Reno-based Sierra Pacific seeks approval for PGE acquisition

Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2000 | 11:56 a.m.

The Reno-based Sierra Pacific wants to buy the utility from Enron Corp. for $3.1 billion.

The merger would make Sierra Pacific one of the largest utilities on the West Coast with more than 1.7 million customers in Reno, Las Vegas and northwest Oregon.

The Oregon Public Utility Commission must approve the deal. Sierra Pacific officials asked the panel on Tuesday to try to come up with a decision by June. They want to close the deal by the fall of 2000.

PGE will continue to have a local headquarters in Portland, said Malyn Malquist, Sierra Pacific's president and chief operating officer.

"PGE customers will receive the same high level of reliable, high quality service and utility operations," Malquist said.

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