Brief: Commission rules on confidentiality of documents

Friday, Oct. 30, 1998 | 4:08 a.m.

Valuations of generation plants and financial forecasts can be kept confidential, but information about layoffs resulting from a utility merger can't, the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada ruled.

The PUC issued an order on confidentiality issues behind the proposed merger of Nevada Power Co. and Sierra Pacific Resources Inc. Nevada Power said it is satisfied with the outcome of the ruling and won't challenge the decision that the company must reveal details about layoffs planned when the companies merge.

The companies already have stated publically that about 250 positions would be eliminated following the merger. Nevada Power and Sierra Pacific had argued that they should be allowed to withhold specifics about layoffs by department to prevent early departures by employees. The commission disagreed.

And while the commission said the companies could not suppress historical financial data, projections and anticipated earnings per share could be kept confidential, the PUC ruled. Projected valuations of generation plants also would be kept under wraps since they are expected to be sold, but historical data on transmission and distribution systems won't be because they aren't part of the application.

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