Thursday, July 27, 2000 | 11:24 a.m.
Federal regulators say they want more information about Sierra Pacific's plan to divert some energy into Nevada from a transmission line that provides power to California.
"Our contention is that's such a small amount of energy that it's really unlikely it would affect competition or prices," said Sierra Pacific spokeswoman Faye Andersen.
Sierra Pacific, based in Reno, Nev., has 30 days to submit more information to the commission. But company officials say they still expect the deal with Portland-based PGE to close by the end of the year.
"This is a minor delay," Andersen said. "It will not impact our goal."
PGE officials declined to comment.
In addition to approval from FERC, Sierra Pacific needs approval from the Federal Trade Commission, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, along with the Oregon Public Utility Commission.
Sierra Pacific said in November that it would buy PGE from its parent company, Houston-based Enron Corp., for $2.1 billion in cash. Sierra Pacific also said it would assume $1 billion in PGE debt.
The merger would create a company with more than $9 billion in assets, serving 1.7 million customers in Oregon, Nevada and California. Enron, which bought PGE three years ago, decided to sell the utility after clashing with state officials over the pace of industry deregulation.
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