portion of Sierra Pacific Resources’ cash flow may be used to resume dividend payments on its common stock, with the balance, if any, reinvested in us and NPC as contributions to capital.

We and NPC are subject to restrictions on our ability to pay dividends to Sierra Pacific Resources under the terms of certain of our financing agreements, our PUCN order, our restated articles of incorporation and the Federal Power Act.

Sierra Pacific Resources currently has a substantial amount of debt and other obligations including, but not limited to: $99.1 million of its unsecured 7.803% Senior Notes due 2012; $335 million of its unsecured

 

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8 5/8% Senior Notes due 2014; and $225 million of its unsecured 6.75% Senior Notes due 2017. To satisfy the significant amount of debt service on these obligations, Sierra Pacific Resources may cause us, subject to the restrictions on dividends mentioned above, to pay a significant amount of our cash flow in dividends, thus reducing cash available for operations and potentially increasing our need to borrow money to fund capital expenditures and operations.

We are subject to numerous environmental laws and regulations that may increase our cost of operations, impact or limit our business plans, or expose us to environmental liabilities.

We are subject to extensive federal, state and local statutes, rules and regulations relating to environmental protection. These laws and regulations can result in increased capital, operating, and other costs, particularly with regard to enforcement efforts focused on power plant emissions obligations. These laws and regulations generally require us to obtain and comply with a wide variety of environmental licenses, permits, inspections and other approvals, and may be enforced by both public officials and private individuals. We cannot predict the outcome or effect of any action or litigation that may arise from applicable environmental regulations.

In addition, we may be required to be a responsible party for environmental clean up at sites identified by environmental agencies or regulatory bodies. We cannot predict with certainty the amount or timing of future expenditures related to environmental matters because of the difficulty of estimating clean up costs. There is also uncertainty in quantifying liabilities under environmental laws that impose joint and several liability on all potentially responsible parties. Environmental regulations may also require us to install pollution control equipment at, or perform environmental remediation on, our facilities.

Existing environmental regulations may be revised or new regulations may be adopted or become applicable to us. Revised or additional regulations, which result in increased compliance costs or additional operating restrictions, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations particularly if those costs are not fully recoverable from our customers.

Furthermore, we may not be able to obtain or maintain all environmental regulatory approvals necessary to our business. If there is a delay in obtaining any required environmental regulatory approval or if we fail to obtain, maintain or comply with any such approval, operations at our affected facilities could be halted or subjected to additional costs. Further, at some of our older facilities the cost of installing the necessary equipment may cause us to shut down those generation units.

Our operating results will likely fluctuate on a seasonal and quarterly basis.

Electric power generation is generally a seasonal business. As a result, our operating results in the future will likely fluctuate substantially on a seasonal basis. In addition, we have historically sold less power, and consequently earned less income, when weather conditions in our service areas are milder. Unusually mild weather in the future could diminish our results of operations and harm our financial condition.

War and the threat of terrorism or epidemics may harm our future growth and operating results.

We cannot predict the extent to which future terrorist and war activities, or epidemics, in the United States and elsewhere may affect us, directly or indirectly. In addition, instability in the financial markets as a result of war, terrorism or epidemics may affect our ability to raise capital.

A continued military presence in Iraq or any other military operations may affect our operations in unpredictable ways, such as increased security measures and disruptions of fuel supplies and markets, particularly oil. Uncertainty surrounding retaliatory military strikes or a sustained military campaign may affect our business in unpredictable ways, including disruptions of fuel supplies and markets, and the possibility that

 

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our infrastructure facilities (which includes our pipelines, production facilities, and transmission and distribution facilities) could be direct targets or indirect casualties of an act of terror. War and prolonged military operations may have an adverse effect on the economy in general, which could adversely affect our business, operations and financial condition.

Risks Relating to the Notes

The notes will be junior in right of payment to our obligations under the First Mortgage Indenture.

Under the terms of the Indenture, the lien securing the notes and all other securities issued under the Indenture is junior to the lien of our First Mortgage Indenture. As of August 28, 2006, we had approximately $289.3 million aggregate principal amount of bonds issued and outstanding under our First Mortgage Indenture. In the event of bankruptcy, liquidation, reorganization or other winding-up of our company or upon a default in payment with respect to, or the acceleration of, any indebtedness under our secured debt, our assets that secure our secured debt will be available to pay obligations on the notes only after all indebtedness under the First Mortgage Indenture has been repaid in full from those assets. There may not be sufficient assets remaining to pay amounts due on all the securities then outstanding under the Indenture.

The holders of the notes offered hereby do not have the power, acting alone, to enforce the lien of the Indenture.

If any event of default occurs under the notes, including any breach of a covenant that is still continuing after applicable grace periods, only the holders of a majority in principal amount of all of the then outstanding securities under the Indenture have the power to direct the trustee in its exercise of any trust or power, including its rights to enforce the lien of the Indenture on the collateral securing all those obligations, including the notes offered hereby. As of August 28, 2006, we had approximately $1.2 billion aggregate principal amount of securities outstanding under our Indenture, which amount includes our $350 million General and Refunding Mortgage Bond, Series L, which was issued to secure our $350 million Revolving Credit Facility with Wachovia Bank, N.A. Accordingly, the holders of all of the notes offered hereby do not have the power, acting alone, to enforce the lien of the Indenture.

Moreover, additional securities may be issued under the Indenture on the basis of (i) 70% of net utility property additions, (ii) the principal amount of retired General and Refunding Mortgage bonds, and/or (iii) the principal amount of first mortgage bonds retired after delivery to the indenture trustee of the initial expert’s certificate under the Indenture. On the basis of (i), (ii) and (iii) above and on plant accounting records as of June 30, 2006, we had the capacity to issue approximately $144 million of additional securities under the Indenture. This amount does not reflect the issuance on April 19, 2006 of $100 million General and Refunding Mortgage Bond, Series L, issued to secure the increase of our Revolving Credit Facility from $250 million to $350 million. Although we have capacity to issue additional General & Refunding Mortgage securities on the basis of property additions and retired General and Refunding Mortgage securities and First Mortgage Bonds, the financial covenants contained in certain of our financing agreements limit the amount of additional debt that we may issue and the reasons for which such indebtedness may be issued.

We may be unable to repurchase the notes if we experience a change in control.

We are required, under the terms of the notes, to offer to purchase all of the outstanding notes if we experience a change of control. Our failure to repay holders tendering notes upon a change of control will result in an event of default under the notes. If a change of control were to occur, we cannot assure you that we would have sufficient funds to repay debt outstanding to purchase the notes, or any other securities that we would be required to offer to purchase. We expect that we would require additional financing from third parties to fund any such purchases but we cannot assure you that we would be able to obtain such financing.

 

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SIERRA PACIFIC POWER COMPANY

General

We are a regulated public utility primarily engaged in the distribution, transmission, generation and sale of electric energy and natural gas in Nevada. We have a total generating capacity of 1,045 MW of coal and natural gas/oil fired generating plants and provide electricity to approximately 353,000 customers in an area of about 50,000 square miles in western, central and northeastern Nevada, including the cities of Reno, Sparks, Carson City and Elko, and a portion of eastern California, including the Lake Tahoe area. We also provide natural gas service in Nevada to approximately 140,000 customers in an area of about 600 square miles in Nevada’s Reno/Sparks area. Our current operational focus is on enhancing the performance of existing assets, ensuring our liquidity and improving our credit quality. Our long-term strategy is focused on returning our credit quality to investment-grade.

We are a subsidiary of Sierra Pacific Resources, the publicly-traded utility holding company that owns all of our outstanding common stock. Sierra Pacific Resources is also the parent company of NPC , the public utility that provides power to southern Nevada.

We are incorporated in Nevada. Our principal executive offices are located at 6100 Neil Road, Reno, Nevada 89511 and our telephone number is (775) 834-4011.

 

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SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

The following tables summarize our selected historical financial data, which you should read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our consolidated financial statements and related notes incorporated by reference herein from our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2006, which should be read in their entirety. Our obligations under the notes will not be guaranteed by Sierra Pacific Resources or NPC. The selected financial data have been derived from our consolidated financial statements. The selected financial information as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2005 and June 30, 2006 is unaudited and the selected financial information (other than the Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges) for each year in the five-year period ended December 31, 2005 is audited. The unaudited interim period selected financial data, in our opinion, reflects all adjustments necessary to present fairly the data for such periods. Interim results for the six months ended June 30, 2006 are not necessarily indicative of results that can be expected in future periods.

 

    Year Ended December 31,   Six Months ended
June 30,
    2001   2002     2003     2004   2005   2005   2006
    Dollars in Thousands, except Ratios

Operating Revenues

  $ 1,547,430   $ 1,081,034     $ 1,029,866     $ 1,035,660   $ 1,145,697   $ 543,883   $ 602,816

Operating Income

    78,968     55,292       68,566       111,245     116,304     51,229     54,794

Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations

    22,743     (13,968 )     (23,275 )     18,577     52,074     17,036     22,271

Dividends Declared — Common Stock

    63,000     44,900       18,530       —       23,933         15,972

Dividends Declared — Preferred Stock

    3,900     3,900       3,900       3,900     3,900     1,954     1,954

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges(1)(2)

    1.47x     —         —         1.24x     2.09x     1.70x     1.80x

(1) For the purpose of calculating the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, “Fixed Charges” represent the aggregate of interest charges on short-term and long-term debt, including allowance for borrowed funds used during construction and the portion of rental expense deemed attributable to interest. “Earnings” represents pretax income (or loss) from continuing operations before pre-tax preferred stock dividend requirements, fixed charges and allowance for borrowed funds used during construction.
(2) For the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2003, earnings were insufficient to cover fixed charges by $20,317 and $38,788, respectively.

 

     As of December 31,   

As of

June 30,
2006

     2001    2002    2003    2004    2005   
     Dollars in Thousands

Total Assets

   $ 2,760,770    $ 2,457,516    $ 2,362,469    $ 2,524,320    $ 2,546,301    $ 2,603,783

Long-Term Debt(1)

     925,700      1,016,188      996,200      996,709      994,204      1,094,966

(1) Includes current maturities of long-term debt.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We will not receive any proceeds from the issuance of the new notes. In consideration for issuing the new notes as contemplated in this prospectus, we will receive in exchange old notes in like principal amount, which will be cancelled and as such will not result in any increase in our indebtedness.

The proceeds of the old notes plus available cash, (i) were used to repay $173 million to be borrowed on March 20, 2006 under our $250 million Revolving Credit Facility expiring November 5, 2010 with Wachovia Bank, N.A., to fund the redemption on March 20, 2006 of $110 million aggregate principal amount of our Collateralized Medium-Term 6.95% to 8.61% Series A Notes due 2022 and $58 million aggregate principal amount of our Collateralized Medium-Term 7.10% to 7.14% Series B Notes due 2023, and to pay associated redemption premiums of approximately $4.9 million, (ii) have been and will be used to repay $50 million aggregate principal amount of our Collateralized Medium-Term 6.62% to 6.83% Series C Notes due 2006 at maturity ($30 million of which matures on or before April 1, 2006 and the remaining $20 million of which matures on November 29, 2006), and (iii) will be used to pay approximately $51 million in connection with the redemption of our Series A Preferred Stock on June 1, 2006, which amount includes associated redemption premiums. The remaining approximately $21 million was used for general corporate purposes, including increasing our liquidity.

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS WITH SIERRA PACIFIC RESOURCES

AND NEVADA POWER COMPANY

We are a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sierra Pacific Resources, a holding company that is also the parent company of NPC, the public utility that provides power to southern Nevada. Sierra Pacific Resources has no significant operations of its own. Its cash flows are substantially derived from dividends paid to it by us and by NPC, which are currently utilized to service debt of Sierra Pacific Resources. In the future, a portion of the cash flows of Sierra Pacific Resources may be used to resume dividend payments on its common stock or reinvested in us and in NPC as capital contributions. Currently, we are subject to restrictions on the amount of dividends we may pay to Sierra Pacific Resources under the terms of certain financing agreements, our PUCN order and the Federal Power Act (See Note 10 “Debt Covenant Restriction” in the Notes to financial statements in our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2006).

Many of our officers are also officers of Sierra Pacific Resources and NPC. In addition, all of the members of our board of directors are also directors of Sierra Pacific Resources and NPC. Our board of directors exercises substantial control over our business and operations and makes determinations with respect to, among other things, the following:

 

    payment of dividends;

 

    decisions on financings and our capital raising activities;

 

    mergers or other business combinations; and

 

    acquisition or disposition of assets.

Employees of Sierra Pacific Resources provide certain accounting, treasury, information technology and administrative services to us and to NPC. The costs of those services are allocated among the three companies according to each company’s usage.

Sierra Pacific Resources files a consolidated federal income tax return for itself and its subsidiaries. Current income taxes are allocated based on each entity’s respective taxable income or loss and investment tax credits as if each subsidiary filed a separate return.

 

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THE EXCHANGE OFFER

Purpose and Effect of the Exchange Offer

We are offering to issue our 6% General and Refunding Mortgage Notes, Series M, due 2016, which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) (the “new notes”), in exchange for our 6% General and Refunding Mortgage Notes, Series M, due 2016, which have not been so registered (the “old notes”), as described in this prospectus (the “Exchange Offer”).

The old notes were sold by Citigroup Global Markets, UBS Securities LLC, Banc of America Securities LLC, Barclays Capital Inc., ABN AMRO Incorporated, SG Americas Securities, LLC and Wedbush Morgan Securities Inc. (collectively, the “Initial Purchasers”) on March 23, 2006 to a limited number of institutional investors (the “Purchasers”). In connection with the sale of the old notes, Sierra Pacific and the Initial Purchasers entered into a Registration Rights Agreement, dated March 23, 2006 (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), which requires Sierra Pacific, among other things,

(a) to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to new notes substantially identical in all material respects to the old notes, to use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act and to make an exchange offer for the old notes as discussed below, or

(b) to register the old notes under the Securities Act.

Sierra Pacific is obligated, upon the effectiveness of the exchange offer registration statement referred to in (a) above, to offer the holders of the old notes the opportunity to exchange their old notes for a like principal amount of new notes which will be issued without a restrictive legend and may be reoffered and resold by the holder without restrictions or limitations under the Securities Act. A copy of the Registration Rights Agreement was filed as an exhibit to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006. The Exchange Offer is being made pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement to satisfy Sierra Pacific’s obligations under that agreement. The term “Holder” with respect to the Exchange Offer means any person in whose name old notes are registered on Sierra Pacific’s books, any other person who has obtained a properly completed assignment from the registered holder or any DTC participant whose old notes are held of record by DTC. At the date of this prospectus, the sole Holder of old notes is DTC.

In participating in the Exchange Offer, a Holder is deemed to represent to Sierra Pacific, among other things, that:

(a) the new notes acquired pursuant to the Exchange Offer are being obtained in the ordinary course of business of the person receiving such new notes, whether or not such person is the Holder,

(b) neither the Holder nor any such other person receiving such new notes is engaging in or intends to engage in a distribution of such new notes,

(c) neither the Holder nor any such other person receiving such new notes has an arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution of such new notes, and

(d) neither the Holder nor any such other person receiving such new notes is an “affiliate,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, of Sierra Pacific.

Based on interpretations by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission set forth in no-action letters issued to third-parties, Sierra Pacific believes that the new notes issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be offered for resale and resold or otherwise transferred by any Holder of such new notes (other than any such Holder which is an “affiliate” of Sierra Pacific within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act and except as otherwise discussed below with respect to Holders which are broker-dealers) without compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act, so long as such new notes are acquired in the ordinary course of such Holder’s business and such Holder has no arrangement or understanding

 

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with any person to participate in the distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of such new notes. Any Holder who tenders in the Exchange Offer for the purpose of participating in a distribution of the new notes cannot rely on such interpretation by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission and must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with a secondary resale transaction. Under no circumstances may this prospectus be used for any offer to resell or any resale or other transfer in connection with a distribution of the new notes. In the event that Sierra Pacific’s belief is not correct, Holders of the new notes who transfer new notes in violation of the prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act and without an exemption from registration thereunder may incur liability thereunder. Sierra Pacific does not assume or indemnify Holders against such liability.

Each broker-dealer that receives new notes for its own account in exchange for old notes which were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities must, and must agree to, deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale of such new notes. This prospectus may be used for such purpose. Any such broker-dealer may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act. The foregoing interpretation of the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission does not apply to, and this prospectus may not be used in connection with, the resale by any broker-dealer of any new notes received in exchange for an unsold allotment of old notes purchased directly from Sierra Pacific.

Sierra Pacific has not entered into any arrangement or understanding with any person to distribute the new notes to be received in the Exchange Offer.

The Exchange Offer is not being made to, nor will Sierra Pacific accept tenders for exchange from, Holders of old notes in any jurisdiction in which the Exchange Offer or the acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdiction. See “PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION.”

Terms of the Exchange Offer

Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this prospectus and in the letter of transmittal, we will accept for exchange any old notes properly tendered and not properly withdrawn prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date. Old notes may be tendered only in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. We will issue $1,000 principal amount of new notes in exchange for each $1,000 principal amount of old notes surrendered in the Exchange Offer.

The form and terms of the new notes will be the same as the form and terms of the old notes except the new notes will be registered under the Securities Act while the old notes were not. The new notes will evidence the same debt as the old notes. The new notes will be issued under and entitled to the benefits of the same indenture that authorized the issuance of the old notes, and both the old notes and the new notes will be treated as a single series of debt securities under that indenture.

As of the date of this prospectus, $300,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of the old notes is outstanding. This prospectus, together with the letter of transmittal, is being sent to all Holders of old notes. There will be no fixed record date for determining registered holders of old notes entitled to participate in the Exchange Offer.

We intend to conduct the Exchange Offer in accordance with the provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement, the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Old notes that are not tendered for exchange in the Exchange Offer will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest and will be entitled to the rights and benefits those Holders have under the Indenture. If any tendered old notes are not accepted for exchange because of an invalid tender, the occurrence of certain other events set forth herein or otherwise, certificates for any such unaccepted old notes will be returned, without expense, to the tendering Holder thereof promptly after the expiration date.

 

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We will be deemed to have accepted for exchange properly tendered old notes when we have given oral or written notice of the acceptance to the Exchange Agent. The Exchange Agent will act as agent for the tendering Holders for the purposes of receiving the new notes from Sierra Pacific and delivering new notes to those Holders. Subject to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, we expressly reserve the right to amend or terminate the Exchange Offer, and not to accept for exchange any old notes not previously accepted for exchange, upon the occurrence of any of the conditions specified below under the caption “— Conditions to the Exchange Offer.”

Holders who tender old notes in the Exchange Offer will not be required to pay brokerage commissions or fees, or, subject to the instructions in the letter of transmittal, transfer taxes with respect to the exchange of old notes. We will pay all charges and expenses, other than certain applicable taxes described below, in connection with the Exchange Offer. It is important that you read the “— Fees and Expenses” section below for more details regarding fees and expenses incurred in the Exchange Offer.

Expiration Date; Extensions; Amendments

The term “Expiration Date,” shall mean 5:00 p.m., New York City time on October 10, 2006, unless Sierra Pacific, in its sole discretion, extends the Exchange Offer, in which case the term “Expiration Date” will mean the latest date and time to which the Exchange Offer is extended.

In order to extend the Exchange Offer, we will notify the Exchange Agent of any extension orally or in writing and we will notify the registered Holders of old notes of the extension no later than 9:00 a.m., New York time, on the business day after the previously scheduled Expiration Date.

Sierra Pacific reserves the right, in its sole discretion:

 

    to delay accepting any old notes, to extend the Exchange Offer or to terminate the Exchange Offer if any of the conditions set forth under “— Conditions to the Exchange Offer” below have not been satisfied, by giving oral or written notice of the delay, extension or termination to the Exchange Agent; or

 

    subject to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, to amend the terms of the Exchange Offer in any manner.

Any delay in acceptance, extension, termination or amendment will be followed as promptly as practicable by oral or written notice to the registered Holders of old notes. If we amend the Exchange Offer in a manner that we determine to constitute a material change, we will promptly disclose such amendment in a manner reasonably calculated to inform the Holders of old notes of the amendment. During any of these extensions, all old notes previously tendered will remain subject to the Exchange Offer, and we may accept them for exchange unless they have been previously withdrawn. We will return any old notes that we do not accept for exchange for any reason without expense to their tendering Holder promptly after the expiration or termination of the Exchange Offer.

Without limiting the manner in which we may choose to make public announcements of any delay in acceptance, extension, termination or amendment of the Exchange Offer, we will have no obligation to publish, advertise or otherwise communicate any such public announcement, other than by making a timely release to a financial news service.

Upon satisfaction or waiver of all the conditions to the Exchange Offer, Sierra Pacific will accept, promptly after the Expiration Date, all old notes properly tendered and will issue the new notes promptly after acceptance of the old notes. See “— Conditions to the Exchange Offer.” For purposes of the Exchange Offer, Sierra Pacific will be deemed to have accepted properly tendered old notes for exchange when, as and if Sierra Pacific shall have given oral or written notice thereof of the Exchange Agent.

In all cases, issuance of the new notes for old notes that are accepted for exchange pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be made only after timely receipt by the Exchange Agent of a properly completed and duly executed

 

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letter of transmittal (or facsimile thereof or an Agent’s message in lieu thereof) and all other required documents; provided, however, that Sierra Pacific reserves the absolute right to waive any defects or irregularities in the tender or conditions of the Exchange Offer. If any tendered old notes are not accepted for any reason set forth in the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer or if old notes are submitted for a greater principal amount or a greater principal amount, respectively, than the Holder desires to exchange, then such unaccepted or non-exchange old notes evidencing the unaccepted portion, as appropriate, will be returned without expense to the tendering Holder thereof promptly after the expiration or termination of the Exchange Offer.

Conditions to the Exchange Offer

Notwithstanding any other term of the Exchange Offer, we will not be required to accept for exchange, or exchange any new notes for any old notes, and we may, subject to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, terminate the Exchange Offer before accepting any old notes for exchange, if:

 

    any action or proceeding is instituted or threatened in any court or by or before any governmental agency with respect to the Exchange Offer which, in Sierra Pacific’s reasonable judgment, might materially impair the ability of Sierra Pacific to proceed with the Exchange Offer; or

 

    any law, statute, rule or regulation is proposed, adopted or enacted, or any existing law, statute, rule or regulation is interpreted by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, which, in Sierra Pacific’s reasonable judgment, might materially impair the ability of Sierra Pacific to proceed with the Exchange Offer.

If Sierra Pacific determines in its sole discretion that any of these conditions are not satisfied, Sierra Pacific may:

 

    refuse to accept any old notes and return all tendered old notes to the tendering Holders,

 

    extend the Exchange Offer and retain all old notes tendered prior to the expiration of the Exchange Offer, subject, however, to the rights of Holders who tendered such old notes to withdraw their tendered old notes, or

 

    waive such unsatisfied conditions with respect to the Exchange Offer and accept all properly tendered old notes which have not been withdrawn. If such waiver constitutes a material change to the Exchange Offer, Sierra Pacific will promptly disclose such waiver by means of a prospectus supplement that will be distributed to the registered Holders, and Sierra Pacific will extend the Exchange Offer for a period of five to ten business days, depending upon the significance of the waiver and the manner of disclosure to the registered Holders, if the Exchange Offer would otherwise expire during such five to ten business day period.

In addition, we will not be obligated to accept for exchange the old notes of any Holder that has not made:

 

    the representations described under “— Purpose and Effect of the Exchange Offer,” and

 

    such other representations as may be reasonably necessary under applicable Securities and Exchange Commission rules, regulations or interpretations to make available to us an appropriate form for registration of the new notes under the Securities Act.

The Exchange Offer is not conditioned upon any minimum aggregate principal amount of old notes being tendered for exchange.

These conditions are for our sole benefit and we may assert them regardless of the circumstances that may give rise to them or waive them in whole or in part at any or at various times in our sole discretion. If we fail at any time to exercise any of the foregoing rights, that failure will not constitute a waiver of that right. Each such right will be deemed an ongoing right that we may assert at any time or at various times.

In addition, we will not accept for exchange any old notes tendered, and will not issue new notes in exchange for any of those old notes, if at that time any stop order is threatened or in effect with respect to the

 

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registration statement of which this prospectus constitutes a part or the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.

Procedures for Tendering — Registered Holders and DTC Participants

REGISTERED HOLDERS OF OLD NOTES, AS WELL AS BENEFICIAL OWNERS WHO ARE DIRECT PARTICIPANTS IN DTC, WHO DESIRE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE EXCHANGE OFFER SHOULD FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS SET FORTH BELOW AND IN THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

ALL OTHER BENEFICIAL OWNERS SHOULD FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS RECEIVED FROM THEIR BROKER OR NOMINEE AND SHOULD CONTACT THEIR BROKER OR NOMINEE DIRECTLY. THE INSTRUCTIONS SET FORTH BELOW AND IN THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL DO NOT APPLY TO SUCH BENEFICIAL OWNERS.

Registered Holders

To tender in the Exchange Offer, a Holder must complete, sign and date the letter of transmittal, or facsimile thereof, have the signatures thereon guaranteed if required by the letter of transmittal, and mail or otherwise deliver such letter of transmittal or such facsimile to the Exchange Agent prior to the Expiration Date. In addition certificates for such old notes must be received by the Exchange Agent along with the letter of transmittal.

To be tendered effectively, the letter of transmittal and other required documents must be received by the Exchange Agent at the address set forth below under “— Exchange Agent” prior to the Expiration Date.

The tender by a Holder which is not withdrawn prior to the Expiration Date will constitute an agreement between such Holder and Sierra Pacific in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein and in the letter of transmittal.

THE METHOD OF DELIVERY OF OLD NOTES, THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND ALL OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT IS AT THE ELECTION AND RISK OF THE HOLDER, BUT THE DELIVERY WILL BE DEEMED MADE ONLY WHEN ACTUALLY RECEIVED OR CONFIRMED BY THE EXCHANGE AGENT. INSTEAD OF DELIVERY BY MAIL, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT HOLDERS USE AN OVERNIGHT OR HAND DELIVERY SERVICE. IN ALL CASES, SUFFICIENT TIME SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO ASSURE DELIVERY TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT BEFORE THE EXPIRATION DATE. NO LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL OR OLD NOTES SHOULD BE SENT TO SIERRA PACIFIC POWER COMPANY. HOLDERS MAY REQUEST THEIR RESPECTIVE BROKERS, DEALERS, COMMERCIAL BANKS, TRUST COMPANIES OR NOMINEES TO EFFECT THE ABOVE TRANSACTIONS FOR SUCH HOLDERS.

Signatures on a letter of transmittal or a notice of withdrawal, as the case may be, must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution (as defined below) unless the old notes tendered pursuant thereto are tendered

 

    by a registered Holder who has not completed the box entitled “Special Payment Instructions” or “Special Delivery Instructions” on the letter of transmittal, or

 

    for the account of an Eligible Institution (as defined below).

In the event that signatures on a letter of transmittal or a notice of withdrawal, as the case may be, are required to be guaranteed, such guarantor must be a member firm of a registered national securities exchange or of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in the United States or an “eligible guarantor institution” within the meaning of Rule 17Ad-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) (an “Eligible Institution”).

 

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If the letter of transmittal is signed by a person other than the registered Holder of any old notes listed therein, such old notes must be endorsed or accompanied by a properly completed note power signed by such registered Holder as such registered Holder’s name appears on such old notes.

If the letter of transmittal or any old notes or note or stock powers are signed by trustees, executors, administrators, guardians, attorneys-in-fact, officers of corporations or others acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, such persons should so indicate when signing, and unless waived by Sierra Pacific, evidence satisfactory to Sierra Pacific of their authority to so act must be submitted with the letter of transmittal.

DTC Participants

Any financial institution that is a participant in DTC’s systems may make book-entry delivery of old notes by causing DTC to transfer such old notes into the Exchange Agent’s account at DTC in accordance with DTC’s procedures for transfer. Such delivery must be accompanied by either

 

    the letter of transmittal or facsimile thereof, with any required signature guarantees or

 

    an Agent’s Message (as hereinafter defined),

and any other required documents, and must, in any case, be transmitted to and received by the Exchange Agent at the address set forth below under “— Exchange Agent” prior to the Expiration Date. The Exchange Agent will make a request to establish an account with respect to the old notes at DTC for purposes of the Exchange Offer within two business days after the date of this prospectus.

The term “Agent’s Message” means a message, electronically transmitted by DTC to and received by the Exchange Agent, and forming a part of the Book-Entry Confirmation, which states that DTC has received an express acknowledgment from a Holder of old notes stating that such Holder has received and agrees to be bound by, and makes each of the representations and warranties contained in, the letter of transmittal and, further, that such Holder agrees that Sierra Pacific may enforce the letter of transmittal against such Holder.

Miscellaneous

All questions as to the validity, form, eligibility (including time of receipt), acceptance of tendered old notes and withdrawal of tendered old notes will be determined by Sierra Pacific in its sole discretion, which determination will be final and binding. Sierra Pacific reserves the absolute right to reject any and all old notes not properly tendered or any old notes Sierra Pacific’s acceptance of which would, in the opinion of counsel for Sierra Pacific, be unlawful. Sierra Pacific also reserves the right to waive any defects, irregularities or conditions of tender as to particular old notes. Sierra Pacific’s interpretation of the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer (including the instructions in the letter of transmittal) will be final and binding on all parties. Unless waived, any defects or irregularities in connection with tenders of old notes must be cured within such time as Sierra Pacific shall determine. Although Sierra Pacific intends to notify Holders of defects or irregularities with respect to tenders of old notes, none of Sierra Pacific, the Exchange Agent, or any other person shall incur any liability for failure to give such notification. Tenders of old notes will not be deemed to have been made until such defects or irregularities have been cured or waived. Any old notes received by the Exchange Agent that are not properly tendered and as to which the defects or irregularities have not been cured or waived will be returned by the Exchange Agent to the tendering Holders, unless otherwise provided in the letter of transmittal, promptly following the Expiration Date.

By tendering, each Holder or the Person receiving the new notes, as the case may be, will be deemed to represent to Sierra Pacific that, among other things,

 

    the new notes acquired pursuant to the Exchange Offer are being obtained in the ordinary course of business of the Person receiving such new notes, whether or not such person is the Holder,

 

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    neither the Holder nor any such other Person is engaged or intends to engage in, or has an arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in, the distribution of such new notes, and

 

    neither the Holder nor any such other Person is an “affiliate,” as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act, of Sierra Pacific.

In all cases, issuance of new notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be made only after timely receipt by the Exchange Agent of certificates for the old notes tendered for exchange or a timely Book-Entry Confirmation of such old notes into the Exchange Agent’s account at DTC, a properly completed and duly executed letter of transmittal (or facsimile thereof or Agent’s Message in lieu thereof) and all other required documents. If any tendered old notes are not accepted for any reason set forth in the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer or if old notes are submitted for a greater principal amount than the Holder desires to exchange, such unaccepted or non-exchanged old notes will be returned without expense to the tendering Holder thereof (or, in the case of old notes tendered by book-entry transfer into the Exchange Agent’s account at DTC pursuant to the book-entry transfer procedures described below, such non-exchanged old notes will be credited to an account maintained with DTC) as promptly as practicable after the expiration or termination of the Exchange Offer.

Sierra Pacific reserves the right in its sole discretion to purchase or make offers for any old notes that remain outstanding subsequent to the Expiration Date or, as set forth above under “— Conditions to the Exchange Offer,” to terminate the Exchange Offer and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, purchase old notes in the open market, in privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. The terms of any such purchases or offers could differ from the terms of the Exchange Offer.

Book Entry Transfer

The Exchange Agent will establish an account with respect to the old notes at DTC for purposes of the Exchange Offer within two business days after the date of this prospectus. Any financial institution participant in DTC’s system may make book-entry delivery of old notes by causing DTC to transfer those old notes into the Exchange Agent’s account at DTC in accordance with DTC’s procedures for transfer.

Withdrawal of Tenders

Except as otherwise provided in this prospectus, Holders of old notes may withdraw their tenders at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Expiration Date.

To withdraw a tender of old notes in the Exchange Offer, a written or facsimile transmission notice of withdrawal must be received by the Exchange Agent at its address set forth herein prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Expiration Date. Any such notice of withdrawal must

 

    specify the name of the person having deposited the old notes to be withdrawn (the “Depositor”),

 

    identify the old notes to be withdrawn (including the certificate number, unless tendered by book-entry transfer),

 

    be signed by the Holder in the same manner as the original signature on the letter of transmittal by which such old notes were tendered (including any required signature guarantees) or be accompanied by documents of transfer sufficient to have the Trustees with respect to the old notes register the transfer of such old notes in the name of the person withdrawing the tender, and

 

    specify the name in which any such old notes are to be registered, if different from that of the Depositor. If old notes have been tendered pursuant to book-entry transfer, any notice of withdrawal must specify the name and number of the account at DTC to be credited with the withdrawn old notes, in which case a notice of withdrawal will be effective if delivered to the Exchange Agent by any method of delivery described in this paragraph.

 

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All questions as to the validity, form and eligibility (including time of receipt) of such notice will be determined by Sierra Pacific, whose determination shall be final and binding on all parties. Any old notes so withdrawn will be deemed not to have been validly tendered for purposes of the Exchange Offer and will be returned to the Holder thereof without cost to such Holder promptly after withdrawal; and no new notes will be issued with respect thereto unless the old notes so withdrawn are validly retendered. Properly withdrawn old notes may be retendered by following one of the procedures described above under “— Procedures for Tendering” at any time prior to the Expiration Date.

Exchange Agent

The Bank of New York has been appointed as Exchange Agent for the Exchange Offer. You should direct requests for additional copies of this prospectus or of the letter of transmittal to the Exchange Agent addressed as follows:

The Bank of New York

Corporate Trust Operations

Reorganization Unit

101 Barclay Street, 7 East

New York, NY 10286

Attn: Randolph Holder

By Telephone: (212) 815-5098

By Facsimile: (212) 298-1915

Fees and Expenses

We will bear the expenses of soliciting tenders. The principal solicitation is being made by mail and overnight courier. However, where permitted by applicable law, we may make additional solicitations by facsimile, telephone email, or in person by our officers and regular employees and those of our affiliates.

We have not retained any dealer-manager in connection with the Exchange Offer and will not make any payments to broker-dealers or others soliciting acceptances of the Exchange Offer. We will, however, pay the Exchange Agent reasonable and customary fees for its services and reimburse it for its related reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in connection therewith.

Our expenses in connection with the Exchange Offer are estimated in the aggregate to be approximately $100,000 and include, among other things:

 

    Securities and Exchange Commission registration fees;

 

    fees and expenses of the Exchange Agent and the Trustee;

 

    accounting and legal fees and printing costs; and

 

    related fees and expenses.

Transfer Taxes

We will pay all transfer taxes, if any, applicable to the exchange of old notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer. The tendering Holder, however, will be required to pay any transfer taxes (whether imposed on the registered Holder or any other person) if:

 

    certificates representing old notes for principal amounts not tendered or accepted for exchange are to be delivered to, or are to be issued in the name of, any person other than the registered Holder of old notes tendered;

 

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    tendered old notes are registered in the name of any person other than the person signing the letter of transmittal; or

 

    transfer tax is imposed for any reason other than the exchange of old notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer.

If satisfactory evidence of payment of those taxes is not submitted with the letter of transmittal, the amount of those transfer taxes will be billed to such tendering Holder.

Consequences of Failure to Exchange

Holders of old notes who do not exchange their old notes for new notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer will remain subject to the restrictions on transfer applicable to the old notes as set forth in the offering memorandum distributed in connection with the private offering of the old notes.

In general, you may not offer or sell the old notes unless they are registered under the Securities Act, or if the offer or sale is exempt from registration under, or not subject to, the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. Except as required by the Registration Rights Agreement, we do not intend to register resales of the old notes under the Securities Act. Based on interpretations of the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Sierra Pacific believes that new notes issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be offered for resale, resold or otherwise transferred by their holders (other than any such Holder that is our “affiliate” within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act) without compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act, provided that such Holders acquired the new notes in the ordinary course of the Holders’ business and the Holders have no arrangement or understanding with respect to the distribution of the new notes to be acquired in the Exchange Offer. Any Holder who tenders in the Exchange Offer for the purpose of participating in a distribution of the new notes:

 

    could not rely on the applicable interpretations of the Securities and Exchange Commission; and

 

    must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any secondary resale transaction of the new notes.

After the Exchange Offer is consummated, if you continue to hold any old notes, you may have difficulty selling them because there will be fewer old notes outstanding. In addition, if a large amount of old notes are not tendered or are tendered improperly, the limited amount of new notes that would be issued and outstanding after we consummate the Exchange Offer could lower the market price of the new notes.

Accounting Treatment

We will record the new notes in our accounting records at the same carrying value as the old notes, as reflected in our accounting records on the date of exchange. Accordingly, we will not recognize any gain or loss for accounting purposes in connection with the Exchange Offer.

Other

Participation in the Exchange Offer is voluntary, and you should carefully consider whether to accept. You are urged to consult your financial and tax advisors in making your own decision on what action to take.

We may in the future seek to acquire untendered old notes in open market or privately negotiated transactions, through subsequent Exchange Offers or otherwise. We have no present plans to acquire any old notes that are not tendered in the Exchange Offer or to file a registration statement to permit resales of any untendered old notes.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF NOTES

You can find the definitions of certain terms used in this description under the subheading “Certain Definitions.” In this description, the word “Sierra Pacific” refers only to Sierra Pacific Power Company and not to any of its subsidiaries.

General

The old notes were issued under the General and Refunding Mortgage Indenture, dated as of May 1, 2001, as amended and supplemented to the date hereof (the “Indenture”), between Sierra Pacific Power Company and The Bank of New York, as trustee (the “Trustee”), pursuant to an officer’s certificate establishing the terms of the notes (the “Officer’s Certificate”) in a private transaction not subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The old notes and the new notes are sometimes collectively called the “notes” and individually a “note.” The terms of the notes include those stated in the Officer’s Certificate and the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.

The following description is a summary of the material terms of the notes as set forth in the Officer’s Certificate and the registration rights agreement entered into in connection with the issuance and sale of the notes. A summary of the provisions of the Indenture can be found under “Description of the Indenture.” The summaries do not restate the applicable documents and agreements in their entirety. Copies of the Indenture, the Officer’s Certificate and the registration rights agreement are available to prospective purchasers of the notes upon request. We urge you to read the Indenture, the Officer’s Certificate and the registration rights agreement because they, and not this description, define your rights as holders of the notes. Certain defined terms used in this description but not defined below under “— Certain Definitions” have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture and the Officer’s Certificate.

As hereinafter discussed, the Indenture provides that, in addition to the notes, other debt securities may be issued thereunder on the basis of Property Additions, Retired Securities or cash deposited with the trustee. See “Description of the Indenture — Issuance of Additional Indenture Securities.”

The old notes were originally offered in an aggregate principal amount of $300,000,000. The new notes are being offered in the same aggregate principal amount and on the same terms and conditions as the old notes.

The registered holder of a note will be treated as the owner of it for all purposes. Only registered holders will have rights under the Officer’s Certificate and the Indenture.

Brief Description of the Notes

The notes:

 

    are general obligations of Sierra Pacific;

 

    are secured by the lien of the Indenture, which lien is junior to the lien of the First Mortgage Indenture;

 

    are senior in right of payment to all existing and any future subordinated Indebtedness of Sierra Pacific; and

 

    are equal in right of payment to all existing and any future senior Indebtedness of Sierra Pacific, although junior in terms of priority of lien to the bonds outstanding under the First Mortgage Indenture.

Principal, Maturity and Interest

Sierra Pacific may issue additional notes of the same series having the same terms as the notes offered hereby (except as to public offering price and date of issue) from time to time after this offering. The notes and

 

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any additional notes of the same series having the same terms as the notes offered hereby subsequently issued under the Indenture will be treated as a single class for all purposes under the Indenture, including, without limitation, waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase. Sierra Pacific will issue notes in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000. The notes will mature on May 15, 2016.

Interest on the notes will accrue at the rate of 6% per annum and will be payable semi-annually in arrears on May 15 and November 15, commencing on November 15, 2006. Sierra Pacific will make each interest payment to the holders of record on the immediately preceding May 1 and November 1.

Interest on the notes will accrue from the date of original issuance or, if interest has already been paid, from the date it was most recently paid. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

Methods of Receiving Payments on the Notes

If a holder has given wire transfer instructions to Sierra Pacific prior to the fifth day preceding the record date, Sierra Pacific will pay all principal, interest and premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, on that holder’s notes in accordance with those instructions. All other payments on notes will be made at the office or agency of the paying agent and registrar within the City and State of New York unless Sierra Pacific elects to make interest payments by check mailed to the holders at their address set forth in the register of holders.

Paying Agent and Registrar for the Notes

The trustee will initially act as paying agent and registrar. Sierra Pacific may change the paying agent or registrar without prior notice to the holders of the notes, and Sierra Pacific or any of its Subsidiaries may act as paying agent or registrar.

Transfer and Exchange

A holder may transfer or exchange notes in accordance with the Indenture. The registrar and the trustee may require a holder to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents in connection with a transfer of notes. Holders may be required to pay any taxes due on transfer. Sierra Pacific is not required to transfer or exchange any note selected for redemption. Also, Sierra Pacific is not required to transfer or exchange any note for a period of 15 days before the selection of notes to be redeemed.

Security and Ranking

The notes are senior obligations of Sierra Pacific and rank equally in right of payment with all existing and future senior obligations of Sierra Pacific and rank senior in right of payment to all subordinated obligations of Sierra Pacific. The notes are secured to the extent set forth under “Description of the Indenture — Security.” The notes are junior in terms of priority of lien to obligations under the First Mortgage Indenture since the collateral securing the notes and all other securities issued under the Indenture also secures all obligations under the First Mortgage Indenture, and the lien of the Indenture on such collateral is junior, subject and subordinate to the prior lien of the First Mortgage Indenture. As of August 28, 2006, approximately $289.3 million aggregate principal amount of bonds were issued and outstanding under the First Mortgage Indenture. As of August 28, 2006, Sierra Pacific had approximately $1.2 billion aggregate principal amount of securities outstanding under its Indenture.

Optional Redemption

Sierra Pacific may redeem the notes at its option at any time, either in whole or in part at a redemption price equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of the notes being redeemed and (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the notes being redeemed

 

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(excluding the portion of any such interest accrued to the date of redemption) discounted (for purposes of determining present value) to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate (as defined below) plus 30 basis points, plus, in each case, accrued interest thereon to the date of redemption.

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the notes that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of the notes.

“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any redemption date, (1) the average of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) on the third business day preceding such redemption date, as set forth in the daily statistical release (or any successor release) published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and designated “Composite 3:30 p.m. Quotations for U.S. Government Securities” or (2) if such release (or any successor release) is not published or does not contain such prices on such third business day, the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation for such redemption date.

“Independent Investment Banker” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by us.

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means a primary U.S. Government Securities Dealer selected by us.

“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation” means, with respect to the Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the Independent Investment Banker, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Independent Investment Banker by such Reference Treasury Dealer at or before 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third business day preceding such redemption date.

“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per year equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date.

If less than all of the notes are to be redeemed at any time, the trustee will select notes for redemption as follows:

(1) if the notes are listed on any national securities exchange, in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange on which the notes are listed; or

(2) if the notes are not listed on any national securities exchange, on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such method as the trustee deems fair and appropriate.

No notes of $1,000 principal amount or less can be redeemed in part. Notices of redemption will be mailed by first class mail at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each holder of notes to be redeemed at its registered address, except that redemption notices may be mailed more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the notes or a satisfaction and discharge of the notes under the Indenture. Notices of redemption may not be conditional.

If any note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to that note will state the portion of the principal amount of that note that is to be redeemed. A new note in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the original note will be issued in the name of the holder of notes upon cancellation of the original note. Notes called for redemption become due on the date fixed for redemption. On and after the redemption date, interest ceases to accrue on notes or portions of them called for redemption.

 

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Redemption at Option of Holders

Upon the occurrence of any of the following events (the “Triggering Events”):

(1) failure for 30 days to pay when due interest on or Liquidated Damages with respect to, the notes;

(2) failure to pay when due the principal of, or premium, if any, on the notes;

(3) failure by Sierra Pacific or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to comply with the provisions described under the caption “— Certain Covenants — Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets”;

(4) failure by Sierra Pacific or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for 30 days after notice to comply with the provisions described under the caption “— Repurchase at the Option of Holders Upon Change of Control”;

(5) failure by Sierra Pacific or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries for 60 days after notice to comply with any of the other agreements in the Officer’s Certificate or the notes;

(6) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by Sierra Pacific or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by Sierra Pacific or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists, or is created after the original issue date of the notes, if that default:

(a) is caused by a failure to pay principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on such Indebtedness prior to the expiration of the grace period provided in such Indebtedness on the date of such default (a “Payment Default”); or

(b) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express maturity,

and, in each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $15.0 million or more;

(7) failure by Sierra Pacific or any of its Subsidiaries to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $15.0 million, which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 60 days; or

(8) an event of default under the First Mortgage Indenture (other than any such matured event of default which (i) is of similar kind or character to the Triggering Event described in (3) or (5) above and (ii) has not resulted in the acceleration of the securities outstanding under the First Mortgage Indenture); provided, however, that, anything in the Officer’s Certificate to the contrary notwithstanding, the waiver or cure of such event of default under the First Mortgage Indenture and the rescission and annulment of the consequences thereof under the First Mortgage Indenture shall constitute a cure of the corresponding Triggering Event and a rescission and annulment of the consequences thereof,

the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding notes may deliver a notice to Sierra Pacific requiring Sierra Pacific to redeem the notes immediately, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the notes to the date of redemption.

The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the notes then outstanding by notice to Sierra Pacific and the trustee may on behalf of the holders of all of the notes waive any existing Triggering Event and its consequences except a continuing Triggering Event related to the payment of interest or Liquidated Damages on, or the principal of, the notes.

In the case of any Triggering Event occurring by reason of any willful action or inaction taken or not taken by or on behalf of Sierra Pacific with the intention of avoiding payment of the premium that Sierra Pacific would have had to pay if Sierra Pacific then had elected to redeem the notes pursuant to the provisions of the Officer’s

 

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Certificate relating to redemption at the option of Sierra Pacific, an equivalent premium will also become and be immediately due and payable to the extent permitted by law upon the redemption of the notes at the option of the holders.

Sierra Pacific is required to deliver to the trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the Indenture. Upon becoming aware of any Triggering Event, Sierra Pacific is required to deliver to the trustee a statement specifying such Triggering Event.

Mandatory Redemption

Except as provided in the next paragraph, or under “Redemption at the Option of Holders” above, Sierra Pacific is not required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the notes.

In the event of certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to Sierra Pacific, any Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, Sierra Pacific will be required to redeem the notes immediately, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the notes to the date of redemption, without further action or notice on the part of the trustee or the holders of the notes.

Repurchase at the Option of Holders Upon Change of Control

If a Change of Control occurs, each holder of notes will have the right to require Sierra Pacific to repurchase all or any part (equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000) of that holder’s notes pursuant to a Change of Control Offer on the terms set forth in the Officer’s Certificate. In the Change of Control Offer, Sierra Pacific will offer a Change of Control Payment in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of notes repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, on the notes repurchased, to the date of purchase. Within ten days following any Change of Control, Sierra Pacific will mail a notice to each holder describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control and offering to repurchase notes on the Change of Control Payment Date specified in the notice, which date will be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed, pursuant to the procedures required by the Officer’s Certificate and described in such notice.

On the Change of Control Payment Date, Sierra Pacific will, to the extent lawful:

(1) accept for payment all notes or portions of notes properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer;

(2) deposit with the paying agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all notes or portions of notes properly tendered; and

(3) deliver or cause to be delivered to the trustee the notes properly accepted together with an officer’s certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of notes or portions of notes being purchased by Sierra Pacific.

The paying agent will promptly mail to each holder of notes properly tendered the Change of Control Payment for such notes, and the trustee will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to each holder a new note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the notes surrendered, if any; provided that each new note will be in a principal amount of $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000.

Sierra Pacific will publicly announce the results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Change of Control Payment Date.

 

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Sierra Pacific will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the notes as a result of a Change of Control. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control provisions of the Officer’s Certificate, Sierra Pacific will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the Change of Control provisions of the Indenture by virtue of such conflict.

Sierra Pacific’s future agreements governing its Indebtedness, including Indebtedness issued under or secured by the Indenture, may prohibit Sierra Pacific from purchasing any notes in the event of a Change of Control, and may also provide that a Change of Control would constitute a default or require repayment of the Indebtedness under these agreements, which, if such Indebtedness were issued under or secured by the Indenture, could result in a default under the Indenture. In the event a Change of Control occurs at a time when Sierra Pacific is prohibited from purchasing notes, Sierra Pacific could seek the consent of its lenders or its security holders to the purchase of notes or could attempt to refinance the borrowings that contain the prohibition. If Sierra Pacific does not obtain such a consent or repay those borrowings, Sierra Pacific will remain prohibited from purchasing notes. In such case, Sierra Pacific’s failure to comply with the foregoing provisions would constitute a Triggering Event, which, if not complied with, would constitute an Event of Default under the Indenture which would, in turn, constitute a default under such agreements governing its Indebtedness.

The provisions described above that require Sierra Pacific to make a Change of Control Offer following a Change of Control will be applicable whether or not any other provisions of the Officer’s Certificate are applicable. Except as described above with respect to a Change of Control, the Officer’s Certificate does not contain provisions that permit the holders of the notes to require that Sierra Pacific repurchase or redeem the notes in the event of a takeover, recapitalization or similar transaction.

Sierra Pacific will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in the Officer’s Certificate applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by Sierra Pacific and purchases all notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under the Change of Control Offer.

The definition of Change of Control includes a phrase relating to the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of “all or substantially all” of the properties or assets of Sierra Pacific and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. Although there is a limited body of case law interpreting the phrase “substantially all,” there is no precise established definition of the phrase under applicable law. Accordingly, the ability of a holder of notes to require Sierra Pacific to repurchase its notes as a result of a sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of less than all of the assets of Sierra Pacific and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole to another Person or group may be uncertain.

Certain Covenants

In addition to the covenants described under “Description of the Indenture” below, the terms of the notes include the covenants described below. These covenants will apply unless the holders of a majority in principal amount of the notes offered hereby consent otherwise and will remain in effect only so long as any of these notes are outstanding:

Liens

Sierra Pacific will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any Lien of any kind securing Indebtedness, Attributable Debt or trade payables on any of their property or assets, now owned or hereafter acquired, except Permitted Liens.

 

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Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets

Sierra Pacific may not, directly or indirectly: (1) consolidate or merge with or into another Person (whether or not Sierra Pacific is the surviving corporation); or (2) sell, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of Sierra Pacific and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole, in one or more related transactions, to another Person; unless:

(1) either: (a) Sierra Pacific is the surviving corporation; or (b) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than Sierra Pacific) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition has been made is a corporation organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia;

(2) (a) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than Sierra Pacific) or the Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition has been made assumes all the obligations of Sierra Pacific under the notes, the Indenture and the registration rights agreement pursuant to agreements reasonably satisfactory to the trustee; and (b) such Person executes and delivers to the trustee a supplemental indenture that contains a grant, conveyance, transfer and mortgage by such Person confirming the lien of the Indenture on the property subject to such lien and subjecting to such lien all property thereafter acquired by such Person that shall constitute an improvement, extension or addition to the property subject to the lien of the Indenture or renewal, replacement or substitution of or for any part thereof and, at the election of such Person, subjecting to the lien of the Indenture such other property then owned or thereafter acquired by such Person as such Person shall specify;

(3) immediately after such transaction no Default or Event of Default exists; and

(4) Sierra Pacific, or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than Sierra Pacific), or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition has been made, will have delivered to the trustee an officer’s certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that such transaction and any supplemental indenture entered into in connection therewith complies with all of the terms of this covenant and that all conditions precedent provided for in this covenant relating to such transaction or series of transactions have been complied with.

In addition, Sierra Pacific may not, directly or indirectly, lease all or substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related transactions, to any other Person. Clause (4) under this “Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets” covenant will not apply to a sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of assets between or among Sierra Pacific and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

Future Subsidiary Guarantees

Sierra Pacific will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to guarantee the payment of any Indebtedness of Sierra Pacific unless (i) such Restricted Subsidiary simultaneously executes and delivers to the trustee a Subsidiary Guarantee of such Restricted Subsidiary except that with respect to a guarantee of Indebtedness of Sierra Pacific if such Indebtedness is by its express terms subordinated in right of payment to the notes, any such guarantee of such Restricted Subsidiary with respect to such Indebtedness shall be subordinated in right of payment to such Restricted Subsidiary’s Subsidiary Guarantee with respect to the notes substantially to the same extent as such Indebtedness is subordinated to the notes; (ii) such Restricted Subsidiary waives and will not in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any rights or reimbursement, indemnity or subrogation or any other rights against Sierra Pacific or any other Restricted Subsidiary as a result of any payment by such Restricted Subsidiary under its Subsidiary Guarantee of the notes; and (iii) such Restricted Subsidiary shall deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that (A) such Subsidiary Guarantee has been duly executed and authorized and (B) such Subsidiary Guarantee constitutes a valid, binding and enforceable obligation of such Restricted Subsidiary, except insofar as enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws (including, without limitation, all laws relating to fraudulent transfers) and except insofar as enforcement thereof is subject to general principles of equity; provided that this paragraph

 

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shall not be applicable to any guarantee of any Restricted Subsidiary that (A) existed at the time such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary of Sierra Pacific and (B) was not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of Sierra Pacific.

Notwithstanding the foregoing and the other provisions of the Officer’s Certificate, in the event a Subsidiary Guarantor is sold or disposed of (whether by merger, consolidation, the sale of its Capital Stock or the sale of all or substantially all of its assets (other than by lease) and whether or not the Subsidiary Guarantor is the surviving corporation in such transaction) to a Person which is not Sierra Pacific or a Restricted Subsidiary of Sierra Pacific (other than a Receivables Entity), such Subsidiary Guarantor will be released from its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee if:

(1) the sale or other disposition is in compliance with the applicable provisions of the Officer’s Certificate; and

(2) the Subsidiary Guarantor is also released or discharged from its obligations under the guarantee, which resulted in the creation of such Subsidiary Guarantee, except by or as a result of payment under such guarantee.

Sale and Leaseback Transactions

Sierra Pacific will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into any sale and leaseback transaction; provided that Sierra Pacific or any Restricted Subsidiary may enter into a sale and leaseback transaction if the gross cash proceeds of that sale and leaseback transaction are at least equal to the fair market value, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors and set forth in an officer’s certificate delivered to the trustee, of the property that is the subject of that sale and leaseback transaction.

Payments for Consent

Sierra Pacific will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration to or for the benefit of any holder of notes for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms or provisions of the Officer’s Certificate or the notes unless such consideration is offered to be paid and is paid to all holders of the notes that consent, waive or agree to amend in the time frame set forth in the solicitation documents relating to such consent, waiver or agreement.

Covenant Defeasance

Sierra Pacific may, at its option and at any time, elect to have the obligations of Sierra Pacific released with respect to certain covenants that are described in the Officer’s Certificate (“Covenant Defeasance”) and thereafter any omission to comply with those covenants will not constitute a Triggering Event. In the event Covenant Defeasance occurs, certain events described above under “— Redemption at Option of Holders” will no longer constitute a Triggering Event.

In order to exercise Covenant Defeasance:

(1) Sierra Pacific must irrevocably deposit with the trustee or any paying agent (other than Sierra Pacific), in trust for the benefit of the holders of the notes: (a) money (including Funded Cash (as defined in the Indenture) not otherwise applied pursuant to the Indenture) in an amount which will be sufficient, or (b) Eligible Obligations which do not contain provisions permitting the redemption or other prepayment thereof at the option of the issuer thereof, the principal of and the interest on which when due, without any regard to reinvestment thereof, will provide monies which, together with the money, if any, deposited with or held by the trustee or such paying agent, will be sufficient, or (c) a combination of (a) and (b) which will be sufficient, to pay when due the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, and Liquidated Damages, if any, due and to become due on the notes or portions thereof. For this purpose, “Eligible

 

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Obligations” include direct obligations of, or obligations unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States of America, entitled to the benefit of the full faith and credit thereof, and certificates, depositary receipts or other instruments that evidence a direct ownership interest in such obligations or in any specific interest or principal payments due in respect thereof;

(2) Sierra Pacific shall have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel confirming that the holders of the outstanding notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

(3) no Triggering Event shall have occurred and is continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Triggering Event arising from the breach of a covenant under the Officer’s Certificate resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit);

(4) such Covenant Defeasance will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under any material agreement or instrument (other than the Officer’s Certificate) to which Sierra Pacific or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which Sierra Pacific or any of its Subsidiaries is bound;

(5) Sierra Pacific must deliver to the trustee an officer’s certificate stating that the deposit was not made by Sierra Pacific with the intent of preferring the holders of notes over the other creditors of Sierra Pacific with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding creditors of Sierra Pacific or others; and

(6) Sierra Pacific must deliver to the trustee an officer’s certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent relating to the Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.

Book-Entry, Delivery and Form

We expect that the new notes will initially be issued in the form of one or more Global Notes (the “Global Notes”). The Global Notes will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) and registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of DTC (such nominee being referred to herein as the “Global Note Holder”).

DTC has advised Sierra Pacific that DTC is a limited-purpose trust company created to hold securities for its participating organizations (collectively, the “Participants”) and facilitates the clearance and settlement of transactions in those securities between Participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of its Participants. The Participants include securities brokers and dealers (including the Initial Purchasers), banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. Access to DTC’s system is also available to other entities such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Participant, either directly or indirectly (collectively, the “Indirect Participants”). Persons who are not Participants may beneficially own securities held by or on behalf of DTC only through the Participants or the Indirect Participants. The ownership interests in, and transfers of ownership interests in, each security held by or on behalf of DTC are recorded on the records of the Participants and Indirect Participants.

DTC has also advised Sierra Pacific that, pursuant to procedures established by it:

(1) upon deposit of the Global Notes, DTC will credit the accounts of Participants designated by the Initial Purchasers with portions of the principal amount of the Global Notes; and

(2) ownership of these interests in the Global Notes will be shown on, and the transfer of ownership of these interests will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC (with respect to the Participants) or by the Participants and the Indirect Participants (with respect to other owners of beneficial interest in the Global Notes).

Prospective purchasers are advised that the laws of some states require that certain Persons take physical delivery in definitive form of securities that they own. Consequently, the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a Global Note to such Persons will be limited to such extent.

 

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So long as the Global Note Holder is the registered owner of any notes, the Global Note Holder will be considered the sole holder under the Indenture of any notes evidenced by the Global Notes.

Beneficial owners of notes evidenced by the Global Notes will not be considered the owners or holders of the notes under the Indenture for any purpose, including with respect to the giving of any directions, instructions or approvals to the trustee thereunder. Neither Sierra Pacific nor the trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records of DTC or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records of DTC relating to the notes.

More information about DTC can be found at www.dtcc.com.

Payments in respect of the principal of, and interest and premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, on a Global Note registered in the name of the Global Note Holder on the applicable record date will be payable by the trustee to or at the direction of the Global Note Holder in its capacity as the registered holder under the Indenture. Under the terms of the Indenture, Sierra Pacific and the trustee will treat the Persons in whose names the notes, including the Global Notes, are registered as the owners of the notes for the purpose of receiving payments and for all other purposes. Consequently, neither Sierra Pacific, the trustee nor any agent of Sierra Pacific or the trustee has or will have any responsibility or liability for:

(1) any aspect of DTC’s records or any Participant’s or Indirect Participant’s records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interest in the Global Notes or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any of DTC’s records or any Participant’s or Indirect Participant’s records relating to the beneficial ownership interests in the Global Notes; or

(2) any other matter relating to the actions and practices of DTC or any of its Participants or Indirect Participants.

DTC has advised Sierra Pacific that its current practice, upon receipt of any payment in respect of securities such as the notes (including principal and interest), is to credit the accounts of the relevant Participants with the payment on the payment date unless DTC has reason to believe it will not receive payment on such payment date. Each relevant Participant is credited with an amount proportionate to its beneficial ownership of an interest in the principal amount of the relevant security as shown on the records of DTC. Payments by the Participants and the Indirect Participants to the beneficial owners of notes will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices and will be the responsibility of the Participants or the Indirect Participants and will not be the responsibility of DTC, the trustee or Sierra Pacific. Neither Sierra Pacific nor the trustee will be liable for any delay by DTC or any of its Participants in identifying the beneficial owners of the notes, and Sierra Pacific and the trustee may conclusively rely on and will be protected in relying on instructions from DTC or the Global Note Holder for all purposes.

Certificated Notes

Subject to certain conditions, any Person having a beneficial interest in a Global Note may, upon prior written request to the trustee, exchange such beneficial interest for notes in the form of certificated notes. Certificated notes will be issued in the form of registered definitive certificates (the “Certificated Notes”). Upon the transfer of Certificated Notes, Certificated Notes may, unless all Global Notes have previously been exchanged for Certificated Notes, be exchanged for an interest in the Global Note representing the principal amount of notes being transferred, subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in the Indenture. Upon any such issuance, the trustee is required to register such Certificated Notes in the name of, and cause the same to be delivered to, such Person or Persons (or their nominee). In addition, if:

(1) DTC (a) notifies Sierra Pacific that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for the Global Notes and fails to appoint a successor depositary or (b) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act;

 

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(2) Sierra Pacific, at its option, notifies the trustee in writing that it elects to cause the issuance of the Certificated Notes; or

(3) there has occurred and is continuing a Default or Event of Default with respect to the notes;

then, upon surrender by the Global Note holder of its Global Note, notes in such form will be issued to each person that the Global Note holder and DTC identify as being the beneficial owner of the related notes.

Neither Sierra Pacific nor the trustee will be liable for any delay by the Global Note holder or DTC in identifying the beneficial owners of notes and Sierra Pacific and the trustee may conclusively rely on, and will be protected in relying on, instructions from the Global Note holder or DTC for all purposes.

Depository Procedures

The following description of the operations and procedures of DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream are provided solely as a matter of convenience. These operations and procedures are solely within the control of the respective settlement systems and are subject to changes by them. Sierra Pacific takes no responsibility for these operations and procedures and urges investors to contact the system or their participants directly to discuss these matters.

All interests in a Global Note, including those held through Euroclear or Clearstream, may be subject to the procedures and requirements of DTC. Those interests held through Euroclear or Clearstream may also be subject to the procedures and requirements of such systems. The laws of some states require that certain Persons take physical delivery in definitive form of securities that they own. Consequently, the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a Global Note to such Persons will be limited to that extent. Because DTC can act only on behalf of Participants, which in turn act on behalf of Indirect Participants, the ability of a Person having beneficial interests in a Global Note to pledge such interests to Persons that do not participate in the DTC system, or otherwise take actions in respect of such interests, may be affected by the lack of a physical certificate evidencing such interests.

Except as described below, owners of interests in the Global Notes will not have notes registered in their names, will not receive physical delivery of notes in certificated form and will not be considered the registered owners or “holders” thereof under the Indenture for any purpose.

Transfers between Participants in DTC will be effected in accordance with DTC’s procedures, and will be settled in same-day funds, and transfers between participants in Euroclear and Clearstream will be effected in accordance with their respective rules and operating procedures.

Subject to compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the notes described herein, cross-market transfers between the Participants in DTC, on the one hand, and Euroclear or Clearstream participants, on the other hand, will be effected through DTC in accordance with DTC’s rules on behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, by its respective depositary; however, such cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, by the counterparty in such system in accordance with the rules and procedures and within the established deadlines (Brussels time) of such system.

Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its respective depositary to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving interests in the relevant Global Note in DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same-day funds settlement applicable to DTC. Euroclear participants and Clearstream participants may not deliver instructions directly to the depositories for Euroclear or Clearstream.

DTC has advised Sierra Pacific that it will take any action permitted to be taken by a holder of notes only at the direction of one or more Participants to whose account DTC has credited the interests in the Global Notes and only in respect of such portion of the aggregate principal amount of the notes as to which such Participant or

 

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Participants has or have given such direction. However, if there is an Event of Default under the notes, DTC reserves the right to exchange the Global Notes for legended notes in certificated form, and to distribute such notes to its Participants.

Neither Sierra Pacific nor the trustee nor any of their respective agents will have any responsibility for the performance by DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream or their respective participants or indirect participants of their respective obligations under the rules and procedures governing their operations.

Exchange of Global Notes for Certificated Notes

A Global Note is exchangeable for definitive notes in registered certificated form (“Certificated Notes”) if:

(1) DTC (a) notifies Sierra Pacific that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for the Global Notes and Sierra Pacific fails to appoint a successor depositary or (b) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act;

(2) Sierra Pacific, at its option, notifies the Trustee in writing that it elects to cause the issuance of the Certificated Notes; or

(3) there has occurred and is continuing a Default or Event of Default with respect to the notes.

In addition, beneficial interests in a Global Note may be exchanged for Certificated Notes upon prior written notice given to the Trustee by or on behalf of DTC in accordance with the Indenture. In all cases, Certificated Notes delivered in exchange for any Global Note or beneficial interests in Global Notes will be registered in the names, and issued in any approved denominations, requested by or on behalf of the depositary (in accordance with its customary procedures).

Exchange of Certificated Notes for Global Notes

Certificated Notes may not be exchanged for beneficial interests in any Global Note unless the transferor first delivers to the Trustee and Sierra Pacific a written certificate (in the form provided in the Indenture) to the effect that such transfer will comply with the appropriate transfer restrictions applicable to such notes.

Same Day Settlement and Payment

Sierra Pacific will make payments in respect of the notes represented by the Global Notes (including principal, premium, if any, interest and Liquidated Damages, if any) by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Global Note Holder. Sierra Pacific will make all payments of principal, interest and premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, with respect to Certificated Notes by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the holders of the Certificated Notes or, if no such account is specified, by mailing a check to each such holder’s registered address. The notes represented by the Global Notes are expected to be eligible to trade in DTC’s Same-Day Funds Settlement System, and any permitted secondary market trading activity in such notes will, therefore, be required by DTC to be settled in immediately available funds. Sierra Pacific expects that secondary trading in any Certificated Notes will also be settled in immediately available funds.

Because of time zone differences, the securities account of a Euroclear or Clearstream participant purchasing an interest in a Global Note from a Participant in DTC will be credited, and any such crediting will be reported to the relevant Euroclear or Clearstream participant, during the securities settlement processing day (which must be a business day for Euroclear and Clearstream) immediately following the settlement date of DTC. DTC has advised Sierra Pacific that cash received in Euroclear or Clearstream as a result of sales of interests in a Global Note by or through a Euroclear or Clearstream participant to a Participant in DTC will be received with value on the settlement date of DTC but will be available in the relevant Euroclear or Clearstream cash account only as of the business day for Euroclear or Clearstream following DTC’s settlement date.

 

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Certain Definitions

Set forth below are certain defined terms used in the Officer’s Certificate. Reference is made to the Indenture for a full disclosure of all such terms, as well as any other capitalized terms used herein for which no definition is provided.

“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, “control,” as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise; provided that beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the Voting Stock of a Person will be deemed to be control. For purposes of this definition, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with” have correlative meanings.

“Attributable Debt” in respect of a sale and leaseback transaction means, at the time of determination, the present value of the obligation of the lessee for net rental payments during the remaining term of the lease included in such sale and leaseback transaction including any period for which such lease has been extended or may, at the option of the lessor, be extended. Such present value shall be calculated using a discount rate equal to the rate of interest implicit in such transaction, determined in accordance with GAAP.

“Beneficial Owner” has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that in calculating the beneficial ownership of any particular “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), such “person” will be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such “person” has the right to acquire by conversion or exercise of other securities, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only upon the occurrence of a subsequent condition. The terms “Beneficially Owns” and “Beneficially Owned” have a corresponding meaning.

“Board of Directors” means:

(1) with respect to a corporation, the board of directors of the corporation or any committee of such board of directors duly authorized to act for the corporation;

(2) with respect to a partnership, the Board of Directors of the general partner of the partnership; and

(3) with respect to any other Person, the board or committee of such Person serving a similar function.

“Capital Lease Obligation” means, at the time any determination is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at that time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP.

“Capital Stock” means:

(1) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock;

(2) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock;

(3) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or limited); and

(4) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person.

“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following:

(1) the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets

 

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of Sierra Pacific and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act, including any “group” with the meaning of the Exchange Act);

(2) the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of Sierra Pacific;

(3) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any “person” (as defined above) becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 30% of the Voting Stock of Sierra Pacific or Sierra Pacific Resources, measured by voting power rather than number of shares; or

(4) the first day on which a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of Sierra Pacific or Sierra Pacific Resources are not Continuing Directors.

“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor agency.

“Continuing Directors” means, as of any date of determination, any member of the Board of Directors of Sierra Pacific who:

(1) was a member of such Board of Directors on the original issue date of the notes; or

(2) was nominated for election or elected to such Board of Directors with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of such Board at the time of such nomination or election.

“Credit Facilities” means one or more debt facilities or commercial paper facilities, in each case with banks or other institutional lenders providing for revolving credit loans, term loans or letters of credit, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time, and includes any securities issued pursuant to the Indenture in order to secure any amounts outstanding under a Credit Facility from time to time; provided that the obligation of Sierra Pacific to make any payment on any such securities shall be:

(1) no greater than the amount required to be paid under such Credit Facility that is secured by such payment obligation;

(2) payable no earlier than such amount is required to be paid under such Credit Facility; and

(3) deemed to have been paid or otherwise satisfied and discharged to the extent that Sierra Pacific has paid such amount under such Credit Facility.

“Default” means any event that is, or with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both would be, an Event of Default as defined in the Indenture.

“Equity Interests” means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital Stock (but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock).

“Event of Default” means an Event of Default as defined in the Indenture.

“First Mortgage Indenture” means the Indenture of Mortgage, dated as of December 1, 1940 by and between us and U.S. Bank National Association and Gerald R. Wheeler, as successor trustees, as modified, amended or supplemented at any time or from time to time by supplemental indentures.

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, which are in effect on the original issue date of the notes.

 

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“Guarantee” means a guarantee other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business, direct or indirect, in any manner, including, without limitation, by way of a pledge of assets or through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof, of all or any part of any Indebtedness.

“Hedging Obligations” means, with respect to any specified Person, the obligations of such Person incurred in the normal course of business and consistent with past practices and not for speculative purposes under:

(1) interest rate swap agreements, interest rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements designed to protect the person or entity entering into the agreement against fluctuations in interest rates with respect to Indebtedness incurred and not for purposes of speculation;

(2) foreign exchange contracts and currency protection agreements entered into with one of more financial institutions designed to protect the person or entity entering into the agreement against fluctuations in currency exchange rates with respect to Indebtedness incurred and not for purposes of speculation;

(3) any commodity futures contract, commodity option or other similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect against fluctuations in the price of commodities used by that entity at the time; and

(4) other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in interest rates or currency exchange rates.

“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any specified Person, any indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent:

(1) in respect of borrowed money;

(2) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit (or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof);

(3) in respect of banker’s acceptances;

(4) representing Capital Lease Obligations;

(5) representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property, except any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense or trade payable; or

(6) representing any Hedging Obligations,

if and to the extent any of the preceding items (other than letters of credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of the specified Person prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, the term “Indebtedness” includes all Indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on any asset of the specified Person (whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by the specified Person) and, to the extent not otherwise included, the Guarantee by the specified Person of any indebtedness of any other Person.

The amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date will be:

(1) the accreted value of the Indebtedness, in the case of any Indebtedness issued with original issue discount; and

(2) the principal amount of the Indebtedness, together with any interest on the Indebtedness that is more than 30 days past due, in the case of any other Indebtedness.

“Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law, including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction.

 

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“Liquidated Damages” has the meaning given to it in the Registration Rights Agreement.

“Non-Recourse Debt” means Indebtedness:

(1) as to which neither Sierra Pacific nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) provides credit support of any kind (including any undertaking, agreement or instrument that would constitute Indebtedness), (b) is directly or indirectly liable as a guarantor or otherwise, or (c) constitutes the lender;

(2) no default with respect to which (including any rights that the holders of the Indebtedness may have to take enforcement action against an Unrestricted Subsidiary) would permit upon notice, lapse of time or both any holder of any other Indebtedness (other than the notes) of Sierra Pacific or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to declare a default on such other Indebtedness or cause the payment of the Indebtedness to be accelerated or payable prior to its stated maturity; and

(3) as to which the lenders have been notified in writing that they will not have any recourse to the stock or assets of Sierra Pacific or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

“Obligations” means any principal, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.

“Permitted Liens” means:

(1) Liens securing any Indebtedness under a Credit Facility and all Obligations and Hedging Obligations relating to such Indebtedness;

(2) Liens in favor of Sierra Pacific or any Subsidiary Guarantors;

(3) Liens on property of a Person existing at the time such Person is merged with or into or consolidated with Sierra Pacific or any Restricted Subsidiary of Sierra Pacific; provided that such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of such merger or consolidation and do not extend to any assets other than those of the Person merged into or consolidated with Sierra Pacific or the Restricted Subsidiary;

(4) Liens on property existing at the time of acquisition of the property by Sierra Pacific or any Restricted Subsidiary of Sierra Pacific, provided that such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of such acquisition;

(5) Liens to secure the performance of statutory or regulatory obligations, surety or appeal bonds, performance bonds or other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(6) Liens existing on the original issue date of the notes (including the Lien of the First Mortgage Indenture and the Lien of the Indenture);

(7) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or claims that are not yet delinquent or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently concluded; provided that any reserve or other appropriate provision as is required in conformity with GAAP has been made therefor;

(8) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business of Sierra Pacific or any Restricted Subsidiary with respect to obligations (including Hedging Obligations) that do not exceed $35.0 million at any one time outstanding;

(9) Liens securing Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to refinance Indebtedness that was previously so secured; provided that any such Lien is limited to all or part of the same property or assets (plus improvements, accessions, proceeds or dividends or distributions in respect thereof) that secured (or, under the written arrangements under which the original Lien arose, could secure) the Indebtedness being refinanced or is in respect of property that is the security for a Permitted Lien hereunder;

(10) Liens on assets transferred to a Receivables Entity or on assets of a Receivables Entity, in either case, incurred in connection with a Qualified Receivables Transaction; and

 

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(11) Liens, including pledges, rights of offset and bankers’ liens, on deposit accounts, instruments, investment accounts and investment property (including cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities) from time to time maintained with or held by any financial and/or depository institutions, in each case solely to secure any and all obligations now or hereafter existing of Sierra Pacific or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with any deposit account, investment account or cash management service (including ACH, Fedwire, CHIPS, concentration and zero balance accounts, and controlled disbursement, lockbox or restricted accounts) now or hereafter provided by any financial and/or depository institutions to or for the benefit of Sierra Pacific, any of its Subsidiaries or any special purpose entity directly or indirectly providing loans to or making receivables purchases from Sierra Pacific or any of its Subsidiaries.

“Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness of Sierra Pacific or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund other Indebtedness of Sierra Pacific or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than intercompany Indebtedness); provided that:

(1) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded (plus all accrued and unpaid interest on the Indebtedness and the amount of all expenses and premiums incurred in connection therewith);

(2) if such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is issued on or after the first anniversary of the original issue date of the notes, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date later than the final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded;

(3) if such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is issued on or after the first anniversary of the original issue date of the notes, and the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded is contractually subordinated in right of payment to the notes, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date later than the final maturity date of, and is subordinated in right of payment to, the notes on terms at least as favorable to the holders of notes as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded; and

(4) such Indebtedness is incurred either by Sierra Pacific or by the Subsidiary who is the obligor on the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded.

“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, limited liability company or government or other entity.

“Qualified Receivables Transaction” means any transaction or series of transactions that may be entered into by Sierra Pacific or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to which Sierra Pacific or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may sell, convey or otherwise transfer to (1) a Receivables Entity (in the case of a transfer by Sierra Pacific or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) and (2) any other Person (in the case of a transfer by a Receivables Entity), or may grant a security interest in, any accounts receivable (whether now existing or arising in the future) of Sierra Pacific or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, and any assets related thereto, including, without limitation, all collateral securing such accounts receivable, all contracts and all guarantees or other obligations in respect of such accounts receivable, the proceeds of such receivables and other assets which are customarily transferred, or in respect of which security interests are customarily granted in connection with asset securitization involving accounts receivable.

“Receivables Entity” means a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of Sierra Pacific or Sierra Pacific Resources (or another Person in which Sierra Pacific or any Restricted Subsidiary of Sierra Pacific makes an Investment and to which Sierra Pacific or any Restricted Subsidiary of Sierra Pacific transfers accounts receivable and related

 

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assets) which engages in no activities other than in connection with the financing of accounts receivable and which is designated by the Board of Directors of Sierra Pacific (as provided below) as a Receivables Entity:

(1) no portion of the Indebtedness or any other obligations (contingent or otherwise) of which:

(a) is guaranteed by Sierra Pacific or any Restricted Subsidiary of Sierra Pacific (excluding guarantees of Obligations (other than the principal of, and interest on, Indebtedness) pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings);

(b) is recourse to or obligates Sierra Pacific or any Restricted Subsidiary of Sierra Pacific in any way other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings; or

(c) subjects any property or asset of Sierra Pacific or any Restricted Subsidiary of Sierra Pacific, directly or indirectly, contingently or otherwise, to the satisfaction thereof, other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings;

(2) which is not party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding (except in connection with a Purchase Money Note or Qualified Receivables Transaction) with Sierra Pacific or any Restricted Subsidiary of Sierra Pacific other than on terms no less favorable to Sierra Pacific or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons that are not Affiliates of Sierra Pacific, other than fees payable in the ordinary course of business in connection with servicing accounts receivable; and

(3) to which neither Sierra Pacific nor any Restricted Subsidiary of Sierra Pacific has any direct or indirect obligation (a) to subscribe for additional Equity Interests or (b) to maintain or preserve such entity’s financial condition or cause such entity to achieve certain levels of operating results.

Any such designation by the Board of Directors of Sierra Pacific shall be evidenced to the trustee by filing with the trustee a certified copy of the Board Resolution giving effect to such designation and an officer’s certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing conditions.

“Restricted Subsidiary” of a Person means any Subsidiary of the referent Person that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

“Significant Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that would be a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Regulation is in effect on the date hereof.

“Standard Securitization Undertakings” means representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities entered into by Sierra Pacific or any Restricted Subsidiary of Sierra Pacific which are reasonably customary in securitization of accounts receivable transactions.

“Stated Maturity” means, with respect to any installment of interest or principal on any series of Indebtedness, the date on which the payment of interest or principal was scheduled to be paid in the original documentation governing such Indebtedness, and will not include any contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such interest or principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the payment thereof.

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any specified Person:

(1) any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees of the corporation, association or other business entity is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof); and

(2) any partnership (a) the sole general partner or the managing general partner of which is such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person or (b) the only general partners of which are that Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person (or any combination thereof).

 

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“Subsidiary Guarantee” means any Guarantee of the notes to be executed by any Subsidiary of Sierra Pacific pursuant to the covenant described above under “Certain Covenants — Future Subsidiary Guarantees.”

“Subsidiary Guarantors” means any Subsidiary of Sierra Pacific that executes a Subsidiary Guarantee in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture, and their respective successors and assigns.

“Unrestricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of Sierra Pacific that is designated by the Board of Directors as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a Board Resolution, but only to the extent that such Subsidiary:

(1) has no Indebtedness other than Non-Recourse Debt;

(2) is not party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding with Sierra Pacific or any Restricted Subsidiary of Sierra Pacific unless the terms of any such agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding are no less favorable to Sierra Pacific or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons who are not Affiliates of Sierra Pacific;

(3) is a Person with respect to which neither Sierra Pacific nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has any direct or indirect obligation (a) to subscribe for additional Equity Interests or (b) to maintain or preserve such Person’s financial condition or to cause such Person to achieve any specified levels of operating results;

(4) has not guaranteed or otherwise directly or indirectly provided credit support for any Indebtedness of Sierra Pacific or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; and

(5) has at least one director on its Board of Directors that is not a director or executive officer of Sierra Pacific or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and has at least one executive officer that is not a director or executive officer of Sierra Pacific or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

Any designation of a Subsidiary of Sierra Pacific as an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be evidenced to the trustee by filing with the trustee a certified copy of the Board Resolution giving effect to such designation and an officer’s certificate certifying that such designation complied with the preceding conditions. If, at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to meet the preceding requirements as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it will thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of the Indenture and any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary will be deemed to be incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary of Sierra Pacific as of such date.

“Voting Stock” of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person.

“Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing:

(1) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect of the Indebtedness, by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment; by

(2) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF THE INDENTURE

Security

General

Except as otherwise contemplated below under this heading and subject to the exceptions specifically discussed under “Release of Property” and “Defeasance,” all Outstanding Indenture Securities, equally and ratably, will be secured by the lien of the Indenture on substantially all properties owned by us located in the State of Nevada (and not excepted or released from the lien thereof), and improvements, extensions and additions to, and renewals and replacements of, such properties, which lien, as to such properties, will be junior, subject and subordinate to the respective liens of our existing First Mortgage Indenture.

As used herein, the term “First Mortgage Indenture” means our Indenture of Mortgage, dated as of December 1, 1940 by and between us and U.S. Bank National Association, as successor trustee, and Gerald R. Wheeler, as successor individual trustee, as heretofore and hereafter amended and supplemented. Capitalized terms used under this heading which are not otherwise defined in this offering memorandum shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Indenture. References to article and section numbers herein, unless otherwise indicated, are references to article and section numbers of the Indenture.

The Indenture provides that, after the issuance of the initial series of securities under the Indenture, we will not issue any additional bonds under the First Mortgage Indenture, except as necessary to replace any mutilated, lost or destroyed bonds. The Indenture also provides that, as soon as practicable after we become entitled to release and discharge of the First Mortgage Indenture, we will take all necessary action to obtain and effect the release and cancellation of the lien of the First Mortgage Indenture upon any of the Mortgaged Property. (See Section 7.02.)

Lien of the Indenture

General. The Indenture constitutes a lien on substantially all of our real property and tangible personal property located in the State of Nevada, other than property excepted from the lien thereof and such property as may have been released from the lien thereof in accordance with the terms thereof, subject to no liens prior to the lien of the Indenture other than the lien of the First Mortgage Indenture (so long as the same remains in effect), Permitted Liens and certain other liens permitted to exist.

The Indenture provides that after-acquired property (other than excepted property) located in the State of Nevada will be subject to the lien of the Indenture; provided, however, that in the case of consolidation or merger (whether or not we are the surviving corporation) or transfer of the Mortgaged Property as or substantially as an entirety, the Indenture will not be required to be a lien upon any of the properties then owned or thereafter acquired by the successor corporation except properties acquired from us in or as a result of such transaction and improvements, extensions and additions (as defined in the Indenture) to such properties and renewals, replacements and substitutions of or for any part or parts thereof. (See Article XIII and “Consolidation, Merger, etc.” herein.) In addition, after-acquired property may be subject to liens existing or placed thereon at the time of acquisition thereof, including, but not limited to, Purchase Money Liens (as hereinafter defined), and, in certain circumstances, to liens attaching to such property prior to the recording and/or filing of an instrument specifically subjecting such property to the lien of the Indenture.

Without the consent of the Holders, we may enter into supplemental indentures with the Trustee in order to subject to the lien of the Indenture additional property (including property which would otherwise be excepted from such lien). (See Section 14.01.) Such property would thereupon constitute Property Additions (so long as it would otherwise qualify as Property Additions as described below) and be available as a basis for the issuance of Indenture Securities. (See “— Issuance of Additional Indenture Securities.”)

 

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Excepted Property. There are excepted from the lien of the Indenture, among other things, cash, deposit accounts, securities; contracts, leases and other agreements of all kinds; contract rights, bills, notes and other instruments; revenues, accounts and accounts receivable and unbilled revenues, claims, demands and judgments; governmental and other licenses, permits, franchises, consents and allowances (except to the extent that any of the same constitute rights or interests relating to the occupancy or use of real property); certain intellectual property rights, domain names and other general intangibles; vehicles, movable equipment and aircraft; all goods, stock in trade, wares, merchandise and inventory held for sale or lease in the ordinary course of business; materials, supplies, inventory and other personal property consumable in the operation of the Mortgaged Property; fuel; portable tools and equipment; furniture and furnishings; computers and data processing, telecommunications and other facilities used primarily for administrative or clerical purposes or otherwise not used in connection with the operation or maintenance of electric or gas utility facilities; coal, ore, gas, oil and other minerals and timber; electric energy, gas (natural or artificial), steam, water and other products generated, produced, manufactured, purchased or otherwise acquired by us; real property, gas wells, pipe lines, and other facilities used primarily for the production or gathering of natural gas; and leasehold interests held by us as lessee. (See Granting Clauses.)

In addition, our properties located outside of the State of Nevada are not subject to the lien of the Indenture.

Permitted Liens. The lien of the Indenture is subject to Permitted Liens and certain other liens permitted to exist. For purposes of the Indenture, Permitted Liens includes any and all of the following, among other, liens: (a) liens for taxes which are not delinquent or are being contested in good faith; (b) mechanics’, workmen’s and similar liens and other liens arising in the ordinary cause of business; (c) liens in respect of judgments (i) in an amount not exceeding the greater of $10 million and 3% of the aggregate principal amount of Indenture Securities then Outstanding or (ii) with respect to which we shall in good faith be prosecuting an appeal or shall have the right to do so; (d) easements, leases or other rights of others in, and defects in title to, the Mortgaged Property which do not in the aggregate materially impair our use of the Mortgaged Property considered as a whole; (e) certain defects, irregularities and limitations in title to real property subject to rights-of-way in our favor or used primarily for right-of-way purposes; (f) liens securing indebtedness of others upon real property used for transmission or distribution or otherwise to obtain rights-of-way; (g) leases existing at the date of the Indenture and subsequent leases for not more than 10 years or which do not materially impair our use of the property subject thereto; (h) liens of lessors or licensors for amounts due which are not delinquent or are being contested; (i) controls, restrictions or obligations imposed by Governmental Authorities upon our property or the operation thereof; (j) rights of Governmental Authorities to purchase or designate a purchase of our property; (k) liens required by law or governmental regulation as a condition to the transaction of any business or the exercise of any privilege or license, or to enable us to maintain self-insurance or to participate in any funds established to cover insurance risks or in connection with workmen’s compensation, unemployment insurance, social security or any pension or welfare benefit plan or program; (l) liens to secure duties or public or statutory obligations or surety, stay or appeal bonds; (m) rights of others to take minerals, timber, electric energy, gas, water, steam or other products produced by us or by others on our property; (n) rights and interests of Persons other than us arising out of agreements relating to the common ownership or joint use of property, and liens on the interests of such Persons in such property; (o) restrictions or assignment and/or qualification requirements on the assignee; (p) liens which have been bonded for the full amount in dispute or for the payment of which other security arrangements have been made; (q) easements, ground leases or rights-of-way on or across our property for the purpose of roads, pipelines, transmission or distribution lines, communication lines, railways and other similar purposes, provided that the same do not materially impair our use of such property; (r) Prepaid Liens. (See Granting Clauses and Section 1.01.)

Trustee’s Lien. The Indenture provides that the Trustee will have a lien, prior to the lien on behalf of the holders of Indenture Securities, upon the Mortgaged Property for the payment of its reasonable compensation and expenses and for indemnity against certain liabilities. (See Section 11.07.)

 

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Issuance of Additional Indenture Securities

The aggregate principal amount of Indenture Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under the Indenture is unlimited. (See Section 3.01.) Securities of any series may be issued from time to time on the basis of Property Additions, Retired Securities and cash deposited with the trustee, and in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding:

(i) 70% of the Cost or Fair Value to us (whichever is less) of Property Additions (as described below) which do not constitute Funded Property (generally, Property Additions which have been made the basis of the authentication and delivery of Indenture Securities, the release of Mortgaged Property or the withdrawal of cash, which have been substituted for retired Funded Property or which have been used for other specified purposes) after certain deductions and additions, primarily including adjustments to offset property retirements;

(ii) the aggregate principal amount of Retired Securities; and

(iii) an amount of cash deposited with the Trustee. (See Article IV.)

Property Additions generally include any property which is owned by us and is subject to the lien of the Indenture except (with certain exceptions) goodwill, going concern value rights or intangible property, or any property the cost of acquisition or construction of which is properly chargeable to one of our operating expense accounts. (See Section 1.03.)

Retired Securities means, generally, (a) Indenture Securities which are no longer Outstanding under the Indenture, which have not been retired by the application of Funded Cash and which have not been used as the basis for the authentication and delivery of Indenture Securities, the release of property or the withdrawal of cash and (b) certain bonds issued under the First Mortgage Indenture which have been retired.

Release of Property

Unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, we may obtain the release from the lien of the Indenture of any Funded Property, except for cash held by the Trustee, upon delivery to the Trustee of an amount in cash equal to the amount, if any, by which 70% of the Cost of the property to be released (or, if less, the Fair Value to us of such property at the time it became Funded Property) exceeds the aggregate of:

(1) an amount equal to 70% of the aggregate principal amount of obligations secured by Purchase Money Lien upon the property to be released and delivered to the Trustee, subject to certain limitations described below;

(2) an amount equal to 70% of the Cost or Fair Value to us (whichever is less) of certified Property Additions not constituting Funded Property after certain deductions and additions, primarily including adjustments to offset property retirements (except that such adjustments need not be made if such Property Additions were acquired or made within the 90-day period preceding the release);

(3) the aggregate principal amount of Indenture Securities we would be entitled to issue on the basis of Retired Securities (with such entitlement being waived by operation of such release);

(4) any amount of cash and/or an amount equal to 70% of the aggregate principal amount of obligations secured by Purchase Money Lien upon the property released delivered to the trustee or other holder of a lien prior to the lien of the Indenture, subject to certain limitations described below;

(5) the aggregate principal amount of Indenture Securities delivered to the Trustee (with such Indenture Securities to be canceled by the Trustee); and

(6) any taxes and expenses incidental to any sale, exchange, dedication or other disposition of the property to be released. (See Section 8.03.)

 

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As used in the Indenture, the term “Purchase Money Lien” means, generally, a lien on the property being released which is retained by the transferor of such property or granted to one or more other Persons in connection with the transfer or release thereof, or granted to or held by a trustee or agent for any such Persons, and may include liens which cover property in addition to the property being released and/or which secure indebtedness in addition to indebtedness to the transferor of such property. (See Section 1.01.) Generally, the principal amount of obligations secured by Purchase Money Lien used as the basis for the release of property may not exceed 75% of the Fair Value of such property unless no additional obligations are outstanding, or are permitted to be issued, under such Purchase Money Lien. (See Section 8.03.)

Property which is not Funded Property may generally be released from the lien of the Indenture without depositing any cash or property with the Trustee as long as (a) the aggregate amount of Cost or Fair Value to us (whichever is less) of all Property Additions which do not constitute Funded Property (excluding the property to be released) after certain deductions and additions, primarily including adjustments to offset property retirements, is not less than zero or (b) the Cost or Fair Value (whichever is less) of property to be released does not exceed the aggregate amount of the Cost or Fair Value to us (whichever is less) of Property Additions acquired or made within the 90-day period preceding the release. (See Section 8.04.)

The Indenture provides simplified procedures for the release of minor properties and property taken by eminent domain, and provides for dispositions of certain obsolete property and grants or surrender of certain rights without any release or consent by the Trustee. (See Sections 8.05, 8.07 and 8.08.)

If we retain any interest in any property released from the lien of the Indenture, the Indenture will not become a lien on such property or such interest therein or any improvements, extensions or additions to such property or renewals, replacements or substitutions of or for such property or any part or parts thereof. (See Section 8.09.)

Withdrawal of Cash

Unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and subject to certain limitations, cash held by the Trustee may, generally, (1) be withdrawn by us (a) to the extent of an amount equal to 70% the Cost or Fair Value to us (whichever is less) of Property Additions not constituting Funded Property, after certain deductions and additions, primarily including adjustments to offset retirements (except that such adjustments need not be made if such Property Additions were acquired or made within the 90-day period preceding the withdrawal) or (b) in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of Indenture Securities that we would be entitled to issue on the basis of Retired Securities (with the entitlement to such issuance being waived by operation of such withdrawal) or (c) in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of any Outstanding Indenture Securities delivered to the Trustee; or (2) upon our request, be applied to (a) the purchase of Indenture Securities or (b) the payment (or provision therefor) at of any Indenture Securities or the redemption (or provision therefor) of any Indenture Securities which are redeemable. (See Section 8.06.)

Consolidation, Merger, etc.

We may not consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or convey, otherwise transfer or lease the Mortgaged Property as or substantially as an entirety to any Person unless (a) the corporation formed by such consolidation or into which we are merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or other transfer, or which leases, the Mortgaged Property as or substantially as an entirety is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States, or any State or Territory thereof or the District of Columbia, and such corporation executes and delivers to the Trustee a supplemental indenture that in the case of a consolidation, merger, conveyance or other transfer, or in the case of a lease if the term thereof extends beyond the last stated maturity of the Indenture Securities then outstanding, contains an assumption by such corporation of the due and punctual payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the Indenture Securities and the performance of all of our covenants and conditions under the Indenture and, in the case of a consolidation,

 

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merger, conveyance or other transfer that contains a grant, conveyance, transfer and mortgage by such corporation confirming the lien of the Indenture on the Mortgaged Property and subjecting to such lien all property thereafter acquired by such corporation that shall constitute an improvement, extension or addition to the Mortgaged Property or renewal, replacement or substitution of or for any part thereof and, at the election of such corporation, subjecting to the lien of the Indenture such other property then owned or thereafter acquired by such corporation as such corporation shall specify and (b) in the case of a lease, such lease is made expressly subject to termination by us or by the Trustee at any time during the continuance of an Event of Default. (See Section 13.01.) In the case of the conveyance or other transfer of the Mortgaged Property as or substantially as an entirety to any other Person, upon the satisfaction of all the conditions described above, we would be released and discharged from all obligations under the Indenture and on the Indenture Securities then Outstanding unless we elect to waive such release and discharge. (See Section 13.04.)

Modification of Indenture

Modification Without Consent

Without the consent of any Holders, we may enter into one or more supplemental indentures with the Trustee for any of the following purposes:

(a) to evidence the succession of another Person to us and the assumption by any such successor of our covenants in the Indenture and in the Indenture Securities; or

(b) to add one or more covenants by us or other provisions for the benefit of all Holders or for the benefit of the Holders of, or to remain in effect only so long as there shall be outstanding, Indenture Securities of one or more specified series (for the purposes of this subsection, “series” includes all tranches thereof), or to surrender any right or power conferred upon us by the Indenture; or

(c) to correct or amplify the description of any property at any time subject to the lien of the Indenture; or better to assure, convey and confirm to the Trustee any property subject or required to be subjected to the lien of the Indenture; or to subject to the lien of the Indenture additional property (including property of others), to specify any additional Permitted Liens with respect to such additional property and to modify the provisions in the Indenture for dispositions of certain types of property without release in order to specify any additional items with respect to such additional property; or

(d) to change or eliminate any provision of the Indenture or to add any new provision to the Indenture, provided that if such change, elimination or addition adversely affects the interests of the Holders of the Indenture Securities of any series in any material respect, such change, elimination or addition will become effective with respect to such series only when no Indenture Security of such series remains Outstanding; or

(e) to establish the form or terms of the Indenture Securities of any series as permitted by the Indenture; or

(f) to provide for the authentication and delivery of bearer securities and coupons appertaining thereto representing interest, if any, thereon and for the procedures for the registration, exchange and replacement thereof and for the giving of notice to, and the solicitation of the vote or consent of, the holders thereof, and for any and all other matters incidental thereto; or

(g) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee or by a co-trustee; or

(h) to provide for the procedures required to permit the utilization of a non-certificated system of registration for all, or any series of, the Indenture Securities; or

(i) to change any place or places where (1) the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on all or any series of Indenture Securities will be payable, (2) all or any series of Indenture Securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer, (3) all or any series of Indenture Securities may be surrendered for exchange and (4) notices and demands to or upon us in respect of all or any series of Indenture Securities and the Indenture may be served; or

 

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(j) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision therein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision therein, or to make any other changes to the provisions thereof or to add or remove other provisions with respect to matters and questions arising under the Indenture, so long as such other changes or additions do not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Indenture Securities of any series in any material respect. (See Section 14.01.)

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”), is amended after the date of the Indenture in such a way as to require changes to the Indenture or the incorporation therein of additional provisions or so as to permit changes to, or the elimination of, provisions which, at the date of the Indenture or at any time thereafter, were required by the Trust Indenture Act to be contained in the Indenture, the Indenture will be deemed to have been amended so as to conform to such amendment or to effect such changes or elimination, and we may, without the consent of any Holders, enter into one or more supplemental indentures with the Trustee to evidence or effect such amendment. (See Section 14.01.)

Modifications Requiring Consent

Except as provided above, the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Indenture Securities of all series then Outstanding, considered as one class, is required for the purpose of adding any provisions to, or changing in any manner, or eliminating any of the provisions of, the Indenture pursuant to one or more supplemental indentures; provided, however, that if less than all of the series of Indenture Securities Outstanding are directly affected by a proposed supplemental indenture, then the consent only of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Outstanding Indenture Securities of all series so directly affected, considered as one class, will be required; and provided, further, that if the Indenture Securities of any series have been issued in more than one tranche and if the proposed supplemental indenture directly affects the rights of the Holders of one or more, but less than all such tranches, then the consent only of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Indenture Securities of all such tranches so directly affected, considered as one class, will be required; and provided, further, that no such amendment or modification may

(a) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Indenture Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon (or the amount of any installment of interest thereon) or change the method of calculating such rate or reduce any premium payable thereon, or reduce the amount of the principal of any Discount Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of Maturity or change the coin or currency (or other property) in which any Indenture Security or any premium or the interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Maturity of any Indenture Security (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the redemption date) without, in any such case, the consent of the Holder of such Indenture Security,

(b) permit the creation of any lien not otherwise permitted by the Indenture ranking prior to the lien of the Indenture with respect to all or substantially all of the Mortgaged Property or terminate the lien of the Indenture on all or substantially all of the Mortgaged Property or deprive the Holders of the benefit of the lien of the Indenture, without, in any such case, the consent of the Holders of all Indenture Securities then Outstanding,

(c) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Indenture Securities of any series, or tranche thereof, the consent of the Holders of which is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of the Holders of which is required for any waiver of compliance with any provision of the Indenture or of any default thereunder and its consequences, or reduce the requirements for quorum or voting, without, in any such case, the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Indenture Security of such series, or

 

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(d) modify certain of the provisions of the Indenture relating to supplemental indentures, waivers of certain covenants and waivers of past defaults with respect to the Indenture Securities of any series without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Indenture Security of such series.

A supplemental indenture that changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of the Indenture that has expressly been included solely for the benefit of the Holders of, or that is to remain in effect only so long as there shall be Outstanding, Indenture Securities of one or more specified series or modifies the rights of the Holders of Indenture Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, will be deemed not to affect the rights under the Indenture of the Holders of the Indenture Securities of any other series. (See Section 14.02.)

Waiver

The Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of all Indenture Securities may waive our obligations to comply with certain covenants, including the covenants to maintain its corporate existence and properties, pay taxes and discharge liens, maintain certain insurance and make such recordings and filings as are necessary to protect the security of the Holders and the rights of the Trustee and its covenant with respect to merger, consolidation or the transfer or lease of the Mortgaged Property as or substantially as an entirety, described above, provided that such waiver occurs before the time such compliance is required. The Holders of at least a majority of the aggregate principal amount of Outstanding Indenture Securities of all affected series or tranches, considered as one class, may waive, before the time for such compliance, compliance with any covenant specified with respect to Indenture Securities of such series or tranches thereof. (See Section 6.09.)

Before any sale of any of the Mortgaged Property and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due shall have been obtained by the Trustee, the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of all Outstanding Securities may waive any past default under the Indenture, except a default (a) in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any Security Outstanding, or (b) in respect of a covenant or provision of the Indenture which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of any series or tranche affected. Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and any and all Events of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon. (Section 10.17.)

Events of Default

Each of the following events constitutes an Event of Default under the Indenture (See Section 10.01):

(1) failure to pay interest on any Indenture Security within 60 days after the same becomes due and payable;

(2) failure to pay principal of or premium, if any, on any Indenture Security within three Business Days after its Maturity;

(3) failure to perform or breach of any of our covenants or warranties in the Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty which is to remain in effect only so long as the notes offered hereby remain outstanding or a default in the performance of which or breach of which is dealt with elsewhere under this paragraph) for a period of 90 days after there has been given to us by the Trustee, or to us and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 33% in principal amount of Outstanding Indenture Securities, a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default,” unless the Trustee, or the Trustee and the Holders of a principal amount of Indenture Securities not less than the principal amount of Indenture Securities the Holders of which gave such notice, as the case may be, agree in writing to an extension of such period prior to its expiration; provided, however, that the Trustee, or the Trustee and such Holders, as the case may be, will be deemed to have agreed to an extension of such period if we have initiated corrective action within such period and is being diligently pursued;

 

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(4) certain events relating to our reorganization, bankruptcy and insolvency or appointment of a receiver or trustee for our property; and

(5) an event of default under the First Mortgage Indenture; provided, however, that, anything in the Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, the waiver or cure of such event of default under the First Mortgage Indenture shall constitute a cure of the corresponding event of default under the Indenture.

Remedies

Acceleration of Maturity

If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, then the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 33% in principal amount of Indenture Securities then Outstanding may declare the principal amount (or if the Indenture Securities are Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be provided for such Discount Securities pursuant to the terms of the Indenture) of all of the Indenture Securities then Outstanding, together with premium, if any, and accrued interest, if any, thereon to be immediately due and payable. At any time after such declaration of acceleration of the Indenture Securities then Outstanding, but before the sale of any of the Mortgaged Property and before a judgment or decree for payment of money shall have been obtained by the Trustee as provided in the Indenture, the Event or Events of Default giving rise to such declaration of acceleration will, without further act, be deemed to have been waived, and such declaration and its consequences will, without further act, be deemed to have been rescinded and annulled, if

(a) we have paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay

(1) all overdue interest, if any, on all Indenture Securities then Outstanding;

(2) the principal of and premium, if any, on any Indenture Securities then Outstanding which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and interest thereon at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Indenture Securities; and

(3) all amounts due to the Trustee as compensation and reimbursement as provided in the Indenture; and

(b) any other Event or Events of Default, other than the non-payment of the principal of Indenture Securities that shall have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, shall have been cured or waived as provided in the Indenture. (See Section 10.02.)

Possession of Mortgaged Property

Under certain circumstances and to the extent permitted by law, if an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee has the power to take possession of, and to hold, operate and manage, the Mortgaged Property, or with or without entry, sell the Mortgaged Property. If the Mortgaged Property is sold, whether by the Trustee or pursuant to judicial proceedings, the principal of the Outstanding Indenture Securities, if not previously due, will become immediately due, together with premium, if any, and any accrued interest. (See Sections 10.03, 10.04 and 10.05.)

Right to Direct Proceedings

If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Indenture Securities then Outstanding will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceedings for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, provided that (a) such direction does not conflict with any rule of law or with the Indenture, and could not involve the Trustee in personal liability in circumstances where indemnity would not, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, be adequate and (b) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction. (See Section 10.16.)

 

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Limitation on Right to Institute Proceedings

No Holder of any Indenture Security will have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or for any other remedy thereunder unless:

(a) such Holder has previously given to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default;

(b) the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Indenture Securities then Outstanding have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default and have offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity against costs and liabilities to be incurred in complying with such request;

(c) such Holder or Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;

(d) for sixty days after receipt of such notice, the Trustee has failed to institute any such proceeding and no direction inconsistent with such request has been given to the Trustee during such sixty day period by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Indenture Securities then Outstanding; and

(e) no direction inconsistent with such written request shall have been given to the Trustee during such sixty day period by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities then Outstanding;

it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner to affect, disturb or prejudice the lien of the Indenture or the rights of any other of such Holders or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under the Indenture, except in the manner provided in the Indenture and for the equal and ratable benefit of all of such Holders.

Furthermore, no Holder will be entitled to institute any such action if and to the extent that such action would disturb or prejudice the rights of other Holders. (See Section 10.11.)

No Impairment of Right to Receive Payment

Notwithstanding that the right of a Holder to institute a proceeding with respect to the Indenture is subject to certain conditions precedent, each Holder of an Indenture Security has the absolute and unconditional right to receive payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on such Indenture Security when due and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights may not be impaired without the consent of such Holder. (See Section 10.12.)

Notice of Default

The Trustee is required to give the Holders notice of any default under the Indenture to the extent required by the Trust Indenture Act, unless such default shall have been cured or waived, except that no such notice to Holders of a default of the character described in clause (3) under “Events of Default” may be given until at least 75 days after the occurrence thereof. (See Section 11.02.) The Trust Indenture Act currently permits the Trustee to withhold notices of default (except for certain payment defaults) if the Trustee in good faith determines the withholding of such notice to be in the interests of the Holders.

Indemnification of Trustee

As a condition precedent to certain actions by the Trustee in the enforcement of the lien of the Indenture and institution of action on the Indenture Securities, the Trustee may require adequate indemnity against costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in connection therewith. (See Sections 10.11 and 11.01.)

 

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Remedies Limited by State Law

The laws of the State of Nevada where the Mortgaged Property is located may limit or deny the ability of the Trustee or security holders to enforce certain rights and remedies provided in the Indenture in accordance with their terms.

Defeasance

Any Indenture Securities, or any portion of the principal amount thereof, will be deemed to have been paid for purposes of the Indenture, and, at our election, our entire indebtedness in respect thereof will be deemed to have been satisfied and discharged, if there has been irrevocably deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than us), in trust: (a) money (including Funded Cash not otherwise applied pursuant to the Indenture) in an amount which will be sufficient, or (b) Eligible Obligations (as described below), which do not contain provisions permitting the redemption or other prepayment thereof at the option of the issuer thereof, the principal of and the interest on which when due, without any regard to reinvestment thereof, will provide monies which, together with the money, if any, deposited with or held by the Trustee or such Paying Agent, will be sufficient, or (c) a combination of (a) and (b) which will be sufficient, to pay when due the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, due and to become due on such Indenture Securities or portions thereof. (See Section 9.01.) For this purpose, Eligible Obligations include direct obligations of, or obligations unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States of America, entitled to the benefit of the full faith and credit thereof, and certificates, depositary receipts or other instruments that evidence a direct ownership interest in such obligations or in any specific interest or principal payments due in respect thereof.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no note shall be deemed to have been paid as aforesaid unless we shall have delivered to the Trustee either:

(a) an opinion of counsel in the United States reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that (i) we have received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (ii) since the date of the Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion of counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of the outstanding notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance had not occurred; or

(b) (i) an instrument wherein we, notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of our Indebtedness in respect of the notes, shall assume the obligation (which shall be absolute and unconditional) to irrevocably deposit with the Trustee such additional sums of money, if any, or additional Eligible Obligations, if any, or any combination thereof, at such time or times, as shall be necessary, together with the money and/or Eligible Obligations theretofore so deposited, to pay when due the principal of and premium, if any, and interest due and to become due on such notes or portions thereof; provided, however, that such instrument may state that our obligation to make additional deposits as aforesaid shall be subject to the delivery to us by the Trustee of a notice asserting the deficiency accompanied by an opinion of an independent public accountant of nationally recognized standing showing the calculation thereof; and (ii) an opinion of tax counsel in the United States reasonably acceptable to the Trustee to the effect that the Holders of the outstanding notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance had not occurred.

Duties of the Trustee; Resignation; Removal

The Trustee will have, and will be subject to, all the duties and responsibilities specified with respect to an indenture trustee under the Trust Indenture Act. Subject to such provisions, the Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by the Indenture at the request of any holder of Indenture

 

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Securities, unless offered reasonable indemnity by such holder against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred thereby. The Trustee will not be required to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur financial liability in the performance of its duties if the Trustee reasonably believes that repayment or adequate indemnity is not reasonably assured to it.

The Trustee may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to us or may be removed at any time by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Indenture Securities then Outstanding delivered to us and the Trustee. No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor trustee will become effective until the acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee in accordance with the requirements of the Indenture. So long as no Event of Default or event which, after notice or lapse of time, or both, would become an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, if we have delivered to the Trustee a resolution of our Board of Directors appointing a successor trustee and such successor has accepted such appointment in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Trustee will be deemed to have resigned and the successor will be deemed to have been appointed as trustee in accordance with the Indenture. (See Section 11.10.)

Evidence to be Furnished to the Trustee

Compliance with Indenture provisions is evidenced by written statements of our officers or persons selected or paid by us. In certain cases, opinions of counsel and certification of an engineer, accountant, appraiser or other expert (who in some cases must be independent) must be furnished. In addition, the Indenture requires us to give the Trustee, not less often than annually, a brief statement as to our compliance with the conditions and covenants under the Indenture.

No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders

No director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of Sierra Pacific will have any liability for any obligations of Sierra Pacific under the Indenture Securities, the Indenture, or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each holder of Indenture Securities by accepting a note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Indenture Securities. The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.

CERTAIN MATERIAL UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

The following is a general discussion of the material United States federal income tax considerations relevant to the purchase, ownership and disposition of the notes by holders thereof, based upon current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), existing and proposed Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, rulings, pronouncements, judicial decisions and administrative interpretations of the Internal Revenue Service, all of which are subject to change at any time by legislative, judicial or administrative action. Any such changes may be applied retroactively in a manner that could affect adversely a holder of the notes. We cannot assure you that the Internal Revenue Service will not challenge the conclusions stated below, and no ruling from the Internal Revenue Service has been or will be sought on any of the matters discussed below.

The following discussion does not address the effect of any special rules applicable to certain types of holders, including, without limitation, dealers in securities or currencies, insurance companies, financial institutions, regulated investment companies, real estate investment trusts, thrifts, tax-exempt entities, persons who hold notes as part of a straddle, hedge, conversion transaction, or other risk reduction or integrated investment transaction, traders in securities that elect to use a mark-to-market method of accounting for their securities holdings, U.S. Holders (as defined below) whose “functional currency” is not the U.S. dollar, persons subject to the alternative minimum tax, or investors in partnerships or other pass-through entities. In addition, this discussion is limited to holders who are the initial purchasers of the notes at their original issue price and

 

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hold the notes as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code. This discussion does not address the effect of any United States state or local income or other tax laws, any United States federal estate and gift tax laws, any foreign tax laws, or any tax treaties.

PROSPECTIVE PURCHASERS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR OWN ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THEIR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES.

If a partnership holds our notes, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. If you are a partner in a partnership holding our notes, you should consult your tax advisor.

U.S. Holders

In general, the term “U.S. Holder” means:

 

    an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;

 

    a corporation or other entity taxable for United States federal income tax purposes as a corporation created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;

 

    an estate the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source; or

 

    a trust if (i) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more United States persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (ii) it has a valid election in effect under applicable United States Treasury regulations to be treated as a United States person.

Payments of Interest. Stated interest on a note generally will be taxable to a U.S. Holder as ordinary income from domestic sources at the time it is paid or accrued in accordance with the U.S. Holder’s method of accounting for tax purposes.

Liquidated Damages. The notes provide for the payment of additional amounts of interest under certain circumstances. Although the matter is not free from doubt, we intend to take the position that a U.S. Holder of notes should be required to report any such liquidated damages as income for U.S. federal income tax purposes at the time it accrues or is received in accordance with such holder’s method of accounting. It is possible, however, that the Internal Revenue Service may take a different position, in which case the timing and amount of income may be different.

Sale, Exchange or Other Disposition of a Note. A U.S. Holder will generally recognize capital gain or loss on a sale, exchange, redemption, retirement or other taxable disposition of a note (other than an exchange of a note for a publicly registered note pursuant to the exchange offer, see “— Exchange Offer” below) measured by the difference, if any, between

 

    the amount of cash and the fair market value of any property received, except to the extent that the cash or other property received in respect of a note is attributable to the payment of accrued interest on the note not previously included in income, which amount will be taxable as ordinary income; and

 

    the holder’s adjusted tax basis in the note.

A U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in a note will, in general, be the U.S. Holder’s cost therefor. Such capital gain or loss will be treated as a long-term gain or loss if, at the time of the disposition, the note has been held by the holder for more than one year; otherwise, the capital gain or loss will be short-term. Non-corporate taxpayers are subject to a lower tax rate on their long-term capital gains than those applicable to ordinary income. All taxpayers are subject to certain limitations on the deductibility of their capital losses.

 

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Exchange Offer. A U.S. Holder will recognize no gain or loss on the exchange of a note for a publicly registered note pursuant to the Exchange Offer. Consequently, the holding period of a new note will include the holding period of the note exchanged therefor and the adjusted tax basis of a new note will be the same as the adjusted tax basis of the note exchanged therefor immediately before the exchange.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding. In general, information reporting requirements will apply to payments of principal, interest and liquidated damages on the notes and the proceeds of sale of a note paid to U.S. Holders other than exempt recipients (such as corporations). U.S. Holders of notes may be subject, under certain circumstances, to backup withholding at a rate of 28% on such payments. Backup withholding applies only if the U.S. Holder:

 

    fails to furnish its social security or other taxpayer identification number within a reasonable time after a request for such information;

 

    furnishes an incorrect taxpayer identification number;

 

    fails to report interest or dividends properly; or

 

    fails, under certain circumstances, to provide a certified statement, signed under penalty of perjury, that the taxpayer identification number provided is its correct number and that the U.S. Holder is not subject to backup withholding.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amount withheld from a payment to a U.S. Holder under the backup withholding rules is allowable as a credit against such U.S. Holder’s United States federal income tax liability and may entitle such holder to a refund, provided that the required information is furnished to the Internal Revenue Service. Certain persons are exempt from backup withholding, including corporations and financial institutions. U.S. Holders of notes should consult their tax advisors as to their qualification for exemption from backup withholding and the procedure for obtaining such exemption.

We will furnish annually to the Internal Revenue Service, and to record holders of the notes to whom we are required to furnish such information, information relating to the amount of interest paid and the amount of tax withheld, if any, with respect to payments on the notes.

Non-U.S. Holders

The following summary is limited to the United States federal income tax consequences relevant to a holder of a note (other than a partnership) that is not a U.S. Holder (a “Non-U.S. Holder”). Special rules may apply to Non-U.S. Holders, such as “controlled foreign corporations,” “passive foreign investment companies,” and certain expatriates, that are subject to special treatment under the Code. Such Non-U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors to determine the U.S. federal, state, local and other tax consequences that may be relevant.

Taxation of Interest. Subject to the summary of backup withholding rules below, payments of interest on a note to any Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to United States federal income or withholding tax provided that:

 

    the Non-U.S. Holder is not an actual or constructive owner of 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all our voting stock;

 

    the Non-U.S. Holder is not a controlled foreign corporation related, directly or indirectly, to us through stock ownership;

 

    the Non-U.S. Holder is not a bank whose receipt of interest on a note is described in Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code;

 

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    the Non-U.S. Holder is not receiving such interest payments as income effectively connected with the conduct by the Non-U.S. Holder of a trade or business within the United States; and

 

    the Non-U.S. Holder satisfies the statement requirement (addressed generally below) set forth in Section 871(h) and 881(c) of the Code and the Treasury regulations thereunder.

To satisfy the above statement requirement, the Non-U.S. Holder must provide us or our paying agent with a properly completed Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN (or substitute Form W-8BEN or the appropriate successor form) under penalties of perjury which provides the Non-U.S. Holder’s name and address and certifies that the Non-U.S. Holder is a Non-U.S. Holder. Alternatively, in a case where a security clearing organization, bank or other financial institution holds the notes in the ordinary course of its trade or business on behalf of the Non-U.S. Holder, certification requires that we or our paying agent receive from the financial institution a certification under penalties of perjury that a properly completed Form W-8BEN (or substitute Form W-8BEN or the appropriate successor form) has been received by it, or by another such financial institution, from the Non-U.S. Holder, and a copy of such a form is furnished to us or our paying agent. Special rules apply to payments made through a qualified intermediary.

A Non-U.S. Holder that does not qualify for exemption from withholding under the preceding paragraph generally will be subject to withholding of United States federal income tax at the rate of 30%, or lower applicable treaty rate, on payments of interest on the notes. A Non-U.S. Holder who is eligible for a lower rate pursuant to an applicable treaty and wishes to claim such lower rate should submit a properly completed Form W-8BEN (or substitute Form W-8BEN or the appropriate successor form) to us or our paying agent.

If the payments of interest on a note are effectively connected with the conduct by a Non-U.S. Holder of a trade or business in the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, are attributable to a United States permanent establishment of such Non-U.S. Holder), such payments will be subject to a United States federal income tax on a net basis at the rates applicable to United States persons generally. If the Non-U.S. Holder is a corporation for United States federal income purposes, it may be subject also to a 30% branch profits tax on the “dividend equivalent amount.” If payments are subject to United States federal income tax on a net basis in accordance with the rules described in the preceding two sentences, such payments will not be subject to United States withholding tax so long as the holder provides us or our paying agent with appropriate certification on Form W-8ECI.

Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding any applicable income tax treaties, which may provide for a lower rate of withholding tax, exemption from or reduction of branch profits tax, or other rules different from those described above.

Sale, Exchange or Other Disposition of a Note. Subject to the summary of backup withholding rules below, any gain realized by a Non-U.S. Holder on the sale, exchange, redemption, retirement or other disposition of a note generally will not be subject to United States federal income tax, unless:

 

    such gain is effectively connected with the conduct by such Non-U.S. Holder of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a United States permanent establishment of such Non-U.S. Holder); or

 

    the Non-U.S. Holder is an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of the disposition and certain other conditions are satisfied.

Liquidated Damages. Upon the occurrence of certain enumerated events we may be required to make additional payments to you. The U.S. federal income tax treatment of the liquidated damages is unclear. Such liquidated damages paid to a Non-U.S. Holder may be subject to United States withholding tax.

 

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Information Reporting and Backup Withholding. We must report annually to the Internal Revenue Service and to each Non-U.S. Holder any interest that is paid to the Non-U.S. Holder, and the amount of tax, if any, withheld. Copies of these information returns also may be made available under the provisions of a specific treaty or other agreement to the tax authorities of the country in which the Non-U.S. Holder resides.

Treasury regulations provide that the backup withholding tax will not apply to such payments of interest with respect to which either the requisite certification, as described above, has been received or an exemption otherwise has been established, provided that neither we nor our paying agent have actual knowledge or reason to know that the Non-U.S. Holder is, in fact, a United States person or that the conditions of any other exemption are not, in fact, satisfied.

The payment of the proceeds from the disposition of the notes to or through the United States office of any broker, United States or foreign, will be subject to information reporting and possible backup withholding unless the owner certifies as to its non-U.S. status under penalties of perjury or otherwise establishes an exemption, provided that the broker does not have actual knowledge or reason to know the holder is a United States person or that the conditions of any other exemption are not, in fact, satisfied. The payment of the proceeds from the disposition of the notes to or through a non-U.S. office of a non-United States broker will not be subject to information reporting or backup withholding unless the non-United States broker has certain types of relationships with the United States (a “U.S. related person”). In the case of the payment of the proceeds from the disposition of the notes to or through a non-United States office of a broker that is either a United States person or a U.S. related person, the Treasury regulations require information reporting, but not backup withholding, on the payment unless the broker has documentary evidence in its files that the owner is a Non-U.S. Holder and the broker has no knowledge or reason to know to the contrary, or the Non-U.S. Holder otherwise establishes an exemption.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be refunded or credited against the Non-U.S. Holder’s United States federal income tax liability, provided that the required information is provided to the Internal Revenue Service.

 

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ERISA CONSIDERATIONS

Before making an investment in the notes, a benefit plan investor subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), and/or the prohibited transaction provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) (collectively, an “ERISA Plan”) should review the following summary of issues.

This summary is based on the provisions of ERISA and the Code (and the related regulations and administrative and judicial interpretations) as of the date hereof. This summary does not purport to be complete, and no assurance can be given that future legislation, court decisions, administrative regulations, rulings or administrative pronouncements will not significantly modify the requirements summarized herein. Any such changes may be retroactive and may thereby apply to transactions entered into prior to the date of their enactment or release.

In contemplating an investment of a portion of an ERISA Plan in the notes, the fiduciary of the ERISA Plan who is responsible for making such investment should carefully consider, taking into account the facts and circumstances of the ERISA Plan, whether such investment is consistent with the fiduciary responsibility requirements of ERISA, including, but not limited to, whether: (i) such investment is consistent with the prudence and diversification requirements of ERISA; (ii) the fiduciary has authority to make such investment under the appropriate governing instrument and Title I of ERISA; (iii) such investment is made solely in the interest of the participants in and beneficiaries of the ERISA Plan; (iv) the acquisition and holding of the notes does not result in a non-exempt “prohibited transaction” under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code; and (v) such investment does not violate ERISA’s prohibition on improper delegation of control over or responsibility for “plan assets.”

Fiduciaries of ERISA Plans should also carefully consider the definition of the term “plan assets” in Regulations Section 2510.3-101 promulgated by the United States Department of Labor (“DOL”) on November 13, 1986 (the “Plan Asset Regulations”). Under the Plan Asset Regulations, if an ERISA Plan invests in an “equity interest” in a corporation, partnership, trust or another specified entity, the underlying assets and properties of the entity may be deemed for purposes of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code to be assets of the investing ERISA Plan. According to the Plan Asset Regulations, an interest is not an “equity interest” if it is treated as an indebtedness under applicable local law and has no substantial equity features. Although there is little statutory or regulatory guidance on this subject, and there can be no assurances in this regard, it appears that the notes should not be treated as equity interests for purposes of the Plan Asset Regulations. Accordingly, the assets of Sierra Pacific should not be treated as the assets of any ERISA Plans investing in the notes.

In addition, ERISA and the Code generally prohibit certain transactions involving the assets of an ERISA Plan and persons who have certain specified relationships to the ERISA Plan (“parties in interest” as defined in ERISA or “disqualified persons” as defined in the Code).

The notes may not be sold or transferred to, and each purchaser by its purchase of the notes shall be deemed to have represented and covenanted that it is not acquiring the notes for or on behalf of, and will not transfer the notes to, any ERISA Plan except that such purchase for or on behalf of an ERISA Plan shall be permitted:

(i) to the extent such purchase is made by or on behalf of a bank collective investment fund maintained by the purchaser in which no ERISA Plan (together with any other plan maintained by the same employer or employee organization) has an interest in excess of 10% of the total assets in such collective investment fund, and the other applicable conditions of Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption 91-38 issued by the DOL are satisfied;

(ii) to the extent such purchase is made by or on behalf of an insurance company pooled separate account maintained by the purchaser in which, at any time while the notes are outstanding, no ERISA Plan

 

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(together with any other plans maintained by the same employer or employee organization) has an interest in excess of 10% of the total of all assets in such pooled separate account, and the other applicable conditions of Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption 90-1 issued by the DOL are satisfied;

(iii) to the extent such purchase is made on behalf of an ERISA Plan by (A) an investment adviser registered under the 1940 Act that had total assets under its management and control in excess of $50.0 million as of the last day of its most recent fiscal year and has stockholders’ or partners’ equity in excess of $750,000 as shown in its most recent balance sheet prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, or (B) a bank as defined in Section 202(a)(2) of the 1940 Act with equity capital in excess of $1.0 million as of the last day of its most recent fiscal year, or (C) an insurance company which is qualified under the laws of more than one State to manage, acquire or dispose of any assets of an ERISA Plan, which insurance company has as of the last day of its most recent fiscal year, net worth in excess of $1.0 million and which is subject to supervision and examination by a State authority having supervision over insurance companies and, in any case, such investment adviser, bank or insurance company is otherwise a qualified professional asset manager, as such term is used in Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption 84-14, as amended, issued by the DOL, and the assets of such plan when combined with the assets of other plans established or maintained by the same employer (or affiliates thereof) or employee organization and managed by such investment adviser, bank or insurance company, do not represent more than 20% of the total client assets managed by such investment adviser, bank or insurance company at the time of the transaction, and the other applicable conditions of such exemption are otherwise satisfied (and effective as of the last day of the first fiscal year or the investment adviser beginning on or after August 23, 2005, substitute “$85.0 million” for “$50.0 million” and “$1,000,000” for “$750,000” in the preceding part (A));

(iv) to the extent such plan is a governmental plan (as defined in Section 3(32) of ERISA) which is not subject to the provisions of the Title I of ERISA or Section 401 of the Code;

(v) to the extent such purchase is made by or on behalf of an insurance company using the assets of its general account, the reserves and liabilities for the general account contracts held by or on behalf of any plan, together with any other plans maintained by the same employer (or its affiliates) or employee organization, do not exceed 10% of the total reserves and liabilities of the insurance company general account (exclusive of separate account liabilities), plus surplus as set forth in the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Annual Statement filed with the State of domicile of the insurer, in accordance with Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption 95-60 issued by the DOL, and the other applicable conditions of such exemption are otherwise satisfied;

(vi) to the extent such purchase is made by an in-house asset manager within the meaning of Part IV(a) of Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption 96-23 issued by the DOL, such manager has made or properly authorized the decision for such plan to purchase notes, under circumstances such that Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption 96-23 is applicable to the purchase and holding of such notes; or

(vii) to the extent such purchase will not otherwise give rise to a transaction described in Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975(c)(1) of the Code for which a statutory or administrative exemption is unavailable.

PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS THAT ARE ERISA PLANS ARE STRONGLY URGED TO CONSULT THEIR OWN ERISA AND TAX ADVISORS REGARDING THE CONSEQUENCES OF AN INVESTMENT IN THE NOTES.

The sale of the notes to an ERISA Plan shall not be deemed a representation by Sierra Pacific or the initial purchasers that this investment meets all relevant legal requirements with respect to ERISA Plans generally or any particular ERISA Plan.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

As discussed under the Section entitled “THE EXCHANGE OFFER,” based on an interpretation of the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Sierra Pacific believes that new notes issued pursuant to the exchange offer may be offered for resale and resold or otherwise transferred by any holder of such new notes (other than any such holder which is an “affiliate” of Sierra Pacific within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act and except as otherwise discussed below with respect to holders which are broker-dealers) without compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act so long as such new notes are acquired in the ordinary course of such holder’s business and such holder has no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of such new notes.

Each broker-dealer that receives new notes for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of those new notes. This prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of new notes received in exchange for old notes only where those old notes were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. This is in addition to the obligation of dealers to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions. Sierra Pacific has agreed that, for a period of one year after the Expiration Date, they will make this prospectus, as amended or supplemented, available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale.

Sierra Pacific will not receive any proceeds from any sale of new notes by broker-dealers. New notes received by broker-dealers for their own account pursuant to the exchange offer may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions, through the writing of options on the new notes or a combination of such methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time of resale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. Any such resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or through brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or concessions from any such broker-dealer or the purchasers of any new notes. Any broker-dealer that resells new notes that were received by it for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer and any broker or dealer that participates in a distribution of those new notes may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and any profit on any such resale of new notes and any commissions or concessions received by any such persons may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under the Securities Act. The letter of transmittal states that by acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act.

For a period of one year after the Expiration Date, Sierra Pacific will promptly send additional copies of this prospectus and any amendment or supplement to this prospectus to any broker-dealer that requests those documents in the letter of transmittal. Sierra Pacific has agreed to pay all expenses incident to the Exchange Offer (including the expenses of one counsel for holders of the notes) other than commissions or concessions of any broker-dealers and will indemnify the holders of the notes (including any broker-dealers) against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We have filed a registration statement on Form S-4 to register with the Securities and Exchange Commission the new notes to be issued in exchange for the old notes. This prospectus is part of that registration statement. As allowed by the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules, this prospectus does not contain all of the information you can find in the registration statement and the exhibits to the registration statement. Because the prospectus may not contain all the information that you may find important, you should review the full text of these documents.

Although all of the common stock of Sierra Pacific is owned by Sierra Pacific Resources, we remain subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act with respect to certain other classes of securities currently outstanding. Therefore, we file reports and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such reports, proxy statements and other information filed by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the Securities and Exchange Commission at the Securities and Exchange Commission’s public reference room, 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549.

Information on the public reference rooms and their copy charges may be obtained from the Securities and Exchange Commission by calling 1-800-SEC-0330. The Securities and Exchange Commission also maintains an Internet site (http://www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants, including us, that have been filed electronically with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Our SEC filings are also available on our website at www.nevadapower.com. The contents of our website are not incorporated into this prospectus.

 

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INCORPORATION OF INFORMATION WE FILE WITH

THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

The Securities and Exchange Commission allows us to incorporate by reference the information we file with them, which means:

 

    incorporated documents are considered part of the prospectus;

 

    we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents; and

 

    information that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission will automatically update and supersede this incorporated information.

We incorporate by reference the documents listed below which were filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Exchange Act:

 

    our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005;

 

    our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2006 and June 30, 2006; and

 

    our Current Reports on Form 8-K and/or Form 8-K/A filed on January 11, 2006, January 17, 2006, January 25, 2006, January 31, 2006, February 1, 2006, March 21, 2006, March 23, 2006, April 4, 2006, April 13, 2006, April 20, 2006, April 28, 2006 and June 8, 2006.

We are not incorporating any information furnished under Items 2.02 or 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K unless specifically stated otherwise.

We are providing to each person to whom this prospectus is delivered a copy of our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 and our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2006.

You should rely only on information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus is accurate as of the date of this prospectus only. Our business, financial condition and results of operations may have changed since that date.

You may request a copy of any filings referred to above (excluding exhibits), at no cost, by contacting us at the following address:

Sierra Pacific Power Company

P.O. Box 10100

(6100 Neil Road)

Reno, Nevada 89520-0400 (89511)

Attention: Assistant Treasurer

Telephone: (702) 367-5000

 

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LEGAL OPINIONS

The validity of the new notes offered hereby and certain tax matters will be passed upon for Sierra Pacific by Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP, Boston, Massachusetts. Matters of Nevada law will be passed upon for Sierra Pacific by Woodburn and Wedge, Reno, Nevada.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements and the related financial statement schedule incorporated in this prospectus by reference from Sierra Pacific Power Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report, which is incorporated herein by reference, and has been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

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$300,000,000

LOGO

Sierra Pacific Power Company

6% General and Refunding

Mortgage Notes, Series M, Due 2016

PROSPECTUS

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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 20. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

The Nevada Revised Statutes provide that a director or officer is not individually liable to the corporation or its stockholders or creditors for any damages as a result of any act or failure to act in his capacity as a director or officer unless it is proven that his act or failure to act constituted a breach of his fiduciary duties as a director or officer and his breach of those duties involved intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of law. The Articles of Incorporation or an amendment thereto may, however, provide for greater individual liability. Furthermore, directors may be jointly and severally liable for the payment of certain distributions in violation of Chapter 78 of the Nevada Revised Statutes.

The Company’s Articles of Incorporation and By-laws provide in substance that no director, officer, employee, fiduciary or authorized representative of the Company shall be personally liable for monetary damages as such for any action taken, or any failure to take any action, as a director, officer or other representative capacity to the fullest extent that the laws of the State of Nevada permit elimination or limitation of the liability of directors and officers.

The Nevada Revised Statutes also provide that under certain circumstances, a corporation may indemnify any person for amounts incurred in connection with a pending, threatened or completed action, suit or proceeding in which he is, or is threatened to be made, a party by reason of his being a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, if such person (a) is not liable for a breach of fiduciary duty involving intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of law or such greater standard imposed by the corporation’s articles of incorporation; or (b) acted in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. Additionally, a corporation may indemnify a director, officer, employee or agent with respect to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor, if such person (a) is not liable for a breach of fiduciary duty involving intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of law or such greater standard imposed by the corporation’s articles of incorporation; or (b) acted in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, however, indemnification may not be made for any claim, issue or matter as to which such a person has been adjudged by a court to be liable to the corporation or for amounts paid in settlement to the corporation, unless the court determines that the person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses as the court deems proper. To the extent that a director, officer, employee or agent of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to above, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, the corporation shall indemnify him against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense.

The Company’s By-laws provide in substance that every director and officer of the Company shall be entitled to indemnification against reasonable expense and any liability incurred in connection with the defense of any actual or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding, civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or other, whether brought by or in the right of the Company or otherwise, in which he or she may be involved, as a party or otherwise, by reason of being or having been a director or officer of the Company or by reason of the fact that such person is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or other representative of the Company or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other entity, except to the extent prohibited by law.

The Company has purchased insurance coverage under a policy insuring its directors and officers against certain liabilities which they may incur in their capacity as such.

See “Item 22. Undertakings” for a description of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s position regarding such indemnification provisions.

 

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Item 21. Exhibits

See Index to Exhibits preceding the Exhibits included as part of this Registration Statement.

 

Item 22. Undertakings

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

i. To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

ii. To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement.

iii. To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.

(5) To respond to requests for information that is incorporated by reference into the prospectus pursuant to Items 4, 10(b), 11, or 13 of this Form S-4, within one business day of receipt of such request, and to send the incorporated documents by first class mail or other equally prompt means. This includes information contained in documents filed subsequent to the effective date of the registration statement through the date of responding to the request.

(6) To supply by means of a post-effective amendment all information concerning a transaction, and the company being acquired involved therein, that was not the subject of and included in the registration statement when it became effective.

 

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Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the provisions referred to in Item 20 hereof, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-4 and has duly caused this Amendment No.1 to Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Reno, State of Nevada, on August 31, 2006.

 

SIERRA PACIFIC POWER COMPANY

By   /s/    Michael W. Yackira        
  Michael W. Yackira
  Executive Vice President and Chief
  Financial Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated:

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

*   

Director, President and Chief

 

August 31, 2006

Walter M. Higgins III   

Executive Officer

 
/s/    Michael W. Yackira           

Executive Vice President

 

August 31, 2006

Michael W. Yackira    and Chief Financial Officer  
*   

Controller

 

August 31, 2006

John E. Brown     
*   

Director

 

August 31, 2006

Joseph B. Anderson, Jr.     
*    Director  

August 31, 2006

Mary Lee Coleman     
*   

Director

 

August 31, 2006

Krestine M. Corbin     
*    Director  

August 31, 2006

Theodore J. Day     
*    Director  

August 31, 2006

James R. Donnelley     
      Director  
Jerry E. Herbst     
*    Director  

August 31, 2006

John F. O’Reilly     
*    Director  

August 31, 2006

Philip G. Satre     

 

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Signature

  

Title

 

Date

*    Director  

August 31, 2006

Donald D. Snyder     
*    Director  

August 31, 2006

Clyde T. Turner     
 
*By:   /s/    Michael W. Yackira          
  Attorney-in-Fact  

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

1.1†    Registration Rights Agreement dated as of March 23, 2006 among Sierra Pacific Power Company, Citigroup Global Markets Inc and UBS Securities LLC, as representative of the Initial Purchasers (previously filed as Exhibit 4.6 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006)
3.1†    Restated Articles of Incorporation (previously filed as Exhibit 3.1 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2006)
3.2†    By-Laws (previously filed as Exhibit 3(C) to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999)
4.1†    General and Refunding Mortgage Indenture, dated as of May 1, 2001 between Sierra Pacific Power Company and The Bank of New York, as Trustee (previously filed as Exhibit 4.1(a) to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2001)
4.2†    Officer’s Certificate establishing the terms of Sierra Pacific Company’s 6% General and Refunding Mortgage Notes, Series M), due 2016 (previously filed as Exhibit 4.4 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006)
4.3†    Form of 6% General and Refunding Mortgage Notes, Series M, due 2016 (previously filed as Exhibit 4.5 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006)
5.1    Opinion of Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP
5.2    Opinion of Woodburn and Wedge
8.1    Opinion of Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP as to Tax Matters (included in Exhibit 5.1)
12.1    Statement regarding computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges
13.1†    Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, as filed on March 6, 2006
13.2†    Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2006, as filed on August 4, 2006
23.1    Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
23.2    Consent of Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
23.3    Consent of Woodburn and Wedge (included in Exhibit 5.2)
23.4    Consent of Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP as to Tax Matters (included in Exhibit 5.1)
24.1†    Powers of Attorney
25.1    Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1 of The Bank of New York
99.1    Form of Letter of Transmittal
99.2    Exchange Agent Agreement
   Previously filed