Document:

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                                                                   Exhibit 10.2

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                                  $130,000,000

                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                                   dated as of

                                 August 1, 2001

                                      among

                              NEVADA POWER COMPANY,

                               MELLON BANK, N.A.,

                            as Administrative Agent,

                                  BNP PARIBAS,

                            FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK

                                       and

                             WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.,

                             as Syndication Agents,

                                       and

                   the LENDERS party hereto from time to time

                                   Arranged By

                                MELLON BANK, N.A.

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<PAGE>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

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ARTICLE I  DEFINITIONS; CONSTRUCTION.......................................   1

         SECTION 1.01 Defined Terms........................................   1
         SECTION 1.02 Classification of Loans and Borrowings...............  14
         SECTION 1.03 Terms Generally......................................  15
         SECTION 1.04 Accounting Terms; GAAP...............................  15

ARTICLE II  THE CREDITS....................................................  15

         SECTION 2.01 The Commitments......................................  15
         SECTION 2.02 Loans and Borrowings.................................  15
         SECTION 2.03 Requests for Revolving Borrowings....................  16
         SECTION 2.04 Funding of Borrowings................................  17
         SECTION 2.05 Interest Elections...................................  17
         SECTION 2.06 Termination, Reduction and Extension of Commitments..  19
         SECTION 2.07 Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt.................  21
         SECTION 2.08 Prepayment of Loans..................................  22
         SECTION 2.09 Fees.................................................  23
         SECTION 2.10 Interest.............................................  23
         SECTION 2.11 Alternate Rate of Interest...........................  24
         SECTION 2.12 Increased Costs......................................  24
         SECTION 2.13 Break Funding Payments...............................  25
         SECTION 2.14 Taxes................................................  26
         SECTION 2.15 Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment;
                       Sharing of Set-offs.................................  27
         SECTION 2.16 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.......  28

ARTICLE III  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES................................  29

         SECTION 3.01 Corporate Status.....................................  29
         SECTION 3.02 Corporate Power and Authorization....................  29
         SECTION 3.03 Execution and Binding Effect.........................  30
         SECTION 3.04 Governmental Approvals and Filings...................  30
         SECTION 3.05 Absence of Conflicts.................................  30
         SECTION 3.06 Audited Financial Statements.........................  31
         SECTION 3.07 Interim Financial Statements.........................  31
         SECTION 3.08 Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities...................  31
         SECTION 3.09 Absence of Material Adverse Change...................  31
         SECTION 3.10 Accurate and Complete Disclosure.....................  32
         SECTION 3.11 Margin Regulations...................................  32
         SECTION 3.12 Litigation...........................................  32
         SECTION 3.13 Absence of Events of Default.........................  32
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                                      (i)
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         SECTION 3.14 Absence of Other Conflicts...........................  32
         SECTION 3.15 Insurance............................................  33
         SECTION 3.16 Title to Property; No Liens..........................  33
         SECTION 3.17 Taxes................................................  33
         SECTION 3.18 Borrower Not An Investment Company...................  34
         SECTION 3.19 Environmental Matters................................  34
         SECTION 3.20 ERISA................................................  34
         SECTION 3.21 Pari Passu Status....................................  35
         SECTION 3.22 Indebtedness.........................................  36

ARTICLE IV  CONDITIONS.....................................................  36

         SECTION 4.01 Effective Date.......................................  36
         SECTION 4.02 Conditions to All Loans..............................  38

ARTICLE V  AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS...........................................  39

         SECTION 5.01 Basic Reporting Requirements.........................  39
         SECTION 5.02 Insurance............................................  42
         SECTION 5.03 Payment of Taxes and Other Potential Charges and
                        Priority Claims....................................  42
         SECTION 5.04 Preservation of Corporate Status and Franchises......  43
         SECTION 5.05 Governmental Approvals and Filings...................  43
         SECTION 5.06 Maintenance of Properties............................  43
         SECTION 5.07 Avoidance of Other Conflicts.........................  43
         SECTION 5.08 Financial Accounting Practices.......................  44
         SECTION 5.09 Use of Proceeds......................................  44
         SECTION 5.10 End of Fiscal Periods................................  44

ARTICLE VI  NEGATIVE COVENANTS.............................................  44

         SECTION 6.01 Financial Covenants..................................  44
         SECTION 6.02 Liens................................................  45
         SECTION 6.03 Mergers..............................................  46
         SECTION 6.04 Dispositions of Properties...........................  47
         SECTION 6.05 Investments and Acquisitions.........................  47
         SECTION 6.06 Dividends and Stock Repurchases......................  47
         SECTION 6.07 Transactions with Affiliates.........................  48
         SECTION 6.08 Change of Business...................................  48
         SECTION 6.09 Equal and Ratable Lien; Grant of Security Interest in
                        Certain Events.....................................  48
         SECTION 6.10 Restrictive Agreements...............................  49

ARTICLE VII  DEFAULTS......................................................  50

         SECTION 7.01 Events of Default....................................  50
         SECTION 7.02 Consequences of an Event of Default..................  52
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                                      (ii)
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ARTICLE VIII  THE AGENTS...................................................  53

         SECTION 8.01 Appointment..........................................  53
         SECTION 8.02 General Nature of Administrative Agent's Duties......  53
         SECTION 8.03 Exercise of Powers...................................  54
         SECTION 8.04 General Exculpatory Provisions.......................  54
         SECTION 8.05 Administration by the Administrative Agent...........  55
         SECTION 8.06 Lenders Not Relying on Administrative Agent or
                        Other Lenders......................................  56
         SECTION 8.07 Indemnification......................................  56
         SECTION 8.08 Administrative Agent in its Individual Capacity......  57
         SECTION 8.09 Holders of Notes.....................................  57
         SECTION 8.10 Successor Administrative Agent.......................  58
         SECTION 8.11 Additional Administrative Agents.....................  58
         SECTION 8.12 Calculations.........................................  59
         SECTION 8.13 Syndication Agents...................................  59

ARTICLE IX  MISCELLANEOUS..................................................  59

         SECTION 9.01 Amendments and Waivers...............................  59
         SECTION 9.02 No Implied Waiver; Cumulative Remedies...............  60
         SECTION 9.03 Notices..............................................  60
         SECTION 9.04 Expenses; Taxes; Indemnity...........................  61
         SECTION 9.05 Severability.........................................  62
         SECTION 9.06 Prior Understandings.................................  62
         SECTION 9.07 Duration; Survival...................................  62
         SECTION 9.08 Counterparts.........................................  63
         SECTION 9.09 Limitation on Payments...............................  63
         SECTION 9.10 Set-Off..............................................  63
         SECTION 9.11 Sharing of Collections...............................  64
         SECTION 9.12 Successors and Assigns; Participations; Assignments..  64
         SECTION 9.13 Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction Waiver of
                        Jury Trial; Limitation of Liability................  67

                                    SCHEDULES

         Schedule I...............................  COMMITMENTS
         Schedule II..............................  JURISDICTIONS
         Schedule III.............................  LITIGATION
         Schedule IV..............................  LIENS
         Schedule V...............................  ENVIRONMENTAL CLAIMS
         Schedule VI..............................  EXISTING INDEBTEDNESS

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                                     (iii)

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBITS

         Exhibit A................................  FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AND
                                                      ACCEPTANCE

         Exhibit B................................  FORM OF BORROWING REQUEST
         Exhibit C................................  FORM OF PROMISSORY NOTE
         Exhibit D................................  FORM OF QUARTERLY COMPLIANCE
                                                      CERTIFICATE

                                      (iv)

<PAGE>

                  CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of August 1, 2001, among NEVADA
POWER COMPANY, a Nevada corporation, MELLON BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent,
BNP PARIBAS, FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK and WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., as
Syndication Agents, the LENDERS party hereto from time to time and MELLON BANK,
N.A., as Arranger.

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

                  WHEREAS, the Borrower (as defined below) has requested, and
the Lenders (as defined below) have agreed to make available, the credit
facilities described below upon the terms and conditions contained herein.

                  NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the
mutual covenants herein contained and intending to be legally bound hereby, the
parties hereto agree as follows:

                                    ARTICLE I

                            DEFINITIONS; CONSTRUCTION

                  SECTION 1.01 Defined Terms.

                  As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the
following meanings:

                  "ABR", when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers
to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing
interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate.

                  "Acquisition" means any transaction, or any series of related
transactions, consummated after the Effective Date, by which the Borrower and/or
any of its Subsidiaries directly or indirectly (a) acquires any ongoing business
or all or substantially all of the assets of any Person engaged in any ongoing
business, whether through purchase of assets, merger or otherwise, (b) acquires
control of securities of a Person engaged in an ongoing business representing
more than 50% of the ordinary voting power for the election of directors or
other governing position if the business affairs of such Person are managed by a
board of directors or other governing body or (c) acquires control of more than
50% of the ownership interest in any partnership, joint venture, limited
liability company, business trust or other Person engaged in an ongoing business
that is not managed by a board of directors or other governing body.

                  "Adjusted LIBO Rate" means, with respect to any Eurodollar
Revolving Borrowing for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum (rounded
upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) equal to (a) the LIBO Rate
for such Interest Period multiplied by (b) the Statutory Reserve Rate.

<PAGE>

                  "Administrative Agent" means Mellon Bank, N.A., in its
capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders hereunder and any successor
appointed pursuant to Section 8.10.

                  "Affiliate" means, any Person that directly or indirectly
Controls, or is under common Control with, or is Controlled by, another Person,
provided that, in any event, any Person that owns directly or indirectly
securities having 20% or more of the voting power for the election of directors
or other governing body of a corporation or 20% or more of the partnership or
other ownership interests of any other Person (other than as a limited partner
of such other Person) will be deemed to Control such corporation or other
Person.

                  "AFUDC-Debt" means, for any period, the allowance for borrowed
funds used during construction for such period as calculated in accordance with
the rules of the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada.

                  "AFUDC-Equity" means, for any period, the allowance for funds
other than borrowed funds used during construction for such period as calculated
in accordance with the rules of the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada.

                  "Agents" means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the
Arranger and the Syndication Agents.

                  "Alternate Base Rate" means, for any day, a rate per annum
equal to the greater of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day and (b) the
Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day plus 1/2 of 1%. Any change in
the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds
Effective Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such
change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate, respectively.

                  "Applicable Percentage" means, with respect to any Lender as
of any date of determination, the percentage of the total Commitments as of such
date represented by such Lender's Commitment as of such date. If the Commitments
have terminated or expired, the Applicable Percentages shall be determined, as
of any date of determination, based upon the percentage of the total Loans
outstanding as of such date represented by such Lender's Loans outstanding as of
such date.

                  "Applicable Rate" means, for any day, with respect to the
facility fees payable hereunder or with respect to any Eurodollar Revolving Loan
or ABR Loan as the case may be, the applicable rate per annum set forth below
under the caption "Facility Fee", "Eurodollar Spread" or "ABR Spread", as the
case may be, based on the ratings by S&P and Moody's, respectively, applicable
on such day to the Index Debt of Borrower:

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                                                  Facility   Eurodollar    ABR
Index Debt of Borrower Rating: S&P/Moody's           Fee       Spread     Spread
------------------------------------------           ---       ------     ------
<S>                                             <C>          <C>        <C>
Ratings greater than A-/A3                         .1500%       .4250%       0
</TABLE>

                                      -2-

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                                                  Facility   Eurodollar    ABR
Index Debt of Borrower Rating: S&P/Moody's           Fee       Spread     Spread
------------------------------------------           ---       ------     ------
<S>                                             <C>          <C>        <C>

Ratings equal to A-/A3                             .1500%       .4750%       0

Ratings equal to BBB+/Baa1                         .2000%       .6250%       0

Ratings equal to BBB/Baa2                          .2250%       .9000%       0

Ratings equal to BBB-/Baa3                         .2500%      1.1250%    .1250%

Ratings less than BBB-/Baa3                        .3750%      2.1250%    .8750%
</TABLE>

For purposes of the foregoing, (i) if either Moody's or S&P shall not have in
effect a rating for the Index Debt of Borrower (other than by reason of the
circumstances referred to in the last sentence of this definition), then such
rating agency shall be deemed to have established a rating in its lowest rating
category, (ii) if the ratings established or deemed to have been established by
Moody's and S&P for the Index Debt of Borrower shall be changed (other than as a
result of a change in the rating system of Moody's or S&P), such change shall be
effective as of two Business Days after it is first announced by the applicable
rating agency and (iii) if the rating assigned by Moody's and the rating
assigned by S&P shall differ (a) by one level (e.g., Moody's rating of A3 and
S&P rating of BBB+), then the higher rating level shall apply (i.e., A3) and (b)
by more than one level (e.g., Moody's rating of A3 and S&P rating of BBB-), then
the rating level above the lower rating level shall apply (i.e., BBB/Baa2). Each
change in the Applicable Rate shall apply during the period commencing two
Business Days after the effective date of such change and ending on the date
immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change. If the rating
system of Moody's or S&P shall change, or if either such rating agency shall
cease to be in the business of rating corporate debt obligations, the Borrower
and the Lenders shall negotiate in good faith to amend this definition to
reflect such changed rating system or the unavailability of ratings from such
rating agency and, pending the effectiveness of any such amendment, the
Applicable Rate shall be determined by reference to the rating most recently in
effect prior to such change or cessation.

                  "Arranger" means Mellon Bank, N.A. in its capacity as arranger
 hereunder.

                  "Assignment and Acceptance" means an assignment and acceptance
entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose
consent is required by Section 9.12), and accepted by the Administrative Agent,
in the form of Exhibit A or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

                  "Availability Period" means the period from and including the
Effective Date to but excluding the Revolving Termination Date.

                  "Bankruptcy Code" means Title 11 of the United States Code
entitled "Bankruptcy," as now or hereafter in effect, or any successor thereto.

                                      -3-
<PAGE>

                  "Board" means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System of the United States of America.

                  "Borrower" means Nevada Power Company, a Nevada corporation.

                  "Borrowing" means Loans of the same Type, made, converted or
continued on the same date and, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, as to which a
single Interest Period is in effect.

                  "Borrowing Request" means a request by the Borrower for a
Borrowing made in accordance with Section 2.03.

                  "Business Day" means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or
other day on which commercial banks in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania are authorized
or required by Law to remain closed; provided that, when used in connection with
a Eurodollar Loan, the term "Business Day" shall also exclude any day on which
banks are not open for dealings in dollar deposits in the London interbank
market.

                  "Capital Lease Obligations" of any Person means all
obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under a lease of (or
other agreement conveying the right to use) Property to the extent such
obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as a capital lease
on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP (including Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 13 of the Financial Accounting Standards Board), and,
for purposes of this Agreement, the amount of such obligations shall be the
capitalized amount thereof, determined in accordance with GAAP (including such
Statement No. 13).

                  "Change in Control" means (a) the failure of Sierra Pacific
Resources to own, legally and beneficially, 100% of the aggregate ordinary
voting power represented by the issued and outstanding capital stock of the
Borrower; (b) the acquisition of ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially
or of record, by any Person or group (within the meaning of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission
thereunder as in effect on the date hereof) of shares representing more than 20%
of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding
capital stock of Sierra Pacific Resources; or (c) for any period of 12
consecutive calendar months, a majority of the Board of Directors of Sierra
Pacific Resources shall no longer be composed of individuals (i) who were
members of said Board on the first day of such period, (ii) whose election or
nomination to said Board was approved by individuals referred to in clause (i)
above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a
majority of said Board or (iii) whose election or nomination to said Board was
approved by individuals referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above constituting
at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of said Board.

                  "Change in Law" means (a) the adoption of any Law after the
date of this Agreement, (b) any change in any Law or in the interpretation or
application thereof by any Governmental Authority after the date of this
Agreement or (c) compliance by any Lender (or, for purposes of Section 2.12(b),
by any lending office of such Lender or by such Lender's Parent, if any) with
any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of Law) of
any Governmental Authority made or issued after the date of this Agreement.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>

                  "Class", when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing,
refers to such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, as Revolving Loans.

                  "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the
regulations promulgated and rulings issued thereunder. Section references to the
Code are to the Code, as in effect at the date of this Agreement and any
subsequent provisions of the Code, amendatory thereof, supplemental thereto or
substituted therefor.

                  "Commitment" means, with respect to each Lender, the
commitment of such Lender to make Revolving Loans hereunder, expressed as an
amount representing the maximum aggregate amount of such Lender's Revolving
Credit Exposure hereunder, as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to
time pursuant to Section 2.06 and (b) reduced or increased from time to time
pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 9.12. The
initial amount of each Lender's Commitment is set forth on Schedule I or in the
Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its
Commitment, as applicable. The initial aggregate amount of the Lenders'
Commitments is $130,000,000.

                  "Consolidated Earnings Available For Fixed Charges" means, for
any period, Consolidated Net Income Available to Common less AFUDC-Debt less
AFUDC-Equity plus Consolidated Fixed Charges, in each case for the Borrower for
such period.

                  "Consolidated Fixed Charges" means, for any period, the sum of
(i) the total consolidated cash interest paid by the Borrower and its
consolidated Subsidiaries for such period, (ii) lease payments made or accrued
by the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, for
such period and (iii) preferred dividends paid by the Borrower and its
consolidated Subsidiaries for such period.

                  "Consolidated Net Income Available to Common" means, for any
period, the consolidated net income of the Borrower and its consolidated
Subsidiaries before giving effect to any extraordinary non-cash gains or
non-cash losses less consolidated preferred dividends accrued by the Borrower
and its consolidated Subsidiaries, in each case for such period.

                  "Control" of a Person (including, with its correlative
meanings, "Controlled by" and "under common Control with") means possession,
directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of
management or policies (whether through ownership of securities or partnership
or other ownership interests, by contract or otherwise) of such Person.

                  "Default" means any event, act or condition which upon notice,
lapse of time or both would, unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.

                  "Default Interest" has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 2.10(c).

                  "Dollars" or "$" refers to freely transferable lawful money of
the United States of America.

                                      -5-
<PAGE>

                  "Effective Date" means the date on which the conditions
specified in Section 4.01 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section
9.01).

                  "Environmental Claims" means any and all administrative,
regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, directives,
claims, liens, notices of noncompliance or violation, investigations or
proceedings relating in any way to any Environmental Law or any permit issued,
or any approval given, under any such Environmental Law (hereafter, "Claims"),
including, without limitation, (a) any and all Claims by governmental or
regulatory authorities for enforcement, cleanup, removal, response, remedial or
other actions or damages pursuant to any applicable Environmental Law, and (b)
any and all Claims by any third party seeking damages, contribution,
indemnification, cost recovery, compensation or injunctive relief in connection
with alleged injury or threat of injury to health, safety or the environment due
to the presence of Hazardous Materials.

                  "Environmental Law" means any Federal, state, foreign or local
statute, Law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code, guideline, written policy and
rule of common law now or hereafter in effect and in each case as amended, and
any judicial or administrative interpretation thereof, including any judicial or
administrative order, consent decree or judgment, relating to the environment,
employee health and safety or Hazardous Materials, including, without
limitation, CERCLA; RCRA; the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 33 U.S.C. ss.
1251 et seq.; the Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C. ss. 2601 et seq.; the
Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. ss. 7401 et seq.; the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42
U.S.C. ss. 3803 et seq.; the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, 33 U.S.C. ss. 2701 et
seq.; the Emergency Planning and the Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986, 42
U.S.C. ss. 11001 et seq.; the Hazardous Material Transportation Act, 49 U.S.C.
ss. 1801 et seq. and the Occupational Safety and Health Act, 29 U.S.C. ss. 651
et seq.; and any state and local or foreign counterparts or equivalents, in each
case as amended from time to time.

                  "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974 and the regulations promulgated and rulings issued thereunder. Section
references to ERISA are to ERISA, as in effect at the date of this Agreement,
and to any subsequent provisions of ERISA, amendatory thereof, supplemental
thereto or substituted therefor.

                  "ERISA Affiliate" means any corporation or trade or business
that is a member of any group of organizations described in Section 414(b) or
(c) of the Code of which the Borrower is a member.

                  "Eurodollar", when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing,
refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing
interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate.

                  "Event of Default" has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 7.01.

                  "Excluded Taxes" means, with respect to the Administrative
Agent, any Lender or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on
account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder, (a) income or franchise
taxes imposed on (or measured by) its net income by the United States of
America, or by the jurisdiction under the Laws of which such recipient is

                                      -6-
<PAGE>

organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any
Lender, in which its applicable lending office is located, (b) any branch
profits taxes imposed by the United States of America or any similar tax imposed
by any other jurisdiction in which the Borrower is located and (c) in the case
of a Foreign Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the
Borrower under Section 2.16(b)), any withholding tax that is imposed on amounts
payable to such Foreign Lender at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party
to this Agreement or is attributable to such Foreign Lender's failure or
inability to comply with Section 2.14(e), except to the extent that such Foreign
Lender's assignor (if any) was entitled, at the time of assignment, to receive
additional amounts from the Borrower with respect to such withholding tax
pursuant to Section 2.14(a).

                  "Existing Facility" means the Credit Agreement, dated as of
June 24, 1999, as amended by the Amendment and Waiver Agreement, dated as of
April 11, 2000; the Amendment of Credit Agreement, dated as of July 1, 2000; the
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of August 28, 2000; the
Amendment and Waiver Agreement, dated as of March 1, 2001; the Amendment and
Waiver Agreement dated as of May 8, 2001; and the Amendment Agreement, dated as
of August 1, 2001, all by and among the Borrower, the Agents and the financial
institutions from time to time party thereto.

                  "Existing Indebtedness" has the meaning assigned to such term
in Section 3.22.

                  "Extension Request" has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 2.06(e).

                  "Extension Request Notice" has the meaning assigned to such
term in Section 2.06(e).

                  "Extension Request Period" has the meaning assigned to such
term in Section 2.06(e).

                  "Federal Funds Effective Rate" means, for any day, the
weighted average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the
rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal
Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published on the next
succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such
rate is not so published for any day that is a Business Day, the average
(rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the quotations for
such day for such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three
Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.

                  "First Mortgage Bonds" means obligations issued from time to
time under, and secured by, the First Mortgage Indenture.

                  "First Mortgage Indenture" means the Indenture of Mortgage,
dated as of October 1, 1953, from the Borrower to Bankers Trust Company
(successor to First Interstate Bank of Nevada, N.A., formerly First National
Bank of Nevada, Reno, Nevada), as trustee, as modified, amended or supplemented
at any time or from time to time by supplemental indentures.

                                      -7-
<PAGE>

                  "Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio" means, as of the last day of a
fiscal quarter, the ratio of Consolidated Earnings Available For Fixed Charges
to Consolidated Fixed Charges, in each case, for such fiscal quarter or the
consecutive fiscal quarter period of the Borrower ended on such last day, as
applicable.

                  "Foreign Lender" means any Lender that is organized under the
Laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States of America, each State
thereof and the District of Columbia.

                  "Foreign Pension Plan" means any plan, fund (including,
without limitation, any superannuation fund) or other similar program
established or maintained outside the United States of America by the Borrower
or any one or more of its Subsidiaries primarily for the benefit of employees of
the Borrower or such Subsidiaries residing outside the United States of America,
which plan, fund or other similar program provides, or results in, retirement
income, a deferral of income in contemplation of retirement or payments to be
made upon termination of employment, and which plan is not subject to ERISA or
the Code.

                  "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles in the
United States of America applied in a consistent manner.

                  "General and Refunding Mortgage Bonds" means obligations
issued from time to time under, and secured by, the General and Refunding
Mortgage Indenture.

                  "General and Refunding Mortgage Indenture" means the General
and Refunding Mortgage Indenture, dated as of May 1, 2001, between the Borrower
and the Bank of New York, as trustee, as the same may be amended, modified or
supplemented from time to time.

                  "Governmental Action" means any authorization, approval,
order, decree, ruling or other action by, or notice to or filing with, any
Governmental Authority.

                  "Governmental Authority" means the government of the United
States of America, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof,
whether state or local, and any agency, authority, bureau, instrumentality,
regulatory body, court, tribunal, central bank or other entity exercising
executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or
functions of or pertaining to government.

                  "Hazardous Materials" means (a) any petroleum or petroleum
products, radioactive materials, asbestos in any form that is friable, urea
formaldehyde foam insulation, transformers or other equipment that contain
dielectric fluid containing levels of polychlorinated biphenyls, and radon gas;
(b) any chemicals, materials or substances defined as or included in the
definition of "hazardous substances," "hazardous waste," "hazardous materials,"
"extremely hazardous substances," "restricted hazardous waste," "toxic
substances," "toxic pollutants," "contaminants," or "pollutants," or words of
similar import, under any applicable Environmental Law; and (c) any other
chemical, material or substance, the Release of which is prohibited, limited or
regulated by any governmental authority.

                                      -8-
<PAGE>

                  "Indebtedness" of any Person means, (a) obligations created,
issued or incurred by such Person for borrowed money (whether by loan, the
issuance and sale of debt securities or the sale of Property to another Person
subject to an understanding or agreement, contingent or otherwise, to repurchase
such Property from such Person); (b) obligations of such Person to pay the
deferred purchase or acquisition price of Property or services, other than trade
accounts payable (other than for borrowed money) arising, and accrued expenses
incurred, in the ordinary course of business; (c) Indebtedness of others secured
by a Lien on the Property of such Person, whether or not the respective
indebtedness so secured has been assumed by such Person; (d) obligations of such
Person in respect of letters of credit or similar instruments issued or accepted
by banks and other financial institutions for account of such Person; (e)
Capital Lease Obligations of such Person; and (f) any guarantee or other
arrangement by which such Person guarantees or is otherwise liable for the
Indebtedness of others; provided, however, that "Indebtedness" shall not include
Secured Nonrecourse Obligations.

                  "Indemnified Parties" means each Agent, the Lenders, their
respective Affiliates, and the directors, officers, employees, attorneys and
agents of each of the foregoing.

                  "Indemnified Taxes" means all Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.

                  "Index Debt of Borrower" means the senior, unsecured,
long-term indebtedness for borrowed money of the Borrower that is not guaranteed
by any other Person or subject to any credit enhancement.

                  "Index Debt of SPPC" means the senior, unsecured, long-term
indebtedness for borrowed money of SPPC that is not guaranteed by any other
Person or subject to any credit enhancement.

                  "Interest Election Request" means a request by the Borrower to
convert or continue a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.05.

                  "Interest Payment Date" means (a) with respect to any ABR
Loan, each Quarterly Date, and (b) with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, the last
day of the Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a
part and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing with an Interest Period of more
than three months' duration, each day prior to the last day of such Interest
Period that occurs at intervals of three months' duration after the first day of
such Interest Period.

                  "Interest Period" means, with respect to any Eurodollar
Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending on the
numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that is one, two, three or
six months thereafter, as the Borrower may elect; provided, that (a) if any
Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest
Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such next
succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case
such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day and (b) any
Interest Period that commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or
on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last
calendar month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of
the last calendar month of such Interest Period. For purposes hereof, the date
of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is made and,
thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or
continuation of such Borrowing.

                                      -9-
<PAGE>

                  "Investment" means, when used in connection with any Person,
any investment by or of that Person, whether by means of purchase or other
acquisition of stock or other securities of any other Person or by means of a
loan, advance creating a debt, capital contribution, guaranty or other debt or
equity participation or interest in any other Person, including any partnership
and joint venture interests of such Person but excluding any Wholly-Owned
Subsidiary of such Person. The amount of any Investment shall be the amount
actually invested (minus any return of capital with respect to such Investment
which has actually been received in cash or has been converted into cash),
without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases in the value of such
Investment.

                  "Law" shall mean any law (including common law), constitution,
statute, treaty, convention, regulation, rule, ordinance, order, injunction,
writ, decree or award of any Governmental Authority.

                  "Lenders" means the Persons listed on Schedule I and any other
Person that shall have become a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and
Acceptance.

                  "LIBO Rate" means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing
for any Interest Period, the average of the offered rates for Dollar deposits
for the applicable Interest Period which appear on the Telerate Page 3750,
British Bankers Association Interest Settlement Rates, with maturities
comparable to the Interest Period to be applicable to such Eurodollar Loan,
determined as of 10:00 A.M. (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania time) on the date which is
two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period.

                  "Lien" means, with respect to any Property, any mortgage,
lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of
such Property. For purposes of this Agreement, a Person shall be deemed to own
subject to a Lien any Property that it has acquired or holds subject to the
interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital
lease or other title retention agreement (other than an operating lease)
relating to such Property.

                  "Loan Documents" means this Agreement, each Borrowing Request,
each Interest Election Request and each Note.

                  "Loans" means Revolving Loans.

                  "Material Adverse Effect" means (a) a material adverse effect
on (i) the Property, business, operations, financial condition, prospects,
liabilities or capitalization of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a
whole, (ii) the ability of the Borrower to perform its obligations hereunder,
(iii) the validity or enforceability of this Agreement, (iv) the rights and
remedies of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent hereunder or (v) the timely
payment of the principal of or interest on the Loans or other amounts payable in
connection therewith and (b) a material adverse change in the facts and
information regarding the Borrower and its Subsidiaries submitted in writing to
the Administrative Agent and/or the Lenders by the Borrower.

                                      -10-
<PAGE>

                  "Moody's" means Moody's Investors Service, Inc.; provided that
if such corporation (or its successors and assigns) shall for any reason no
longer perform the functions of a securities rating agency, "Moody's" shall be
deemed to refer to any other nationally recognized securities rating agency
approved for purposes hereof by the Required Lenders and the Borrower.

                  "Multiemployer Plan" means a multiemployer plan defined as
such in Section 3(37) of ERISA to which contributions have been made by the
Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate and which is covered by Title IV of ERISA.

                  "Note" has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 2.07(f).

                  "Obligations" means all Indebtedness, obligations and
liabilities of the Borrower to any Lender or any Agent from time to time arising
under or in connection with or related to or evidenced by or secured by this
Agreement or any other Loan Document, and all extensions, renewals or
refinancings thereof, whether such Indebtedness, obligations or liabilities are
direct or indirect, otherwise secured or unsecured, joint or several, absolute
or contingent, due or to become due, whether for payment or performance, now
existing or hereafter arising. Without limitation of the foregoing, such
Indebtedness, obligations and liabilities shall include the principal amount of
all Loans, all interest, fees, indemnities or expenses under or in connection
with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and all extensions, renewals and
refinancings thereof, whether or not such Loans were made in compliance with the
terms and conditions of this Agreement or in excess of the obligation of the
Lenders to lend. Obligations shall remain obligations notwithstanding any
assignment or transfer or any subsequent assignment or transfer of any of the
Obligations or any interest therein.

                  "Other Taxes" means any and all present or future stamp or
documentary taxes or any other excise or Property taxes, charges or similar
levies arising from any payment made hereunder or from the execution, delivery
or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement.

                  "Parent" means any Person that Controls a Lender.

                  "Participant" has the meaning assigned to Section 9.12(b).

                  "PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any
entity succeeding to any or all of its functions under ERISA.

                  "Permitted Liens" has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 6.02.

                  "Person" means any natural person, corporation, limited
liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership,
Governmental Authority or other entity.

                  "Plan" means an employee benefit or other plan established or
maintained by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate and that is covered by Title
IV of ERISA, other than a Multiemployer Plan.

                                      -11-
<PAGE>

                  "Prime Rate" means the rate of interest per annum publicly
announced from time to time by Mellon Bank, N.A. as its prime rate, the Prime
Rate to change when and as such prime rate changes. The Prime Rate is a
reference rate and does not necessarily represent the lowest or best rate
actually charged to any customer. Mellon Bank, N.A. may make commercial loans or
other loans at rates of interest at, above or below the Prime Rate.

                  "Principal Office" means the principal office of Mellon Bank,
N.A., located on the date hereof at One Mellon Bank Center, Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania 15258.

                  "Projections" means forecasted (a) balance sheets, (b) income
statements, and (c) cash flow statements, in each case, for the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, and prepared on a consistent basis with
the Borrower's historical financial statements, together with appropriate
supporting details and a statement of underlying assumptions.

                  "Property" means any right or interest in or to property of
any kind whatsoever, whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or
intangible.

                  "Purchasing Lender" has the meaning assigned to
Section 9.12(c).

                  "Quarterly Dates" means the last day of March, June, September
and December in each year, the first of which shall be the first such day after
the date hereof; provided that if any such day is not a Business Day, then such
Quarterly Date shall be the next succeeding Business Day (unless such succeeding
Business Day falls in a subsequent calendar month, in which event such Quarterly
Date shall be the next preceding Business Day).

                  "Register" has the meaning assigned to Section 9.12(d).

                  "Related Parties" means, with respect to any specified Person,
such Person's Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, employees,
agents and advisors of such Person and such Person's Affiliates.

                  "Release" means the disposing, discharging, injecting,
spilling, pumping, leaking, leaching, dumping, emitting, escaping, emptying,
pouring or migrating, into or upon any land or water or air, or otherwise
entering into the environment.

                  "Reportable Event" means an event described in Section 4043(c)
of ERISA with respect to a Plan that is subject to Title IV of ERISA other than
those events as to which the 30-day notice period is waived under subsection
 .22, .23, .25, .27 or .28 of PBGC Regulation Section 4043 (provided that a
failure to meet the minimum funding standard of Section 412 of the Code or
Section 302 of ERISA, including, without limitation, the failure to make on or
before its due date a required installment under Section 412(m) of the Code or
Section 302(e) of ERISA, shall be a reportable event regardless of the issuance
of any waivers in accordance with Section 412(d) of the Code).

                                      -12-

<PAGE>

                  "Required Lenders" means (a) so long as the Commitments remain
in effect, Lenders having Commitments representing 51% or more of the sum of the
total Commitments at such time, or (b) if the Commitments have terminated,
Lenders holding 51% or more of the aggregate principal amount of the Loans
outstanding at such time.

                  "Responsible Officer" means the Treasurer, the Assistant
Treasurer, the Chief Financial Officer or the Controller.

                  "Revolving Credit Exposure" means, with respect to any Lender
at any time, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of such Lender's
Revolving Loans at such time.

                  "Revolving Loan" has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 2.01(a).

                  "Revolving Termination Date" means the earlier to occur of (a)
November 30, 2001, or such date after November 30, 2001 to which the Commitments
are extended in accordance with Section 2.06(e) and (b) the date the Obligations
and Commitments under this Agreement terminate, whether by prepayment,
cancellation, acceleration or otherwise.

                  "Secured Nonrecourse Obligations" means and includes (a)
secured obligations of the Borrower taken on a consolidated basis where recourse
of the payee of such obligations is expressly limited to an assigned lease or
loan receivable and the Property related thereto and (b) liabilities of the
Borrower taken on a consolidated basis to manufacturers of leased equipment
where such liabilities are payable solely out of revenues derived from the
leasing or sale of such equipment.

                  "Sierra Pacific Resources" means Sierra Pacific Resources,
a Nevada corporation.

                  "Shareholders' Equity" means, as of any date of determination,
the amount which is shown as "shareholders' equity" (which shall include both
common and preferred equity) in the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower
at such date.

                  "SPPC" means Sierra Pacific Power Company, a Nevada
corporation.

                  "S&P" means Standard & Poor's Ratings Group, a division of The
McGraw Hill Companies, Inc., and its successor and assigns; provided that if
such corporation (or its successors and assigns) shall for any reason no longer
perform the functions of a securities rating agency, "S&P" shall be deemed to
refer to any other nationally recognized securities rating agency approved for
purposes hereof by the Required Lenders and the Borrower.

                  "Statutory Reserve Rate" means a fraction (expressed as a
decimal), the numerator of which is the number one and the denominator of which
is the number one minus the aggregate of the maximum reserve percentages
(including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves) expressed
as a decimal established by the Board to which the Administrative Agent is
subject for eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as "Eurocurrency
liabilities" in Regulation D of the Board). Such reserve percentages shall
include those imposed pursuant to such Regulation D. Eurodollar Loans shall be
deemed to constitute eurocurrency funding and to be subject to such statutory
reserve rates without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets
that may be available from time to time to any Lender under such Regulation D or
any comparable regulation. The Statutory Reserve Rate shall be adjusted
automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve
percentage.

                                      -13-
<PAGE>

                  "Subsidiary" shall mean, as to any Person, (i) any corporation
more than 50% of whose stock of any class or classes having by the terms thereof
ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the directors of such corporation
(irrespective of whether or not at the time stock of any class or classes of
such corporation shall have or might have voting power by reason of the
happening of any contingency) is at the time owned by such Person and/or one or
more Subsidiaries of such Person and (ii) any partnership, limited liability
company, association, joint venture or other entity in which such Person and/or
one or more Subsidiaries of such Person has more than a 50% equity interest at
the time.

                  "Substitute Lender" has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 2.06(f).

                  "Syndication Agents" means BNP Paribas, First Union National
Bank and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

                  "Taxes" means any and all present or future taxes, levies,
imposts, duties, deductions, charges or withholdings imposed by any Governmental
Authority.

                  "Total Indebtedness" means, as of any date of determination,
the sum of all Indebtedness of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as
of such date.

                  "Triggering Event" has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 6.09(b).

                  "Type", when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing,
refers to whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising
such Borrowing, is determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the
Alternate Base Rate.

                  "Unfunded Current Liability" of any Plan means the amount, if
any, by which the value of the accumulated plan benefits under the Plan
determined on a plan termination basis in accordance with actuarial assumptions
at such time consistent with those prescribed by the PBGC for purposes of
Section 4044 of ERISA, exceeds the fair market value of all plan assets
allocable to such liabilities under Title IV of ERISA (excluding any accrued but
unpaid contributions).

                  "Wholly-Owned Subsidiary" shall mean, as to any Person, (i)
any corporation 100% of whose stock of any class or classes having by the terms
thereof ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the directors of such
corporation (irrespective of whether or not at the time stock of any class or
classes of such corporation shall have or might have voting power by reason of
the happening of any contingency) is at the time owned by such Person and/or one
or more Subsidiaries of such Person and (ii) any partnership, limited liability
company, association, joint venture or other entity in which such Person and/or
one or more Subsidiaries of such Person has a 100% equity interest at the time.

                                      -14-
<PAGE>

                  SECTION 1.02.  Classification of Loans and Borrowings.

                  For purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and
referred to by Class (e.g., a "Revolving Loan") or by Type (e.g., a "Eurodollar
Loan" or an "ABR Loan") or by Class and Type (e.g., a "Eurodollar Revolving
Loan"). Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., a
"Revolving Borrowing") or by Type (e.g., a "Eurodollar Borrowing") or by Class
and Type (e.g., a "Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing").

                  SECTION 1.03 Terms Generally.

                  The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the
singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may
require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and
neuter forms. The words "include", "includes" and "including" shall be deemed to
be followed by the phrase "without limitation". The word "will" shall be
construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word "shall". Unless the
context requires otherwise (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement,
instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such
agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such
amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any reference
herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person's successors and
assigns, (c) the words "herein", "hereof" and "hereunder", and words of similar
import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to
any particular provision hereof and (d) all references herein to Articles,
Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and
Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement.

                  SECTION 1.04 Accounting Terms; GAAP.

                  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an
accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in
effect from time to time.

                                   ARTICLE II

                                   THE CREDITS

                  SECTION 2.01 The Commitments.

                  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each
Lender agrees to make loans (each such loan, a "Revolving Loan") to the Borrower
from time to time on any Business Day during the Availability Period in an
aggregate principal amount that will not result in (i) such Lender's Revolving
Credit Exposure (after giving effect to such Revolving Loans) exceeding such
Lender's Commitment or (ii) the sum of the Revolving Credit Exposures of all
Lenders exceeding the total Commitments. Within the foregoing limits and subject
to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may borrow, prepay
and reborrow Revolving Loans.

                                      -15-
<PAGE>

                  SECTION 2.02 Loans and Borrowings.

                  (a) Obligations of Lenders. Each Revolving Loan shall be made
as part of a Borrowing consisting of Loans of the same Type made by the Lenders
ratably in accordance with their respective Commitments. The failure of any
Lender to make any Loan required to be made by it shall not relieve any other
Lender of its obligations hereunder. The Commitments of the Lenders are several
and no Lender shall be responsible for any other Lender's failure to make Loans
as required.

                  (b) Type of Loans. Subject to Section 2.11, each Borrowing
shall be comprised entirely of ABR Loans or Eurodollar Loans. Each Lender may,
at its option, make any Eurodollar Loan by causing any domestic or foreign
branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan; provided that any exercise
of such option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay such
Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

                  (c) Minimum Amounts; Limitation on Number of Borrowings. Each
Revolving Borrowing (whether an ABR Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing) shall
be in an aggregate amount equal to $5,000,000 or a multiple of $1,000,000 in
excess thereof; provided that an ABR Borrowing may be made in an aggregate
amount that is equal to the entire unused balance of the total Commitments. The
Borrower may thereafter, upon irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent in
accordance with Section 2.05(b), (i) elect, as of any Business Day, in the case
of ABR Loans, to convert any such ABR Loans or any part thereof, in an aggregate
amount equal to $5,000,000 or a multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, into
Eurodollar Loans, and (ii) elect, as of the last day of the applicable Interest
Period, to continue any Eurodollar Loans having Interest Periods expiring on
such day or any part thereof in an aggregate amount of $5,000,000 or a multiple
of $1,000,000 in excess thereof; provided that, if at any time the aggregate
amount of Eurodollar Loans in respect of any Borrowing is reduced by payment,
prepayment or conversion of part thereof to be less than $5,000,000, such
Eurodollar Loans shall automatically convert into ABR Loans. Borrowings of more
than one Type may be outstanding at the same time; provided that there shall not
at any time be more than a total of five Eurodollar Borrowings outstanding.

                  (d) Maximum Duration of Interest Periods. Notwithstanding any
other provision of this Agreement, the Borrower shall not be entitled to
request, or to elect to convert or continue, any Eurodollar Borrowing if the
Interest Period requested with respect thereto would end after the Revolving
Termination Date.

                  SECTION 2.03 Requests for Revolving Borrowings.

                  To request a Revolving Borrowing, the Borrower shall notify
the Administrative Agent of such request by telephone (a) in the case of a
Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, not later than 12:00 noon., Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania time, three Business Days before the date of the proposed
Borrowing, or (b) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 12:00 noon,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania time, one Business Day before the date of the proposed
Borrowing. Each such telephonic Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable and shall
be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the Administrative Agent
of a written Borrowing Request in the

                                      -16-
<PAGE>

form attached hereto as Exhibit B and signed by the Borrower. Each such
telephonic and written Borrowing Request shall specify the following information
in compliance with Section 2.02:

                           (i)  the aggregate amount of the requested Borrowing;

                           (ii) the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a
         Business Day;

                           (iii) whether such Borrowing is to be an ABR
         Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing;

                           (iv) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, the
         initial Interest Period to be applicable thereto, which shall be a
         period contemplated by the definition of the term "Interest Period";
         and

                           (v) the location and number of the Borrower's account
         to which funds are to be disbursed, which shall comply with the
         requirements of Section 2.04.

                  If no election as to the Type of Revolving Borrowing is
specified, then the requested Revolving Borrowing shall be an ABR Borrowing. If
no Interest Period is specified with respect to any Eurodollar Revolving
Borrowing, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period
of one month's duration. Promptly following receipt of a Borrowing Request in
accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender
of the details thereof and of the amount of such Lender's Loan to be made as
part of the requested Borrowing.

                  SECTION 2.04 Funding of Borrowings.

                  (a) Funding by Lenders. No later than 12:00 noon, Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania time, on the date specified in each Borrowing Request, each Lender
will make available its Applicable Percentage of each Revolving Borrowing
requested to be made on such date, in Dollars and in immediately available funds
at the account of the Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for
such purpose by notice to the Lenders. The Administrative Agent will make such
Loans available to the Borrower by promptly crediting the amounts so received,
in like funds, to an account of the Borrower maintained with Mellon Bank, N.A.
at the Principal Office and designated by the Borrower in the applicable
Borrowing Request.

                  (b) Presumption by the Administrative Agent. Unless the
Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the
proposed date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the
Administrative Agent such Lender's share of such Borrowing, the Administrative
Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in
accordance with paragraph (a) of this Section and may, in reliance upon such
assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such
event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing
available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the
Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand
such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including
the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date

                                      -17-
<PAGE>

of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of such Lender, the
Federal Funds Effective Rate or (ii) in the case of the Borrower, the interest
rate applicable to the Loans of such Borrowing. If such Lender pays such amount
to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lender's
Loan included in such Borrowing.

                  SECTION 2.05 Interest Elections.

                  (a) Elections by the Borrower for Borrowings. Each Borrowing
initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Borrowing Request
and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest
Period as specified in such Borrowing Request. Thereafter, the Borrower may
elect to convert such Borrowing to a different Type or to continue such
Borrowing and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods
therefor, all as provided in this Section but subject to Section 2.02. Once
Loans have been made pursuant to a Borrowing, the Borrower may elect to convert
or continue different portions of such Borrowing, in which case each such
portion shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding the Loans
comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each such portion shall be
considered a separate Borrowing.

                  (b) Notice of Elections. To make an election pursuant to this
Section, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such election by
telephone by the time that a Borrowing Request would be required under Section
2.03 if the Borrower were requesting a Revolving Borrowing of the Type resulting
from such election to be made on the effective date of such election. Each such
telephonic Interest Election Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed
promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written
Interest Election Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and
signed by the Borrower.

                  (c) Information in Interest Election Requests. Each telephonic
and written Interest Election Request shall specify the following information in
compliance with Section 2.02:

                           (i) the Borrowing to which such Interest Election
         Request applies and, if different options are being elected with
         respect to different portions thereof, the portions thereof to be
         allocated to each resulting Borrowing (in which case the information to
         be specified pursuant to clauses (iii) and (iv) of this paragraph shall
         be specified for each resulting Borrowing);

                           (ii) the effective date of the election made pursuant
         to such Interest Election Request, which shall be a Business Day;

                           (iii) whether the resulting Borrowing is to be an ABR
         Borrowing, or a Eurodollar Borrowing; and

                           (iv) if the resulting Borrowing is a Eurodollar
         Borrowing, the Interest Period to be applicable thereto after giving
         effect to such election, which shall be a period contemplated by the
         definition of the term "Interest Period".

                                      -18-

<PAGE>

                  If any such Interest Election Request requests a Eurodollar
Borrowing but does not specify an Interest Period, then the Borrower shall be
deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month's duration.

                  (d) Notice by the Administrative Agent to Lenders. Promptly
following receipt of an Interest Election Request, the Administrative Agent
shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of such Lender's portion of
each resulting Borrowing.

                  (e) Failure to Elect; Events of Default. If the Borrower fails
to deliver a timely Interest Election Request with respect to a Eurodollar
Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, then,
unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, at the end of such Interest
Period such Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing. Notwithstanding
any contrary provision hereof, if an Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing and the Administrative Agent, at the request of the Required Lenders,
so notifies the Borrower, then, so long as an Event of Default is continuing (i)
no outstanding Borrowing may be converted to or continued as a Eurodollar
Borrowing and (ii) unless repaid, each Eurodollar Borrowing shall be converted
to an ABR Borrowing at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto.

                  SECTION 2.06 Termination, Reduction and Extension of
Commitments.

                  (a) Scheduled Termination. Unless previously terminated, the
Commitments shall terminate on the Revolving Termination Date.

                  (b) Voluntary Termination or Reduction. The Borrower may at
any time prior to the Revolving Termination Date terminate, or from time to time
reduce, the Commitments; provided that (i) each reduction of the Commitments
shall be in an amount of $25,000,000 or a multiple of $1,000,000 in excess
thereof and (ii) the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce the Commitments if,
after giving effect to any concurrent prepayment of the Loans in accordance with
Section 2.08, the sum of the total Revolving Credit Exposures would exceed the
total Commitments.

                  (c) Notice of Voluntary Termination or Reduction. The Borrower
shall notify the Administrative Agent of any election to terminate or reduce the
Commitments under paragraph (b) of this Section at least three Business Days
prior to the effective date of such termination or reduction, specifying such
election and the effective date thereof. Promptly following receipt of any such
notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents
thereof. Each notice delivered by the Borrower pursuant to this Section shall be
irrevocable; provided that a notice of termination of the Commitments delivered
by the Borrower may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness
of other credit facilities, in which case such notice may be revoked by the
Borrower (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified
effective date) if such condition is not satisfied.

                  (d) Effect of Termination or Reduction. Any termination or
reduction of the Commitments shall be permanent. Each reduction of the
Commitments shall be made ratably among the Lenders in accordance with their
Applicable Percentages.

                                      -19-
<PAGE>

                  (e) Extension of Commitments.

                           (i) Not earlier than the date which is 60 days (but
not later than 30 days) prior to the then existing Revolving Termination Date
(the "Extension Request Notice Date"), the Borrower may deliver to the
Administrative Agent (which shall promptly transmit the same to each Lender) a
notice (an "Extension Request") requesting that the Revolving Termination Date
be extended for an additional 364 days commencing on the then existing Revolving
Termination Date. Not earlier than the date which is 30 days (but not later than
20 days) prior to the then existing Revolving Termination Date (the period from
the Extension Request Notice Date to such date, the "Extension Request Period"),
each Lender (in its sole and absolute discretion and after conducting an
internal credit review of the Borrower) shall notify the Administrative Agent of
such Lender's willingness or unwillingness to so extend the Revolving
Termination Date. Any Lender which shall fail to so notify the Administrative
Agent within such period shall be deemed to have declined to extend the
Revolving Termination Date. If Lenders having Commitments totaling an amount
equal to at least 51% of the aggregate amount of the Commitments then in effect
agree to such extension by notice to the Administrative Agent, then (A) subject
to clause (iii) below, the Revolving Termination Date shall be extended for an
additional 364 days with respect to the Commitments of the Lenders so agreeing,
and (B) subject to Section 2.06(f) hereof, the Commitment of each Lender not so
agreeing shall expire on the then expiring Revolving Termination Date and the
Borrower shall pay or prepay on such day without premium or penalty all
principal of such Lender's Loans together with accrued interest thereon and all
accrued facility and usage fees and other amounts payable to such Lender
hereunder (including, without limitation, amounts payable pursuant to Section
2.13 hereof as a result of such payment or prepayment); provided, however, that

                           (x) if Lenders having Commitments totaling an amount
                  equal to at least 51% of the aggregate amount of the
                  Commitments then in effect do not agree as contemplated by
                  Section 2.06(e)(i), then the Revolving Termination Date shall
                  not be extended pursuant to this Section 2.06(e) and the
                  Commitments of all of the Lenders shall remain in effect until
                  the Revolving Termination Date except as otherwise provided in
                  this Agreement; and

                           (y) the Borrower may not request any extension of the
                  Revolving Termination Date pursuant to this Section 2.06(e)(i)
                  more frequently than once in any calendar year.

                           (ii) Any Loan by any Lender the Commitment of which
         is to terminate pursuant to Section 2.06(e)(i) hereof that would
         otherwise be made or converted by such Lender as a Eurodollar Loan
         having an Interest Period ending after the date such Commitment is to
         terminate shall be made or continued as an ABR Loan and all ABR Loans
         of such Lender that would otherwise be converted into Eurodollar Loans
         having such Interest Periods shall remain as ABR Loans.

                           (iii) It shall be a condition precedent to any
         extension of the Revolving Termination Date that: (a) on the date of
         such extension no Default or Event of Default

                                      -20-
<PAGE>

         shall have occurred and be continuing; (b) the representations and
         warranties made by the Borrower in Article III shall be true and
         complete on and as of the date of such extension (or if any such
         representation or warranty is expressly stated to have been made as of
         a specific date, as of such specific date); and (c) on the date of such
         extension there shall have been no material adverse change in the
         consolidated financial condition, operations, business or prospects
         taken as a whole of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries from that set
         forth in its financial statements as of December 31, 2000 referred to
         in Section 3.06 hereof or, if the Borrower has delivered its financial
         statements for any fiscal year to the Lenders and the Administrative
         Agent pursuant to Section 5.01(a) hereof, as of the date of the most
         recent such financial statements. Each request for an extension of the
         Revolving Termination Date pursuant to Section 2.06(e) shall constitute
         a certification by the Borrower to the effect set forth in the
         preceding sentence (both as of the date of such request and, unless the
         Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent prior to the date of such
         extension, as of the date of such extension).

                  (f) Substitute Lenders. In the event any Lender does not agree
to any extension by the date provided pursuant to Section 2.06(e) hereof, then,
unless a Default or an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing,
the Borrower may, not later than 10 days following the expiration of the
Extension Request Period, designate one or more other banks (each such bank
being herein called a "Substitute Lender"), which may include any of the
Lenders, acceptable to the Administrative Agent (which acceptance will not be
unreasonably withheld), to assume such non-consenting Lender's Commitment
hereunder and to purchase, on or before the date such Lender's Loans would
otherwise be required to be paid or prepaid hereunder, the Loans and Notes of
such Lender and such Lender's rights hereunder in respect thereof, without
recourse to or representation or warranty by, or expense to, such Lender. In
such event, the purchase price shall be equal to the outstanding principal
amount of the Loans and Notes payable to such Lender plus any accrued but unpaid
interest on such Loans and Notes and accrued but unpaid facility fees in respect
of such Lender's Commitment. Upon such assumption and purchase and the receipt
by such Lender of any other amounts payable to it by the Borrower under this
Agreement, and subject to the execution and delivery to the Administrative Agent
and such Lender by the Substitute Lender of documentation reasonably
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and such Lender pursuant to which such
Substitute Lender shall assume the obligations of such original Lender under
this Agreement in respect of its Loans, Notes and Commitment and agree to become
a "Lender" hereunder (if not already a Lender) to the extent of the Commitments,
Loans and Notes assumed and purchased, the Substitute Lender shall succeed to
the rights, obligations and benefits of such Lender hereunder in such respect
(except for such rights, obligations and benefits of the Lender as have accrued
(other than principal, accrued interest or facility fees) or are required to be
performed by it on or prior to the date of such assumption and purchase) (and
such Lender shall be released from its Commitment except for any liability
arising or relating to any event occurring prior to the date of such assumption
and purchase) and the Substitute Lender shall be deemed to have agreed to the
relevant extension of the Revolving Termination Date and, anything in Section
2.06(e) to the contrary notwithstanding, whether such extension is effective
shall be determined accordingly; provided that following any such assumption and
purchase the Commitments of each Substitute Lender (including any Commitments
theretofore held by it) shall be not less than $10,000,000.

                                      -21-
<PAGE>

                  SECTION 2.07 Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt.

                  (a) Repayment. The Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to
pay to the Administrative Agent for account of the Lenders the outstanding
principal amount of the Revolving Loans on the Revolving Termination Date.

                  (b) Manner of Payment. Prior to any repayment or prepayment of
any Borrowings hereunder, the Borrower shall select the Borrowing or Borrowings
to be paid and shall notify the Administrative Agent by telephone (confirmed by
telecopy) of such selection not later than 12:00 noon, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
time, three Business Days before the scheduled date of such repayment or
prepayment; provided that each repayment or prepayment of Borrowings shall be
applied to repay or prepay any outstanding ABR Borrowings before any other
Borrowings. If the Borrower fails to make a timely selection of the Borrowing or
Borrowings to be repaid or prepaid, such payment shall be applied, first, to pay
any outstanding ABR Borrowings and, second, to other Borrowings in the order of
the remaining duration of their respective Interest Periods (the Borrowing with
the shortest remaining Interest Period to be repaid first). Each payment of a
Revolving Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Loans included in such
Borrowing.

                  (c) Maintenance of Loan Accounts by Lenders. Each Lender shall
maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing
the indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from each Loan made by
such Lender, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to
such Lender from time to time hereunder.

                  (d) Maintenance of Loan Accounts by the Administrative Agent.
The Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it shall record (i)
the amount of each Loan made hereunder and the Type thereof and the Interest
Period applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and
payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder
and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder
for the account of the Lenders and each Lender's share thereof.

                  (e) Effect of Entries. The entries made in the accounts
maintained pursuant to paragraph (c) and (d) of this Section shall be prima
facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein;
provided that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain
such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation
of the Borrower to repay the Loans in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement.

                  (f) Notes. Any Lender may request that Loans made by it be
evidenced by a promissory note (each a "Note") in substantially the form of
Exhibit C. In such event, the Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver to
such Lender a Note payable to the order of such Lender (or, if requested by such
Lender, to such Lender and its registered assigns) and in the form of Exhibit C.
Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such Note and interest thereon shall at all
times (including after assignment pursuant to Section 9.12) be represented by
one or more Notes in such form payable to the order of the payee named therein
(or, if such Note is a registered note, to such payee and its registered
assigns).

                                      -22-
<PAGE>

                  SECTION 2.08 Prepayment of Loans.

                  (a) Optional Prepayments Right to Prepay Borrowings. The
Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any
Borrowing in whole or in part, subject to the requirements of this Section.

                  (b) Notices, Etc. The Borrower shall notify the Administrative
Agent by telephone (confirmed by telecopy) of any optional prepayment hereunder
(i) in the case of prepayment of a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 12:00
noon, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania time, three Business Days before the date of
prepayment, or (ii) in the case of prepayment of an ABR Borrowing, not later
than 12:00 noon, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania time, one Business Day before the date
of prepayment. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the
prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to
be prepaid; provided that, if a notice of prepayment is given in connection with
a conditional notice of termination of the Commitments as contemplated by
Section 2.06(c), then such notice of prepayment may be revoked if such notice of
termination is revoked in accordance with Section 2.06(c). Promptly following
receipt of any such notice relating to a Borrowing, the Administrative Agent
shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each partial prepayment of any
Borrowing shall be in an aggregate principal amount equal to $5,000,000 and a
multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof; provided that if any prepayment of
Eurodollar Loans made pursuant to a single Borrowing shall reduce the
outstanding Revolving Loans made pursuant to such Borrowing to an amount less
than $5,000,000, such outstanding Loans shall immediately be converted into ABR
Loans. Each prepayment of a Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Loans
included in the prepaid Borrowing. Prepayments shall be accompanied by accrued
interest to the extent required by Section 2.10 and shall be made in the manner
specified in this Section 2.08(b).

                  SECTION 2.09  Fees.

                  (a) Facility Fee. The Borrower shall pay the Administrative
Agent for the account of each Lender a facility fee for the period from and
including the Effective Date to but excluding the Revolving Termination Date (or
such earlier date on which the total Commitments shall have been terminated)
computed at a rate per annum equal to the Applicable Rate on each Lender's daily
average Commitment, such fee to be paid quarterly in arrears on each Quarterly
Date and on the Revolving Termination Date (or such earlier date on which the
total Commitments shall have been terminated). The facility fee shall be
calculated on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed in a year of 360
days.

                  (b) Payment of Fees. All fees payable hereunder shall be paid
on the dates due, in immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent
for distribution, in the case of facility fees, to the Lenders entitled thereto.

                  SECTION 2.10  Interest.

                  (a) ABR Loans. The Loans comprising each ABR Revolving
Borrowing shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Alternate Base
Rate plus the Applicable Rate.

                                      -23-
<PAGE>

                  (b) Eurodollar Loans. The Loans comprising each Eurodollar
Borrowing shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Adjusted LIBO
Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable
Rate.

                  (c) Default Interest. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any
principal of or interest on any Loan or any fee or other amount payable by the
Borrower hereunder is not paid when due, whether at stated maturity, upon
acceleration or otherwise, such overdue amount shall bear interest, after as
well as before judgment, at a rate per annum equal to (i) in the case of overdue
principal of any Loan, 2% plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Loan as
provided above or (ii) in the case of any other amount, 2% plus the rate
applicable to ABR Loans as provided in paragraph (a) of this Section.

                  (d) Payment of Interest. Accrued interest on each Loan shall
be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date for such Loan and upon
termination of the Commitments; provided that (x) interest accrued pursuant to
paragraph (c) of this Section shall be payable on demand, (y) in the event of
any repayment or prepayment of any Loan (other than a prepayment of an ABR
Revolving Loan prior to the Revolving Termination Date), accrued interest on the
principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such
repayment or prepayment and (z) in the event of any conversion of any Eurodollar
Borrowing prior to the end of the current Interest Period therefor, accrued
interest on such Borrowing shall be payable on the effective date of such
conversion.

                  (e) Computation. All interest hereunder shall be computed on
the basis of a year of 360 days, except that interest computed by reference to
the Alternate Base Rate at times when the Alternate Base Rate is based on the
Prime Rate shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in
a leap year), and in each case shall be payable for the actual number of days
elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). The applicable
Alternate Base Rate, Adjusted LIBO Rate or LIBO Rate shall be determined by the
Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive, absent
manifest error.

                  SECTION 2.11 Alternate Rate of Interest. If prior to the
commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Borrowing:

                  (a) the Administrative Agent determines (which determination
shall be conclusive, absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means
do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the LIBO Rate, as
applicable, for such Interest Period; or

                  (b) the Administrative Agent is advised by the Required
Lenders that the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the LIBO Rate, as applicable, for such
Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders
(or Lender) of making or maintaining their Loans (or its Loan) included in such
Borrowing for such Interest Period;

then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrower and the
Lenders by telephone or telecopy as promptly as practicable thereafter and,
until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the
circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (i) any Interest
Election Request that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or

                                      -24-
<PAGE>

continuation of any Borrowing as, a Eurodollar Borrowing shall be ineffective,
and (ii) if any Borrowing Request requests a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing,
such Borrowing shall be made as an ABR Revolving Borrowing.

                  SECTION 2.12 Increased Costs.

                  (a) Increased Costs Generally.  If any Change in Law shall:

                           (i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve,
         special deposit or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with
         or for the account of, or credit extended by, any Lender or its Parent
         (except any such reserve requirement reflected in the Adjusted LIBO
         Rate); or

                           (ii) impose on any Lender or its Parent or the London
         interbank market any other condition affecting this Agreement or
         Eurodollar Loans made by such Lender;

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such
Lender or its Parent of making or maintaining any Eurodollar Loan (or of
maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan) or to reduce the amount of any
sum received or receivable by such Lender hereunder (whether of principal,
interest or otherwise), then the Borrower will pay to such Lender such
additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or its Parent, as
the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

                  (b) Capital Requirements. If any Lender determines that any
Change in Law regarding capital requirements has or would have the effect of
reducing the rate of return on such Lender's capital or on the capital of its
Parent as a consequence of this Agreement or the Loans made by such Lender to a
level below that which such Lender or its Parent could have achieved but for
such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender's policies and the
policies of its Parent with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time
the Borrower will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will
compensate such Lender or its Parent for any such reduction suffered.

                  (c) Certificates from Lenders. A certificate of a Lender
setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or its
Parent, as the case may be, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section
shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive, absent manifest
error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such
certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.

                  (d) Delay in Requests. Failure or delay on the part of any
Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a
waiver of such Lender's right to demand such compensation.

                  SECTION 2.13 Break Funding Payments. In the event of (a) the
payment of any principal of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of an
Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of
Default), (b) the conversion of Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of
the Interest Period applicable thereto, (c) the failure to borrow, convert,

                                      -25-
<PAGE>

continue or prepay any Revolving Loan on the date specified in any notice
delivered pursuant hereto (regardless of whether such notice is permitted to be
revocable under Section 2.08(b) and is revoked in accordance herewith), or (d)
the assignment of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of the Interest
Period applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to
Section 2.16, then, in any such event, the Borrower shall compensate each Lender
for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event. In the case of a
Eurodollar Loan, the loss to any Lender attributable to any such event shall be
deemed to include an amount determined by such Lender to be equal to the excess,
if any, of (i) the amount of interest that such Lender would pay for a deposit
equal to the principal amount of such Loan for the period from the date of such
payment, conversion, failure or assignment to the last day of the then current
Interest Period for such Loan (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, convert
or continue, the duration of the Interest Period that would have resulted from
such borrowing, conversion or continuation) if the interest rate payable on such
deposit were equal to the Adjusted LIBO Rate for such Interest Period, over (ii)
the amount of interest that such Lender would earn on such principal amount for
such period if such Lender were to invest such principal amount for such period
at the interest rate that would be bid by such Lender (or an Affiliate of such
Lender) for dollar deposits from other banks in the eurodollar market at the
commencement of such period. A certificate of any Lender setting forth any
amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this
Section shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive, absent
manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on
any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.

                  SECTION 2.14  Taxes.

                  (a) Payments Free of Taxes. Any and all payments by or on
account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder shall be made free and clear
of and without deduction for any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes; provided that
if the Borrower shall be required to deduct any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes
from such payments, then (i) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so
that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to
additional sums payable under this Section) the Administrative Agent, Arranger,
Syndication Agent or Lender (as the case may be) receives an amount equal to the
sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) the Borrower
shall make such deductions and (iii) the Borrower shall pay the full amount
deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable
Law.

                  (b) Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrower. In addition, the
Borrower shall pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in
accordance with applicable Law.

                  (c) Indemnification by the Borrower. The Borrower shall
indemnify the Administrative Agent, the Arranger, each Syndication Agent and
each Lender, within 10 days after written demand therefor, for the full amount
of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes or Other
Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this
Section) paid by the Administrative Agent, Arranger, such Syndication Agent or
such Lender, as the case may be, and any penalties, interest and reasonable
expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such
Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted
by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as

                                      -26-
<PAGE>

to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a
Lender, the Arranger, a Syndication Agent or by the Administrative Agent (on its
own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, the Arranger or a Syndication Agent) shall
be conclusive, absent manifest error.

                  (d) Evidence of Payments. As soon as practicable after any
payment of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes by the Borrower to a Governmental
Authority, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original
or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority
evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other
evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

                  (e) Foreign Lenders. Any Foreign Lender that is entitled to an
exemption from or reduction of withholding tax under the Law of the jurisdiction
in which the Borrower is located, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a
party, with respect to payments under this Agreement shall deliver to the
Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or times
prescribed by applicable Law or reasonably requested by the Borrower, such
properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable Law as
will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate.

                  SECTION 2.15  Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment;
Sharing of Set-offs.

                  (a) Payments by the Borrower. The Borrower shall make each
payment required to be made by it hereunder (whether of principal, interest or
fees, or under Section 2.12, 2.13 or 2.14, or otherwise) prior to 1:00 PM,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania time, on the date when due, in immediately available
funds, without set-off or counterclaim. Any amounts received after such time on
any such date shall be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding
Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All such payments
shall be made to the Administrative Agent at its Principal Office and to such
account at its Principal Office as the Administrative Agent shall specify to the
Borrower, except that payments pursuant to Sections 2.12, 2.13, 2.14 and 9.04
shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto. The Administrative Agent
shall distribute any such payments received by it for account of any other
Person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof. If any
payment hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for
payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day and, in the case
of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be payable for the
period of such extension. All payments hereunder shall be made in Dollars.

                  (b) Application of Insufficient Payments. If at any time
insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent to
pay fully all amounts of principal, interest and fees then due hereunder, such
funds shall be applied (i) first, to pay interest and fees then due hereunder,
ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of
interest and fees then due to such parties, and (ii) second, to pay principal
then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance
with the amounts of principal then due to such parties.

                  (c) Pro Rata Treatment. Except to the extent otherwise
provided herein: (i) each Revolving Borrowing shall be made from the Lenders,
each payment of facility fees under

                                      -27-
<PAGE>

Section 2.09 shall be made for account of the Lenders, and each termination or
reduction of the amount of the Commitments under Section 2.06 shall be applied
to the respective Commitments of the Lenders, pro rata according to the amounts
of their respective Commitments; (ii) each Borrowing shall be allocated pro rata
among the Lenders according to the amounts of their respective Commitments (in
the case of the making of Revolving Loans) or their respective Loans (in the
case of conversions and continuations of Loans); (iii) each payment or
prepayment of principal of Loans by the Borrower shall be made for account of
the Lenders pro rata in accordance with the respective unpaid principal amounts
of the Loans held by them; and (iv) each payment of interest on Loans by the
Borrower shall be made for account of the Lenders pro rata in accordance with
the amounts of interest on such Loans then due and payable to the respective
Lenders.

                  (d) Sharing of Payments by Lenders. If any Lender shall, by
exercising any right of set-off or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in
respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Loans resulting in such
Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its
Loans and accrued interest thereon then due than the proportion received by any
other Lender, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall purchase
(for cash at face value) participations in the Loans of other Lenders to the
extent necessary so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the
Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and
accrued interest on their respective Loans; provided that (i) if any such
participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise
thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase
price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest, and (ii) the
provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to any payment made
by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this
Agreement or any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the
assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans to any assignee or
participant, other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof
(as to which the provisions of this paragraph shall apply). The Borrower
consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so
under applicable Law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the
foregoing arrangements may exercise against the Borrower rights of set-off and
counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were
a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.

                  (e) Presumptions of Payment. Unless the Administrative Agent
shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any
payment is due to the Administrative Agent for account of the Lenders hereunder
that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may
assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance
herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders
the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such
payment, then each of the Lenders severally agrees to repay to the
Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such
Lender with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such
amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the
Administrative Agent, at the Federal Funds Effective Rate.

                                      -28-
<PAGE>

                  (f) Certain Deductions by the Administrative Agent. If any
Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to
Section 2.04(b) or 2.15(e), then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion
(notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof), apply any amounts thereafter
received by the Administrative Agent for account of such Lender to satisfy such
Lender's obligations under such Sections until all such unsatisfied obligations
are fully paid.

                  SECTION 2.16  Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.

                  (a) Designation of a Different Lending Office. If any Lender
requests compensation under Section 2.12, or if the Borrower is required to pay
any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for account of
any Lender pursuant to Section 2.14, then such Lender shall use reasonable
efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans
hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its
offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such
designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant
to Section 2.12 or 2.14, as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would not
subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise
be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all
reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such
designation or assignment.

                  (b) Replacement of Lenders. If any Lender requests
compensation under Section 2.12, or if the Borrower is required to pay any
additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for account of any
Lender pursuant to Section 2.14, or if any Lender defaults in its obligation to
fund Loans hereunder, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort,
upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to
assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the
restrictions contained in Section 9.12), all its interests, rights and
obligations under this Agreement to an assignee that shall assume such
obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such
assignment); provided that (i) the Borrower shall have received the prior
consent of the Administrative Agent, which consent shall not unreasonably be
withheld, (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the
outstanding principal of its Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and
all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (to the extent of
such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in
the case of all other amounts) and (iii) in the case of any such assignment
resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.12 or payments required
to be made pursuant to Section 2.14, such assignment will result in a reduction
in such compensation or payments. A Lender shall not be required to make any
such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by
such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require
such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

                                      -29-
<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE III

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

                  The Borrower hereby represents and warrants to the
Administrative Agent and each Lender as follows:

                  SECTION 3.01 Corporate Status.

                  The Borrower and each Subsidiary of the Borrower is a
corporation, trust or limited liability company duly organized, validly existing
and in good standing under the Laws of its jurisdiction of organization. The
Borrower and each Subsidiary of the Borrower has the corporate power and
authority to own its Property and to transact the business in which it is
engaged or presently proposes to engage. The Borrower and each Subsidiary of the
Borrower is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation, trust or
limited liability company and is in good standing in all jurisdictions in which
the ownership of its properties or the nature of its activities or both makes
such qualification necessary or advisable. Schedule II states as of the date
hereof the jurisdiction of organization of the Borrower and each Subsidiary of
the Borrower, and the jurisdictions in which the Borrower and each Subsidiary of
the Borrower is qualified to do business as a foreign corporation, trust or
limited liability company.

                  SECTION 3.02 Corporate Power and Authorization.

                  The Borrower has the corporate power and authority to execute,
deliver, perform, and take all actions contemplated by, each of the Loan
Documents to which it is a party, and all such action has been duly and validly
authorized by all necessary corporate proceedings on its part. Without limiting
the foregoing, the Borrower has the corporate power and authority to borrow
pursuant to the Loan Documents to the fullest extent permitted hereby and
thereby from time to time, and has taken all necessary corporate action to
authorize such borrowings.

                  SECTION 3.03 Execution and Binding Effect.

                  This Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents to which
the Borrower is a party and which is required to be delivered on or before the
Effective Date pursuant to Section 4.01 has been duly and validly executed and
delivered by the Borrower. This Agreement and each such other Loan Document
constitutes, and when executed and delivered by the Borrower will constitute,
the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower, enforceable against the
Borrower in accordance with its terms, except as the enforceability hereof or
thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar laws of
general application affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights or by general
principles of equity limiting the availability of equitable remedies.

                  SECTION 3.04 Governmental Approvals and Filings.

                  The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada has duly and validly
issued orders authorizing the Borrower to enter into this Agreement and the
other Loan Documents to which it is a party and to take all actions contemplated
hereby or thereby or in connection herewith or

                                      -30-
<PAGE>

therewith, and such orders remain in full force and effect in the form issued.
No other Governmental Action is required for the due execution, delivery and
performance by the Borrower of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents
to which it is a party.

                  SECTION 3.05 Absence of Conflicts.

                  Neither the execution and delivery of any of the Loan
Documents by the Borrower, nor the consummation of the transactions herein or
therein contemplated by the Borrower, nor the performance of or the compliance
with the terms and conditions hereof or thereof by the Borrower, does or will:

                  (a) violate or conflict with any Law; or

                  (b) violate, conflict with or result in a breach of any term
or condition of, or constitute a default under, or result in (or give rise to
any right, contingent or otherwise, of any Person to cause) any termination,
cancellation, prepayment or acceleration of performance of, or result in the
creation or imposition of (or give rise to any obligation, contingent or
otherwise, to create or impose) any Lien upon any of the Property of the
Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower pursuant to, or otherwise result in
(or give rise to any right, contingent or otherwise, of any Person to cause) any
change in any right, power, privilege, duty or obligation of the Borrower or any
Subsidiary of the Borrower under or in connection with,

                           (i) the articles of incorporation or by-laws (or
         other constituent documents) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of
         the Borrower;

                           (ii) any agreement or instrument creating, evidencing
         or securing any Indebtedness to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary of
         the Borrower is a party or by which any of them or any of their
         respective properties (now owned or hereafter acquired) may be subject
         or bound; or

                           (iii) any other material agreement or instrument to
         which the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower is a party or by
         which any of them or any of their respective properties (now owned or
         hereafter acquired) may be subject or bound.

                  SECTION 3.06  Audited Financial Statements.

                  The Borrower has heretofore furnished to each of the Agents
and each of the Lenders consolidated balance sheets of the Borrower and its
consolidated Subsidiaries as of December 31, 1998, 1999 and 2000 and the related
consolidated statements of income, retained earnings and changes in cash flows
for the fiscal years then ended, as examined and reported on by independent
certified public accountants for the Borrower, who delivered an unqualified
opinion in respect thereof. Such financial statements (including the notes
thereto) present fairly the financial condition of the Borrower and its
consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of each such fiscal year and the results
of their operations and their retained earnings and changes in cash flows for
the fiscal years then ended, all in conformity with GAAP.

                                      -31-
<PAGE>

                  SECTION 3.07  Interim Financial Statements.

                  The Borrower has heretofore furnished to each of the Agents
and each of the Lenders an interim consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower
and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of the first fiscal quarter of
the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2001, together with the related
consolidated statements of income, retained earnings and changes in cash flows
for the applicable fiscal period ending on such date. Such financial statements
(including the notes thereto) present fairly the financial condition of the
Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal quarter
and the results of their operations and their retained earnings and changes in
cash flows for the fiscal periods then ended, all in conformity with GAAP,
subject to normal and recurring year-end audit adjustments.

                  SECTION 3.08 Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities.

                  Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary of the Borrower has
any liability or obligation of any nature whatever (whether absolute, accrued,
contingent or otherwise, whether or not due), forward or long-term commitments
or unrealized or anticipated losses from unfavorable commitments, except (a) as
disclosed in the financial statements referred to in Sections 3.06 and 3.07, and
(b) liabilities, obligations, commitments and losses incurred after March 31,
2001, in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices.

                  SECTION 3.09  Absence of Material Adverse Change.

                  Since March 31, 2001, there has been no material adverse
change in the business, operations, condition (financial or otherwise), or
prospects of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

                  SECTION 3.10 Accurate and Complete Disclosure.

                  All information heretofore, contemporaneously or hereafter
provided by or on behalf of the Borrower to any Agent or any Lender pursuant to
or in connection with any Loan Document or any transaction contemplated hereby
or thereby is or will be (as the case may be) true and accurate in all material
respects on the date as of which such information is dated (or, if not dated,
when received by such Agent or such Lender) and does not or will not (as the
case may be) omit to state any material fact necessary to make such information
not misleading at such time in light of the circumstances in which it was
provided. The Borrower has disclosed to each Agent and each Lender in writing
every fact or circumstance which has, or which so far as the Borrower can
reasonably foresee is reasonably likely and is reasonably likely to have, a
Material Adverse Effect.

                  SECTION 3.11 Margin Regulations.

                  No part of the proceeds of any Loan hereunder will be used for
the purpose of buying or carrying any "margin stock", as such term is used in
Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as amended
from time to time, or to extend credit to others for the purpose of buying or
carrying any "margin stock". Neither the Borrower nor any

                                      -32-
<PAGE>

Subsidiary of the Borrower is engaged in the business of extending credit to
others for the purpose of buying or carrying "margin stock". Neither the
Borrower nor any Subsidiary of the Borrower owns any "margin stock". Neither the
making of any Loan nor any use of proceeds of any such Loan will violate or
conflict with the provisions of Regulation T, U or X of the Board, as amended
from time to time.

                  SECTION 3.12  Litigation.

                  There is no pending or (to the Borrower's knowledge after due
inquiry) threatened action, suit, proceeding or investigation (including any
Environmental Claim) by or before any Governmental Authority against or
affecting the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower which, if adversely
decided, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect, except for (a) matters described in the financial
statements referred to in Section 3.06 and (b) matters set forth in Schedule
III.

                  SECTION 3.13 Absence of Events of Default.

                  No event has occurred and is continuing and no condition
exists which constitutes a Default or an Event of Default.

                  SECTION 3.14 Absence of Other Conflicts.

                  Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary of the Borrower is in
violation of or conflict with, or is subject to any contingent liability on
account of any violation of or conflict with:

                  (a) any Law (including ERISA, the Code, any applicable
          occupational health, safety or welfare Law or any applicable
          Environmental Law);

                  (b) its articles of incorporation or by-laws (or other
          constituent documents); or

                  (c) any agreement or instrument to which it is party or by
          which it or any of its properties (now owned or hereafter acquired)
          may be subject or bound;

except for matters which, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  SECTION 3.15  Insurance.

                  The Borrower and each Subsidiary of the Borrower maintains
with financially sound and reputable insurers insurance with respect to its
properties and business and against at least such liabilities, casualties and
contingencies and in at least such types and amounts as is customary in the case
of corporations engaged in the same or a similar business or having similar
properties similarly situated.

                                      -33-
<PAGE>

                  SECTION 3.16  Title to Property; No Liens.

                  The Borrower and each Subsidiary of the Borrower has good and
marketable title in fee simple to all real Property owned or purported to be
owned by it and good title to all other Property of whatever nature owned or
purported to be owned by it, including but not limited to all Property reflected
in the most recent audited balance sheet referred to in Section 3.06 or
submitted pursuant to Section 5.01(b), as the case may be (except as sold or
otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business after the date of such
balance sheet), subject to no Liens except for (i) Liens reflected in the most
recent audited balance sheet referred to in Section 3.06 or submitted pursuant
to Section 5.01(b), as the case may be, (ii) Liens consisting of zoning or
planning restrictions, easements, permits and other restrictions or limitations
on the use of real Property or irregularities in title thereto which do not
materially detract from the value of, or impair the use of, such Property by the
Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower in the operation of its business,
(iii) Liens for current Taxes not yet due and delinquent and (iv) Liens set
forth on Schedule IV.

                  SECTION 3.17  Taxes.

                  All tax and information returns required to be filed by or on
behalf of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower have been properly
prepared, executed and filed. All Taxes upon the Borrower or any Subsidiary of
the Borrower or upon any of their respective Properties, incomes, sales or
franchises which are due and payable have been paid, other than those not yet
delinquent and payable without premium or penalty, and except for those being
diligently contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, and in each case
adequate reserves and provisions for Taxes have been made on the books of the
Borrower and each Subsidiary of the Borrower. The reserves and provisions for
Taxes on the books of the Borrower and each Subsidiary of the Borrower are
adequate for all open years and for its current fiscal period. Neither the
Borrower nor any Subsidiary of the Borrower knows of any proposed additional
assessment or basis for any material assessment for additional Taxes (whether or
not reserved against).

                  SECTION 3.18  Borrower Not An Investment Company.

                  Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary of the Borrower is an
"investment company" or a company controlled by an "investment company" within
the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940.

                  SECTION 3.19 Environmental Matters.

                  (a) The Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries have complied
with and are in compliance with, all applicable Environmental Laws and the
requirements of any permits issued under such Environmental Laws. Except as
disclosed on Schedule V, there are no pending or threatened Environmental Claims
against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (including any such claim
arising out of the ownership, lease or operation by the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries of any real Property no longer owned, leased or operated by the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries) or any real Property owned, leased or
operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries. Except as disclosed on
Schedule V, there are no facts, circumstances, conditions or occurrences with
respect to the business or operations of the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries,

                                      -34-
<PAGE>

or any real Property owned, leased or operated by the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries (including any real Property formerly owned, leased or operated by
the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries but no longer owned, leased or operated
by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries) or any Property adjoining or
adjacent to any such real Property that could be expected (i) to form the basis
of an Environmental Claim against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any
real Property owned, leased or operated by the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries or (ii) to cause any real Property owned, leased or operated by the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to be subject to any restrictions on the
ownership, occupancy or transferability of such real Property by the Borrower or
any of its Subsidiaries under any applicable Environmental Law.

                  (b) Hazardous Materials have not at any time been generated,
used, treated or stored on, or transported to or from, any real Property owned,
leased or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries where such
generation, use, treatment or storage has violated or could be expected to
violate any Environmental Law. Hazardous Materials have not at any time been
Released on or from any real Property owned, leased or operated by Borrower or
any of its Subsidiaries where such Release has violated or would be expected to
violate any applicable Environmental Law.

                  (c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section,
the representations made in this Section shall not be untrue unless the effect
of all violations, claims, restrictions, failures and noncompliances of the
types described in this Section would reasonably be expected to, individually or
in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on the Borrower.

                  SECTION 3.20  ERISA.

                  (a) Each Plan (and each related trust, insurance contract or
fund) is in substantial compliance with its terms and with all applicable Laws,
including without limitation ERISA and the Code; each Plan (and each related
trust, if any) which is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the
Code has received a determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service to
the effect that it meets the requirements of Sections 401(a) and 501(a) of the
Code; no Reportable Event has occurred; no Multiemployer Plan is insolvent or in
reorganization; no Plan has an Unfunded Current Liability; no Plan which is
subject to Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA has an accumulated
funding deficiency within the meaning of such sections of the Code or ERISA or
has applied for or received a waiver of an accumulated funding deficiency or an
extension of any amortization period within the meaning of Section 412 of the
Code or Section 303 or 304 of ERISA; all contributions required to be made with
respect to a Plan have been timely made; neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary
of the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any material liability
(including any indirect, contingent or secondary liability) to or on account of
a Plan pursuant to Section 409, 502(i), 502(l), 515, 4062, 4063, 4064, 4069,
4201, 4204 or 4212 of ERISA or Section 401(a)(29), 4971 or 4975 of the Code or
expects to incur any such liability under any of the foregoing sections with
respect to any Plan; no condition exists which presents a material risk to the
Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of incurring a
liability to or on account of a Plan pursuant to the foregoing provisions of
ERISA and the Code; no proceedings have been instituted to terminate or appoint
a trustee to administer any Plan; no action, suit, proceeding, hearing, audit

                                      -35-
<PAGE>

or investigation with respect to the administration, operation or the investment
of assets of any Plan (other than routine claims for benefits) is pending,
expected or threatened; using actuarial assumptions and computation methods
consistent with Part 1 of subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA, the aggregate
liabilities of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and its ERISA Affiliates to all
Multiemployer Plans in the event of a complete withdrawal therefrom, as of the
close of the most recent fiscal year of each such Plan ended prior to the date
of the most recent Borrowing, would not have a Material Adverse Effect; each
group health plan (as defined in Section 607(1) of ERISA or Section 4980B(g)(2)
of the Code) which covers or has covered employees or former employees of the
Borrower, any Subsidiary of the Borrower, or any ERISA Affiliate has at all
times been operated in compliance with the provisions of Part 6 of subtitle B of
Title I of ERISA and Section 4980B of the Code; no Lien imposed under the Code
or ERISA on the assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower or any
ERISA Affiliate exists or is likely to arise on account of any Plan; and the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries may cease contributions to or terminate any Plan
maintained by any of them without incurring any material liability.

                  (b) Each Foreign Pension Plan, if any, has been maintained in
substantial compliance with its terms and with the requirements of any and all
applicable Laws, statutes, rules, regulations and orders and has been
maintained, where required, in good standing with applicable regulatory
authorities. All contributions required to be made with respect to a Foreign
Pension Plan have been timely made. Neither the Borrower nor any of its
Subsidiaries has incurred any obligation in connection with the termination of
or withdrawal from any Foreign Pension Plan. The present value of the accrued
benefit liabilities (whether or not vested) under each Foreign Pension Plan,
determined as of the end of the Borrower's most recently ended Fiscal Year on
the basis of actuarial assumptions, each of which is reasonable, did not exceed
the current value of the assets of such Foreign Pension Plan allocable to such
benefit liabilities.

                  SECTION 3.21  Pari Passu Status.

                  The claims and rights of the Lenders against the Borrower
hereunder are not subordinated to, and rank at least pari passu with, the claims
and rights of other holders of its unsecured indebtedness except to the extent
otherwise provided by Law (including without limitation the Bankruptcy Code and
the provisions of 31 U.S.C. ss.3713).

                  SECTION 3.22  Indebtedness.

                  Schedule VI contains a true and complete list of all
Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries that is, or will be,
outstanding on the Effective Date ("Existing Indebtedness").

                                      -36-
<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE IV

                                   CONDITIONS

                  SECTION 4.01 Effective Date.

                  This Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall become
effective as against the Lenders and the Agents on the first date on which all
of the following conditions shall be satisfied or waived:

                  (a) Agreement; Notes. The Administrative Agent shall have
         received an executed counterpart of this Agreement for each Lender,
         duly executed by the Borrower, and, to the extent any Lender has
         requested a Note pursuant to Section 2.07(f), a Note conforming to the
         requirements hereof, duly executed on behalf of the Borrower.

                  (b) Governmental Approvals and Filings. The Administrative
         Agent shall have received, with copies and executed counterparts for
         each Lender, true and correct copies (in each case certified as to
         authenticity on such date on behalf of the Borrower) of the orders
         entered by the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada referred to in
         Section 3.04, and such orders shall be satisfactory in form and
         substance to the Administrative Agent and shall be in full force and
         effect.

                  (c) Corporate Proceedings. The Administrative Agent shall have
         received, with a counterpart for each Lender, certificates by the
         Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Borrower dated as of the
         Effective Date as to (i) true copies of the articles of incorporation
         and by-laws (or other constituent documents) of the Borrower as in
         effect on such date (which, in the case of articles of incorporation or
         other constituent documents filed or required to be filed with the
         Secretary of State or other Governmental Authority in its jurisdiction
         of incorporation, shall be certified to be true, correct and complete
         by such Secretary of State or other Governmental Authority not more
         than 30 days before the date hereof), (ii) true copies of all corporate
         action taken by the Borrower relative to this Agreement and the other
         Loan Documents, and (iii) the incumbency and signatures of the
         respective officers of the Borrower executing this Agreement and the
         other Loan Documents to which the Borrower is a party, together with
         satisfactory evidence of the incumbency of such Secretary or Assistant
         Secretary. The Administrative Agent shall have received, with a copy
         for each Lender, certificates from the Secretary of State of Nevada (or
         other applicable Governmental Authority) dated not more than 30 days
         before the Effective Date showing the good standing of the Borrower in
         Nevada and in each state in which the Borrower does business.

                  (d) Legal Opinion of Counsel to the Borrower. The
         Administrative Agent shall have received, with an executed counterpart
         for each Lender, an opinion addressed to the Administrative Agent and
         each Lender, dated the Effective Date, of Choate, Hall & Stewart,
         counsel to the Borrower, as to such matters as may be requested by the
         Administrative Agent and in form and substance satisfactory to the
         Lenders.

                                      -37-
<PAGE>

                  (e) Financial Statements; Projections. The Administrative
         Agent shall have received for each Lender a true and correct copy of
         the (i) audited consolidated financial statements, including balance
         sheets, income statements and cash flow statements, for the Borrower
         and each of its consolidated Subsidiaries for the years ended December
         31, 1998, 1999 and 2000, (ii) unaudited interim consolidated financial
         statements, including a balance sheet, income statement and statement
         of cash flows, for the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries for
         the three month period ended March 31, 2001 and (iii) Projections for
         each quarterly period ending after the date hereof and on or before
         December 31, 2001.

                  (f) No Material Adverse Effect. Nothing shall have occurred
         (and neither the Administrative Agent nor the Lenders shall have become
         aware of any facts or conditions not previously known) which the
         Lenders shall determine (i) has had, or could reasonably be expected to
         have, a Material Adverse Effect. The Administrative Agent shall have
         received a certificate of a senior financial officer of the Borrower,
         dated the Effective Date, to the effect that, as of the Effective Date,
         there has been no Material Adverse Effect since March 31, 2001.

                  (g) Governmental Approvals. All necessary and material
         Governmental Actions (domestic and foreign) and third party approvals
         and/or consents in connection with the transactions contemplated in
         this Agreement shall have been obtained and remain in effect and all
         applicable waiting periods with respect thereto shall have expired
         without any action being taken by any competent authority which
         restrains, prevents or imposes materially adverse conditions upon, the
         consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or otherwise
         referred to herein. The Administrative Agent shall have received
         documentation reasonably acceptable to it that the Public Utilities
         Commission of Nevada has duly approved the Borrowings hereunder.

                  (h) No Injunctions. There shall not exist any judgment, order,
         injunction or other restraint issued or filed or a hearing seeking
         injunctive relief or other restraint pending or notified prohibiting or
         imposing materially adverse conditions upon the consummation of the
         transactions contemplated hereby or otherwise referred to herein.

                  (i) Litigation, Proceedings and Investigations. There shall be
         no actions, arbitrations, suits, investigations or proceedings pending
         or threatened with respect to this Agreement or which the
         Administrative Agent shall determine could reasonably be expected to
         have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  (j) No Violation of Existing Agreements. Neither the Borrower
         nor any Subsidiary of the Borrower is in violation of any material
         agreement or instrument to which it is party or by which it or any of
         its properties (now owned or hereafter acquired) may be subject or
         bound;

                  (k) Ratings. The Administrative Agent shall have received a
         certificate of a senior financial officer of the Borrower, dated the
         Effective Date, setting forth the then current ratings of the Index
         Debt of Borrower and the Index Debt of SPPC.

                                      -38-
<PAGE>

                  (l) Officers' Certificates. The Administrative Agent shall
         have received, with an executed counterpart for each Lender,
         certificates from such officers of the Borrower as to such matters as
         the Administrative Agent may request.

                  (m) Fees, Expenses, etc. All fees and other items required to
         be paid to the Agents and the Lenders on or before the Effective Date
         (including all fees referenced in fee letters and offer letters) shall
         have been paid or received.

                  (n) Section 4.02 Conditions.

                           (i) Each of the representations and warranties made
                  by the Borrower herein and in each other Loan Document shall
                  be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the
                  Effective Date as if made on and as of such date, both before
                  and after giving effect to the Loans requested to be made on
                  such date.

                           (ii) No Default or Event of Default shall have
                  occurred and be continuing on the Effective Date.

                  (o) The Lenders shall be satisfied with the results of their
         due diligence review of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

                  (p) Additional Matters. The Administrative Agent shall have
         received, with copies or executed counterparts for each Lender, such
         other certificates, opinions, documents and instruments as the
         Administrative Agent may have requested. All corporate and other
         proceedings, and all documents, instruments and other matters in
         connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the
         other Loan Documents shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the
         Administrative Agent.

                  SECTION 4.02 Conditions to All Loans.

                  The obligation of each Lender to make, convert or continue any
Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing is subject to satisfaction of the
conditions precedent set forth in Section 4.01 and satisfaction of the following
further conditions precedent:

                  (a) Notice. The Borrower shall have executed and delivered to
         the Administrative Agent a Borrowing Request or Interest Election
         Request for such Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.03 or 2.05, as
         the case may be.

                  (b) Representations and Warranties. Each of the
         representations and warranties made by the Borrower herein and in each
         other Loan Document shall be true and correct in all material respects
         on and as of such date as if made on and as of such date, both before
         and after giving effect to the making, conversion or continuation of
         Loans requested to be made, converted or continued on such date.

                                      -39-
<PAGE>

                  (c) No Defaults. No Default or Event of Default shall have
         occurred and be continuing on such date or after giving effect to the
         making, conversion or continuation of Loans requested to be made,
         converted or continued on such date.

                  (d) No Violations of Law, etc. Neither the making, conversion
         or continuation of nor use of the Loans shall cause any Lender to
         violate or be in conflict with any Law.

                  (e) No Material Adverse Change. There shall not have occurred,
         or be threatened, any other event, act or condition which would
         reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  Each request by the Borrower for any Loan or conversion or
continuation thereof shall constitute a representation and warranty by the
Borrower that the conditions set forth in this Section 4.02 have been satisfied
as of the date of such request. Failure of the Administrative Agent to receive
notice from the Borrower to the contrary before such Loan is made shall
constitute a further representation and warranty by the Borrower that the
conditions referred to in this Section 4.02 have been satisfied as of the date
such Loan is made.

                                    ARTICLE V

                              AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

         The Borrower hereby covenants to the Administrative Agent and each
Lender:

                 SECTION 5.01  Basic Reporting Requirements.

                  (a) Annual Audit Reports. As soon as practicable, and in any
event within 90 days after the close of each fiscal year of the Borrower, the
Borrower shall furnish to the Administrative Agent, with a copy for each Lender,
consolidated statements of income, retained earnings and cash flows of the
Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries for such fiscal year and a
consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as
of the close of such fiscal year, and notes to each, all in reasonable detail,
setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures for the preceding
fiscal year. Such financial statements shall be accompanied by an opinion of
independent certified public accountants of recognized national standing
selected by the Borrower, which opinion shall not be subject to any
qualification as to scope of audit or as to any other matter which the Required
Lenders determine is adverse. Such opinion in any event shall contain a written
statement of such accountants substantially to the effect that (i) such
accountants examined such financial statements in accordance with generally
accepted auditing standards and accordingly made such tests of accounting
records and such other auditing procedures as such accountants considered
necessary in the circumstances and (ii) in the opinion of such accountants such
financial statements present fairly the financial position of the Borrower and
its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal year and the results
of their operations and their retained earnings and cash flows for such fiscal
year, in conformity with GAAP.

                  (b) Quarterly Consolidated Reports. As soon as practicable,
and in any event within 45 days after the close of each of the first three
fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the

                                      -40-
<PAGE>

Borrower, the Borrower shall furnish to the Administrative Agent, with a copy
for each Lender, unaudited consolidated statements of income, retained earnings
and cash flows of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries for the period
from the beginning of such fiscal year to the end of such fiscal quarter and an
unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its consolidated
Subsidiaries as of the close of such fiscal quarter, and notes to each, all in
reasonable detail, setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures
for the same periods or as of the same date during the preceding fiscal year
(except for the consolidated balance sheet, which shall set forth in comparative
form the corresponding balance sheet as of the prior fiscal year end). Such
financial statements shall be certified by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower
as presenting fairly the financial position of the Borrower and its consolidated
Subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal quarter and the results of their
operations and their retained earnings and changes in cash flows for such fiscal
year, in conformity with GAAP, subject to normal and recurring year-end audit
adjustments.

                  (c) Quarterly Compliance Certificates. The Borrower shall
deliver to the Administrative Agent, with a copy for each Lender, a Quarterly
Compliance Certificate in substantially the form set forth as Exhibit D, duly
completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower concurrently with
the delivery of the financial statements referred to in subsections (a) and (b)
of this Section 5.01.

                  (d) Certain Other Reports and Information. Promptly upon their
becoming available to the Borrower, the Borrower shall deliver to the
Administrative Agent, with a copy for each Lender, a copy of (i) all regular or
special reports, registration statements and amendments to the foregoing which
the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower shall file with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (or any successor thereto) or any securities exchange,
and (ii) all reports, proxy statements, financial statements and other
information distributed by the Borrower to its stockbrokers, bondholders or the
financial community generally.

                  (e) Further Information. The Borrower shall promptly furnish
to the Administrative Agent, with a copy for each Lender, such other information
and in such form as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably
request from time to time.

                  (f) Notice of Certain Events. Promptly (and, in the case of
clause (i) below, no later than two Business Days) upon becoming aware of any of
the following, the Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent notice thereof,
together with a written statement of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower
setting forth the details thereof and any action with respect thereto taken or
proposed to be taken by the Borrower:

                  (i) Any Default or Event of Default.

                  (ii) The occurrence or existence of any event or condition
         (including (A) the violation or alleged violation of any Environmental
         Law by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower or the assertion
         of any Environmental Claim against the Borrower or any Subsidiary of
         the Borrower, (B) the commencement of any other action, suit,
         proceeding or investigation by or before any Governmental Authority
         against or affecting the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower, or
         (C) the violation, breach or default or alleged violation,

                                      -41-
<PAGE>

         breach or default by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower or
         any other Person under any agreement or instrument material to the
         business, operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects
         of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole) which event or
         condition, either individually or in the aggregate, has, or would
         reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect.

                  (iii) Any change in the rating of the Index Debt of Borrower
or the Index Debt of SPPC.

                  (g) Visitation; Verification. The Borrower shall permit such
Persons as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may designate from time to
time to visit and inspect any of the properties of the Borrower and of any
Subsidiary, to examine their respective books and records and take copies and
extracts therefrom and to discuss their respective affairs with their respective
officers, employees and independent accountants at such times and as often as
the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request; provided,
however, that the Borrower reserves the right to restrict access to any of its
generating facilities in accordance with reasonably adopted practices relating
to safety and security. The Borrower hereby authorizes such officers, employees
and independent accountants to discuss with the Administrative Agent or any
Lender the affairs of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

                  (h) ERISA. Within 30 days after the Borrower knows that any of
the events or conditions specified below with respect to any Plan or
Multiemployer Plan has occurred or exists, a statement signed by a Responsible
Officer of the Borrower setting forth details respecting such event or condition
and the action, if any, that the Borrower or its ERISA Affiliate proposes to
take with respect thereto (and a copy of any report or notice required to be
filed with or given to PBGC by the Borrower or an ERISA Affiliate with respect
to such event or condition):

                           (i) any Reportable Event and any request for a
         waiver under Section 412(d) of the Code for any Plan;

                           (ii) the distribution under Section 4041 of ERISA of
         a notice of intent to terminate any Plan or any action taken by the
         Borrower or an ERISA Affiliate to terminate any Plan, in each case with
         respect to which there are insufficient assets to pay benefits as they
         become due;

                           (iii) the institution by PBGC of proceedings under
         Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a
         trustee to administer, any Plan, or the receipt by the Borrower or any
         ERISA Affiliate of a notice from a Multiemployer Plan that such action
         has been taken by PBGC with respect to such Multiemployer Plan;

                           (iv) the complete or partial withdrawal from a
         Multiemployer Plan by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate that results
         in liability under Section 4201 or 4204 of ERISA (including the
         obligation to satisfy secondary liability as a result of a purchaser
         default) or the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of
         notice from a Multiemployer Plan that it is in reorganization or
         insolvency pursuant to Section 4241 or 4245 of ERISA or that it intends
         to terminate or has terminated under Section 4041A of ERISA; and

                                      -42-
<PAGE>

                           (v) the adoption of an amendment to any Plan that,
         pursuant to Section 401(a)(29) of the Code or Section 307 of ERISA,
         would result in the loss of tax-exempt status of the trust of which
         such Plan is a part if the Borrower or an ERISA Affiliate fails to
         timely provide security to the Plan in accordance with the provisions
         of said Sections.

                  (i) Satisfaction of Certain Reporting Requirements.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 5.01, the Borrower shall be
deemed to have satisfied its obligations pursuant to Sections 5.01(a) and (b) if
and to the extent that it shall have provided to the Administrative Agent and
each Lender, pursuant to Section 5.01(d), copies of its periodic reports (on
Form 10-K or 10-Q, as the case may be) as required to be filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (or any successor thereto) pursuant to the
Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (or any successor statute of
similar import), for the annual and quarterly periods described in such
Sections.

                  (j) Delivery to Lenders. The Administrative Agent shall
promptly deliver to each Lender each of the reports, statements, certificates or
other documents delivered to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower pursuant
to this Section 5.01.

                  SECTION 5.02  Insurance.

                  The Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries
to, maintain with financially sound and reputable insurers insurance with
respect to its properties and business and against such liabilities, casualties
and contingencies and of such types and in such amounts as is customary in the
case of corporations engaged in the same or similar businesses or having similar
properties similarly situated and as is satisfactory from time to time to the
Required Lenders in their reasonable discretion.

                  SECTION 5.03  Payment of Taxes and Other Potential Charges and
Priority Claims.

                  The Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries
to, pay or discharge

                  (a) on or prior to the date on which penalties or Liens attach
         thereto, all Taxes imposed upon it or any of its properties;

                  (b) on or prior to the date when due, all lawful claims of
         materialmen, mechanics, carriers, warehousemen, landlords and other
         like Persons which, if unpaid, might result in the creation of a Lien
         upon any such Property; and

                  (c) on or prior to the date when due, all other lawful claims
         which, if unpaid, might result in the creation of a Lien upon any such
         Property or which, if unpaid, might give rise to a claim entitled to
         priority over general creditors of the Borrower or such Subsidiary in a
         case under the Bankruptcy Code;

                                      -43-
<PAGE>

provided, that, unless and until foreclosure, distraint, levy, sale or similar
proceedings shall have been commenced, the Borrower or such Subsidiary need not
pay or discharge any such Tax, assessment, charge or claim so long as (x) the
validity thereof is contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings
diligently conducted, and (y) such reserves or other appropriate provisions as
may be required by GAAP shall have been made therefor.

                  SECTION 5.04 Preservation of Corporate Status and Franchises.

                  The Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries
to, maintain its status as a corporation, trust or limited liability company
duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of its
jurisdiction of organization, and to be duly qualified to do business as a
foreign corporation, trust or limited liability company and in good standing in
all jurisdictions in which the ownership of its properties or the nature of its
business or both make such qualification necessary or advisable; provided,
however, that nothing in this Section 5.04 shall prevent the withdrawal by the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of its qualification as a foreign
corporation in any jurisdiction where such withdrawal could not have a Material
Adverse Effect . The Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries
to, do or cause to be done, all things necessary to preserve and keep in full
force and effect its material rights, franchises, licenses and patents.

                  SECTION 5.05 Governmental Approvals and Filings.

                  The Borrower shall keep and maintain in full force and effect
all Governmental Actions necessary or advisable in connection with execution and
delivery of any Loan Document, consummation of the transactions herein or
therein contemplated, performance of or compliance with the terms and conditions
hereof or thereof or to ensure the legality, validity, binding effect or
enforceability hereof or thereof.

                  SECTION 5.06 Maintenance of Properties.

                  The Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries
to, maintain or cause to be maintained in good repair, working order and
condition the properties now or hereafter owned, leased or otherwise possessed
by it and shall make or cause to be made all needful and proper repairs,
renewals, replacements and improvements thereto so that the business carried on
in connection therewith may be properly and advantageously conducted at all
times.

                  SECTION 5.07 Avoidance of Other Conflicts.

                  The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, violate or conflict with, be in violation of or in conflict
with, or be or remain subject to any liability (contingent or otherwise) on
account of any violation or conflict with

                  (a) any Law;

                  (b) its articles of incorporation or by-laws; or

                                      -44-
<PAGE>

                  (c) any agreement or instrument to which it is party or by
         which any of them or any of their respective Subsidiaries is a party or
         by which any of them or any of their respective properties (now owned
         or hereafter acquired) may be subject or bound,

except for matters which would not reasonably be expected, either individually
or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  SECTION 5.08  Financial Accounting Practices.

                  The Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries
to, make and keep books, records and accounts which, in reasonable detail,
accurately and fairly reflect its transactions and dispositions of its assets
and maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide
reasonable assurances that (a) transactions are executed in accordance with
management's general or specific authorization, (b) transactions are recorded as
necessary (i) to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with
GAAP and (ii) to maintain accountability for assets, (c) access to assets is
permitted only in accordance with management's general or specific authorization
and (d) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing
assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to
any differences.

                   SECTION 5.09 Use of Proceeds.

                  The Borrower shall apply the proceeds of all Loans hereunder
only for working capital and general corporate purposes of the Borrower,
including commercial paper backup. The Borrower shall not use the proceeds of
any Loans hereunder directly or indirectly for any unlawful purpose, in any
manner inconsistent with Section 3.11, or inconsistent with any other provision
of any Loan Document.

                   SECTION 5.10 End of Fiscal Periods.

                  The Borrower shall cause (a) each of its, and each of its
Subsidiary's, fiscal years to end on December 31 and (b) each of its, and each
of its Subsidiary's, fiscal quarters to end on March 31, June 30, September 30
and December 31.

                                   ARTICLE VI

                               NEGATIVE COVENANTS

                  The Borrower hereby covenants to the Administrative Agent and
each Lender as follows:

                  SECTION 6.01 Financial Covenants.

                  (a) Maximum Leverage. The Borrower shall not permit the ratio
of (a) Total Indebtedness to (b) the sum of Total Indebtedness and Shareholders'
Equity, determined as of the last day of each fiscal quarter, to exceed 0.60
to 1.

                                      -45-
<PAGE>

                  (b) Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. The Borrower shall not permit
the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, determined as of the last day of each fiscal
quarter set forth below for the period set forth below to be less than 1.5 to 1:

                  Fiscal Quarter Ended               Period

                  September 30, 2001                 the two consecutive fiscal
                                                     quarters ended as of the
                                                     last day of such fiscal
                                                     quarter

                  December 31, 2001                  the three consecutive
                                                     fiscal quarters ended as of
                                                     the last day of such fiscal
                                                     quarter

                  March 31, 2002 and each            the four consecutive fiscal
                  fiscal quarter ended thereafter    quarters ended as of the
                                                     last day of such fiscal
                                                     quarter

                  SECTION 6.02  Liens.

                  The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, at any time create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien
on any of its Property (now owned or hereafter acquired), or agree, become or
remain liable (contingently or otherwise) to do any of the foregoing, except for
the following ("Permitted Liens"):

                  (a) Liens existing on the date hereof and securing obligations
         existing on the date hereof, as such Liens and obligations are listed
         on Schedule IV;

                  (b) Liens securing obligations issued under and pursuant to
         the terms and conditions of either (i) the First Mortgage Indenture or
         (ii) the General and Refunding Mortgage Indenture; provided that the
         aggregate amount of Indebtedness issued by the Company under and
         pursuant to the terms and conditions of the First Mortgage Indenture
         and the General and Refunding Mortgage Indenture shall not exceed
         $772.50 million, except that such Indebtedness may exceed $772.50
         million to the extent, and only to the extent, required (x) to secure
         (1) Loans pursuant to Section 6.09(b) of this Agreement, and (2) loans
         pursuant to Section 6.09(b) of the Existing Facility, (y) to satisfy a
         negative pledge to AMBAC Assurance Corporation in the amount of
         $115,000,000 of First Mortgage Bonds and (z) to satisfy a negative
         pledge to holders of the Borrower's 6.20% Senior Unsecured Notes,
         Series B, due April 15, 2004 in the amount of $130,000,000 of General
         and Refunding Mortgage Bonds;

                  (c) Liens on First Mortgage Bonds issued as collateral for
         pollution control or gas or water facility revenue bonds issued for the
         benefit of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries (and related rights and
         interests) to secure obligations of the Borrower or such Subsidiaries
         for the benefit of the holders of such bonds, provided that such bonds
         are not secured by any other assets or Properties of the Borrower or
         its Subsidiaries;

                                      -46-
<PAGE>

                  (d) Liens arising from taxes, assessments, charges or claims
         described in Section 5.03 that are not yet due or that remain payable
         without penalty or to the extent permitted to remain unpaid under the
         proviso to such Section 5.03;

                  (e) Deposits or pledges of cash or securities in the ordinary
         course of business to secure (i) worker's compensation, unemployment
         insurance or other social security obligations, (ii) performance of
         bids, tenders, trade contracts (other than for payment of money) or
         leases, (iii) stay, surety or appeal bonds, or (iv) other obligations
         of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;

                  (f) Zoning restrictions, easements, minor restrictions on the
         use of real Property, minor irregularities in title thereto and other
         minor Liens that do not secure the payment of money or the performance
         of an obligation and that do not in the aggregate materially detract
         from the value of an asset to, or materially impair its use in the
         business of, the Borrower or such Subsidiary; and

                  (g) Liens on Property securing all or part of the purchase
         price thereof and Liens (whether or not assumed) existing in Property
         at the time of purchase thereof, provided that: (i) such Lien is
         created before or substantially simultaneously with the purchase of
         such Property by the Borrower or such Subsidiary, (ii) such Lien is
         confined solely to the Property so purchased, improvements thereto and
         proceeds thereof, (iii) the aggregate amount secured by such Liens on
         any particular Property at the time purchased by the Borrower or such
         Subsidiary, as the case may be, shall not exceed the lesser of the
         purchase price of such Property and the fair market value of such
         Property at the time of purchase thereof by the Borrower or such
         Subsidiary, and (iv) the aggregate amount secured by all Liens
         described in this Section 6.02(g) shall not at any time exceed
         $50,000,000.

"Permitted Liens" shall in no event include any Lien imposed by, or required to
be granted pursuant to, ERISA or any Environmental Law.

                  SECTION 6.03  Mergers.

                  The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, (a) merge with or into or consolidate with any other Person,
(b) liquidate, wind-up, dissolve or divide, or (c) agree, become or remain
liable (contingently or otherwise) to do any of the foregoing, except:

                  (i) A Person may merge with or into or consolidate with any
         Subsidiary of the Borrower; provided that (x) the surviving Person
         shall be a Subsidiary of the Borrower, (y) no Default or Event of
         Default shall have occurred and be continuing or shall exist at such
         time or after giving effect to such transaction and (z) the Borrower
         shall deliver to the Administrative Agent (A) a certificate, in a form
         reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, certifying that no
         Default or Event of Default exists or will result from such merger and
         (B) pro forma financial statements in support of such certification;
         and

                                      -47-
<PAGE>

                  (ii) A Person may merge with or into or consolidate with the
         Borrower, provided that (x) the Borrower shall be the surviving Person,
         (y) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
         continuing or shall exist at such time or after giving effect to such
         transaction and (z) the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative
         Agent (A) a certificate, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the
         Administrative Agent, certifying that no Default or Event of Default
         exists or will result from such merger and (B) pro forma financial
         statements in support of such certification.

                  SECTION 6.04 Dispositions of Properties.

                  The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, sell, convey, assign, lease, sale-leaseback, transfer, abandon
or otherwise dispose of, voluntarily or involuntarily (collectively, "Dispose"),
any of its Properties, or agree, become or remain liable contingently or
otherwise to do any of the foregoing, except that, so long as no Default or
Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or shall exist at such
time or after giving effect to such transaction, the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries may Dispose of Property (a) in transactions in the ordinary course
of business consistent with past practice, (b) that is obsolete, (c) comprising
accounts receivable transferred to a commercial paper conduit, special purpose
subsidiary or similar entity; provided that (i) the aggregate face amount of
such accounts receivable, when added to the aggregate face amount of all other
accounts receivable Disposed of in reliance on this clause (c), does not exceed
$125,000,000 and (ii) the net cash proceeds from the Disposition of such
accounts receivable, (A) when added to the net cash proceeds of all other
Dispositions of accounts receivable made in reliance on this clause (c), are not
less than 80% of the aggregate face amount of all accounts receivable Disposed
of in reliance on this clause (c) and (B) at the time of such Disposition, do
not exceed the sum of (I) the balance of the Borrower's deferred energy accrual
account at such time and (II) the Borrower's deferred energy costs actually
incurred but not yet reflected in the Borrower's deferred energy accrual
account, in each case as set forth in the Borrower's books and records;
provided, further, that each Disposition made by the Borrower in reliance on
this clause (c) shall constitute a representation and warranty of the Borrower,
made at the time of such Disposition, that the conditions set forth in clauses
(i) and (ii) above are satisfied at such time, and (d) in transactions other
than as provided in Section 6.04 (a), (b) and (c); provided that the aggregate
book value of all Property Disposed of pursuant to this Section 6.04(d) from and
after the date hereof shall not exceed $50,000,000.

                  SECTION 6.05 Investments and Acquisitions.

                  Prior to the making of any Investment or the consummation of
any Acquisition by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, the amount or
purchase price of which, as the case may be, when aggregated with the amounts
and purchase prices of other Investments and Acquisitions made by the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries, would exceed $10,000,000 in the aggregate at any time, the
Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent (i) a certificate, in a form
reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, certifying that no Default
or Event of Default exists or will result from such Acquisition and (ii) pro
forma financial statements in support of such certification.

                                      -48-
<PAGE>

                  SECTION 6.06 Dividends and Stock Repurchases.

                  The Borrower shall not declare or pay any dividend on its
capital stock (except for dividends in the form of capital stock), or redeem or
repurchase any of its capital stock, if a Default or Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing or shall exist at such time or after giving effect to
such transaction.

                  SECTION 6.07 Transactions with Affiliates.

                  The Borrower shall not enter into any transaction of any kind
with any Person that Controls the Borrower or is controlled by the Borrower or
is under common control with the Borrower other than (a) salary, bonus, employee
stock option and other compensation arrangements with directors or officers in
the ordinary course of business, (b) transactions that are fully disclosed to
the board of directors (or executive committee thereof) of the Borrower and
expressly authorized by a resolution of the board of directors (or executive
committee) of the Borrower which is approved by a majority of the directors (or
executive committee) not having an interest in the transaction, (c) transactions
between or among the Borrower and its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries, (d)
transactions between the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and
SPPC and its Subsidiaries, on the other hand, and (e) transactions on overall
terms at least as favorable to the Borrower as would be the case in an
arm's-length transaction between unrelated parties of equal bargaining power.

                  SECTION 6.08 Change of Business.

                  The Borrower shall not engage in any business other than the
businesses of (a) the generation or purchase of electrical power and (b) the
purchase of natural gas, and in each case the transmission and distribution
thereof to industrial, commercial and residential customers. In addition to, and
not by way of limitation of, the previous sentence, the Borrower shall maintain
ongoing business segments (as defined in FASB Statement 131 - Disclosure about
Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information) consisting of electricity and
gas assets (exclusive of cash and readily marketable securities) and operating
income reflected in the financial statements of the Borrower as being directly
attributable to the generation, transmission and/or distribution of electricity
or gas, which segments and operating income shall, in the aggregate, comprise
not less than 80% of the consolidated assets (exclusive of cash and readily
marketable securities) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

                  SECTION 6.09 Equal and Ratable Lien; Grant of Security
Interest in Certain Events.

                  (a) If, notwithstanding the prohibition contained in Section
6.02, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is subjected to any Lien upon any
of its Property, other than those permitted by the provisions of Section 6.02,
the Borrower will, and will cause its Subsidiaries to, make or cause to be made
effective provisions whereby the Borrowings will be secured equally and ratably
with any and all other obligations thereby secured, such security to be pursuant
to agreements reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and, in any
such case, the Borrowings shall have the benefit, to the fullest extent that,
and with such priority as, the Lenders

                                      -49-
<PAGE>

may be entitled under applicable law, of an equitable Lien on such Property.
Such violation of Section 6.02 will constitute an Event of Default, whether or
not provision is made for an equal and ratable Lien pursuant to this Section
6.09, and no such Lien or agreements with respect thereto shall be deemed to be
a waiver of or consent to such Event of Default by the Administrative Agent or
any Lender.

                  (b) If any of the following (each, a "Triggering Event") shall
occur:

                           (x) Sierra Pacific Resources shall not complete an
         underwritten public offering of its common stock with minimum net
         proceeds to Sierra Pacific Resources of $200,000,000 by September 30,
         2001;

                           (y) Moody's shall rate (1) the Index Debt of Borrower
         or the Index Debt of SPPC as Baa3 or lower, or (2) the commercial paper
         of the Borrower or SPPC below Prime-2; or

                           (z) S&P shall rate (1) the Index Debt of Borrower or
         the Index Debt of SPPC as BB+ or lower, or (2) the commercial paper of
         the Borrower or SPPC below A-2;

                  then,

the Borrower shall issue or cause to be issued, not later than 5 Business Days
after the date on which the Triggering Event first occurs, for the ratable
benefit of the Lenders, General and Refunding Mortgage Bonds, to the full extent
permitted under applicable orders of the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada
and the General and Refunding Mortgage Indenture, in an aggregate principal
amount not to exceed the amount of principal of the Loans then outstanding, with
interest and other terms and conditions substantially similar to the Loans, and
the Borrower shall perform or cause to be performed all acts, and execute or
cause to be executed all resolutions, orders, instruments, certificates,
agreements and other documents required under the General and Refunding Mortgage
Indenture to give effect to the foregoing within such 5-Business Day period.

                  (c) On or before September 30, 2001, the Borrower shall
deliver or cause to be delivered to the Administrative Agent substantially final
versions of the following documents (all as defined in the General and Refunding
Mortgage Indenture ) which, upon execution, delivery and filing, shall be
sufficient for the issuance of the General and Refunding Mortgage Bonds required
by Section 6.09(b): a Supplemental Indenture, an Officer's Certificate setting
forth the terms of the General and Refunding Mortgage Bonds, a Company Order
requesting authentication of the General and Refunding Mortgage Bonds by the
trustee under the General and Refunding Mortgage Indenture, a form of the
General and Refunding Mortgage Bonds to be issued and forms of all legal
opinions required to issue the General and Refunding Mortgage Bonds under the
General and Refunding Mortgage Indenture. The forms of such documents, prior to
their delivery to the Administrative Agent, shall have been approved by the
trustee under the General and Refunding Mortgage Indenture and its counsel, but
shall not be executed and delivered unless and until execution and delivery is
required by Section 6.09(b).

                                      -50-
<PAGE>

                  SECTION 6.10  Restrictive Agreements.

                  Except as otherwise permitted under Article VI hereunder, the
Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or
indirectly, enter into, incur or permit to exist any agreement or other
arrangement that prohibits, restricts or imposes any condition upon (a) the
ability of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to create, incur or permit to exist
any Lien upon any of its Property or assets, or (b) the ability of any
Subsidiary to pay dividends or other distributions with respect to any shares of
its capital stock or to make or repay loans or advances to the Borrower or any
other Subsidiary or to guarantee Indebtedness of the Borrower or any other
Subsidiary.

                                   ARTICLE VII

                                    DEFAULTS

                  SECTION 7.01 Events of Default.

                  An "Event of Default" shall mean the occurrence or existence
of one or more of the following events or conditions (for any reason, whether
voluntary, involuntary or effected or required by Law):

                  (a) The Borrower shall fail to pay when due principal of
         any Loan.

                  (b) The Borrower shall fail to pay when due interest on any
         Loan, any fees, indemnity or expenses, or any other amount due
         hereunder or under any other Loan Document and such failure shall have
         continued for a period of three business days.

                  (c) Any representation or warranty made or deemed made by the
         Borrower in or pursuant to or in connection with any Loan Document, or
         any statement made by the Borrower in any financial statement,
         certificate, report, exhibit or document furnished by the Borrower to
         the Administrative Agent or any Lender pursuant to or in connection
         with any Loan Document, shall prove to have been false or misleading in
         any material respect as of the time when made or deemed made (including
         by omission of material information necessary to make such
         representation, warranty or statement not misleading).

                  (d) The Borrower shall default in the performance or
         observance of any covenant contained in Article VI or any of the
         covenants contained in Sections 5.01(f)(i) or 5.09 or 5.10.

                  (e) The Borrower shall default in the performance or
         observance of any other covenant, agreement or duty under this
         Agreement or any other Loan Document and (i) in the case of a default
         under Section 5.01 (other than as referred to in subsection (f)(i)
         thereof) such default shall have continued for a period of ten Business
         Days and (ii) in the case of any other default such default shall have
         continued for a period of 30 days after notice from the Administrative
         Agent to the Borrower.

                                      -51-
<PAGE>

                  (f) The Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower shall (i)
         fail to make any payment (x) on account of any Indebtedness aggregating
         $10,000,000 or more in principal amount or (y) aggregating $10,000,000
         or more, on any Indebtedness, or any interest or premium thereon, in
         each case, when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required
         prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise), and, in each case, such
         failure shall have continued beyond any applicable grace period
         specified in any agreement or instrument relating to such Indebtedness,
         or (ii) fail to perform or observe any other term, covenant or
         condition on its part to be performed or observed under any agreement
         or instrument relating to any Indebtedness when required to be
         performed or observed, and such failure shall have continued beyond any
         applicable grace period specified in any agreement or instrument
         relating to such Indebtedness, if the effect of such failure to perform
         or observe is to accelerate, or to permit the acceleration of, the
         maturity of such Indebtedness, the unpaid principal amount of which
         then aggregates $10,000,000.

                  (g) One or more final judgments or orders for the payment of
         money shall have been entered against the Borrower or any Subsidiary of
         the Borrower, which judgments or orders exceed $10,000,000 in the
         aggregate, and such judgments or orders shall have remained
         undischarged and unstayed for a period of thirty consecutive days.

                  (h) One or more writs or warrants of attachment, garnishment,
         execution, distraint or similar process exceeding in value the
         aggregate amount of $10,000,000 shall have been issued against the
         Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower or any of their respective
         properties and shall have remained undischarged and unstayed for a
         period of thirty consecutive days.

                  (i) Any Governmental Action now or hereafter made by or with
         any Governmental Authority in connection with any Loan Document is not
         obtained or shall have ceased to be in full force and effect or shall
         have been modified or amended or shall have been held to be illegal or
         invalid, and the Required Lenders shall have determined (which
         determination shall be conclusive provided it is reached in good faith)
         that the consequence of any of the foregoing events would reasonably be
         expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
         Effect.

                  (j) Any Loan Document or any material term or provision
         thereof shall have ceased to be in full force and effect, or the
         Borrower or any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over the
         Borrower shall, or shall purport to, terminate, repudiate, declare
         voidable or void or otherwise contest, any Loan Document or any
         material term or provision thereof or any obligation or liability of
         the Borrower thereunder.

                  (k) An event or condition specified in Section 5.01(h) hereof
         shall occur or exist with respect to any Plan or Multiemployer Plan or
         any Lien arises pursuant to ERISA and, as a result of such event or
         condition or Liens, together with all other such events or conditions
         or Liens, the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate shall incur or shall be
         reasonably likely to incur a liability to a Plan, a Multiemployer Plan
         or PBGC or suffer an encumbrance to exist in favor of any thereof (or
         any combination of the foregoing) which would constitute a Material
         Adverse Effect.

                                      -52-
<PAGE>

                  (l) The Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower shall have
         violated any Environmental Law or become subject to any Environmental
         Claim and, in either case, the Required Lenders shall have determined
         (which determination shall be conclusive provided it is reached in good
         faith) that such event would reasonably be expected, either
         individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

                  (m) A proceeding shall have been instituted in respect of the
         Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower:

                           (i) seeking to have an order for relief entered in
                  respect of such Person, or seeking a declaration or entailing
                  a finding that such Person is insolvent or a similar
                  declaration or finding, or seeking dissolution, winding-up,
                  charter revocation or forfeiture, liquidation, reorganization,
                  arrangement, adjustment, composition or other similar relief
                  with respect to such Person, its assets or its debts under any
                  Law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, relief of debtors or
                  protection of creditors, termination of legal entities or any
                  other similar Law now or hereafter in effect, or

                           (ii) seeking appointment of a receiver, trustee,
                  liquidator, assignee, sequestrator or other custodian for such
                  Person or for all or any substantial part of its Property,

         and such proceeding shall result in the entry, making or grant of any
         such order for relief, declaration, finding, relief or appointment, or
         such proceeding shall remain undismissed and unstayed for a period of
         thirty consecutive days.

                  (n) The Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower shall
         become insolvent; shall fail to pay, become unable to pay, or state
         that it is or will be unable to pay, its debts as they become due;
         shall voluntarily suspend transaction of its business; shall make a
         general assignment for the benefit of creditors; shall institute (or
         fail to controvert in a timely and appropriate manner) a proceeding
         described in Section 7.01(m)(i), or (whether or not any such proceeding
         has been instituted) shall consent to or acquiesce in any such order
         for relief, declaration, finding or relief described therein; shall
         institute (or fail to controvert in a timely and appropriate manner) a
         proceeding described in Section 7.01(m)(ii), or (whether or not any
         such proceeding has been instituted) shall consent to or acquiesce in
         any such appointment or to the taking of possession by any such
         custodian of all or any substantial part of its Property; shall
         dissolve, wind-up, revoke or forfeit its charter (or other constituent
         documents) or liquidate itself or any substantial part of its Property;
         or shall take any action in furtherance of any of the foregoing.

                  (o) A Change in Control shall occur.

                                      -53-
<PAGE>

                  (p) The Borrower shall cease to maintain a first mortgage bond
         rating of at least Baa3 by Moody's and BBB- by S&P.

                  SECTION 7.02 Consequences of an Event of Default.

                  (a) If an Event of Default specified in subsections (a)
through (l), (o), (p) or (q) of Section 7.01 shall occur and, be continuing or
shall exist, then, in addition to all other rights and remedies which the
Administrative Agent or any Lender may have hereunder or under any other Loan
Document, at law, in equity or otherwise, the Lenders shall be under no further
obligation to make Loans hereunder, and the Administrative Agent may, and, upon
the written request of the Required Lenders shall, by notice to the Borrower,
from time to time do any or all of the following:

                  (i) Declare the Commitments terminated, whereupon the
         Commitments will terminate and any fees hereunder shall be immediately
         due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or further notice
         of any kind, all of which are hereby waived, and an action therefor
         shall immediately accrue.

                  (ii) Declare the unpaid principal amount of the Loans,
         interest accrued thereon and all other obligations to be immediately
         due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or further notice
         of any kind, all of which are hereby waived, and an action therefor
         shall immediately accrue.

                  (b) If an Event of Default specified in subsection (m) or (n)
of Section 7.01 shall occur or exist, then, in addition to all other rights and
remedies which the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have hereunder or
under any other Loan Document, at law, in equity or otherwise, the Commitments
shall automatically terminate and the Lenders shall be under no further
obligation to make Loans, and the unpaid principal amount of the Loans, interest
accrued thereon and all other obligations shall become immediately due and
payable without presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind, all of which
are hereby waived, and an action therefor shall immediately accrue.

                                  ARTICLE VIII

                                   THE AGENTS

                  SECTION 8.01  Appointment.

                  Each Lender hereby irrevocably appoints Mellon Bank, N.A. to
act as Administrative Agent for such Lender under this Agreement and the other
Loan Documents. Each Lender hereby irrevocably authorizes the Administrative
Agent to take such action on behalf of such Lender under the provisions of this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and to exercise such powers and to
perform such duties, as are expressly delegated to or required of the
Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such powers
as are reasonably incidental thereto. Mellon Bank, N.A. hereby agrees to act as
Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders on the terms and conditions set
forth in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, subject to its right to
resign as provided in Section 8.10. Each Lender hereby irrevocably authorizes

                                      -54-
<PAGE>

the Administrative Agent to execute and deliver each of the Loan Documents
executed after the date hereof and to accept delivery of such of the other Loan
Documents delivered after the date hereof as may not require execution by the
Administrative Agent (with such consents of the Lenders as required pursuant to
Section 9.01). Each Lender agrees that the rights and remedies granted to the
Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents shall be exercised exclusively by
the Administrative Agent, and that no Lender shall have any right individually
to exercise any such right or remedy, except to the extent expressly provided
herein or therein.

                  SECTION 8.02 General Nature of Administrative Agent's Duties.

                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary elsewhere in this
Agreement or in any other Loan Document:

                  (a) The Administrative Agent shall have no duties or
         responsibilities except those expressly set forth in this Agreement and
         the other Loan Documents, and no implied duties or responsibilities on
         the part of the Administrative Agent shall be read into this Agreement
         or any other Loan Document or shall otherwise exist.

                  (b) The duties and responsibilities of the Administrative
         Agent under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be
         mechanical and administrative in nature, and the Administrative Agent
         shall not have a fiduciary relationship in respect of any Lender.

                  (c) The Administrative Agent is and shall be solely the agent
         of the Lenders. The Administrative Agent does not assume, and shall not
         at any time be deemed to have, any relationship of agency or trust with
         or for, or any other duty or responsibility to, the Borrower or any
         other Person (except only for its relationship as agent for, and its
         express duties and responsibilities to, the Lenders as provided in this
         Agreement and the other Loan Documents).

                  (d) The Administrative Agent shall be under no obligation to
         take any action hereunder or under any other Loan Document if the
         Administrative Agent believes in good faith that taking such action may
         conflict with any Law or any provision of this Agreement or any other
         Loan Document, or may require the Administrative Agent to qualify to do
         business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified.

                  SECTION 8.03 Exercise of Powers.

                  The Administrative Agent shall take any action of the type
specified in this Agreement or any other Loan Document as being within the
Administrative Agent's rights, powers or discretion in accordance with
directions from the Required Lenders (or, to the extent this Agreement or such
Loan Document expressly requires the direction or consent of some other Person
or set of Persons, then instead in accordance with the directions of such other
Person or set of Persons). In the absence of such directions, the Administrative
Agent shall have the authority (but under no circumstances shall be obligated),
in its sole discretion, to take any such action, except to the extent that this
Agreement or such Loan Document expressly requires the direction or

                                      -55-
<PAGE>

consent of the Required Lenders (or some other Person or set of Persons), in
which case the Administrative Agent shall not take such action absent such
direction or consent. Any action or inaction pursuant to such direction,
discretion or consent shall be binding on all the Lenders. The Administrative
Agent shall not have any liability to any Person as a result of (a) the
Administrative Agent acting or refraining from acting in accordance with the
directions of the Required Lenders (or other applicable Person or set of
Persons), (b) the Administrative Agent refraining from acting in the absence of
instructions to act from the Required Lenders (or other applicable Person or set
of Persons), whether or not the Administrative Agent has discretionary power to
take such action, or (c) the Administrative Agent taking discretionary action it
is authorized to take under this Section (subject, in the case of clauses (b)
and (c), to the provisions of Section 8.04(a)).

                  SECTION 8.04  General Exculpatory Provisions.

                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary elsewhere in this
Agreement or any other Loan Document:

                  (a) The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any
         action taken or omitted to be taken by it under or in connection with
         this Agreement or any other Loan Document, unless caused by its own
         gross negligence or willful misconduct.

                  (b) The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for (i)
         the execution, delivery, effectiveness, enforceability, genuineness,
         validity or adequacy of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii)
         any recital, representation, warranty, document, certificate, report or
         statement in, provided for in, or received under or in connection with,
         this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (iii) any failure of the
         Borrower or any Lender to perform any of their respective obligations
         under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or (iv) the existence,
         validity, enforceability, perfection, recordation, priority, adequacy
         or value, now or hereafter, of any Lien or other direct or indirect
         security afforded or purported to be afforded by any of the Loan
         Documents or otherwise from time to time.

                  (c) The Administrative Agent shall not be under any obligation
         to ascertain, inquire or give any notice relating to (i) the
         performance or observance of any of the terms or conditions of this
         Agreement or any other Loan Document on the part of the Borrower, (ii)
         the business, operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or
         prospects of the Borrower or any other Person, or (iii) except to the
         extent set forth in Section 8.05(f), the existence of any Default or
         Event of Default.

                  (d) The Administrative Agent shall not be under any
         obligation, either initially or on a continuing basis, to provide any
         Lender with any notices, reports or information of any nature, whether
         in its possession presently or hereafter, except for such notices,
         reports and other information expressly required by this Agreement or
         any other Loan Document to be furnished by the Administrative Agent to
         such Lender.

                                      -56-
<PAGE>

                  SECTION 8.05 Administration by the Administrative Agent.

                  (a) The Administrative Agent may rely upon any notice or other
communication of any nature (written or oral, including but not limited to
telephone conversations, whether or not such notice or other communication is
made in a manner permitted or required by this Agreement or any other Loan
Document) purportedly made by or on behalf of the proper party or parties, and
the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to verify the identity or
authority of any Person giving such notice or other communication.

                  (b) The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel
(including, without limitation, in-house counsel for the Administrative Agent or
in-house or other counsel for the Borrower), independent public accountants and
any other experts selected by it from time to time, and the Administrative Agent
shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken in good faith by
it in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts.

                  (c) The Administrative Agent may conclusively rely upon the
truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed in any
certificates or opinions furnished to the Administrative Agent in accordance
with the requirements of this Agreement or any other Loan Document. Whenever the
Administrative Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be
proved or established with respect to the Borrower or any Lender, such matter
may be established by a certificate of the Borrower or such Lender, as the case
may be, and the Administrative Agent may conclusively rely upon such certificate
(unless other evidence with respect to such matter is specifically prescribed in
this Agreement or another Loan Document).

                  (d) The Administrative Agent may fail or refuse to take any
action unless it shall be indemnified to its satisfaction from time to time
against any and all amounts, liabilities, obligations, losses, damages,
penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any
kind or nature which may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the
Administrative Agent by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action.

                  (e) The Administrative Agent may perform any of its duties
under this Agreement or any other Loan Document by or through agents or
attorneys-in-fact. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the
negligence or misconduct of any agents or attorneys-in-fact selected by it with
reasonable care.

                  (f) The Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to have any
knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default unless
the Administrative Agent has received notice from a Lender or the Borrower
referring to this Agreement, describing such Default or Event of Default, and
stating that such notice is a "notice of default". If the Administrative Agent
receives such a notice, the Administrative Agent shall give prompt notice
thereof to each Lender.

                                      -57-
<PAGE>

                  SECTION 8.06  Lenders Not Relying on Administrative Agent or
Other Lenders.

                  Each Lender acknowledges as follows:

                  (a) Neither the Administrative Agent nor any other Lender has
         made any representations or warranties to it, and no act taken
         hereafter by the Administrative Agent or any other Lender shall be
         deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by the
         Administrative Agent or such other Lender to it.

                  (b) It has, independently and without reliance upon the
         Administrative Agent or any other Lender, and based upon such documents
         and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit and
         legal analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement and the other
         Loan Documents.

                  (c) It will, independently and without reliance upon the
         Administrative Agent or any other Lender, and based upon such documents
         and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, make its own
         decisions to take or not take action under or in connection with this
         Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

                  SECTION 8.07  Indemnification.

                  Each Lender agrees to reimburse and indemnify the
Administrative Agent and its directors, officers, employees and agents (to the
extent not reimbursed by the Borrower and without limitation of the obligations
of the Borrower to do so, in each case pursuant to the terms of this Agreement
and the other Loan Documents), based on its Applicable Percentage, from and
against any and all amounts, losses, liabilities, claims, damages, expenses,
obligations, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs or disbursements of any
kind or nature (including, without limitation, the fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Administrative Agent or such other Person in connection with any
investigative, administrative or judicial proceeding commenced or threatened,
whether or not the Administrative Agent or such other Person shall be designated
a party thereto) that may at any time be imposed on, incurred by or asserted
against the Administrative Agent or such other Person as a result of, or arising
out of, or in any way related to or by reason of, this Agreement, any other Loan
Document, any transaction from time to time contemplated hereby or thereby, or
any transaction financed in whole or in part or directly or indirectly with the
proceeds of any Loan, provided that no Lender shall be liable for any portion of
such amounts, losses, liabilities, claims, damages, expenses, obligations,
penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs or disbursements resulting solely
from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Administrative Agent or
such other Person, as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.
Payments under this Section 8.07 shall be due and payable on demand, and to the
extent that any Lender fails to pay any such amount on demand, such amount shall
bear interest for each day from the date of demand until paid (before and after
judgment) at a rate per annum (calculated on the basis of a year of 360 days and
actual days elapsed) which for each day shall be equal to the Federal Funds
Effective Rate for such day.

                  SECTION 8.08 Administrative Agent in its Individual Capacity.

                  With respect to its Commitment and the Obligations owing to
it, the Administrative Agent shall have the same rights and powers under this
Agreement and each other Loan Document as any other Lender and may exercise the
same as though it were not the Administrative Agent, and the terms "Lenders,"
"holders of Notes" and like terms shall include the Administrative Agent

                                      -58-

<PAGE>

in its individual capacity as such. The Administrative Agent and its affiliates
may, without liability to account, make loans to, accept deposits from, acquire
debt or equity interests in, act as trustee under indentures of, and engage in
any other business with, the Borrower and any stockholder, subsidiary or
affiliate of the Borrower, as though the Administrative Agent were not the
Administrative Agent hereunder.

                  SECTION 8.09 Holders of Notes.

                  The Administrative Agent may deem and treat the Lender which
is payee of a Note as the owner and holder of such Note for all purposes hereof
unless and until an Assignment and Acceptance with respect to the assignment or
transfer thereof shall have been filed with the Administrative Agent in
accordance with Section 9.12. Any authority, direction or consent of any Person
who at the time of giving such authority, direction or consent is shown in the
Register as being a Lender shall be conclusive and binding on each present and
subsequent holder, transferee or assignee of any Note or Notes payable to such
Lender or of any Note or Notes issued in exchange therefor.

                  SECTION 8.10  Successor Administrative Agent.

                  The Administrative Agent may resign at any time by giving 10
days' prior written notice thereof to the Lenders and the Borrower. The
Administrative Agent may be removed by the Required Lenders at any time with or
without cause by giving 10 days, prior written notice thereof to the
Administrative Agent, the other Lenders and the Borrower. Upon any such
resignation or removal, the Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint a
successor Administrative Agent. If no successor Administrative Agent shall have
been so appointed and consented to, and shall have accepted such appointment,
within 30 days after such notice of resignation or removal, then the retiring
Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, may appoint a successor
Administrative Agent. Each successor Administrative Agent shall be a commercial
bank or trust company organized under the Laws of the United States of America
or any State thereof and having a combined capital and surplus of at least
$1,000,000,000. The appointment of any successor Administrative Agent at any
time pursuant to this Section 8.10 shall be subject to the approval of the
Borrower, provided that at such time there shall not have occurred and be
continuing any Default or Event of Default, and provided further that the
Borrower's consent to any such appointment shall not be unreasonably withheld.
Upon the acceptance by a successor Administrative Agent of its appointment as
Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor Administrative Agent shall
thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the properties, rights, powers,
privileges and duties of the former Administrative Agent without further act,
deed or conveyance. Upon the effective date of resignation or removal of a
retiring Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent shall be discharged from
its duties under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, but the provisions
of this Agreement shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted
by it while it was Administrative Agent under this Agreement. If and for so long
as no successor Administrative Agent shall have been appointed, then any notice
or other communication required or permitted to be given by the Administrative
Agent shall be sufficiently given if given by the Required Lenders, all notices
or other communications required or permitted to be given to the Administrative
Agent shall be given to each Lender, and all payments to be made to the
Administrative Agent shall be made directly to the Borrower or Lender for whose
account such payment is made.

                                      -59-
<PAGE>

                  SECTION 8.11  Additional Administrative Agents.

                  If the Administrative Agent shall from time to time deem it
necessary or advisable, for its own protection in the performance of its duties
hereunder or in the interest of the Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the
Borrower shall execute and deliver a supplemental agreement and all other
instruments and agreements necessary or advisable in the opinion of the
Administrative Agent to constitute another commercial bank or trust company, or
one or more other Persons approved by the Administrative Agent, to act as
co-Administrative Agent, with such powers of the Administrative Agent as may be
provided in such supplemental agreement, and to vest in such bank, trust company
or Person, as such co-Administrative Agent, any properties, rights, powers,
privileges and duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any
other Loan Document. The appointment of any co-Administrative Agent at any time
pursuant to this Section 8.11 shall be subject to the approval of the Borrower,
provided that at such time there shall not have occurred and be continuing any
Default or Event of Default, and provided further that the Borrower's consent to
any such appointment shall not be unreasonably withheld.

                  SECTION 8.12  Calculations.

                  The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any
calculation, apportionment or distribution of payments made by it in good faith,
in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. If such
calculation, apportionment or distribution is subsequently determined to have
been made in error, the sole recourse of any Lender to whom payment was due but
not made (except as provided in the preceding sentence) shall be to recover from
the other Lenders any payment in excess of the amount to which they are
determined to be entitled or, if the amount due was not paid by the Borrower, to
recover such amount from the Borrower.

                  SECTION 8.13 Syndication Agents.

                  As Syndication Agents, none of BNP Paribas, First Union
National Bank or Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. shall have any right, power, obligation,
liability, responsibility or duty under this Agreement other than those
applicable to all Lenders as such. Without limiting the foregoing, none of BNP
Paribas, First Union National Bank or Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. shall have any or
be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any Lender. Each Lender
acknowledges that it has not relied, and will not rely, on BNP Paribas, First
Union National Bank or Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. in deciding to enter into this
Agreement or in not taking action hereunder or under the Loan Documents.

                                      -60-
<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE IX

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

                  SECTION 9.01 Amendments and Waivers.

                  Neither this Agreement nor any other Loan Document may be
amended, modified or supplemented except in accordance with the provisions of
this Section 9.01. The Administrative Agent and the Borrower may from time to
time amend, modify or supplement the provisions of this Agreement or any other
Loan Document for the purpose of amending, adding to or waiving any provision,
or changing in any manner the rights and duties of the Borrower, the
Administrative Agent or any Lender. Any such amendment, modification or
supplement made by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent in accordance with
the provisions of this Section 9.01 shall be binding upon the Borrower, each
Lender and the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall enter into
such amendments, modifications or supplements from time to time as directed by
the Required Lenders, and only as so directed, provided, that no such amendment,
modification or supplement may be made which will:

                  (a) Increase the Commitment of any Lender over the amount
         thereof then in effect, without the written consent of each Lender
         affected thereby;

                  (b) Extend the Revolving Termination Date, without the written
         consent of all the Lenders;

                  (c) Reduce the principal amount of or extend the time for any
         payment of principal of any Loan, or reduce the rate of interest or
         extend the time for payment of any interest borne by any Loan, or
         extend the time for payment of or reduce the amount of any fees, or
         reduce or postpone the date for payment of any other obligation,
         without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby;

                  (d) Change the definition of "Required Lenders" or amend this
         Section 9.01 or Section 9.12(a) or any other provision of this
         Agreement that requires the consent of all of the Lenders to the taking
         or failure to take action hereunder, without the written consent of all
         the Lenders; or

                  (e) Amend or waive any of the provisions of Article VIII, or
         impose additional duties upon the Administrative Agent or otherwise
         adversely affect the rights, interests or obligations of the
         Administrative Agent, without the written consent of the Administrative
         Agent;

and provided, further, that Assignment and Acceptances may be entered into in
the manner provided in Section 9.12. Any such amendment, modification or
supplement must be in writing and shall be effective only to the extent set
forth in such writing. Any Default or Event of Default waived or consented to in
any such amendment, modification or supplement shall be deemed to be cured and
not continuing to the extent and for the period set forth in such waiver or
consent, but no such waiver or consent shall extend to any other or subsequent
Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereto.

                                      -61-
<PAGE>

                  SECTION 9.02  No Implied Waiver; Cumulative Remedies.

                  No course of dealing and no delay or failure of the
Administrative Agent or any Lender in exercising any right, power or privilege
under this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall affect any other or future
exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege; nor
shall any single or partial exercise of any such right, power or privilege or
any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right, power or
privilege preclude any further exercise thereof or of any other right, power or
privilege. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders
under this Agreement and any other Loan Document are cumulative and not
exclusive of any rights or remedies which the Administrative Agent or any Lender
would otherwise have hereunder or thereunder, at law, in equity or otherwise.

                  SECTION 9.03  Notices.

                  (a) Except to the extent otherwise expressly permitted
hereunder or thereunder, all notices, requests, demands, directions and other
communications (collectively "notices") under this Agreement or any other Loan
Document shall be in writing (including telecopied communication) and shall be
sent by first-class mail, or by nationally-recognized overnight courier, or by
telecopier (with confirmation in writing mailed first-class or sent by such an
overnight courier), or by personal delivery. All notices shall be sent to the
applicable party at the address stated on the signature pages hereof or in
accordance with the last unrevoked written direction from such party to the
other parties hereto in all cases with postage or other charges prepaid. Any
such properly given notice shall be effective on the earliest to occur of
receipt, telephone confirmation of receipt of telecopy communication, one
Business Day after delivery to a nationally-recognized overnight courier, or
three Business Days after deposit in the mail.

                  (b) Any Lender giving any notice to the Borrower or any other
party to a Loan Document shall simultaneously send a copy thereof to the
Administrative Agent, and the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the
other Lenders of the receipt by it of any such notice.

                  (c) The Administrative Agent and each Lender may rely on any
notice (whether or not such notice is made in a manner permitted or required by
this Agreement or any other Loan Document) purportedly made by or on behalf of
the Borrower, and neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall have any
duty to verify the identity or authority of any Person giving such notice.

                  SECTION 9.04  Expenses; Taxes; Indemnity.

                  (a) The Borrower agrees to pay or cause to be paid and to save
the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders harmless against liability for
the payment of all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including but
not limited to reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) incurred by the
Administrative Agent or any Lender from time to time arising from or relating to
(i) in the case of the Administrative Agent, the negotiation, syndication,
preparation, execution, delivery, administration and performance of this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (ii) in the case of the Syndication
Agents, the syndication of this Agreement and

                                      -62-
<PAGE>

the other Loan Documents, (iii) in the case of the Administrative Agent, any
amendments, modifications, supplements, waivers or consents to this Agreement or
any other Loan Document (whether or not ultimately entered into or granted), and
(iv) in the case of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, the enforcement or
preservation of rights under this Agreement or any other Loan Document
(including but not limited to any such costs or expenses arising from or
relating to (A) collection or enforcement of an outstanding Loan or any other
amount owing hereunder or thereunder by the Administrative Agent or such Lender,
and (B) any litigation, proceeding, dispute, work-out, restructuring or
rescheduling related in any way to this Agreement or the Loan Documents).

                  (b) The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all stamp, document,
transfer, recording, filing, registration, search, sales and excise fees and
taxes and all similar impositions now or hereafter determined by the
Administrative Agent or any Lender to be payable in connection with this
Agreement or any other Loan Documents or any other documents, instruments or
transactions pursuant to or in connection herewith or therewith (which
determination shall be conclusive provided it is reached in good faith), and the
Borrower agrees to save the Administrative Agent and each Lender harmless from
and against any and all present or future claims, liabilities or losses with
respect to or resulting from any omission to pay or delay in paying any such
fees, taxes or impositions.

                  (c) The Borrower hereby agrees to reimburse and indemnify each
of the Indemnified Parties from and against any and all losses, liabilities,
claims, damages, expenses, obligations, penalties, actions, judgments, suits,
costs or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever (including, without
limitation, the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for such
Indemnified Party in connection with any investigative, administrative or
judicial proceeding commenced or threatened, whether or not such Indemnified
Party shall be designated a party thereto) that may at any time be imposed on,
asserted against or incurred by such Indemnified Party as a result of, or
arising out of, or in any way related to or by reason of, this Agreement or any
other Loan Document, any transaction from time to time contemplated hereby or
thereby, or any transaction financed in whole or in part or directly or
indirectly with the proceeds of any Loan (and without in any way limiting the
generality of the foregoing, including any violation or breach of any
Environmental Law or any other Law by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the
Borrower; any Environmental Claim arising out of the management, use, control,
ownership or operation of Property by any of such Persons, including all onsite
and off-site activities involving Hazardous Materials; or any exercise by the
Administrative Agent or any Lender of any of its rights or remedies under this
Agreement or any other Loan Document); but excluding any such losses,
liabilities, claims, damages, expenses, obligations, penalties, actions,
judgments, suits, costs or disbursements resulting solely from the gross
negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnified Party, as finally
determined by a court of competent jurisdiction. If and to the extent that the
foregoing obligations of the Borrower under this subsection (c), or any other
indemnification obligation of the Borrower hereunder or under any other Loan
Document, are unenforceable for any reason, the Borrower hereby agrees to make
the maximum contribution to the payment and satisfaction of such obligations
which is permissible under applicable Law.

                                      -63-
<PAGE>

                  SECTION 9.05  Severability.

                  The provisions of this Agreement are intended to be severable.
If any provision of this Agreement shall be held invalid or unenforceable in
whole or in part in any jurisdiction such provision shall, as to such
jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or
unenforceability without in any manner affecting the validity or enforceability
thereof in any other jurisdiction or the remaining provisions hereof in any
jurisdiction.

                  SECTION 9.06 Prior Understandings.

                  This Agreement, the other Loan Documents and that certain
letter agreement regarding fees dated June 18, 2001 among Mellon Bank, N.A.,
Sierra Pacific Resources and the Borrower, as such agreements shall be amended
from time to time, supersede all prior and contemporaneous understandings and
agreements, whether written or oral, among the parties hereto relating to the
transactions provided for herein and therein.

                  SECTION 9.07 Duration; Survival.

                  All representations and warranties of the Borrower contained
herein or in any other Loan Document or made in connection herewith or therewith
shall survive the making, and shall not be waived by the execution and delivery,
of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, any investigation by or knowledge
of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, the making of any Loan, or any other
event or condition whatever. All covenants and agreements of the Borrower
contained herein or in any other Loan Document shall continue in full force and
effect from and after the date hereof so long as the Borrower may borrow
hereunder and until payment in full of all Obligations. Without limitation, all
obligations of the Borrower hereunder or under any other Loan Document to make
payments to or indemnify the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall survive
the payment in full of all other Obligations, termination of the Borrower's
right to borrow hereunder, and all other events and conditions whatever. In
addition, all obligations of each Lender to make payments to or indemnify the
Administrative Agent shall survive the payment in full by the Borrower of all
Obligations, termination of the Borrower's right to borrow hereunder, and all
other events or conditions whatever.

                  SECTION 9.08  Counterparts.

                  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts
and by the different parties hereto on separate counterparts each of which, when
so executed, shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts shall
constitute but one and the same instrument.

                  SECTION 9.09 Limitation on Payments.

                  The parties hereto intend to conform to all applicable Laws in
effect from time to time limiting the maximum rate of interest that may be
charged or collected. Accordingly, notwithstanding any other provision hereof or
of any other Loan Document, the Borrower shall not be required to make any
payment to or for the account of any Lender, and each Lender shall refund any
payment made by the Borrower, to the extent that such requirement or such
failure to refund would violate or conflict with nonwaivable provisions of
applicable Laws limiting the maximum amount of interest which may be charged or
collected by such Lender.

                                      -64-
<PAGE>

                  SECTION 9.10  Set-Off.

                  The Borrower hereby agrees that, to the fullest extent
permitted by Law, if any Obligation of the Borrower shall be due and payable (by
acceleration or otherwise), each Lender shall have the right, without notice to
the Borrower, to set-off against and to appropriate and apply to such Obligation
any indebtedness, liability or obligation of any nature owing to the Borrower by
such Lender, including but not limited to all deposits (whether time or demand,
general or special, provisionally credited or finally credited, whether or not
evidenced by a certificate of deposit) now or hereafter maintained by the
Borrower with such Lender. Such right shall be absolute and unconditional in all
circumstances and, without limitation shall exist whether or not such Lender or
any other Person shall have given notice or made a demand to the Borrower or any
other Person, whether such indebtedness, obligation or liability owed to the
Borrower is contingent, absolute, matured or unmatured (it being agreed that
such Lender may deem such indebtedness, obligation or liability to be then due
and payable at the time of such setoff), and regardless of the existence or
adequacy of any collateral, guaranty or any other security, right or remedy
available to any Lender or any other Person. The Borrower hereby agrees that, to
the fullest extent permitted by Law, any Participant and any branch, subsidiary
or affiliate of any Lender or any Participant shall have the same rights of
set-off as a Lender as provided in this Section (regardless of whether such
Participant, branch, subsidiary or affiliate would otherwise be deemed in
privity with or a direct creditor of the Borrower). The rights provided by this
Section are in addition to all other rights of set-off and banker's lien and all
other rights and remedies which any Lender (or any such Participant, branch,
subsidiary or affiliate) may otherwise have under this Agreement, any other Loan
Document, at law or in equity, or otherwise, and nothing in this Agreement or
any other Loan Document shall be deemed a waiver or prohibition of or
restriction on the rights of set-off or bankers' lien of any such Person.

                  SECTION 9.11 Sharing of Collections.

                  The Lenders hereby agree among themselves that if any Lender
shall receive (by voluntary payment, realization upon security, set-off or from
any other source) any amount on account of the Loans, interest thereon, or any
other Obligation contemplated by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents to
be made by the Borrower pro rata to all Lenders (or pro rata to holders of
Notes) in greater proportion than any such amount received by any other
applicable Lender, then the Lender receiving such proportionately greater
payment shall notify each other Lender and the Administrative Agent of such
receipt, and equitable adjustment will be made in the manner stated in this
Section 9.11 so that, in effect, all such excess amounts will be shared ratably
among all of the applicable Lenders. The Lender receiving such excess amount
shall purchase (which it shall be deemed to have done simultaneously upon the
receipt of such excess amount) for cash from the other applicable Lenders a
participation in the applicable Obligations owed to such other Lenders in such
amount as shall result in a ratable sharing by all applicable Lenders of such
excess amount (and to such extent the receiving Lender shall be a Participant).
If all or any portion of such excess amount is thereafter recovered from the
Lender making such purchase, such

                                      -65-
<PAGE>

purchase shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of
such recovery, together with interest or other amounts, if any, required by Law
to be paid by the Lender making such purchase. The Borrower hereby consents to
and confirms the foregoing arrangements. Each Participant shall be bound by this
Section as fully as if it were a Lender hereunder.

                  SECTION 9.12  Successors and Assigns; Participations;
Assignments.

                  (a) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding
upon and inure to the benefit of the Borrower, the Lenders, all future holders
of the Notes, the Agents and their respective successors and assigns, except
that the Borrower may not assign or transfer any of its rights hereunder or
interests herein without the prior written consent of all the Lenders and the
Administrative Agent, and any purported assignment without such consent shall be
void.

                  (b) Participations. Any Lender may, in the ordinary course of
its commercial banking business and in accordance with applicable Law, at any
time sell participations to one or more commercial banks or other Persons (each
a "Participant") in all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including, without limitation, all or a
portion of its Commitment and the Loans owing to it and any Note held by it);
provided, that

                  (i) any such Lender's obligations under this Agreement and the
         other Loan Documents shall remain unchanged,

                  (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other
         parties hereto for the performance of such obligations,

                  (iii) the parties hereto shall continue to deal solely and
         directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender's rights and
         obligations under this Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents,

                  (iv) such Participant shall be bound by the provisions of
         Section 9.11, and

                  (v) no Participant (unless such Participant is an Affiliate of
         such Lender, or is itself a Lender) shall be entitled to require such
         Lender to take or refrain from taking action under this Agreement or
         under any other Loan Document, except that such Lender may agree with
         such Participant that such Lender will not, without such Participant's
         consent, take any action, or consent to the taking of any action, of
         the type described in Section 9.01(a), (b) or (c).

The Borrower agrees that any such Participant shall be entitled to the benefits
of Sections 2.12, 2.13, 2.14 and 9.04 with respect to its participation in the
Commitments and the Loans outstanding from time to time; provided, that no such
Participant shall be entitled to receive any greater amount pursuant to such
Sections than the transferor Lender would have been entitled to receive in
respect of the amount of the participation transferred to such Participant had
no such transfer occurred.

                  (c) Assignments. Any Lender may, in the ordinary course of its
commercial banking business and in accordance with applicable Law, at any time
assign all or a portion of its

                                      -66-
<PAGE>

rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents
(including, without limitation, all or any portion of its Commitment and Loans
owing to it and any Note held by it) to any Lender, any Affiliate of a Lender or
to one or more additional commercial banks or other Persons (each a "Purchasing
Lender"); provided, that

                  (i) any such assignment to a Purchasing Lender which is not a
         Lender or an affiliate of a Lender shall be made only with the consent
         (which in each case shall not be unreasonably withheld) of the Borrower
         (so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
         continuing) and the Administrative Agent;

                  (ii) if a Lender makes such an assignment of less than all of
         its then remaining rights and obligations under this Agreement and the
         other Loan Documents, such transferor Lender shall retain, after such
         assignment, a minimum principal amount of $10,000,000 of the
         Commitments and Loans then outstanding, and such assignment, unless
         made to an assignee who is a Lender hereunder prior to such assignment,
         shall be in a minimum principal amount of $10,000,000 of the
         Commitments and Loans then outstanding;

                  (iii) each such assignment shall be of a constant, and not a
         varying, percentage of the Commitment of the transferor Lender and of
         all of the transferor Lender's rights and obligations under this
         Agreement and the other Loan Documents; and

                  (iv) each such assignment shall be made pursuant to an
Assignment and Acceptance.

In order to effect any such assignment, the transferor Lender and the Purchasing
Lender shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent a duly completed
Assignment and Acceptance (including the consents required by clause (i) of the
preceding sentence) with respect to such assignment, together with any Note or
Notes subject to such assignment and a processing and recording fee of $3,500;
and, upon receipt thereof, the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment
and Acceptance. Upon receipt of notice from the transferor Lender that it has
received the consideration described in the Assignment and Acceptance, the
Administrative Agent shall record such acceptance in the Register. Upon such
execution, delivery, acceptance and recording, from and after the close of
business at the Administrative Agent's Office on the settlement date specified
in such Assignment and Acceptance:

                  (x) the Purchasing Lender shall be a party hereto and, to the
         extent provided in such Assignment and Acceptance, shall have the
         rights and obligations of a Lender hereunder, and

                  (y) the transferor Lender thereunder shall be released from
         its obligations under this Agreement to the extent so transferred (and,
         in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance covering all or the
         remaining portion of a transferor Lender's rights and obligations under
         this Agreement, such transferor Lender shall cease to be a party to
         this Agreement) from and after the settlement date.

                                      -67-
<PAGE>

On or prior to the settlement date specified in an Assignment and Acceptance,
the Borrower, at its expense, shall execute and deliver to the Administrative
Agent (for delivery to the Purchasing Lender) new Notes evidencing such
Purchasing Lender's assigned Commitment or Loans and (for delivery to the
transferor Lender) replacement Notes in the principal amount of the Loans or
Commitment retained by the transferor Lender (such Notes to be in exchange for,
but not in payment of, those Notes then held by such transferor Lender). Each
such Note shall be dated the date and be substantially in the form of the
predecessor Note. The Administrative Agent shall mark the predecessor Notes
"exchanged" and deliver them to the Borrower. Accrued interest and accrued fees
shall be paid to the Purchasing Lender at the same time or times provided in the
predecessor Notes and this Agreement.

                  (d) Register. The Administrative Agent shall maintain at its
office a copy of each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to it and a register
(the "Register") for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders
and the Commitment of, and principal amount of the Loans owing to, each Lender
from time to time. The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent
manifest error and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may
treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register as a Lender hereunder
for all purposes of the Agreement. The Register shall be available for
inspection by the Borrower or any Lender at any reasonable time and from time to
time upon reasonable prior notice.

                  (e) Financial and Other Information. The Borrower authorizes
the Administrative Agent and each Lender to disclose to any Participant or
Purchasing Lender (each, a "transferee") and any prospective transferee any and
all financial and other information in such Person's possession concerning the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates which has been or may be delivered
to such Person by or on behalf of the Borrower in connection with this Agreement
or any other Loan Document or such Person's credit evaluation of the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates.

                  (f) Assignments to Federal Reserve Bank. Any Lender may at any
time assign all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement, including
without limitation any Loans owing to it, and any Note held by it, to a Federal
Reserve Bank. No such assignment shall relieve the transferor Lender from its
obligations hereunder.

                  (g) Special Purpose Funding Vehicles. Notwithstanding anything
to the contrary contained herein, any Lender (a "Granting Lender") may grant to
a special purpose funding vehicle (an "SPC") the option to fund all or any part
of any Loan that such Granting Lender would otherwise be obligated to fund
pursuant to this Agreement; provided that (i) nothing herein shall constitute a
commitment by any SPC to fund any Loan, and (ii) if an SPC elects not to
exercise such option or otherwise fails to fund all or any part of such Loan,
the Granting Lender shall be obligated to fund such Loan pursuant to the terms
hereof. The funding of a Loan by an SPC hereunder shall utilize the Revolving
Credit Commitment of the Granting Lender to the same extent, and as if, such
Loan were funded by such Granting Lender. Each party hereto hereby agrees that
no SPC shall be liable for any indemnity or payment under this Agreement for
which a Lender would otherwise be liable for so long as, and to the extent, the
Granting Lender provides such indemnity or makes such payment. Notwithstanding
anything to

                                      -68-
<PAGE>

the contrary contained in this Agreement, any SPC may disclose on a confidential
basis any non-public information relating to its funding of Loans to any rating
agency, commercial paper dealer or provider of any surety or guarantee to such
SPC. This Section may not be amended without the prior written consent of each
Granting Lender, all or any part of whose Loan is being funded by an SPC at the
time of such amendment.

                  SECTION 9.13 Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction Waiver
of Jury Trial; Limitation of Liability.

                  (a) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT AND ALL OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS
(EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT, IF ANY, OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY STATED IN SUCH OTHER LOAN
DOCUMENTS) SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH,
THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CHOICE OF LAW PRINCIPLES.

                  (b) Certain Waivers.  EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY
IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY:

                  (i) AGREES THAT ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING BY ANY PERSON
         ARISING FROM OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT
         OR ANY STATEMENT, COURSE OF CONDUCT, ACT, OMISSION, OR EVENT OCCURRING
         IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR THEREWITH (COLLECTIVELY, "RELATED
         LITIGATION") MAY BE BROUGHT IN ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT OF COMPETENT
         JURISDICTION SITTING IN NEW YORK, NEW YORK AND SUBMITS TO THE
         JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS (AND, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY
         LAW, THE BORROWER AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT BRING ANY RELATED LITIGATION
         IN ANY OTHER FORUM, BUT NOTHING HEREIN SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF THE
         ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY LENDER TO BRING ANY ACTION, SUIT OR
         PROCEEDING IN ANY OTHER FORUM IN WHICH THE BORROWER OR ANY OF ITS
         ASSETS MAY BE LOCATED OR IN WHICH THE BORROWER MAY BE DOING BUSINESS OR
         THE RIGHT OF THE BORROWER TO ASSERT ANY DEFENSE OR COUNTERCLAIM TO ANY
         ACTION BROUGHT BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY LENDER IN ANY FORUM);

                  (ii) WAIVES ANY OBJECTION WHICH IT MAY HAVE AT ANY TIME TO THE
         LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY RELATED LITIGATION BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT,
         WAIVES ANY CLAIM THAT ANY SUCH RELATED LITIGATION HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN
         AN INCONVENIENT FORUM, AND WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO OBJECT, WITH RESPECT TO
         ANY RELATED LITIGATION BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT, THAT SUCH COURT DOES
         NOT HAVE JURISDICTION OVER IT;

                  (iii) CONSENTS AND AGREES TO SERVICE OF ANY SUMMONS, COMPLAINT
         OR OTHER LEGAL PROCESS IN ANY RELATED LITIGATION BY REGISTERED OR
         CERTIFIED U.S. MAIL, POSTAGE PREPAID, TO IT AT THE

                                      -69-
<PAGE>

         ADDRESS FOR NOTICES DESCRIBED IN SECTION 9.03, AND CONSENTS AND AGREES
         THAT SUCH SERVICE SHALL CONSTITUTE IN EVERY RESPECT VALID AND EFFECTIVE
         SERVICE (BUT NOTHING HEREIN SHALL AFFECT THE VALIDITY OR EFFECTIVENESS
         OF PROCESS SERVED IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW); AND

                  (iv) WAIVES THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY RELATED
         LITIGATION.

                  (c) Limitation of Liability. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED
BY LAW, NO CLAIM MAY BE MADE BY ANY PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT AGAINST ANY OTHER
PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY AFFILIATE, DIRECTOR, OFFICER, EMPLOYEE, ATTORNEY
OR AGENT OF ANY OF THEM FOR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL OR
PUNITIVE DAMAGES IN RESPECT OF ANY CLAIM ARISING FROM OR RELATING TO THIS
AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR ANY STATEMENT, COURSE OF CONDUCT, ACT,
OMISSION, OR EVENT OCCURRING IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR THEREWITH (WHETHER FOR
BREACH OF CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY OF LIABILITY). EACH PARTY TO THIS
AGREEMENT HEREBY WAIVES, RELEASES AND AGREES NOT TO SUE UPON ANY CLAIM FOR ANY
SUCH DAMAGES, WHETHER SUCH CLAIM PRESENTLY EXISTS OR ARISES HEREAFTER AND
WHETHER OR NOT SUCH CLAIM IS KNOWN OR SUSPECTED TO EXIST IN ITS FAVOR.

                                     * * *

                                      -70-

<PAGE>

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the day and year first above
written.

Address                                  NEVADA POWER COMPANY

Sierra Pacific Resources
6100 Neil Road
P.O. Box 30150                           By_______________________________
Reno, Nevada 89520                         Name:
Attn: Richard K. Atkinson                  Title:

                                -Signature Page-
                              Nevada Power Company
                                Credit Agreement

<PAGE>

Address                                   MELLON BANK, N.A., as Administrative
                                            Agent, Arranger and as a Lender

Mellon Bank
One Mellon Center
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15258
Attn: Richard A. Matthews                 By_______________________________
                                            Name:  Richard A. Matthews
                                            Title: First Vice President

                                -Signature Page-
                              Nevada Power Company
                                Credit Agreement

<PAGE>

Address                                   BNP PARIBAS, as Syndication Agent
                                            and as a Lender

BNP Paribas
787 7th Avenue
New York, New York 10019
Attn: Thomas Beaumont                     By_______________________________
                                            Name:
                                            Title:

                                          By_______________________________
                                            Name:
                                            Title:

                                -Signature Page-
                              Nevada Power Company
                                Credit Agreement

<PAGE>

Address                                     FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK, as
                                              Syndication Agent and as a Lender

First Union National Bank
One First Union Center
201 South College Street, 17th floor
Charlotte, North Carolina 28288-1183        By_______________________________
Attn: Chanue Michael                          Name: Joe K. Dancy
                                              Title:  Vice President

                                -Signature Page-
                              Nevada Power Company
                                Credit Agreement

<PAGE>

Address                                    WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., as
                                             Syndication Agent and as a Lender

Wells Fargo Bank
201 Third Street
8th Floor
San Francisco, California 94103            By_______________________________
Attn: Maria Cindy Dunn                       Name:
                                             Title:

                                -Signature Page-
                              Nevada Power Company
                                Credit Agreement

<PAGE>

Address                                     LEHMAN COMMERCIAL PAPER INC.

3 World Financial Center 11th Floor
New York, New York 10285
Attn:  Operations - Jennifer Laino          By_______________________________
       Credit - Michele Swanson               Name:
                                              Title:

                                -Signature Page-
                              Nevada Power Company
                                Credit Agreement

<PAGE>

Address                                    MERRILL LYNCH CAPITAL
                                             CORPORATION

4 World Financial Center
7th Floor
New York, New York 10080
Attn:                                      By_______________________________
                                             Name:
                                             Title:

                                -Signature Page-
                              Nevada Power Company
                                Credit Agreement

<PAGE>

Address                                     BANK ONE, N.A. (Main Office-Chicago)

Bank One
One First National Plaza
Suite 0573                                  By_______________________________
Chicago, Illinois                             Name:
Attn:                                         Title:

                                -Signature Page-
                              Nevada Power Company
                                Credit Agreement

<PAGE>

Address                                     BAYERISCHE LANDESBANK
                                              GIROZENTRALE

Bayerische Landesbank Girozentrale
560 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Attn: Patricia Sanchez                      By_______________________________
                                              Name:
                                              Title:

                                            By_______________________________
                                              Name:
                                              Title:

                                -Signature Page-
                              Nevada Power Company
                                Credit Agreement

<PAGE>

Address                                     UNION BANK OF CALIFORNIA, N.A.

Union Bank of California
Energy Capital Services - LA Office
445 South Figueroa Street                   By_______________________________
15th Floor                                    Name:
Los Angeles, California 90071                 Title:
Attn Patricia A. Gonzales

                                -Signature Page-
                              Nevada Power Company
                                Credit Agreement

<PAGE>

                                                                     SCHEDULE I

                                   COMMITMENTS

                [See definitions of "Commitment" in Section 1.01]

         LENDER                                    COMMITMENT AMOUNT
         ------                                    -----------------

         Mellon Bank, N.A.                             $15,000,000

         BNP Paribas                                   $14,750,000

         First Union National Bank                     $14,750,000

         Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.                        $14,750,000

         Lehman Commercial Paper Inc.                  $14,750,000

         Merrill Lynch                                 $14,750,000

         Bank One                                      $13,750,000

         Bayerische Landesbank Girozentrale            $13,750,000

         Union Bank of California, N.A.                $13,750,000

               Total:                                 $130,000,000<PAGE>

                                                                    Exhibit 10.3

                               AMENDMENT AGREEMENT

         This AMENDMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), is made and entered into
as of August 1, 2001, among SIERRA PACIFIC POWER COMPANY (the "Company"), MELLON
BANK, N.A. ("Mellon"), FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK ("First Union"), WELLS FARGO
BANK, N.A. ("Wells Fargo"), and the other parties set forth on the signatures
pages hereto.

                                    RECITALS

         A. The Company, Mellon, in its capacity as administrative agent (the
"Administrative Agent"), First Union and Wells Fargo, each in their capacity as
syndication agent, and the Lenders have entered into a Credit Agreement, dated
as of June 24, 1999 (as amended, modified and supplemented through the date
hereof, the "Credit Agreement").

         B. The Company desires, and the Administrative Agent and the Required
Lenders are willing, to amend the Credit Agreement upon the terms set forth in
this Agreement.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, the premises and
mutual covenants contained herein and for other valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto
hereby agree as follows:

         1. Defined Terms. Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms
used herein shall have the meanings given thereto in the Credit Agreement.

         2. Effectiveness of this Agreement. This Agreement shall become
effective and the amendments described in Section 3 below shall become effective
at the time (the "Effective Time") on the first date (the "Effective Date") on
which each of the following conditions shall be satisfied or waived by the
Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:

                  (a) Execution of Agreement. The Company and the Required
         Lenders shall have executed a copy of this Agreement (whether the same
         or different copies) and shall have delivered the same to the
         Administrative Agent.

                  (b) No Litigation. The Administrative Agent and the Required
         Lenders shall be satisfied that, immediately prior to the Effective
         Time, no judgment, order, injunction or other restraint shall have been
         issued or filed which restrains, and no hearing seeking injunctive
         relief or other restraint is pending or has been noticed which seeks to
         restrain, the Company from consummating the transactions described in
         the Loan Documents or this Agreement.

                  (c) No Default; Representations and Warranties. The
         Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders shall be satisfied that,
         immediately prior to the Effective Time and after giving effect to this
         Agreement, (i) there shall exist no Default or Event of Default and
         (ii) the representations and warranties of the Company contained in the
         Loan Documents to which the Company is a party are true and correct in
         all material respects as of the Effective Time with the same effect as
         though such representations and

<PAGE>

         warranties had been made on and as of the Effective Time (except for
         such representations and warranties made as of a specified date, which
         shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such specified
         date).

                  (d) Corporate Proceedings. All corporate and legal proceedings
         and all instruments and agreements in connection with the transactions
         contemplated in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be
         satisfactory in form and substance to the Administrative Agent and the
         Required Lenders, and the Administrative Agent shall have received all
         information and copies of all documents and papers, including records
         of corporate proceedings and governmental approvals, if any, which any
         Lender reasonably may have requested in connection therewith, such
         documents and papers where appropriate to be certified by proper
         corporate or governmental authorities.

                  (e) Fee. For consenting to the amendments contained in this
         Agreement, each Lender that executes and delivers this Agreement prior
         to 5:00 p.m., Pacific Time, on July 31, 2001 shall have received on or
         before the Effective Date a fee in immediately available funds equal to
         the product of (i) 0.25% and (ii) the aggregate amount of such Lender's
         Commitments.

                  (f) Payments. The Administrative Agent and each Lender shall
         have received all amounts, if any, owing from the Company to such
         Person through and including the Effective Date.

All the certificates and other documents and papers referred to in this Section
2, unless otherwise specified, shall be delivered to the Administrative Agent's
counsel, White & Case LLP, at 633 West Fifth Street, 19th Floor, Los Angeles, CA
90071, facsimile (213) 687-0758, for the account of each of the Lenders and in
sufficient counterparts for each of the Lenders and shall be satisfactory in
form and substance to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders.

         3. Amendments. At and from the Effective Time, the Credit Agreement
shall be amended as follows:

                  (a) The cover page to the Credit Agreement shall be amended by
         deleting the text "$150,000,000" and inserting the text "$120,000,000"
         in its place.

                  (b) Section 1.01 of the Credit Agreement shall be amended as
         follows:

                           (i) The defined term "Commitment" shall be amended by
                  deleting the text "$150,000,000" in the last sentence thereof
                  and inserting the text "$120,000,000" in its place.

                           (ii) The defined term "Final Repayment Date" shall be
                  deleted in its entirety and the following shall be substituted
                  therefor:

                                    ""Final Repayment Date" means the earliest
                           to occur of (a) the date that is one year after the
                           Term Loan Conversion Date, (b) August 27, 2002 and

                                      -2-
<PAGE>

                           (c) the date on which the Obligations under this
                           Agreement terminate, whether by prepayment,
                           cancellation, acceleration or otherwise."

                           (iii) The following defined term shall be inserted
                  immediately after the definition of "GAAP":

                                    ""General and Refunding Mortgage Indenture"
                           means the General and Refunding Mortgage Indenture,
                           dated as of May 1, 2001, between the Borrower and The
                           Bank of New York, as trustee, as the same may be
                           amended, modified or supplemented from time to time."

                           (iv) The defined term "Revolving Termination Date"
                  shall be deleted in its entirety and the following shall be
                  substituted therefor:

                                    ""Revolving Termination Date" means the
                           earlier of (i) November 30, 2001, or such date after
                           November 30, 2001 to which the Commitments are
                           extended in accordance with Section 2.06(e), and (ii)
                           the date the Obligations and Commitments under this
                           Agreement terminate, whether by prepayment,
                           cancellation, acceleration or otherwise."

                           (v) The following defined term shall be inserted
                  immediately after the definition of "Total Indebtedness":

                                    ""Triggering Event" has the meaning assigned
                           to such term in Section 6.09(b)."

                  (c) Section 6.01(a) of the Credit Agreement shall be amended
         by deleting the text "0.58 to 1" and inserting the text "0.60 to 1" in
         its place.

                  (d) Section 6.02(b) of the Credit Agreement shall be deleted
         in its entirety and the following shall be substituted therefor:

                           "(b) Liens securing obligations issued under and
                  pursuant to the terms and conditions of either (i) the First
                  Mortgage Indenture or (ii) the General and Refunding Mortgage
                  Indenture; provided that the aggregate amount of Indebtedness
                  issued by the Company under and pursuant to the terms and
                  conditions of the First Mortgage Indenture and the General and
                  Refunding Mortgage Indenture shall not exceed $983.82 million,
                  except that such Indebtedness may exceed $983.82 million to
                  the extent, and only to the extent, required to secure Loans
                  pursuant to Section 6.09(b) of this Agreement, and any similar
                  provision of any future short-term credit facility in a
                  principal amount not to exceed $175,000,000 among the
                  Borrower, the Administrative Agent, as agent, and the other
                  financial institutions party thereto."

                  (e) Section 6.04 of the Credit Agreement shall be amended by
         deleting it in its entirety and replacing it with the following:

                                      -3-
<PAGE>

                           "SECTION 6.04  Dispositions of Properties.

                           The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any of
                  its Subsidiaries to, sell, convey, assign, lease,
                  sale-leaseback, transfer, abandon or otherwise dispose of,
                  voluntarily or involuntarily (collectively, "Dispose"), any of
                  its Properties, or agree, become or remain liable contingently
                  or otherwise to do any of the foregoing, except that, so long
                  as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
                  continuing or shall exist at such time or after giving effect
                  to such transaction, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may
                  Dispose of Property (a) in transactions in the ordinary course
                  of business consistent with past practice, (b) that is
                  obsolete, (c) comprising accounts receivable transferred to a
                  commercial paper conduit, special purpose subsidiary or
                  similar entity; provided that (i) the aggregate face amount of
                  such accounts receivable, when added to the aggregate face
                  amount of all other accounts receivable Disposed of in
                  reliance on this clause (c), does not exceed $125,000,000 and
                  (ii) the net cash proceeds from the Disposition of such
                  accounts receivable, (A) when added to the net cash proceeds
                  of all other Dispositions of accounts receivable made in
                  reliance on this clause (c), are not less than 80% of the
                  aggregate face amount of all accounts receivable Disposed of
                  in reliance on this clause (c) and (B) at the time of such
                  Disposition, do not exceed the sum of (I) the balance of the
                  Borrower's deferred energy accrual account at such time and
                  (II) the Borrower's deferred energy costs actually incurred
                  but not yet reflected in the Borrower's deferred energy
                  accrual account, in each case as set forth in the Borrower's
                  books and records; provided, further, that each Disposition
                  made by the Borrower in reliance on this clause (c) shall
                  constitute a representation and warranty of the Borrower, made
                  at the time of such Disposition, that the conditions set forth
                  in clauses (i) and (ii) above are satisfied at such time and
                  (d) in transactions other than as provided in Section 6.04
                  (a), (b) and (c); provided that the aggregate book value of
                  all Property Disposed of pursuant to this Section 6.04(d) from
                  and after the date hereof shall not exceed $50,000,000."

                  (f) Section 6.09 of the Credit Agreement shall be amended by
         deleting it in its entirety and replacing it with the following:

                           "SECTION 6.09 Equal and Ratable Lien; Grant of
                  Security Interest in Certain Events.

                           (a) If, notwithstanding the prohibition contained in
                  Section 6.02, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is
                  subjected to any Lien upon any of its Property, other than
                  those permitted by the provisions of Section 6.02, the
                  Borrower will, and will cause its Subsidiaries to, make or
                  cause to be made effective provisions whereby the Borrowings
                  will be secured equally and ratably with any and all other
                  obligations thereby secured, such security to be pursuant to
                  agreements reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent
                  and, in any such case, the Borrowings shall have the benefit,
                  to the fullest extent that, and with such priority as, the
                  Lenders may be entitled under applicable law, of an equitable
                  Lien on such

                                      -4-
<PAGE>

                  Property. Such violation of Section 6.02 will constitute an
                  Event of Default, whether or not provision is made for an
                  equal and ratable Lien pursuant to this Section 6.09, and no
                  such Lien or agreements with respect thereto shall be deemed
                  to be a waiver of or consent to such Event of Default by the
                  Administrative Agent or any Lender.

                           (b) If any of the following (each, a "Triggering
                  Event") shall occur:

                                    (x) Sierra Pacific Resources shall not
                           complete an underwritten public offering of its
                           common stock with minimum net proceeds to Sierra
                           Pacific Resources of $200,000,000 by September 30,
                           2001;

                                    (y) Moody's shall rate (1) the Index Debt or
                           the senior, unsecured, long-term indebtedness for
                           borrowed money of NPC as Baa3 or lower, or (2) the
                           commercial paper of the Borrower or NPC below
                           Prime-2; or

                                    (z) S&P shall rate (1) the Index Debt or the
                           senior, unsecured, long-term indebtedness for
                           borrowed money of NPC as BB+ or lower, or (2) the
                           commercial paper of the Borrower or NPC below A-2;

                           then,

                  the Borrower shall issue or cause to be issued, not later than
                  5 Business Days after the date on which the Triggering Event
                  first occurs, for the ratable benefit of the Lenders, General
                  and Refunding Mortgage Bonds (as defined in the General and
                  Refunding Mortgage Indenture), to the full extent permitted
                  under applicable orders of the Public Utilities Commission of
                  Nevada and the General and Refunding Mortgage Indenture, in an
                  aggregate principal amount not to exceed the amount of
                  principal of the Loans then outstanding, with interest and
                  other terms and conditions substantially similar to the Loans,
                  and the Borrower shall perform or cause to be performed all
                  acts, and execute or cause to be executed all resolutions,
                  orders, instruments, certificates, agreements and other
                  documents, required under the General and Refunding Mortgage
                  Indenture (including the documents referred to in Section
                  6.09(c)) to give effect to the foregoing within such
                  5-Business Day period.

                           (c) On or before September 30, 2001, the Borrower
                  shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Administrative
                  Agent substantially final versions of the following documents
                  (all as defined in the General and Refunding Mortgage
                  Indenture) which, upon execution, delivery and filing, shall
                  be sufficient for the issuance of the General and Refunding
                  Mortgage Bonds required by Section 6.09(b): a Supplemental
                  Indenture, an Officer's Certificate setting forth the terms of
                  the General and Refunding Mortgage Bonds, a Company Order
                  requesting authentication of the General and Refunding
                  Mortgage Bonds by the trustee under the General and Refunding
                  Mortgage Indenture, a form of the General and

                                      -5-
<PAGE>

                  Refunding Mortgage Bonds to be issued and forms of all legal
                  opinions required to issue the General and Refunding Mortgage
                  Bonds under the General and Refunding Mortgage Indenture. The
                  forms of such documents, prior to their delivery to the
                  Administrative Agent, shall have been approved by the trustee
                  under the General and Refunding Mortgage Indenture and its
                  counsel, but shall not be executed and delivered unless and
                  until execution and delivery is required by Section 6.09(b)."

                  (g) Schedule I to the Credit Agreement shall be amended by
         deleting it in its entirety and replacing it with the following:

                                  "COMMITMENTS

                [See definitions of "Commitment" in Section 1.01]

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

         LENDER                                           COMMITMENT AMOUNT

         <S>                                                   <C>
         Mellon Bank, N.A.                                     $15,937,500

         Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.                                $16,875,000

         First Union National Bank                             $12,187,500

         Bank One                                              $11,250,000

         BNP Paribas                                           $11,250,000

         Credit Suisse First Boston                            $11,250,000

         The Bank of New York                                  $11,250,000

         Union Bank of California, N.A.                        $11,250,000

         Bayerische Landesbank Girozentrale                     $9,375,000

         The Industrial Bank of Japan                           $9,375,000

                             Total                            $120,000,000"
</TABLE>

         4. Representations and Warranties. The Company makes, as of the
Effective Date, each of the representations and warranties set forth in Article
V of the Credit Agreement and such representations and warranties are, by this
reference, incorporated herein as if set forth herein in their entirety;
provided that references to "Loan Documents" shall, for purposes of this
paragraph, be deemed to include this Agreement.

         5. Miscellaneous.

         (a) Except as expressly modified by this Agreement, the Credit
Agreement shall continue to be and remain in full force and effect in accordance
with its terms. Any future reference to the Credit Agreement shall, from and
after the Effective Time, be deemed to be a reference to the Credit Agreement as
amended by Section 3 of this Agreement.

                                      -6-
<PAGE>

         (b) This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each
of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together
shall constitute but one instrument.

         (c) THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES
HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE
STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REFERENCE TO CONFLICTS OF LAW RULES.

         (d) This Agreement may be executed by facsimile signature and each such
signature shall be treated in all respects as having the same effect as an
original signature.

         (e) The rules of construction set forth in Section 1.03 of the Credit
Agreement are, by this reference, incorporated herein as if set forth in their
entirety, provided that references to "this Agreement" in such section shall
mean references to this Agreement.

                                      * * *

                                       -7-
<PAGE>

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as of the date first above written.

                                         SIERRA PACIFIC POWER COMPANY

                                         By:
                                             ----------------------------------
                                             Name:
                                             Title:

                                -Signature Page-
                               Amendment Agreement

<PAGE>

                                         MELLON BANK, N.A., as Administrative
                                           Agent and as a Lender

                                         By:
                                             ----------------------------------
                                             Name:
                                             Title:

                                -Signature Page-
                               Amendment Agreement

<PAGE>

                                         WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., as Syndication
                                           Agent and as a Lender

                                         By:
                                             ----------------------------------
                                             Name:
                                             Title:

                                -Signature Page-
                               Amendment Agreement

<PAGE>

                                         FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK, as
                                           Syndication Agent and as a Lender

                                         By:
                                             ----------------------------------
                                             Name:
                                             Title:

                                -Signature Page-
                               Amendment Agreement

<PAGE>

                                         BANK ONE, N.A. (Main Office-Chicago)

                                         By:
                                             ----------------------------------
                                             Name:
                                             Title:

                                -Signature Page-
                               Amendment Agreement

<PAGE>

                                         BNP PARIBAS

                                         By:
                                             ----------------------------------
                                             Name:
                                             Title:

                                         By:
                                             ----------------------------------
                                             Name:
                                             Title:

                                -Signature Page-
                               Amendment Agreement

<PAGE>

                                         CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON

                                         By:
                                             ----------------------------------
                                             Name:
                                             Title:

                                -Signature Page-
                               Amendment Agreement

<PAGE>

                                         THE BANK OF NEW YORK

                                         By:
                                             ----------------------------------
                                             Name:
                                             Title:

                                -Signature Page-
                               Amendment Agreement

<PAGE>

                                         UNION BANK OF CALIFORNIA, N.A.

                                         By:
                                             ----------------------------------
                                             Name:
                                             Title:

                                -Signature Page-
                               Amendment Agreement

<PAGE>

                                         BAYERISCHE LANDESBANK GIROZENTRALE

                                         By:
                                             ----------------------------------
                                             Name:
                                             Title:

                                         By:
                                             ----------------------------------
                                             Name:
                                             Title:

                                -Signature Page-
                               Amendment Agreement

<PAGE>

                                         THE INDUSTRIAL BANK OF JAPAN, LTD.

                                         By:
                                             ----------------------------------
                                             Name:
                                             Title:

                                -Signature Page-
                               Amendment Agreement

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