Groups want say in Nevada Power merger

More than 20 groups want to have their say in the $2.3 billion merger of Nevada Power Co. and Sierra Pacific Resources.

The state Public Utilities Commission faces a Jan. 3 deadline to rule on the merger, though it could be delayed two months so information missing from their application can be filed.

The PUC is deciding how it will accept comment from special interest groups seeking to intervene and what information the utilities must give to the state consumer advocate and other parties studying the merger.

Issues include how shareholders -- rather than ratepayers -- would pay for merger costs, rate changes, the spinning off of power plants and how existing contracts would be honored.

Nevada Power and Sierra Pacific want to sell power but don't want to generate it.

The intervenors include both customers and would-be competitors.

They include the Colorado River Commission, the City of Fallon, the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the Nevada Independent Energy Coalition, Barrick Goldstrike Mining Co., Newmont Mining Co., the MGM Grand hotel-casino, Mirage Resorts Inc., U.S. Energy Systems, Enron Corp. and Southern California Edison.

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