Houston-based Reliant Energy announced Wednesday it has a 16-month tolling deal with Las Vegas-based Nevada Power Co. to supply 452 MW of electricity for a fee with the utility providing the natural gas needed to produce the power. The power will come from Reliant’s Bighorn generation plant, a new 591 MW plant southeast of Las Vegas near Primm, NV, and Nevada Power will supply up to 80 MMcf/d of gas at full capacity.

No dollar amount was given for the contract, but a utility spokesperson in Las Vegas said Nevada Power will be filing with state regulators for recovery of the contract amounts. Since the deal is less than three years, the utility was not required to seek pre-approval from the Nevada Public Utilities Commission.

The contract kicks in June 1, extending through the next two summers’ peak-demand periods. “It provides Nevada Power with full-dispatch rights over the contract period for up to 482 MW of baseload capacity and energy,” Reliant said in its announcement.

Reliant’s vice president of origination, David Manceor, called the contract “an ideal fit” for the Houston-based supplier’s portfolio of wholesale generation plants in the West, and it points out that the company is prepared to serve large power customers like the Sierra Pacific Resources utility.

“We are pleased to have been selected by Nevada Power to serve a portion of its capacity and energy needs,” Manceor said. Reliant’s new Bighorn plant opened last February and has two natural gas turbines and one steam turbine, the latter providing peaking services at the plant.

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