Nevada Power announced this week that the third and final phase of its Centennial Project is now energized and supplying power to southern Nevada. The new 48-mile, 500-kV transmission line from Harry Allen to Mead substations was energized earlier this week culminating a project that began in 2000.

Highlights of the entire Centennial Project include:

* Construction of 176 miles of new 500 kV and 230 kV transmission lines
* Construction of three new 500 kV and 230 kV switching stations
* Provides Nevada Power customers access to approximately 3750 MW of new energy supplies
* Upgrades to Harry Allen, Crystal, Northwest and Mead substations

"Because of the growth of southern Nevada, it is imperative that we have access to reliable power supplies along with the ability to transport that power," said Jeff Ceccarelli, corporate senior vice president, service delivery and operations for Sierra Pacific Resources. "This large scale transmission project greatly increased our ability to bring energy into southern Nevada and to move power throughout the valley which means more reliable service for our customers."

The Centennial Project was first approved by the Nevada Public Utilities of Commission (PUCN) under the company’s amended 2000 Resource Plan. Costs to complete the project filed with the PUCN are estimated at $309 million.