Document:

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                                                                    EXHIBIT 4(D)

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                              NEVADA POWER COMPANY

                                       TO

                              BANKERS TRUST COMPANY

                                   as Trustee

                               __________________

                      TWENTY-EIGHTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

                               __________________

                            Dated as of July 1, 2001

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     THIS TWENTY-EIGHTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE dated as of July 1, 2001,
made by and between NEVADA POWER COMPANY (formerly DESERT Merger Sub, Inc., a
wholly owned subsidiary of Sierra Pacific Resources and successor by merger to
Nevada Power Company), a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws
of the State of Nevada (the "Company"), having its principal place of business
at Las Vegas, Nevada, party of first part, and BANKERS TRUST COMPANY (successor
to First Interstate Bank of Nevada, N.A., formerly First National Bank of
Nevada, Reno, Nevada), a banking corporation duly organized and existing under
and by virtue of the banking laws of the State of New York, having its
principal place of business at Four Albany Street, New York, New York,
(hereinafter sometimes called the "Trustee"), party of the second part;

     WHEREAS, the Company has heretofore executed and delivered to the
Trustee its Indenture of Mortgage and Deed of Trust ("Original Indenture")
dated October 1, 1953, to secure the payment of the principal of and interest
and premium, if any, on all bonds of the Company at any time outstanding
thereunder; and, for the purpose of amending and supplementing and further
confirming the lien of the Original Indenture, has heretofore executed and
delivered the following Supplemental Indentures and Instrument of Further
Assurance, each dated as hereinafter set forth:

             Instrument                                  Date
             ----------                                  ----

     First Supplemental Indenture                  August 1, 1954
     Instrument of Further Assurance               as of April 1, 1956
     Second Supplemental Indenture                 September 1, 1956
     Third Supplemental Indenture                  as of May 1, 1959
     Fourth Supplemental Indenture                 as of October 1, 1960
     Fifth Supplemental Indenture                  as of December 1, 1961
     Sixth Supplemental Indenture                  as of October 1, 1963
     Seventh Supplemental Indenture                as of August 1, 1964
     Eighth Supplemental Indenture                 as of April 1, 1968
     Ninth Supplemental Indenture                  as of October 1, 1969
     Tenth Supplemental Indenture                  as of October 1, 1970
     Eleventh Supplemental Indenture               as of November 1, 1972
     Twelfth Supplemental Indenture                as of December 1, 1974
     Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture             as of October 1, 1976
     Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture             as of May 1, 1977
     Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture              as of September 1, 1978
     Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture              as of December 1, 1981
     Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture            as of August 1, 1982
     Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture             as of November 1, 1986
     Nineteenth Supplemental Indenture             as of October 1, 1989
     Twentieth Supplemental Indenture              as of May 1, 1992
     Twenty-First Supplemental Indenture           as of June 1, 1992
     Twenty-Second Supplemental Indenture          as of June 1, 1992
     Twenty-Third Supplemental Indenture           as of October 1, 1992
     Twenty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture          as of October 1, 1992

                                      -2-

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     Twenty-Fifth Supplemental Indenture           as of January 1, 1993
     Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture           as of May 1, 1995
     Twenty-Seventh Supplemental Indenture         as of July 1, 1999

the Original Indenture, as amended and supplemented by the instruments listed
above and as to be supplemented by this Twenty-Eighth Supplemental Indenture
and as it may from time to time be amended or supplemented pursuant to the
provisions thereof, is hereinafter sometimes called the "Indenture";

     WHEREAS, the Original Indenture, the Instrument of Further Assurance
and the Supplemental Indentures listed in the foregoing paragraph were recorded
in Offices of the County Recorders of the States of Nevada, Arizona and Utah as
set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference;

     WHEREAS, in addition to twenty-two series of Bonds heretofore issued
under the Indenture, all of which have been retired, there have heretofore been
issued under the Indenture First Mortgage Bonds of series and in principal
amounts as follows:

Title                                         Issued           Outstanding
-----                                         ------           -----------

7 5/8% Bonds of Series L Due 2002           $15,000,000        $15,000,000
6.70% Bonds of Series V due 2022           $105,000,000       $105,000,000
6.60% Bonds of Series W due 2019            $39,500,000        $39,500,000
7.20% Bonds of Series X Due 2022            $78,000,000        $78,000,000
8.50% Bonds of Series Z due 2023            $45,000,000        $45,000,000

     WHEREAS, the Company in the exercise of the power and authority
conferred upon and reserved to it under the provisions of the Indenture, and
pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by its Board of Directors, has resolved
and determined to create and issue two new series of Bonds to be designated,
respectively, "First Mortgage Bonds, Series BB Due 2020" (hereinafter referred
to as "Bonds of Series BB") and "First Mortgage Bonds, Series CC Due 2009"
(hereinafter referred to as "Bonds of Series CC") and to make, execute and
deliver to the Trustee this Twenty-Eighth Supplemental Indenture, in the form
hereof, as a further supplement to the Indenture; and

     WHEREAS, all conditions and requirements necessary to make this
Twenty-Eighth Supplemental Indenture a valid, binding and legal instrument have
been done, performed and fulfilled, and the execution and delivery hereof have
been in all respects duly authorized;

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the sum of one
dollar ($1), lawful money of the United States of America, duly paid by the
Trustee to the Company, and of other good and valuable consideration, receipt
whereof is hereby acknowledged, and for the purpose of securing the due and
punctual payment of the principal of and interest on all Bonds issued and
outstanding from time to time under the Indenture, including specifically, but
without limitation, Bonds of Series BB and Bonds of Series CC to be issued
pursuant to this Twenty-Eighth Supplemental Indenture, and to secure the
performance and observation of each and every

                                      -3-

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of the covenants and conditions contained in the Indenture, and without in any
way limiting the generality or effect of the Indenture insofar as by any
provision thereof any of the properties therein or hereinafter referred to are
now subject, or are now intended to be subject to the lien and operation
thereof, but to such extent confirming such lien and operation, the Company has
executed and delivered this Twenty-Eighth Supplemental Indenture and has
granted, bargained, sold, warranted, aliened, remised, released, conveyed,
assigned, transferred, mortgaged, pledged, set over and confirmed, and by these
presents does grant, bargain, sell, warrant, alien, remise, release, convey,
assign, transfer, mortgage, pledge, set over and confirm, unto Bankers Trust
Company, as Trustee aforesaid, and to its successors in the trust hereby
created, in trust upon the conditions, terms and provisions of the Indenture,
subject to the encumbrances and other matters permitted by the Indenture, all
and singular the following premises, properties, interests and rights, all to
the same extent and with the same force and effect as though owned by the
Company at the date of execution of the Original Indenture and described in the
same detail in the Granting Clauses of the Original Indenture, such premises,
properties, interests and rights having been generally described and referred
to in the Original Indenture; and to such ends the Company hereby supplements,
as below set forth, the Granting Clauses of the Original Indenture:

                               GRANTING CLAUSES

     All of the premises, property, franchises and rights of every kind and
description, real, personal and mixed, tangible and intangible, now owned or
hereafter acquired by the Company and wherever situate.

     Together with all and singular the tenements, hereditament and
appurtenances belonging or in anywise appertaining to the aforesaid property or
any part thereof, with the reversion and reversions, remainder and remainders,
tolls, rents, revenues, issues, income, products and profits thereof and all
the estate, right, title, interest and claim whatsoever at law as well as in
equity, which the Company now has or may hereafter acquire in and to the
aforesaid property and franchises and every part and parcel thereof.

     Excepting and excluding, however, any and all property, premises and
rights of the kinds or classes which by the terms of the Indenture are excepted
and excluded from the lien and operation thereof, and therein sometimes
referred to as "Excepted Property" (subject, however, to the Trustee's rights
to possession of Excepted Property in case of default, as set forth under
"Excepted Property" in the Original Indenture).

     TO HAVE AND TO HOLD in trust with power of sale for the equal and
proportionate benefit and security of all holders of all Bonds and the interest
coupons appertaining thereto, now or hereafter issued under the Indenture, and
for the enforcement and payment of Bonds and interest thereon when payable, and
the performance of and compliance with the covenants and conditions of the
Indenture, without any preference, distinction or priority as to lien or
otherwise of any Bonds or coupons over any others thereof by reason of the
difference in the time of the actual issue, sale or negotiation thereof, or by
reason of the date of maturity thereof, or for any other reason whatsoever,
except as otherwise expressly provided in the Indenture, so that each and every
Bond shall have the same lien and so that the interest and principal of every
Bond

                                      -4-

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shall, subject to the terms thereof, be equally and proportionately secured by
said lien, as if such Bond had been made, executed, delivered, sold and
negotiated simultaneously with the execution and delivery of the Original
Indenture.

     The Trustee executes this Twenty-Eighth Supplemental Indenture only on
the condition that it shall have and enjoy with respect thereto all of the
rights, privileges and immunities as set forth in the Indenture.

     The Company has agreed and covenanted and does hereby agree and
covenant with the Trustee and its successors and assigns, and with the
respective holders from time to time of the Bonds, or any thereof, as follows:

                                     PART I

                                    ARTICLE I

        DESCRIPTION OF BONDS OF SERIES BB DUE 2020 AND SERIES CC DUE 2009

     [sec] 1.01 The twenty-eighth and twenty-ninth series of Bonds to be
executed, authenticated and delivered under and secured by the Indenture shall
be, respectively, the Bonds of Series BB and the Bonds of Series CC. The Bonds
of Series BB shall be designated as "First Mortgage Bonds, Series BB Due 2020"
of the Company and the Bonds of Series CC shall be designated as "First Mortgage
Bonds, Series CC Due 2009." The Bonds of Series BB and Series CC shall be
executed, authenticated and delivered in accordance with the provisions of, and
shall in all respects be subject to, all of the terms, conditions and covenants
of the Indenture.

     [sec] 1.02 The Bonds of Series BB shall be evidenced by a single registered
Bond in the principal amount and denomination of One Hundred Million Dollars
($100,000,000), shall be dated July 27, 2001, shall mature June 1, 2020 and
shall bear no interest, which may be executed by the Company and delivered to
the Trustee for authentication and delivery. The principal of all Bonds of
Series BB shall be payable at the office of the Trustee in New York, New York.

     The single Bond of the Series BB shall be numbered 1 and shall upon
issuance be delivered by the Company to and registered in the name of Ambac
Assurance Corporation ("Ambac") and shall be transferable only as required to
effect an assignment thereof to a successor-in-interest of Ambac under the
Insurance Agreement dated as of June 1, 2000 between Ambac and the Company (the
"Insurance Agreement"). This bond is issued to Ambac as security for the payment
by the Company of its reimbursement obligations under the Insurance Agreement,
which was entered into in connection with the delivery by Ambac of its Municipal
Bond Insurance Policy Number 17386BE insuring certain payments of principal of,
and interest on, certain bonds (the "2000A Clark County Bonds") issued under
Indenture of Trust No. 1 dated as of June 1, 2000 between Clark County, Nevada
and The Bank of New York, as Trustee. The proceeds of the 2000A Clark County
Bonds were loaned to the Company pursuant to a Financing Agreement No. 1 dated
as of June 1, 2000 between Clark County, Nevada and the Company. The single Bond
of the BB Series shall be held by Ambac subject to the terms of the Pledge
Agreement dated as of July 27, 2001 between Ambac and the Company.

                                      -5-

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     Bonds issued upon transfer shall be numbered from 2 upwards and issued
in the same $100,000,000 denomination but, to the extent that payments of
principal shall theretofore have been made on the Bonds of the BB Series, the
registered holder thereof shall duly note on the Bond of the BB Series a like
amount of principal in the Schedule of Prepayments to such bond and upon any
transfer of said Bond, the Schedule of Prepayments shall transfer to the
subsequent issued bond.

     [sect] 1.03 The Bonds of Series BB and the Trustee's Certificate of
Authentication shall be substantially in the following forms, respectively:

                           [FORM OF BOND OF SERIES BB]

                              NEVADA POWER COMPANY

                     FIRST MORTGAGE BOND, SERIES BB DUE 2020

                                Due June 1, 2020

No. BB-1                                                           $100,000,000

     NEVADA POWER COMPANY, a Nevada corporation (hereinafter sometimes
called the "Company" which term shall include any successor corporation as
defined in the Indenture referred to below), for value received, hereby
promises to pay to AMBAC ASSURANCE CORPORATION, or to its successor, the sum of
One Hundred Million Dollars ($100,000,000) on June 1, 2020. No interest shall
be payable in respect of this Bond.

     This Bond is issued to Ambac Assurance Corporation ("Ambac") as
security for the payment by the Company of its reimbursement obligations under
that certain Insurance Agreement dated as of June 1, 2000 between the Company
and Ambac (the "Insurance Agreement"). The Insurance Agreement was entered into
in connection with the delivery by Ambac of its Municipal Bond Insurance Policy
Number 17386BE insuring certain payments of principal of, and interest on,
certain bonds (the "Clark County Bonds") issued under Indenture of Trust No. 1
between Clark County, Nevada and The Bank of New York, as Trustee (the "Clark
County Indenture"). The proceeds of the Clark County Bonds have been loaned to
the Company pursuant to a Financing Agreement No. 1 dated as of June 1, 2000
between Clark County, Nevada and the Company (the "Clark County Agreement").
This Bond shall be held by Ambac subject to the terms of the Pledge Agreement
dated as of July 27, 2001 between Ambac Assurance Corporation and the Company.

     Notwithstanding any other provision of this Bond, no principal shall
be due and payable on this Bond unless and until an Event of Default shall have
occurred under Section 4.01 of the Insurance Agreement by reason of a failure
by the Company to pay its reimbursement obligations under Section 2.01 of the
Insurance Agreement. If such an Event of Default under the Insurance Agreement
shall occur, it shall be deemed to be a default, for purposes of Section

                                      -6-

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13.02(b) of the Indenture, in the payment of an amount of principal of this
Bond equal to the amount of such unpaid reimbursement obligation.

     This Bond is the single registered bond evidencing the bonds of a
series (herein sometimes referred to as the "Bonds of the BB Series") of an
authorized issue of bonds of the Company, known as First Mortgage Bonds, not
limited as to maximum aggregate principal amount except as otherwise provided
in the Indenture hereinafter mentioned, all issued or issuable in one or more
series (which several series may be of different denominations, dates and
tenor) under and equally and ratably secured (except insofar as any sinking
fund, established in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture
hereinafter mentioned, may afford additional security for other bonds of any
particular series) by an Indenture of Mortgage and Deed of Trust dated as of
October 1, 1953, as amended and supplemented by the following Supplemental
Indentures and Instrument of Further Assurance, each dated as hereinafter set
forth:

            Instrument                                   Date
            ----------                                   -----

     First Supplemental Indenture                   August 1, 1954
     Instrument of Further Assurance                as of April 1, 1956
     Second Supplemental Indenture                  September 1, 1956
     Third Supplemental Indenture                   as of May 1, 1959
     Fourth Supplemental Indenture                  as of October 1, 1960
     Fifth Supplemental Indenture                   as of December 1, 1961
     Sixth Supplemental Indenture                   as of October 1, 1963
     Seventh Supplemental Indenture                 as of August 1, 1964
     Eighth Supplemental Indenture                  as of April 1, 1968
     Ninth Supplemental Indenture                   as of October 1, 1969
     Tenth Supplemental Indenture                   as of October 1, 1970
     Eleventh Supplemental Indenture                as of November 1, 1972
     Twelfth Supplemental Indenture                 as of December 1, 1974
     Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture              as of October 1, 1976
     Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture              as of May 1, 1977
     Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture               as of September 1, 1978
     Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture               as of December 1, 1981
     Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture             as of August 1, 1982
     Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture              as of November 1, 1986
     Nineteenth Supplemental Indenture              as of October 1, 1989;
     Twentieth Supplemental Indenture               as of May 1, 1992
     Twenty-First Supplemental Indenture            as of June 1, 1992
     Twenty-Second Supplemental Indenture           as of June 1, 1992
     Twenty-Third Supplemental Indenture            as of October 1, 1992
     Twenty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture           as of October 1, 1992
     Twenty-Fifth Supplemental Indenture            as of January 1, 1993
     Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture            as of May 1, 1995
     Twenty-Seventh Supplemental Indenture          as of July 1, 1999
     Twenty-Eighth Supplemental Indenture           as of July 1, 2001

                                      -7-

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(which Indenture of Mortgage and Deed of Trust as so amended and supplemented
is hereinafter in this Bond called the "Indenture"), executed by the Company to
Bankers Trust Company (successor to First Interstate Bank of Nevada, N.A.,
formerly First National Bank of Nevada, Reno, Nevada) ("Trustee"), as Trustee,
to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby
made for a description of the properties mortgaged and pledged, the nature and
extent of the security, the terms and conditions upon which the Bonds of Series
BB are and are to be secured and the rights, duties and immunities thereunder
of the holders or registered owners thereof, of the Company, and of the
Trustee. As provided in the Indenture, said Bonds may be issued in series, for
various principal sums, may bear different dates and mature at different times,
may bear interest at different rates and may otherwise vary as in the Indenture
provided or permitted. The Bonds of Series BB are described in said
Twenty-Eighth Supplemental Indenture dated as of July 1, 2001 ("Twenty-Eighth
Supplemental Indenture") executed by the Company to Bankers Trust Company, as
Trustee, and are issuable as single registered bonds.

     Said Indenture, among other things, provides that no bondholder or
bondholders may institute any suit, action or proceeding for the collection of
this Bond, or claim for interest thereon, or to enforce the lien of said
Indenture, if and to the extent that the institution or prosecution thereof or
the entry of a judgment or a decree therein would, under applicable law, result
in the surrender, impairment, waiver or loss of the lien of said Indenture upon
any property subject thereto.

     This Bond shall be deemed to be prepaid at any time if and to the
extent that (1) the Company shall elect to prepay installments payable under
             -
Section 8.1 of the Clark County Agreement and to cause the Clark County Bonds
to be redeemed, in whole or in part, pursuant to Section 3.01(A)(5) of the
Clark County Indenture, or (2) subject to Section 11.03 of the Indenture, the
                            -
Company shall be obligated to prepay installments payable under Sections 11.03
and 11.07 of the Clark County Agreement and to cause the Clark County Bonds to
be redeemed, in whole or in part, upon the occurrence of an event specified in
Section 3.01(B) of the Clark County Indenture. In any such event this Bond
shall be deemed to be prepaid by the Company, in whole or in identical part, as
the case may be, at 100% of the unpaid principal amount thereof so prepaid.

     Without limiting the foregoing, this Bond shall also be deemed to be
prepaid by the Company, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, if
and to the extent that the Company shall have elected to prepay installments
under the Clark County Agreement of like principal amount as the Clark County
Bonds that it elects to redeem in accordance with Section 3.01(A) of the Clark
County Indenture. Such redemption shall be at the amounts, at the times and in
the manner provided in Article III of the Clark County Indenture.

     In event of such prepayment of the Clark County Bonds, the Company
shall notify Ambac and the Trustee that a like principal amount of this bond
shall be deemed to have been prepaid. Ambac shall surrender this bond to the
Trustee upon the expiration of the Insurance Agreement.

     In case all or substantially all of the electric properties of the
Company are sold to or taken through the exercise of the right of eminent
domain or the right to purchase by any

                                      -8-

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municipal or governmental body or agency and released under the provisions of
Article XI of the Indenture, the Company shall call for redemption and redeem
all of the Bonds of Series BB then outstanding for 100% of the principal amount
thereof.

     To the extent permitted by and as provided in the Indenture, the
rights and obligations of the Company and of the holders of Bonds of Series BB
may be changed and modified with the consent of the Company and upon the
written consent of the holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66
2/3%) in principal amount of each series of the Bonds then outstanding and
entitled to consent, provided that no such change shall be made (a) which would
                                                                 -
without the consent of the holders of all Bonds then outstanding and affected
thereby (i) reduce the principal of, or premium, sinking fund, or rate of
         -
interest payable on, the Bonds, (ii) postpone the maturity date fixed for the
                                 --
payment of the principal of, sinking fund upon, or any installment of interest
on, the Bonds, (iii) permit the creation of any lien, not otherwise permitted,
                ---
prior to or on a parity with the lien of the Indenture, or (iv) reduce the
                                                            --
percentage of the principal amount of Bonds the consent of the holders of which
is required for the authorization of any such change or modification, or (b)
                                                                          -
which would modify, without the written consent of the Trustee, the rights,
duties or immunities of the Trustee.

     In case an event of default, as defined in the Indenture, shall occur
and be continuing, the principal of all the Bonds outstanding may be declared
and may become due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in
the Indenture.

     The Company and the Trustee and any paying agent may deem and treat
the person in whose name this Bond shall be registered upon the bond register
for the Bonds of the BB Series as the absolute owner of such Bond for the
purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of and interest
on this Bond and for all other purposes, whether or not this Bond be overdue,
and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any paying agent shall be affected
by any notice to the contrary; and all such payments so made to such registered
owner or upon his order shall be valid and effectual to satisfy and discharge
the liability upon this Bond to the extent of the sum or sums so paid.

     Before any transfer of this Bond by the registered holder or his or
its legal representative will be recognized or given effect by the Company or
the Trustee, the registered holder shall note the amounts of all principal
prepayments hereon, and shall notify the Company and the Trustee of the name
and address of the transferee and shall afford the Company and the Trustee the
opportunity of verifying the notation as to prepayment of principal. By the
acceptance hereof the holder of this Bond and each transferee shall be deemed
to have agreed to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the Trustee
against all losses, claims, damages or liability arising out of any failure on
the part of the holder or of any such transferee to comply with the part of the
holder or of any such transferee to comply with the requirements of the
preceding sentence.

     No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement
contained in the Indenture or in any indenture supplemental thereto, or in any
Bond or coupon thereby secured, or because of any indebtedness thereby secured,
shall be had against any incorporator, or against any past, present or future
stockholder, officer, or director, as such, of the Company or any successor
corporation, either directly or through the Company or of any successor
corporation

                                      -9-

<PAGE>

under any rule of law, statute or constitutional provision or by the
enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding or
otherwise; it being expressly agreed and understood that the Indenture, any
indenture supplemental thereto and the obligations thereby secured, are solely
corporate obligations, and that no personal liability whatever shall attach to,
or be incurred by, such incorporators, stockholders, officers or directors, as
such, of the Company or of any successor corporation, or any of them, because
of the incurring of the indebtedness thereby authorized, or under or by reason
of any of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in the Indenture
or in any indenture supplemental thereto or in any of the Bonds or coupons
thereby secured, or implied therefrom.

     Each registered owner hereof by his acceptance hereof waives any right
to exchange any unpaid portion of this Bond for another Bond under Section
10.01 of the Indenture.

     This Bond has not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, and may not be offered or sold in contravention of said Act and is not
transferable except to a successor to Ambac under the Insurance Agreement.

     This bond shall not become or be valid or obligatory for any purpose
until the authentication certificate endorsed hereon shall have been signed by
the Trustee.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Nevada Power Company has caused this bond to be
executed in its name and behalf by the manual or facsimile signature of its
Treasurer and its corporate seal, or a facsimile thereof, to be affixed or
printed hereon and attested by the manual or facsimile signature of its
Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries.

                               NEVADA POWER COMPANY

Dated: July __, 2001           By:____________________________________________
                                    Treasurer
Attest:

______________________________
Secretary

                           AUTHENTICATION CERTIFICATE
 This bond is the single fully-registered bond of the series designated
                        therein, referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE

By______________________
  Authorized Signatory

                                      -10-

<PAGE>

     [sect] 1.04 The Bonds of Series CC shall be evidenced by a single
registered Bond in the principal amount and denomination of Fifteen Million
Dollars ($15,000,000), shall be dated July 27, 2001, shall mature October 1,
2009 and shall bear no interest, which may be executed by the Company and
delivered to the Trustee for authentication and delivery. The principal of all
Bonds of Series CC shall be payable at the office of the Trustee in New York,
New York.

     The single Bond of the Series CC shall be numbered 1 and shall upon
issuance be delivered by the Company to and registered in the name of Ambac and
shall be transferable only as required to effect an assignment thereof to a
successor-in-interest of Ambac under the Insurance Agreement. This bond is
issued to Ambac as security for the payment by the Company of its reimbursement
obligations under the Insurance Agreement, which was entered into in connection
with the delivery by Ambac of its Municipal Bond Insurance Policy Number
17387BE insuring certain payments of principal of, and interest on, certain
bonds (the "2000B Clark County Bonds") issued under Indenture of Trust No. 2
dated as of June 1, 2000 between Clark County, Nevada and The Bank of New York,
as Trustee.  The proceeds of the 2000B Clark County Bonds were loaned to the
Company pursuant to a Financing Agreement No. 2 dated as of June 1, 2000
between Clark County, Nevada and the Company. The single Bond of the CC Series
shall be held by Ambac subject to the terms of the Pledge Agreement dated as of
July 27, 2001 between Ambac and the Company.

     Bonds issued upon transfer shall be numbered from 2 upwards and issued
in the same $15,000,000 denomination but, to the extent that payments of
principal shall theretofore have been made on the Bonds of the CC Series, the
registered holder thereof shall duly note on the Bond of the CC Series a like
amount of principal in the Schedule of Prepayments to such bond and upon any
transfer of said Bond, the Schedule of Prepayments shall transfer to the
subsequent issued bond.

     [sect] 1.05 The Bonds of Series CC and the Trustee's Certificate of
Authentication shall be substantially in the following forms, respectively:

                           [FORM OF BOND OF SERIES CC]

                              NEVADA POWER COMPANY

                     FIRST MORTGAGE BOND, SERIES CC DUE 2009

                               Due October 1, 2009

No. CC-1                                                            $15,000,000

     NEVADA POWER COMPANY, a Nevada corporation (hereinafter sometimes
called the "Company" which term shall include any successor corporation as
defined in the Indenture referred to below), for value received, hereby
promises to pay to AMBAC ASSURANCE CORPORATION, or to its successor, the sum of
Fifteen Million Dollars ($15,000,000) on October 1, 2009. No interest shall be
payable in respect of this Bond.

                                      -11-

<PAGE>

     This Bond is issued to Ambac Assurance Corporation ("Ambac") as
security for the payment by the Company of its reimbursement obligations under
that certain Insurance Agreement dated as of June 1, 2000 between the Company
and Ambac (the "Insurance Agreement"). The Insurance Agreement was entered into
in connection with the delivery by Ambac of its Municipal Bond Insurance Policy
Number 17387BE insuring certain payments of principal of, and interest on,
certain bonds (the "Clark County Bonds") issued under Indenture of Trust No. 2
between Clark County, Nevada and The Bank of New York, as Trustee (the "Clark
County Indenture"). The proceeds of the Clark County Bonds have been loaned to
the Company pursuant to a Financing Agreement No. 2 dated as of June 1, 2000
between Clark County, Nevada and the Company (the "Clark County Agreement").
This Bond shall be held by Ambac subject to the terms of the Pledge Agreement
dated as of July 27, 2001 between Ambac Assurance Corporation and the Company.

     Notwithstanding any other provision of this Bond, no principal shall
be due and payable on this Bond unless and until an Event of Default shall have
occurred under Section 4.01 of the Insurance Agreement by reason of a failure
by the Company to pay its reimbursement obligations under Section 2.01 of the
Insurance Agreement. If such an Event of Default under the Insurance Agreement
shall occur, it shall be deemed to be a default, for purposes of Section
13.02(b) of the Indenture, in the payment of an amount of principal of this
Bond equal to the amount of such unpaid reimbursement obligation.

     This Bond is the single registered bond evidencing the bonds of a
series (herein sometimes referred to as the "Bonds of the CC Series") of an
authorized issue of bonds of the Company, known as First Mortgage Bonds, not
limited as to maximum aggregate principal amount except as otherwise provided
in the Indenture hereinafter mentioned, all issued or issuable in one or more
series (which several series may be of different denominations, dates and
tenor) under and equally and ratably secured (except insofar as any sinking
fund, established in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture
hereinafter mentioned, may afford additional security for other bonds of any
particular series) by an Indenture of Mortgage and Deed of Trust dated as of
October 1, 1953, as amended and supplemented by the following Supplemental
Indentures and Instrument of Further Assurance, each dated as hereinafter set
forth:

             Instrument                                  Date
             ----------                                  ----

     First Supplemental Indenture                   August 1, 1954
     Instrument of Further Assurance                as of April 1, 1956
     Second Supplemental Indenture                  September 1, 1956
     Third Supplemental Indenture                   as of May 1, 1959
     Fourth Supplemental Indenture                  as of October 1, 1960
     Fifth Supplemental Indenture                   as of December 1, 1961
     Sixth Supplemental Indenture                   as of October 1, 1963
     Seventh Supplemental Indenture                 as of August 1, 1964
     Eighth Supplemental Indenture                  as of April 1, 1968
     Ninth Supplemental Indenture                   as of October 1, 1969
     Tenth Supplemental Indenture                   as of October 1, 1970
     Eleventh Supplemental Indenture                as of November 1, 1972

                                      -12-

<PAGE>

     Twelfth Supplemental Indenture                 as of December 1, 1974
     Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture              as of October 1, 1976
     Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture              as of May 1, 1977
     Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture               as of September 1, 1978
     Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture               as of December 1, 1981
     Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture             as of August 1, 1982
     Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture              as of November 1, 1986
     Nineteenth Supplemental Indenture              as of October 1, 1989;
     Twentieth Supplemental Indenture               as of May 1, 1992
     Twenty-First Supplemental Indenture            as of June 1, 1992
     Twenty-Second Supplemental Indenture           as of June 1, 1992
     Twenty-Third Supplemental Indenture            as of October 1, 1992
     Twenty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture           as of October 1, 1992
     Twenty-Fifth Supplemental Indenture            as of January 1, 1993
     Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture            as of May 1, 1995
     Twenty-Seventh Supplemental Indenture          as of July 1, 1999
     Twenty-Eighth Supplemental Indenture           as of July 1, 2001

(which Indenture of Mortgage and Deed of Trust as so amended and supplemented
is hereinafter in this Bond called the "Indenture"), executed by the Company to
Bankers Trust Company (successor to First Interstate Bank of Nevada, N.A.,
formerly First National Bank of Nevada, Reno, Nevada) ("Trustee"), as Trustee,
to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby
made for a description of the properties mortgaged and pledged, the nature and
extent of the security, the terms and conditions upon which the Bonds of Series
CC are and are to be secured and the rights, duties and immunities thereunder
of the holders or registered owners thereof, of the Company, and of the
Trustee. As provided in the Indenture, said Bonds may be issued in series, for
various principal sums, may bear different dates and mature at different times,
may bear interest at different rates and may otherwise vary as in the Indenture
provided or permitted. The Bonds of Series CC are described in said
Twenty-Eighth Supplemental Indenture dated as of July 1, 2001 ("Twenty-Eighth
Supplemental Indenture") executed by the Company to Bankers Trust Company, as
Trustee, and are issuable as single registered bonds.

     Said Indenture, among other things, provides that no bondholder or
bondholders may institute any suit, action or proceeding for the collection of
this Bond, or claim for interest thereon, or to enforce the lien of said
Indenture, if and to the extent that the institution or prosecution thereof or
the entry of a judgment or a decree therein would, under applicable law, result
in the surrender, impairment, waiver or loss of the lien of said Indenture upon
any property subject thereto.

     This Bond shall be deemed to be prepaid at any time if and to the
extent that (1) the Company shall elect to prepay installments payable under
             -
Section 8.1 of the Clark County Agreement and to cause the Clark County Bonds
to be redeemed, in whole or in part, pursuant to Section 3.01(A)(5) of the
Clark County Indenture, or (2) subject to Section 11.03 of the Indenture, the
                            -
Company shall be obligated to prepay installments payable under Sections 11.03
and 11.07 of the Clark County Agreement and to cause the Clark County Bonds to
be redeemed,

                                      -13-

<PAGE>

in whole or in part, upon the occurrence of an event specified in Section
3.01(B) of the Clark County Indenture. In any such event this Bond shall be
deemed to be prepaid by the Company, in whole or in identical part, as the case
may be, at 100% of the unpaid principal amount thereof so prepaid.

     Without limiting the foregoing, this Bond shall also be deemed to be
prepaid by the Company, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, if
and to the extent that the Company shall have elected to prepay installments
under the Clark County Agreement of like principal amount as the Clark County
Bonds that it elects to redeem in accordance with Section 3.01(A) of the Clark
County Indenture. Such redemption shall be at the amounts, at the times and in
the manner provided in Article III of the Clark County Indenture.

     In event of such prepayment of the Clark County Bonds, the Company
shall notify Ambac and the Trustee that a like principal amount of this bond
shall be deemed to have been prepaid. Ambac shall surrender this bond to the
Trustee upon the expiration of the Insurance Agreement.

     In case all or substantially all of the electric properties of the
Company are sold to or taken through the exercise of the right of eminent
domain or the right to purchase by any municipal or governmental body or agency
and released under the provisions of Article XI of the Indenture, the Company
shall call for redemption and redeem all of the Bonds of Series CC then
outstanding for 100% of the principal amount thereof.

     To the extent permitted by and as provided in the Indenture, the
rights and obligations of the Company and of the holders of Bonds of Series CC
may be changed and modified with the consent of the Company and upon the
written consent of the holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent
(66 2/3%) in principal amount of each series of the Bonds then outstanding and
entitled to consent, provided that no such change shall be made (a) which would
                                                                 -
without the consent of the holders of all Bonds then outstanding and affected
thereby (i) reduce the principal of, or premium, sinking fund, or rate of
         -
interest payable on, the Bonds, (ii) postpone the maturity date fixed for the
                                 --
payment of the principal of, sinking fund upon, or any installment of interest
on, the Bonds, (iii) permit the creation of any lien, not otherwise permitted,
                ---
prior to or on a parity with the lien of the Indenture, or (iv) reduce the
                                                            --
percentage of the principal amount of Bonds the consent of the holders of which
is required for the authorization of any such change or modification, or (b)
                                                                          -
which would modify, without the written consent of the Trustee, the rights,
duties or immunities of the Trustee.

     In case an event of default, as defined in the Indenture, shall occur
and be continuing, the principal of all the Bonds outstanding may be declared
and may become due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in
the Indenture.

     The Company and the Trustee and any paying agent may deem and treat
the person in whose name this Bond shall be registered upon the bond register
for the Bonds of the CC Series as the absolute owner of such Bond for the
purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of and interest
on this Bond and for all other purposes, whether or not this Bond be overdue,
and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any paying agent shall be affected
by any notice to the contrary; and all such payments so made to such registered
owner or upon his order

                                      -14-

<PAGE>

shall be valid and effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability upon this
Bond to the extent of the sum or sums so paid.

     Before any transfer of this Bond by the registered holder or his or
its legal representative will be recognized or given effect by the Company or
the Trustee, the registered holder shall note the amounts of all principal
prepayments hereon, and shall notify the Company and the Trustee of the name
and address of the transferee and shall afford the Company and the Trustee the
opportunity of verifying the notation as to prepayment of principal. By the
acceptance hereof the holder of this Bond and each transferee shall be deemed
to have agreed to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the Trustee
against all losses, claims, damages or liability arising out of any failure on
the part of the holder or of any such transferee to comply with the part of the
holder or of any such transferee to comply with the requirements of the
preceding sentence.

     No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement
contained in the Indenture or in any indenture supplemental thereto, or in any
Bond or coupon thereby secured, or because of any indebtedness thereby secured,
shall be had against any incorporator, or against any past, present or future
stockholder, officer, or director, as such, of the Company or any successor
corporation, either directly or through the Company or of any successor
corporation under any rule of law, statute or constitutional provision or by
the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding or
otherwise; it being expressly agreed and understood that the Indenture, any
indenture supplemental thereto and the obligations thereby secured, are solely
corporate obligations, and that no personal liability whatever shall attach to,
or be incurred by, such incorporators, stockholders, officers or directors, as
such, of the Company or of any successor corporation, or any of them, because
of the incurring of the indebtedness thereby authorized, or under or by reason
of any of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in the Indenture
or in any indenture supplemental thereto or in any of the Bonds or coupons
thereby secured, or implied therefrom.

     Each registered owner hereof by his acceptance hereof waives any right
to exchange any unpaid portion of this Bond for another Bond under Section
10.01 of the Indenture.

     This Bond has not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, and may not be offered or sold in contravention of said Act and is not
transferable except to a successor to Ambac under the Insurance Agreement.

     This bond shall not become or be valid or obligatory for any purpose
until the authentication certificate endorsed hereon shall have been signed by
the Trustee.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Nevada Power Company has caused this bond to be
executed in its name and behalf by the manual or facsimile signature of its
Treasurer and its corporate seal, or a facsimile thereof, to be affixed or
printed hereon and attested by the manual or facsimile signature of its
Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries.

                                      -15-

<PAGE>

                               NEVADA POWER COMPANY

Dated: July __, 2001           By:_______________________
                                    Treasurer
Attest:

________________________
Secretary

                     AUTHENTICATION CERTIFICATE
     This bond is the single fully-registered bond of the series designated
                        therein, referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE

By ______________________
   Authorized Signatory

                                   ARTICLE II

                           AUTHORIZED PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

     [sect] 2.01 Bonds of Series BB may be executed by the Company and
authenticated and delivered by the Trustee at any time and from time to time,
in the manner and amount permitted by the Indenture; provided, however, that no
Bonds of Series BB in excess of One Hundred Million Dollars ($100,000,000)
principal amount (other than Bonds of Series BB which may be so executed,
authorized and delivered in lieu of other Bonds of Series BB as authenticated
under Article II or Section 10.01 of the Original Indenture) shall be executed
by the Company, authenticated or delivered by the Trustee or secured by the
Indenture, except in such additional principal amounts as may be authorized by
a supplemental indenture or indentures which the Company and the Trustee are
hereby authorized to execute and deliver for that purpose.

     [sect] 2.02 Bonds of Series CC may be executed by the Company and
authenticated and delivered by the Trustee at any time and from time to time,
in the manner and amount permitted by the Indenture; provided, however, that no
Bonds of Series CC in excess of Fifteen Million Dollars ($15,000,000) principal
amount (other than Bonds of Series CC which may be so executed, authorized and
delivered in lieu of other Bonds of Series CC as authenticated under Article II
or Section 10.01 of the Original Indenture) shall be executed by the Company,
authenticated or delivered by the Trustee or secured by the Indenture, except
in such additional principal amounts as may be authorized by a supplemental
indenture or indentures which the Company and the Trustee are hereby authorized
to execute and deliver for that purpose.

                                      -16-

<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE III

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

     [sec] 3.01 The Company represents and warrants that, as of the date of
execution of this Twenty-Eighth Supplemental Indenture, it has good and
marketable title in fee simple to all the real properties described in the
Granting Clauses of the Original Indenture, the First Supplemental Indenture,
the Instrument of Further Assurance, the Second Supplemental Indenture, the
Third Supplemental Indenture, the Fourth Supplemental Indenture, the Fifth
Supplemental Indenture, the Sixth Supplemental Indenture, the Seventh
Supplemental Indenture, the Eighth Supplemental Indenture, the Ninth
Supplemental Indenture, the Tenth Supplemental Indenture, the Eleventh
Supplemental Indenture, the Twelfth Supplemental Indenture, the Thirteenth
Supplemental Indenture, the Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture, the Fifteenth
Supplemental Indenture, the Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture, the Seventeenth
Supplemental Indenture, the Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture, the Nineteenth
Supplemental Indenture, the Twentieth Supplemental Indenture, the Twenty-First
Supplemental Indenture, the Twenty-Second Supplemental Indenture, the
Twenty-Third Supplemental Indenture, the Twenty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture,
the Twenty-Fifth Supplemental Indenture, the Twenty-Sixth Supplemental
Indenture and the Twenty-Seventh Supplemental Indenture (except any property
heretofore released from the lien of the Indenture in accordance with the terms
thereof), free and clear of any liens and encumbrances except Permitted
Encumbrances and those, if any, referred to in said Granting Clauses, and that
it has good and marketable title and is lawfully possessed of all other
properties described in said Granting Clauses (except any properties therein
described as to be acquired by the Company after the date of this Twenty-Eighth
Supplemental Indenture and except any property heretofore released from the
lien of the Indenture in accordance with the terms thereof), and the Indenture
constitutes a direct and valid first mortgage lien on all such properties,
subject only to Permitted Encumbrances and those, if any, referred to in said
Granting Clauses. The Company represents and warrants that it has and covenants
that it will continue to have, subject to the provisions of the Indenture, good
right, full power and lawful authority to grant, bargain, sell, warrant, alien,
remise, release, convey, assign, transfer, mortgage, pledge, set over and
confirm to the Trustee all properties of every kind and nature described or
referred to in said Granting Clauses (except any properties therein described
as to be acquired by the Company after the date of this Twenty-Eighth
Supplemental Indenture) which by the provisions of the Indenture are intended
to be subject to the lien of the Indenture and that it will defend the title to
such property and every part thereof to the Trustee forever, for the benefit of
the holders of the Bonds, against the claims and demands of all persons
whomsoever.

                                     PART II

                            MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

     Except insofar as herein otherwise expressly provided, all of the
definitions, provisions, terms and conditions of the Indenture shall be deemed
to be incorporated in, and made a part of, this Twenty-Eighth Supplemental
Indenture; and the Original Indenture as amended and supplemented by the First
Supplemental Indenture, the Second Supplemental Indenture, the

                                      -17-

<PAGE>

Third Supplemental Indenture, the Fourth Supplemental Indenture, the Fifth
Supplemental Indenture, the Sixth Supplemental Indenture, the Seventh
Supplemental Indenture, the Eighth Supplemental Indenture, the Ninth
Supplemental Indenture, the Tenth Supplemental Indenture, the Eleventh
Supplemental Indenture, the Twelfth Supplemental Indenture, the Thirteenth
Supplemental Indenture, the Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture, the Fifteenth
Supplemental Indenture, the Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture, the Seventeenth
Supplemental Indenture, the Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture, the Nineteenth
Supplemental Indenture, the Twentieth Supplemental Indenture, the Twenty-First
Supplemental Indenture, the Twenty-Second Supplemental Indenture, the
Twenty-Third Supplemental Indenture, the Twenty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture,
Twenty-Fifth Supplemental Indenture, Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture and
the Twenty-Seventh Supplemental Indenture and is in all respects ratified and
confirmed and supplemented by this Twenty-Eighth Supplemental Indenture; and
the Original Indenture as amended and supplemented shall be read, taken and
construed as one and the same instrument.

     This Twenty-Eighth Supplemental Indenture shall be effective as of the
date first hereinabove set forth, and may be executed simultaneously or from
time to time in several counterparts, and each counterpart shall constitute an
original instrument, and it shall not be necessary in making proof of this
Twenty-Eighth Supplemental Indenture or of any counterpart thereof to produce
or account for any of the other counterparts.

               [The remainder of this page is intentionally left blank.]

                                      -18-

<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, said Nevada Power Company has caused this
Twenty-Eighth Supplemental Indenture to be executed on its behalf by its
Treasurer and its corporate seal to be hereto affixed, and the said seal and
this Twenty-Eighth Supplemental Indenture to be attested by its Secretary; and
said Bankers Trust Company in evidence of its acceptance of the trust hereby
created has caused this Twenty-Eighth Supplemental Indenture to be executed on
its behalf by its Vice President and its corporate seal to be hereto affixed
and said seal and this Twenty-Eighth Supplemental Indenture to be attested by
its Associate, all as of the 1st day of July, 2001.

                                            NEVADA POWER COMPANY

                                            By:_______________________________
                                                   Richard K. Atkinson
                                                   Treasurer
[S E A L]

ATTEST:

________________________________________
William E. Peterson
Senior Vice President, General Counsel
and Corporate Secretary

                                              BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee

                                              By:______________________________
                                                    Vice President
[S E A L]

ATTEST:

_______________________________________
Associate

                                      -19-

<PAGE>

STATE OF NEVADA   )
                  )ss.
COUNTY OF CLARK   )

         On this ____ day of July, 2001, personally appeared before me, a
Notary Public in and for said County and State, ___________________________ and
_________________________, known to me to be ___________________________ and
_________________________, respectively, of Nevada Power Company, one of the
corporations that executed the foregoing instrument, and upon oath did each
depose that he is the officer of said corporation as above designated; that he
is acquainted with the seal of said corporation and that the seal affixed to
said instrument is the corporate seal of said corporation; that the signatures
to said instrument were made by officers of said corporation as indicated after
said signatures, and that the said corporation executed the said instrument
freely and voluntarily and for the uses and purposes therein mentioned.

                                               ________________________________
                                               Notary Public

                                      -20-

<PAGE>

STATE OF NEW YORK  )
                   )ss.
COUNTY OF NEW YORK )

     On this ______ day of July, 2001, before me personally came Carol Ng,
                                                                     ---------
to me known, who, being by me duly sworn, did depose and say that she resides at
246-23 Van Zandt Avenue, Douglaston, New York, 11362; that she is a Vice
-----------------------------------------------------               ----
President of Bankers Trust Company, one of the corporations described in and
---------
which executed the above instrument; that she knows the seal of said
corporation; that the seal affixed to said instrument is such corporate seal;
that it was so affixed by order of the Board of Directors of said corporation,
and that she signed her name thereto by like order.

[Notarial seal]                            ____________________________________
                                           Tracy A. Salzmann
                                           Notary Public, State of New York
                                           Registration #01SA6040727
                                           Qualified in New York County
                                           My Commission Expires April 24, 2002

                                      -21-

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT A

     The Original Indenture, First Supplemental Indenture, an Instrument of
Further Assurance, Second Supplemental Indenture, Third Supplemental Indenture,
Fourth Supplemental Indenture, Fifth Supplemental Indenture, Sixth Supplemental
Indenture, Seventh Supplemental Indenture, Eighth Supplemental Indenture, Ninth
Supplemental Indenture, Tenth Supplemental Indenture, Eleventh Supplemental
Indenture, Twelfth Supplemental Indenture, Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture,
Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture, Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture, Sixteenth
Supplemental Indenture, Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture, Eighteenth
Supplemental Indenture, Nineteenth Supplemental Indenture, Twentieth
Supplemental Indenture, Twenty-First Supplemental Indenture, Twenty-Second
Supplemental Indenture, Twenty-Third Supplemental Indenture, Twenty-Fourth
Supplemental Indenture, Twenty-Fifth Supplemental Indenture, Twenty-Sixth
Supplemental Indenture and Twenty-Seventh Supplemental Indenture were recorded
in Offices of the County Recorders of the States of Nevada, Arizona and Utah as
follows:
                                         NEVADA
                                      CLARK COUNTY

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       RECORDED         DOC. NO.   RECORDS
                                       --------         --------   -------
<S>                                    <C>              <C>        <C>
Original Indenture                     Nov. 6, 1953     417,677    Trust Deeds
First Supplemental Indenture           Sept. 23, 1954   20,904     Official Records
Instrument of Further Assurance        Apr. 19, 1956    75,779     Official Records
Second Supplemental Indenture          Sept. 19, 1956   89,423     Official Records
Third Supplemental Indenture           May 15, 1959     160,878    Official Records
Fourth Supplemental Indenture          Oct. 28, 1960    215,907    Official Records
Fifth Supplemental Indenture           Dec. 4, 1961     267,362    Official Records
Sixth Supplemental Indenture           Oct. 18, 1963    391,466    Official Records
Seventh Supplemental Indenture         Aug. 7, 1964     451,010    Official Records
Eighth Supplemental Indenture          May 10, 1968     700,126    Official Records
Ninth Supplemental Indenture           Oct. 16, 1969    791,246    Official Records
Tenth Supplemental Indenture           Oct. 2, 1970     53,871     Official Records
Eleventh Supplemental Indenture        Oct. 27, 1972    233,640    Official Records
Twelfth Supplemental Indenture         Dec. 6, 1974     438,246    Official Records
Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture      Oct. 19, 1976    629,589    Official Records
Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture      May 4, 1977      693,961    Official Records
Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture       Sept. 5, 1978    898,343    Official Records
Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture       Dec. 4, 1981     1,453,990  Official Records
Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture     Aug. 19, 1982    1,569,991  Official Records
Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture      Nov. 13, 1986    00622      Official Records
Nineteenth Supplemental Indenture      Oct. 12, 1989    00576      Official Records
Twentieth Supplemental Indenture       April 30, 1992   01212      Official Records
Twenty-First Supplemental Indenture    June 19, 1992    01239      Official Records
Twenty-Second Supplemental Indenture   June 19, 1992    01240      Official Records
Twenty-Third Supplemental Indenture    October 26, 1992 00858      Official Records
Twenty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture   November 2, 1992 00901      Official Records
Twenty-Fifth Supplemental Indenture    January 11, 1993 00710      Official Records
Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture    May 18, 1995     00625      Official Records
Twenty-Seventh Supplemental Indenture  August 5, 1999   01207      Official Records
</TABLE>

                                      A-1

<PAGE>

                                         NEVADA
                                        NYE COUNTY

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       RECORDED         DOC. NO.   RECORDS
                                       --------         --------   -------
<S>                                    <C>              <C>        <C>
Original Indenture                     Sept. 19, 1956   24,334     Trust Deeds
First Supplemental Indenture           Sept. 19, 1956   24,335     Official Records
Instrument of Further Assurance        Sept. 19, 1956   24,336     Official Records
Second Supplemental Indenture          Sept. 19, 1956   24,337     Official Records
Third Supplemental Indenture           May 15, 1959     31,466     Official Records
Fourth Supplemental Indenture          Oct. 28, 1960    37,060     Official Records
Fifth Supplemental Indenture           Dec. 5, 1961     39,876     Official Records
Sixth Supplemental Indenture           Oct. 18, 1963    46,249     Official Records
Seventh Supplemental Indenture         Aug. 7, 1964     48,660     Official Records
Eighth Supplemental Indenture          May 10, 1968     05,910     Official Records
Ninth Supplemental Indenture           Oct. 17, 1969    15,192     Official Records
Tenth Supplemental Indenture           Oct. 5, 1970     20,294     Official Records
Eleventh Supplemental Indenture        Oct. 30, 1972    35,265     Official Records
Twelfth Supplemental Indenture         Dec. 9, 1974     45,632     Official Records
Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture      Oct. 19, 1976    55,802     Official Records
Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture      May 4, 1977      58,169     Official Records
Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture       Sept. 5, 1978    70,767     Official Records
Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture       Dec. 4, 1981     54,601     Official Records
Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture     Aug. 19, 1982    65,354     Official Records
Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture      Nov. 13, 1986    171,431    Official Records
Nineteenth Supplemental Indenture      Oct. 12, 1989    245632     Official Records
Twentieth Supplemental Indenture       April 30, 1992   307547     Official Records
Twenty-First Supplemental Indenture    June 19, 1992    310469     Official Records
Twenty-Second Supplemental Indenture   June 19, 1992    310470     Official Records
Twenty-Third Supplemental Indenture    October 26, 1992 320357     Official Records
Twenty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture   November 2, 1992 320802     Official Records
Twenty-Fifth Supplemental Indenture    January 11, 1993 324817     Official Records
Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture    May 18, 1995     372838     Official Records
Twenty-Seventh Supplemental Indenture  August 5, 1999   475120     Official Records
</TABLE>

                                      A-2

<PAGE>

                                          NEVADA
                                      LINCOLN COUNTY

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       RECORDED         DOC. NO.   RECORDS
                                       --------          --------  -------
<S>                                    <C>              <C>        <C>
Original Indenture                     Sept. 1, 1972    52,162     Official Records
First Supplemental Indenture           Sept. 1, 1972    52,163     Official Records
Instrument of Further Assurance        Sept. 1, 1972    52,164     Official Records
Second Supplemental Indenture          Sept. 1, 1972    52,165     Official Records
Third Supplemental Indenture           Sept. 1, 1972    52,166     Official Records
Fourth Supplemental Indenture          Sept. 1, 1972    52,167     Official Records
Fifth Supplemental Indenture           Sept. 1, 1972    52,168     Official Records
Sixth Supplemental Indenture           Sept. 1, 1972    52,169     Official Records
Seventh Supplemental Indenture         Sept. 1, 1972    52,170     Official Records
Eighth Supplemental Indenture          Sept. 1, 1972    52,171     Official Records
Ninth Supplemental Indenture           Sept. 1, 1972    52,172     Official Records
Tenth Supplemental Indenture           Sept. 1, 1972    52,173     Official Records
Eleventh Supplemental Indenture        Oct. 30, 1972    52,330     Official Records
Twelfth Supplemental Indenture         Dec. 6, 1974     55,557     Official Records
Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture      Oct. 19, 1976    58,659     Official Records
Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture      May 4, 1977      59,627     Official Records
Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture       Sept. 5, 1978    62,731     Official Records
Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture       Dec. 4, 1981     74,010     Official Records
Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture     Aug. 19, 1982    75,970     Official Records
Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture      Nov. 13, 1986    85,911     Official Records
Nineteenth Supplemental Indenture      Oct. 12, 1989    92444      Official Records
Twentieth Supplemental Indenture       April 30, 1992   98382      Official Records
Twenty-First Supplemental Indenture    June 19, 1992    98558      Official Records
Twenty-Second Supplemental Indenture   June 19, 1992    98559      Official Records
Twenty-Third Supplemental Indenture    October 26, 1992 99552      Official Records
Twenty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture   November 2, 1992 99062      Official Records
Twenty-Fifth Supplemental Indenture    January 11, 1993 99782      Official Records
Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture    May 18, 1995     103516     Official Records
Twenty-Seventh Supplemental Indenture  August 5, 1999   113157     Official Records
</TABLE>

                                      A-3

<PAGE>

                                        ARIZONA
                                      NAVAJO COUNTY

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       RECORDED         DOC. NO.   RECORDS
                                       --------         --------   -------
<S>                                    <C>              <C>        <C>
Original Indenture                     Oct. 5, 1970     330        Official Records
First Supplemental Indenture           Oct. 5, 1970     330        Official Records
Instrument of Further Assurance        Oct. 5, 1970     330        Official Records
Second Supplemental Indenture          Oct. 5, 1970     330        Official Records
Third Supplemental Indenture           Oct. 5, 1970     330        Official Records
Fourth Supplemental Indenture          Oct. 5, 1970     330        Official Records
Fifth Supplemental Indenture           Oct. 5, 1970     330        Official Records
Sixth Supplemental Indenture           Oct. 5, 1970     330        Official Records
Seventh Supplemental Indenture         Oct. 5, 1970     330        Official Records
Eighth Supplemental Indenture          Oct. 5, 1970     330        Official Records
Ninth Supplemental Indenture           Oct. 5, 1970     330        Official Records
Tenth Supplemental Indenture           Oct. 5, 1970     330        Official Records
Eleventh Supplemental Indenture        Oct. 30, 1972    376        Official Records
Twelfth Supplemental Indenture         Dec. 9, 1974     426        Official Records
Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture      Oct. 19, 1976    473        Official Records
Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture      May 4, 1977      486        Official Records
Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture       Sept. 5, 1978    531        Official Records
Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture       Dec. 4, 1981     647        Official Records
Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture     Aug. 19, 1982    691        Official Records
Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture      Nov. 13, 1986    846        Official Records
Nineteenth Supplemental Indenture      Oct. 12, 1989    970        Official Records
Twentieth Supplemental Indenture       April 30, 1992   1076       Official Records
Twenty-First Supplemental Indenture    June 19, 1992    1083       Official Records
Twenty-Second Supplemental Indenture   June 19, 1992    1083       Official Records
Twenty-Third Supplemental Indenture    October 26, 1992 1103       Official Records
Twenty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture   October 30, 1992 1104       Official Records
Twenty-Fifth Supplemental Indenture    January 11, 1993 1112       Official Records
Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture    May 18, 1995     1995/7363  Official Records
Twenty-Seventh Supplemental Indenture  August 5, 1999   1999/16074 Official Records
</TABLE>

                                     A-4

<PAGE>

                                          ARIZONA
                                      COCONINO COUNTY

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       RECORDED         DOC. NO.   RECORDS
                                       --------         --------   -------
<S>                                    <C>              <C>        <C>
Original Indenture                     Oct. 1, 1970     370        Official Records
First Supplemental Indenture           Oct. 1, 1970     370        Official Records
Instrument of Further Assurance        Oct. 1, 1970     370        Official Records
Second Supplemental Indenture          Oct. 1, 1970     370        Official Records
Third Supplemental Indenture           Oct. 1, 1970     370        Official Records
Fourth Supplemental Indenture          Oct. 1, 1970     370        Official Records
Fifth Supplemental Indenture           Oct. 1, 1970     370        Official Records
Sixth Supplemental Indenture           Oct. 1, 1970     370        Official Records
Seventh Supplemental Indenture         Oct. 1, 1970     370        Official Records
Eighth Supplemental Indenture          Oct. 1, 1970     370        Official Records
Ninth Supplemental Indenture           Oct. 1, 1970     370        Official Records
Tenth Supplemental Indenture           Oct. 5, 1970     370        Official Records
Eleventh Supplemental Indenture        Oct. 30, 1972    445        Official Records
Twelfth Supplemental Indenture         Dec. 9, 1974     528        Official Records
Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture      Oct. 19, 1976    606        Official Records
Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture      May 4, 1977      628        Official Records
Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture       Sept. 5, 1978    697        Official Records
Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture       Dec. 4, 1981     862        Official Records
Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture     Aug. 19, 1982    896        Official Records
Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture      Nov. 13, 1986    1125       Official Records
Nineteenth Supplemental Indenture      Oct. 12, 1989    1304       Official Records
Twentieth Supplemental Indenture       April 30, 1992   1471       Official Records
Twenty-First Supplemental Indenture    June 19, 1992    1483       Official Records
Twenty-Second Supplemental Indenture   June 19, 1992    1483       Official Records
Twenty-Third Supplemental Indenture    October 26, 1992 1515       Official Records
Twenty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture   October 30, 1992 1517       Official Records
Twenty-Fifth Supplemental Indenture    January 11, 1993 1535       Official Records
Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture    May 18, 1995     95-14068   Official Records
Twenty-Seventh Supplemental Indenture  August 5, 1999   3017077    Official Records
</TABLE>

                                     A-5

<PAGE>

                                         ARIZONA
                                      MOHAVE COUNTY

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       RECORDED         DOC. NO.   RECORDS
                                       --------         --------   -------
<S>                                    <C>              <C>        <C>
Original Indenture                     Aug. 28, 1972    50         Official Records
First Supplemental Indenture           Aug. 28, 1972    50         Official Records
Instrument of Further Assurance        Aug. 28, 1972    50         Official Records
Second Supplemental Indenture          Aug. 28, 1972    50         Official Records
Third Supplemental Indenture           Aug. 28, 1972    50         Official Records
Fourth Supplemental Indenture          Aug. 28, 1972    50         Official Records
Fifth Supplemental Indenture           Aug. 28, 1972    50         Official Records
Sixth Supplemental Indenture           Aug. 28, 1972    50         Official Records
Seventh Supplemental Indenture         Aug. 28, 1972    51         Official Records
Eighth Supplemental Indenture          Aug. 28, 1972    51         Official Records
Ninth Supplemental Indenture           Aug. 28, 1972    51         Official Records
Tenth Supplemental Indenture           Aug. 28, 1972    51         Official Records
Eleventh Supplemental Indenture        Oct. 30, 1972    67         Official Records
Twelfth Supplemental Indenture         Dec. 9, 1974     250        Official Records
Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture      Oct. 19, 1976    355        Official Records
Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture      May 4, 1977      390        Official Records
Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture       Sept. 5, 1978    489        Official Records
Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture       Dec. 4, 1981     765        Official Records
Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture     Aug. 19, 1982    865        Official Records
Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture      Nov. 13, 1986    1264       Official Records
Nineteenth Supplemental Indenture      Oct. 12, 1989    1612       Official Records
Twentieth Supplemental Indenture       April 30, 1992   92-12800   Official Records
Twenty-First Supplemental Indenture    June 19, 1992    92-33181   Official Records
Twenty-Second Supplemental Indenture   June 19, 1992    92-33182   Official Records
Twenty-Third Supplemental Indenture    October 26, 1992 92-58584   Official Records
Twenty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture   October 30, 1992 92-59727   Official Records
Twenty-Fifth Supplemental Indenture    January 11, 1993 2160       Official Records
Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture    May 18, 1995     95-25569   Official Records
Twenty-Seventh Supplemental Indenture  August 5, 1999   99047383   Official Records
</TABLE>

                                     A-6

<PAGE>

                                          UTAH
                                       KANE COUNTY

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       RECORDED         DOC. NO.   RECORDS
                                       --------         --------   -------
<S>                                    <C>              <C>        <C>
Original Indenture                     Sept. 12, 1972   35         Official Records
First Supplemental Indenture           Sept. 12, 1972   35         Official Records
Instrument of Further Assurance        Sept. 12, 1972   35         Official Records
Second Supplemental Indenture          Sept. 12, 1972   35         Official Records
Third Supplemental Indenture           Sept. 12, 1972   35         Official Records
Fourth Supplemental Indenture          Sept. 12, 1972   35         Official Records
Fifth Supplemental Indenture           Sept. 12, 1972   35         Official Records
Sixth Supplemental Indenture           Sept. 12, 1972   35         Official Records
Seventh Supplemental Indenture         Sept. 12, 1972   35         Official Records
Eighth Supplemental Indenture          Sept. 12, 1972   35         Official Records
Ninth Supplemental Indenture           Sept. 12, 1972   35         Official Records
Tenth Supplemental Indenture           Sept. 12, 1972   35         Official Records
Eleventh Supplemental Indenture        Oct. 30, 1972    35         Official Records
Twelfth Supplemental Indenture         Dec. 9, 1974     44         Official Records
Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture      Oct. 19, 1976    53         Official Records
Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture      May 4, 1977      55         Official Records
Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture       Sept. 5, 1978    59         Official Records
Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture       Dec. 4, 1981     71         Official Records
Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture     Aug. 19, 1982    074        Official Records
Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture      Nov. 13, 1986    093        Official Records
Nineteenth Supplemental Indenture      Oct. 12, 1989    0106       Official Records
Twentieth Supplemental Indenture       April 30, 1992   72900      Official Records
Twenty-First Supplemental Indenture    June 19, 1992    73283      Official Records
Twenty-Second Supplemental Indenture   June 19, 1992    73284      Official Records
Twenty-Third Supplemental Indenture    October 26, 1992 74584      Official Records
Twenty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture   October 30, 1992 74641      Official Records
Twenty-Fifth Supplemental Indenture    January 11, 1993 75203      Official Records
Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture    May 18, 1995     83330      Official Records
Twenty-Seventh Supplemental Indenture  August 5, 1999   99595      Official Records
</TABLE>

                                     A-7

<PAGE>

                                           UTAH
                                     WASHINGTON COUNTY

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       RECORDED         DOC. NO.   RECORDS
                                       --------         --------   -------
<S>                                    <C>              <C>        <C>
Original Indenture                     Sept. 22, 1972   124        Official Records
First Supplemental Indenture           Sept. 22, 1972   124        Official Records
Instrument of Further Assurance        Sept. 22, 1972   124        Official Records
Second Supplemental Indenture          Sept. 22, 1972   124        Official Records
Third Supplemental Indenture           Sept. 22, 1972   124        Official Records
Fourth Supplemental Indenture          Sept. 22, 1972   124        Official Records
Fifth Supplemental Indenture           Sept. 22, 1972   124        Official Records
Sixth Supplemental Indenture           Sept. 22, 1972   124        Official Records
Seventh Supplemental Indenture         Sept. 22, 1972   124        Official Records
Eighth Supplemental Indenture          Sept. 22, 1972   124        Official Records
Ninth Supplemental Indenture           Sept. 22, 1972   124        Official Records
Tenth Supplemental Indenture           Sept. 22, 1972   124        Official Records
Eleventh Supplemental Indenture        Oct. 30, 1972    127        Official Records
Twelfth Supplemental Indenture         Dec. 9, 1974     163        Official Records
Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture      Oct. 19, 1976    204        Official Records
Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture      May 4, 1977      218        Official Records
Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture       Sept. 5, 1978    239        Official Records
Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture       Dec. 4, 1981     302        Official Records
Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture     Aug. 19, 1982    313        Official Records
Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture      Nov. 13, 1986    431        Official Records
Nineteenth Supplemental Indenture      Oct. 12, 1989    537        Official Records
Twentieth Supplemental Indenture       April 30, 1992   405624     Official Records
Twenty-First Supplemental Indenture    June 19, 1992    409301     Official Records
Twenty-Second Supplemental Indenture   June 19, 1992    409302     Official Records
Twenty-Third Supplemental Indenture    October 26, 1992 417975     Official Records
Twenty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture   October 30, 1992 418495     Official Records
Twenty-Fifth Supplemental Indenture    January 11, 1993 423543     Official Records
Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture    May 18, 1995     500264     Official Records
Twenty-Seventh Supplemental Indenture  August 5, 1999   00657403   Official Records
</TABLE>

                                     A-8

<PAGE>

The foregoing document was recorded as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                   RECORDED         DOC. NO.       RECORDS
                                   --------         --------       -------
<S>                                <C>              <C>           <C>
Navajo County, Arizona             July 30, 2001    2001-14624    Official Records

Coconino County, Arizona           July 27, 2001    3100982       Official Records

Mohave County, Arizona             July 27, 2001    2001-45343    Official Records

Kane County, Utah                  July 27, 2001    106741        Official Records

Washington County, Utah            July 27, 2001    729347        Official Records

Lincoln County, Nevada             July 27, 2001    116700        Official Records

Clark County, Nevada               July 27, 2001    02870         Official Records

Nye County, Nevada                 July 31, 2001    518675        Official Records
</TABLE>

                                      A-9<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10(A)

                                                               [EXECUTION COPY]

===============================================================================

                                   $75,000,000

                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

                                   dated as of

                                November 30, 2001

                                      among

                            SIERRA PACIFIC RESOURCES,

                         UNION BANK OF CALIFORNIA, N.A.,
                  as Sole Bookrunner and Administrative Agent,

                             WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.,
                              as Syndication Agent,

                                       and

                                  BANK ONE, NA,
                                 BNP PARIBAS and
                               MELLON BANK, N.A.,
                           as Co-Documentation Agents,

                                       and

                   the LENDERS party hereto from time to time

                                 Co-Arranged By

                       UNION BANK OF CALIFORNIA, N.A. and
                             WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.

===============================================================================

<PAGE>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                           Page
                                                                           ----

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

         SECTION 1.01  Defined Terms..........................................1
         SECTION 1.02  Classification of Loans and Borrowings................15
         SECTION 1.03  Terms Generally.......................................15
         SECTION 1.04  Accounting Terms; GAAP................................16

ARTICLE II       THE CREDITS.................................................16

         SECTION 2.01  The Commitments.......................................16
         SECTION 2.02  Loans and Borrowings..................................16
         SECTION 2.03  Requests for Revolving Borrowings.....................17
         SECTION 2.04  Funding of Borrowings.................................18
         SECTION 2.05  Interest Elections....................................18
         SECTION 2.06  Termination, Reduction and Extension of Commitments...19
         SECTION 2.07  Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt..................22
         SECTION 2.08  Prepayment of Loans...................................23
         SECTION 2.09  Fees..................................................23
         SECTION 2.10  Interest..............................................24
         SECTION 2.11  Alternate Rate of Interest............................24
         SECTION 2.12  Increased Costs.......................................25
         SECTION 2.13  Break Funding Payments................................26
         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........29

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

         SECTION 3.01  Corporate Status......................................29
         SECTION 3.02  Corporate Power and Authorization.....................30
         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
         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

<PAGE>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                   (Continued)

                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----
         SECTION 3.18  Borrower Not An Investment Company; PUHCA Exemption...33
         SECTION 3.19  Environmental Matters.................................34
         SECTION 3.20  ERISA.................................................34
         SECTION 3.21  Pari Passu Status.....................................35
         SECTION 3.22  Indebtedness..........................................35

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.......42
         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........................43
         SECTION 5.09  Use of Proceeds.......................................43
         SECTION 5.10  End of Fiscal Periods.................................44

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

         SECTION 6.01  Financial Covenants...................................44
         SECTION 6.02  Liens.................................................44
         SECTION 6.03  Mergers...............................................45
         SECTION 6.04  Dispositions of Properties............................46
         SECTION 6.05  Investments and Acquisitions..........................47
         SECTION 6.06  Dividends and Stock Repurchases.......................47
         SECTION 6.07  Transactions with Affiliates..........................47
         SECTION 6.08  Change of Business....................................47
         SECTION 6.09  Equal and Ratable Lien................................47
         SECTION 6.10  Restrictive Agreements................................48
         SECTION 6.11  Limitation on Indebtedness............................48
         SECTION 6.12  Maintenance of Ownership of Significant Subsidiaries..48

ARTICLE VII      DEFAULTS....................................................48

         SECTION 7.01  Events of Default.....................................48
         SECTION 7.02  Consequences of an Event of Default...................51

ARTICLE VIII     THE AGENTS..................................................52

         SECTION 8.01  Appointment...........................................52
         SECTION 8.02  General Nature of Administrative Agent's Duties.......52

                                      -ii-

<PAGE>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                   (Continued)

                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----
         SECTION 8.03  Exercise of Powers....................................53
         SECTION 8.04  General Exculpatory Provisions........................53
         SECTION 8.05  Administration by the Administrative Agent............54
         SECTION 8.06  Lenders Not Relying on Administrative Agent or
                       Other Lenders.........................................55
         SECTION 8.07  Indemnification.......................................55
         SECTION 8.08  Administrative Agent in its Individual Capacity.......55
         SECTION 8.09  Holders of Notes......................................56
         SECTION 8.10  Successor Administrative Agent........................56
         SECTION 8.11  Additional Administrative Agents......................57
         SECTION 8.12  Calculations..........................................57
         SECTION 8.13  Syndication Agent.....................................57
         SECTION 8.14  Sole Bookrunner.......................................57
         SECTION 8.15  Co-Documentation Agents...............................58

ARTICLE IX       MISCELLANEOUS...............................................58

         SECTION 9.01  Amendments and Waivers................................58
         SECTION 9.02  No Implied Waiver; Cumulative Remedies................59
         SECTION 9.03  Notices...............................................59
         SECTION 9.04  Expenses; Taxes; Indemnity............................60
         SECTION 9.05  Severability..........................................61
         SECTION 9.06  Prior Understandings..................................61
         SECTION 9.07  Duration; Survival....................................61
         SECTION 9.08  Counterparts..........................................61
         SECTION 9.09  Limitation on Payments................................61
         SECTION 9.10  Set-Off...............................................62
         SECTION 9.11  Sharing of Collections................................62
         SECTION 9.12  Successors and Assigns; Participations; Assignments...63
         SECTION 9.13  Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction Waiver
                       of Jury Trial; Limitation of Liability................65

                                    SCHEDULES
                                    ---------

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

                                    EXHIBITS
                                    --------

Exhibit A                  FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE
Exhibit B                  FORM OF BORROWING REQUEST
Exhibit C                  FORM OF PROMISSORY NOTE

                                      iii-

<PAGE>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                   (Continued)

Exhibit D                  FORM OF QUARTERLY COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

                                      -iv-

<PAGE>

                  CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of November 30, 2001, among SIERRA
PACIFIC RESOURCES, a Nevada corporation, UNION BANK OF CALIFORNIA, N.A., as
Sole Bookrunner and Administrative Agent, WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., as
Syndication Agent, BANK ONE, NA, BNP PARIBAS and MELLON BANK, N.A., as
Co-Documentation Agents, the LENDERS party hereto from time to time and UNION
BANK OF CALIFORNIA, N.A.  and WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., as Co-Lead Arrangers.

                              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.

                  "Acceptable NPC Rate Case" has the meaning assigned to the
                   ------------------------
term "Acceptable Rate Case" in Section 1.01 of the NPC Credit Agreement.

                  "Acceptable SPPC Rate Case" has the meaning assigned to the
                   -------------------------
term "Acceptable Rate Case" in Section 1.01 of the SPPC Credit Agreement.

                  "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 Union Bank of California, 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.

                  "Agents" means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the
                   ------
Co-Lead Arrangers, the Sole Bookrunner, the Syndication Agent and the
Co-Documentation 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
opposite the caption "Facility Fee", "Eurodollar Spread" or "ABR Spread", as the
case may be, in the applicable pricing table set forth below, based on the
ratings by S&P and Moody's applicable on such day to the Index Debt of
Borrower:

A.       Prior to the Occurrence of Both an Acceptable NPC Rate Case and an
         Acceptable SPPC Rate Case:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
====================================================================================================================
                               Category 1       Category 2        Category 3        Category 4        Category 5
                               ----------       ----------        ----------        ----------        ----------

                             A- or higher    BBB+ or higher     BBB or higher     BBB- or higher    BB+ or lower
                             by S&P and A3   by S&P and Baa1    by S&P and Baa2   by S&P and Baa3   by S&P or Ba1
                             or higher by    or higher by       or higher by      or higher by      or lower by
                             Moody's         Moody's            Moody's           Moody's           Moody's
====================================================================================================================
<S>                              <C>              <C>                <C>               <C>               <C>
Facility Fee                     0.10%            0.125%             0.15%             0.20%             0.30%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eurodollar Spread                0.65%            0.875%             0.975%            1.05%             1.25%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ABR Spread                         0%               0%                 0%              0.05%             0.25%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

                                      -2-

<PAGE>

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that, and at all times during which,
the aggregate principal amount of the Loans outstanding hereunder exceeds 50% of
the total Commitments, (i) each of the foregoing Eurodollar Spreads shall be
increased by (A) in the case of Category 1, 0.10% per annum, (B) in the case of
each of Category 2, Category 3 and Category 4, 0.125% per annum, and (C) in the
case of Category 5, 0.25% per annum, and (ii) the foregoing ABR Spreads shall be
increased by (A) in the case of Category 3, 0.10% per annum, (B) in the case of
Category 4, 0.125% per annum, and (C) in the case of Category 5, 0.25% per
annum.

B.       Upon and After the Occurrence of Both an Acceptable NPC Rate Case and
         an Acceptable SPPC Rate Case:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
====================================================================================================================
                               Category 1       Category 2        Category 3        Category 4        Category 5
                               ----------       ----------        ----------        ----------        ----------

                             A- or higher    BBB+ or higher     BBB or higher     BBB- or higher    BB+ or lower
                             by S&P and A3   by S&P and Baa1    by S&P and Baa2   by S&P and Baa3   by S&P or Ba1
                             or higher by    or higher by       or higher by      or higher by      or lower by
                             Moody's         Moody's            Moody's           Moody's           Moody's
====================================================================================================================
<S>                              <C>              <C>               <C>               <C>               <C>
Facility Fee                     0.10%            0.125%            0.15%             0.20%             0.30%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eurodollar Spread                0.525%           0.75%             0.85%             0.925%            1.125%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ABR Spread                         0%               0%                0%                0%              0.125%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that, and at all times during which,
the aggregate principal amount of the Loans outstanding hereunder exceeds 50% of
the total Commitments, (i) each of the foregoing Eurodollar Spreads shall be
increased by (A) in the case of Category 1, 0.10% per annum, (B) in the case of
each of Category 2, Category 3 and Category 4, 0.125% per annum, and (C) in the
case of Category 5, 0.25% per annum, and (ii) the foregoing ABR Spreads shall be
increased by (A) in the case of Category 4, 0.05% per annum, and (B) in the case
of Category 5, 0.25% per annum.

For purposes of the foregoing pricing tables, (1) 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 Category 5,
(2) 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, (3) if more than one Category is applicable at any one time, the
Applicable Rate shall be based on the applicable Category having the lowest
number (i.e., Category 1 is lower than Category 2), and (4) upon the occurrence
of both an Acceptable NPC Rate Case and an Acceptable SPPC Rate Case and at all
times thereafter, the pricing table set forth above under the caption "Upon and
After the Occurrence of Both an Acceptable NPC Rate Case and an Acceptable SPPC
Rate Case" shall be effective. Each change in the Applicable Rate (including any
change based on the occurrence of both an Acceptable NPC Rate Case and an
Acceptable SPPC Rate Case) shall apply during the period commencing on 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

                                      -3-

<PAGE>

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.

                  "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.

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

                  "Borrower" means Sierra Pacific Resources, 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 Los Angeles, California 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).

                  "Cash Dividend Coverage Ratio" means, for any period, the
                   ----------------------------
ratio of (i) Cash Dividend Income for such period to (ii) Interest Expense for
such period.

                  "Cash Dividend Income" means, for any period, the amount of
                   --------------------
all cash dividends received by the Borrower from its Subsidiaries during such
period that are paid out of the net income (without giving effect to any
extraordinary gains) of such Subsidiaries during such period.

                  "Change in Control" means (a) the acquisition of ownership,
                   -----------------
directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any Person or group
(within the meaning of the Securities

                                      -4-

<PAGE>

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 the Borrower; or (b) for any period of 12
consecutive calendar months, a majority of the Board of Directors of the
Borrower 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.

                  "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.

                  "Co-Documentation Agents" means Bank One, NA, BNP Paribas and
                   -----------------------
Mellon Bank, N.A.

                  "Co-Lead Arrangers" means Union Bank of California, N.A. and
                   -----------------
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

                  "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) terminated or reduced
from time to time pursuant to Section 2.06 or 7.02 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 aggregate amount of the
Lenders' Commitments shall in no event exceed $75,000,000.

                  "Contingent Obligation" means, for any Person, any direct or
                   ---------------------
indirect contractual obligation with respect to any Indebtedness, lease,
dividend, letter of credit or other obligation (the "primary obligations") of
                                                     -------------------
another Person (the "primary obligor"), including, without limitation, any
                     ---------------
obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent, (a) to purchase,
repurchase or otherwise acquire such primary obligations or any Property
constituting direct or indirect security therefor, or (b) to advance or provide
funds (i) for the payment or discharge of any such primary obligation, or (ii)
to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or
otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency or any balance sheet item, level
of income or

                                      -5-

<PAGE>

financial condition of the primary obligor prior to such obligation being a
stated or determinable amount, or (c) to purchase Property, securities or
services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary
obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such
primary obligation, or (d) otherwise to assure or hold harmless the holder of
any such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof. The amount of any
Contingent Obligation shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or
determinable amount of the primary obligation in respect of which such
Contingent Obligation is made or, if not stated or if indeterminable, the
maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof, except as
specified in clause (b)(ii) above.

                  "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.

                  "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, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and
Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. [sec] 9601 et seq.; the Resource Conservation and
                                    -- ----
Recovery Act of 1976, 42 U.S.C. [sec] 6901 et seq.; the Federal Water Pollution
                                           -- ----
Control Act, 33 U.S.C. [sec] 1251 et seq.; the Toxic Substances Control Act, 15
                                  -- ----
U.S.C. [sec] 2601 et seq.; the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. [sec] 7401 et seq.;
                  -- ----                                          -- ----
the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. [sec] 3803 et seq.; the Oil Pollution
                                                  -- ----
Act of 1990, 33 U.S.C. [sec] 2701 et seq.; the Emergency Planning and the
                                  -- ----
Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. [sec] 11001 et seq.; the
                                                           -- ----
Hazardous Material Transportation Act, 49 U.S.C. [sec] 1801 et seq. and the
                                                            -- ----

                                      -6-

<PAGE>

Occupational Safety and Health Act, 29 U.S.C. [sec] 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
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 Credit Agreements" means (a) the 364-Day Credit
                   --------------------------
Agreement, dated as of August 15, 2001, between the Borrower and The Bank of New
York, and (b) the Credit Agreement, dated as of September 10, 2001, between the
Borrower and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., in each case as amended through the date
hereof.

                  "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

                                      -7-

<PAGE>

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.

                  "Fee Letter" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
                   ----------
2.09(b).

                  "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.

                  "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.

                  "Hedging Agreements" means interest rate swap, cap or collar
                   ------------------
agreements, interest rate future or option contracts, and other similar
agreements designed to protect against fluctuations in interest rates.

                  "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

                                      -8-

<PAGE>

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 the 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.

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

                  "Interest Expense" means, for any period, the gross interest
                   ----------------
expense of the Borrower for such period determined in accordance with GAAP,
including (a) the amortization of debt discounts, (b) the amortization of all
fees (including fees with respect to Hedging Agreements) payable in connection
with the incurrence of Indebtedness to the extent included in interest expense
in accordance with GAAP and (c) the portion of any payments or accruals with
respect to Capital Lease Obligations of the Borrower that are allocable to
interest expense in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of the foregoing, gross
interest expense shall be determined after giving effect to any net payments
made or received by the Borrower with respect to Hedging Agreements.

                  "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

                                      -9-

<PAGE>

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.

                  "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. (New York, New York 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, each Note and the Fee Letter.

                  "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.

                  "Moody's" means Moody's Investors Service, Inc. and its
                   -------
successors 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, "Moody's" shall be deemed to refer to any

                                      -10-

<PAGE>

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).

                  "NPC" means Nevada Power Company, a Nevada corporation.
                   ---

                  "NPC Credit Agreement" means the Credit Agreement, dated as
                   --------------------
of November 30, 2001, among NPC, Union Bank of California, N.A., as
Administrative Agent and Sole Bookrunner, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as
Syndication Agent, Bank One, NA, BNP Paribas and Mellon Bank, N.A., as
Co-Documentation Agents, the lenders party thereto from time to time, and Union
Bank of California, N.A. and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as Co-Lead Arrangers, as
the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

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

                  "NPC First Mortgage Indenture" means the Indenture of
                   ----------------------------
Mortgage, dated as of October 1, 1953, from NPC 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.

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

                  "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.

                                      -11-

<PAGE>

                  "Parent" means any Person that Controls a Lender.
                   ------

                  "Participant" has the meaning assigned to such term in 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.

                  "Prime Rate" means the rate of interest per annum publicly
                   ----------
announced from time to time by Union Bank of California, N.A. in Los Angeles,
California, as the Union Bank Reference Rate, the Prime Rate to change when and
as such Reference Rate changes. The Prime Rate is a reference rate and does not
necessarily represent the lowest or best rate actually charged to any customer.
Union Bank of California, 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 Union Bank of
                   ----------------
California, N.A., located on the date hereof at 445 South Figueroa Street, Los
Angeles, California 90071.

                  "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 such term in
                   -----------------
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 such term in 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.

                                      -12-

<PAGE>

                  "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).

                  "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 28, 2002, or such date after November 28, 2002 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.

                  "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.

                  "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.

                  "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.

                  "Significant Subsidiary" means NPC, SPPC and each other
                   ----------------------
Subsidiary of the Borrower that meets any one of the following conditions: (a)
the investments in and advances to such Subsidiary by the Borrower and the other
Subsidiaries of the Borrower as at the end of the Borrower's latest fiscal
quarter exceeded 10% of the total assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries at
such date, computed and consolidated in accordance with GAAP; or (b) the
Borrower's and such other Subsidiaries' proportionate share of the total assets
(after

                                      -13-

<PAGE>

intercompany eliminations) of such Subsidiary as at the end of the Borrower's
latest fiscal quarter exceeded 10% of the total assets of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries at such date, computed and consolidated in accordance with GAAP;
or (c) the equity in the income from continuing operations before income taxes,
extraordinary items and cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles
of such Subsidiary for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending at
the end of the Borrower's latest fiscal quarter exceeded 10% of such income of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period, computed and consolidated in
accordance with GAAP; or (d) such Subsidiary is the parent of one or more other
Subsidiaries of the Borrower and, together with such Subsidiaries, would, if
considered in the aggregate, constitute a Significant Subsidiary pursuant to
the foregoing clause (a), (b) or (c).

                  "Sole Bookrunner" means Union Bank of California, N.A.
                   ---------------

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

                  "SPPC Credit Agreement" means the Credit Agreement, dated as
                   ---------------------
of November 30, 2001, among SPPC, Union Bank of California, N.A., as
Administrative Agent and Sole Bookrunner, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as
Syndication Agent, Bank One, NA, BNP Paribas and Mellon Bank, N.A., as
Co-Documentation Agents, the lenders party thereto from time to time, and Union
Bank of California, N.A. and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as Co-Lead Arrangers, as
the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

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

                  "SPPC First Mortgage Indenture" means the Indenture of
                   -----------------------------
Mortgage, dated as of December 1, 1940, from SPPC to State Street Bank and Trust
Company (successor to The New England Trust Company), as trustee, and Gerald R.
Wheeler (successor to Leo W. Huegle), as co-Trustee, as modified, amended or
supplemented at any time or from time to time by supplemental indentures.

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

                  "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.

                  "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

                                      -14-

<PAGE>

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 Agent" means 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.

                  "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.

                  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

                                      -15-

<PAGE>

"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.

                  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 $3,000,000 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

                                      -16-

<PAGE>

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 $3,000,000 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 $3,000,000 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 $3,000,000, 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, New York, New York
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, New York, New York
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 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

                                      -17-

<PAGE>

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, New York,
                       ------------------
New York 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 Union Bank of California,
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
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.

                                      -18-

<PAGE>

                  (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".

                  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 $10,000,000 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

                                      -19-

<PAGE>

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. Except as otherwise provided in
Section 2.06(e)(i), each reduction of the Commitments shall be made ratably
among the Lenders in accordance with their Applicable Percentages.

                  (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 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

                                      -20-

<PAGE>

                  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 shall have occurred and be continuing;
(b) the representations and warranties made by the Borrower in Article III
shall be true and correct 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
September 30, 2001 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

                                      -21-

<PAGE>

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.

                  SECTION 2.07  Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt.
                                ------------------------------------

                  (a)  Repayment. The Borrower hereby unconditionally promises
                       ---------
to pay to the Administrative Agent for the 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, New York,
New York 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 paragraphs (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.

                                      -22-

<PAGE>

                  (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).

                  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, New York, New York 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, New York, New York 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 $3,000,000 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 $3,000,000, 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)  Fee Letter. The Borrower agrees to pay to the
                       ----------
Administrative Agent, for the account of the Administrative Agent and the
Co-Lead Arrangers, the fees agreed to by the Borrower, NPC, SPPC, the
Administrative Agent and the Co-Lead Arrangers pursuant to that

                                      -23-

<PAGE>

certain letter agreement, dated the date hereof (the "Fee Letter"), or as
                                                      ----------
otherwise agreed from time to time.

                  (c)  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.

                  (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% above the higher of (A) the rate otherwise applicable
to such Loan as provided above and (B) the rate applicable to ABR Loans as
provided in paragraph (a) of this Section 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, and 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

                                      -24-

<PAGE>

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
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.

                                      -25-

<PAGE>

                  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 any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day
of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (c) the failure to borrow, convert,
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, each
Co-Lead Arranger, the Syndication Agent or each 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, each Co-Lead Arranger, the 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, such Co-Lead Arranger, the
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

                                      -26-

<PAGE>

Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the
relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment
or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender, a Co-Lead Arranger, the
Syndication Agent or the Administrative Agent (on its own behalf or on behalf
of a Lender, a Co-Lead Arranger or the 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, New
York, New York 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 the 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 Section 2.09 shall be made for the 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

                                      -27-

<PAGE>

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 the 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 the 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 the 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.

                  (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 the account of such Lender to satisfy
such Lender's obligations under such Sections until all such unsatisfied
obligations are fully paid.

                                      -28-

<PAGE>

                  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 the
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 the 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.

                                   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 Significant Subsidiary 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 Significant Subsidiary has the power (corporate or otherwise) 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 Significant Subsidiary 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

                                      -29-

<PAGE>

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 this Agreement and each
of the other Loan Documents to which it is a party, and all such actions have
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.
                                ----------------------------------

                  No 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,

                                      -30-

<PAGE>

                           (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.

                  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 third 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 September
30, 2001, in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices.

                  SECTION 3.09  Absence of Material Adverse Change.
                                ----------------------------------

                  Since September 30, 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.

                                      -31-

<PAGE>

                  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, 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 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

                                      -32-

<PAGE>

                  (c)  any agreement or instrument to which it is party or
         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.

                  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; PUHCA
                               -----------------------------------------
Exemption.
---------

                  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. The Borrower is a "holding
company" within the meaning of

                                      -33-

<PAGE>

the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended ("PUHCA"), but
                                                             -----
pursuant to Section 3(a)(1) of PUHCA is exempt from all provisions of PUHCA
except Section 9(a)(2) thereof.

                  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, 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.

                  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

                                      -34-

<PAGE>

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 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, but 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. [sec] 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").
                                    ---------------------

                                      -35-

<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)  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.

                  (c)  Legal Opinions of Counsel to the Borrower. The
                       -----------------------------------------
         Administrative Agent shall have received, with an executed counterpart
         for each Lender, opinions addressed to the Administrative Agent and
         each Lender, dated the Effective Date, of (i) Choate, Hall & Stewart,
         special counsel to the Borrower, and (ii) Woodburn & Wedge, Nevada
         counsel to the Borrower, in each case as to such matters as may be
         requested by the Administrative Agent and in form and substance
         satisfactory to the Lenders.

                  (d)  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 nine month period ended September 30, 2001 and (iii) Projections
         for each quarterly period ending after the date hereof and on or before
         December 31, 2002.

                                      -36-

<PAGE>

                  (e)  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 September 30, 2001.

                  (f)  Governmental Approvals. All necessary and material
                       ----------------------
         Governmental Actions (domestic and foreign) and third party approvals
         and/or consents, if any, 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.

                  (g)  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.

                  (h)  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.

                  (i)  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.

                  (j)  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 the Borrower.

                  (k)  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.

                  (l)  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.

                  (m)  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.

                                      -37-

<PAGE>

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

                  (n)  Due Diligence Review.  The Lenders shall be satisfied
                       --------------------
         with the results of their due diligence review of the Borrower and its
         Subsidiaries.

                  (o)  Termination of the Existing Credit Agreements. All
                       ---------------------------------------------
         principal, interest, fees, costs, expenses and other obligations of the
         Borrower under the Existing Credit Agreements shall have been (or will
         have been, upon the making of the initial Loans on the Effective Date
         and the application of the proceeds thereof) paid in full, and the
         Administrative Agent shall have received copies (certified as to
         authenticity on such date on behalf of the Borrower) of irrevocable
         notices from the Borrower requesting termination of the "Commitments"
         under each Existing Credit Agreement (pursuant to Section 2.06(c)
         thereof) (other than any Existing Credit Agreement that, pursuant to
         the terms thereof, automatically terminates on such date) effective
         automatically on such date upon the satisfaction (or waiver) of the
         other conditions precedent set forth in this Section 4.01.

                  (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.

                  (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.

                                      -38-

<PAGE>

                  (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 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

                                      -39-

<PAGE>

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,
         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
         the Borrower.

                  (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 of
its Subsidiaries, 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
--------  -------

                                      -40-

<PAGE>

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 the 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 the 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 the 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

                       (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.

                                      -41-

<PAGE>

                  (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;

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 Significant
Subsidiary 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 Significant Subsidiary 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 Significant Subsidiary
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.

                                      -42-

<PAGE>

                  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 Significant
Subsidiary 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

                  (c)  any agreement or instrument to which it or any of its
         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.

                                      -43-

<PAGE>

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 0.65 to 1.

                  (b)  Cash Dividend Coverage Ratio. The Borrower shall not
                       ----------------------------
permit the Cash Dividend Coverage Ratio, determined as of the last day of each
fiscal quarter for the four-fiscal-quarter period ending on such day, to be less
than 1.5 to 1.0.

                  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 of NPC issued under and
         pursuant to the terms and conditions of either (i) the NPC First
         Mortgage Indenture or (ii) the NPC General and Refunding Mortgage
         Indenture;

                  (c)  Liens securing obligations of SPPC issued under and
         pursuant to the terms and conditions of either (i) the SPPC First
         Mortgage Indenture or (ii) the SPPC General and Refunding Mortgage
         Indenture;

                  (d)  Liens on NPC First Mortgage Bonds issued as collateral
         for pollution control or industrial development revenue bonds issued
         for the benefit of NPC or its Subsidiaries (and related rights and
         interests) to secure obligations of NPC 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 NPC or its Subsidiaries;

                                      -44-

<PAGE>

                  (e)  Liens on SPPC First Mortgage Bonds issued as collateral
         for pollution control or gas or water facility revenue bonds issued for
         the benefit of SPPC or its Subsidiaries (and related rights and
         interests) to secure obligations of SPPC 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 SPPC or its Subsidiaries;

                  (f)  Liens on SPPC First Mortgage Bonds issued as collateral
         for medium-term notes issued pursuant to the Collateral Trust
         Indenture, dated as of June 1, 1992, between SPPC and Bankers Trust
         Company, as Trustee;

                  (g)  Liens on "transition property" arising pursuant to
         Section 843 of the California Public Utility Code for the benefit of
         holders of rate reduction bonds issued pursuant to a valid financing
         order of the California Public Utilities Commission;

                  (h)  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;

                  (i)  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;

                  (j)  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

                  (k)  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(k) shall not at any time exceed
         $150,000,000.

"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

                                      -45-

<PAGE>

(c) agree, become or remain liable (contingently or otherwise) to do any of the
foregoing, except that:

                           (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

                           (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 from time to time on a revolving basis by NPC or
SPPC to one or more commercial paper conduits, special purpose subsidiaries or
similar entities; provided that (i) the aggregate face amount of such accounts
                  --------
receivable that each of NPC and SPPC may Dispose of in reliance on this clause
(c) does not exceed $125,000,000 at any one time outstanding and (ii) the net
cash proceeds from each Disposition by NPC or SPPC of such accounts receivable,
(A) when added to the net cash proceeds of all other Dispositions by NPC or
SPPC, respectively, 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 by NPC or SPPC, respectively, in reliance on this clause (c) and (B)
at the time of such Disposition, do not exceed the sum of (I) the balance of
NPC's or SPPC's (as applicable) deferred energy accrual account at such time and
(II) NPC's or SPPC's (as applicable) deferred energy costs actually incurred but
not yet reflected in NPC's or SPPC's (as applicable) deferred energy accrual
account, in each case as set forth in NPC's or SPPC's (as applicable) books and
records; provided, further, that each Disposition made by NPC or SPPC 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

                                      -46-

<PAGE>

all Property Disposed of pursuant to this Section 6.04(d) from and after the
date hereof shall not exceed $120,000,000.

                  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 $70,000,000 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.

                  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 and (d)
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 make any material change in the nature
of its business as carried on at the date hereof.

                  SECTION 6.09  Equal and Ratable Lien.
                                ----------------------

                  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 Property. Such

                                      -47-

<PAGE>

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.

                  SECTION 6.10  Restrictive Agreements.
                                ----------------------

                  Except as otherwise permitted under this Article VI, and
except for agreements referenced in or permitted by covenants contained within
Article VI of the NPC Credit Agreement and Article VI of the SPPC Credit
Agreement, 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 of its Subsidiaries to create, incur or
permit to exist any Lien upon any of its Property or assets, or (b) the ability
of any Subsidiary of the Borrower 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 of the Borrower.

                  SECTION 6.11 Limitation on Indebtedness.
                               --------------------------

                  The Borrower shall not create, incur, assume or suffer to
exist any Indebtedness (including, without limitation, any Contingent
Obligations, the Loans and any senior notes issued in connection with the
Borrower's Corporate Premium Income Equity Securities (PIES)), or become or
remain liable (contingently or otherwise) for any Indebtedness, in excess of
$1,045,000,000 in the aggregate at any one time outstanding.

                  SECTION 6.12 Maintenance of Ownership of Significant
                               ---------------------------------------
Subsidiaries.
------------

                  The Borrower (a) shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, sell, transfer, assign or otherwise dispose of any shares of
common stock of any Significant Subsidiary, any securities convertible into
shares of common stock of any Significant Subsidiary or any warrants, rights or
options to acquire such common stock or such convertible securities, and (b)
shall not permit any Significant Subsidiary to issue any shares of common stock,
any securities convertible into shares of common stock or any warrants, rights
or options to acquire any such common stock or convertible securities, to any
other Person (other than the Borrower or any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the
Borrower).

                                   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.

                                      -48-

<PAGE>

                  (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 (3) 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 Section 5.01(f)(i), 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 (10)
         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.

                  (f)  The Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower shall (i)
         fail to make any payment (x) on account of any Indebtedness under the
         NPC Credit Agreement or the SPPC Credit Agreement, (y) on account of
         any Indebtedness aggregating $10,000,000 or more in principal amount or
         (z) 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 or more.

                  (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 (30) 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

                                      -49-

<PAGE>

         respective properties and shall have remained undischarged and
         unstayed for a period of thirty (30) 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 Lien, 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 the 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.

                  (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 (30) consecutive days.

                                      -50-

<PAGE>

                  (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.

                  (p)  The Borrower shall fail to maintain ongoing utility
         segment-identifiable assets (exclusive of cash and marketable
         securities) and operating income relating to the generation or
         transmission and/or distribution of electricity or gas in a proportion
         equal to at least 80% of total assets (exclusive of cash and marketable
         securities) and operating income.

                  SECTION 7.02 Consequences of an Event of Default.
                               -----------------------------------

                  (a)  If an Event of Default specified in Section 7.01 (other
than subsections (m) and (n) thereof) 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

                                      -51-

<PAGE>

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 Union Bank of
California, 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. Union Bank of California,
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 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

                                      -52-

<PAGE>

         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
other 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 other Loan Document expressly requires the
direction or 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

                                      -53-

<PAGE>

         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.

                  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.

                                      -54-

<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

                                      -55-

<PAGE>

the Administrative Agent 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.

                                      -56-

<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 Agent.
                                -----------------

                  As Syndication Agent, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. shall not have
any right, power, obligation, liability, responsibility or duty under this
Agreement or any other Loan Document other than those applicable to all Lenders
as such. Without limiting the foregoing, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. shall not 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 Wells Fargo Bank,
N.A. in deciding to enter into this Agreement or in not taking action hereunder
or under the Loan Documents.

                  SECTION 8.14  Sole Bookrunner.
                                ---------------

                  As Sole Bookrunner, Union Bank of California, N.A. shall not
have any right, power, obligation, liability, responsibility or duty under this
Agreement or any other Loan Document other than those applicable to all Lenders
as such. Without limiting the foregoing, Union Bank of California, N.A. shall
not 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 Union
Bank of California, N.A. in deciding to enter into this Agreement or in not
taking action hereunder or under the Loan Documents.

                                      -57-

<PAGE>

                  SECTION 8.15  Co-Documentation Agents.
                                -----------------------

                  As Co-Documentation Agents, none of Bank One, NA, BNP Paribas
or Mellon Bank, N.A. shall have any right, power, obligation, liability,
responsibility or duty under this Agreement or any other Loan Document other
than those applicable to all Lenders as such. Without limiting the foregoing,
none of Bank One, NA, BNP Paribas or Mellon 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 Bank One, NA, BNP
Paribas or Mellon Bank, N.A. in deciding to enter into this Agreement or in not
taking action hereunder or under the Loan Documents.

                                   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 the amount of 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;

                                      -58-

<PAGE>

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.

                  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.

                                      -59-

<PAGE>

                  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 Agent, the syndication of this Agreement and 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

                                      -60-

<PAGE>

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.

                  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 and the other Loan Documents, 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

                                      -61-

<PAGE>

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.

                  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 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

                                      -62-

<PAGE>

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 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
                       ---------- ------    --------

                                      -63-

<PAGE>

                  (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 $5,000,000 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 $5,000,000 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 Principal 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.

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

                                      -64-

<PAGE>

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 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.

                                      -65-

<PAGE>

                  (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
         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

                                      -66-

<PAGE>

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.

                       *               *               *

                                      -67-

<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                                            SIERRA PACIFIC RESOURCES
-------

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

           Signature Page to Sierra Pacific Resources Credit Agreement

<PAGE>

                                                                             S-2

Address                                            UNION BANK OF CALIFORNIA,
-------                                              N.A., as Administrative
                                                     Agent, as Co-Lead Arranger,
Union Bank of California, N.A.                       as Sole Bookrunner and as a
445 South Figueroa Street, 15/th/ Floor              Lender
Los Angeles, CA  90071
Attn:  Robert Olson

                                                   By__________________________
                                                      Name:
                                                      Title:

           Signature Page to Sierra Pacific Resources Credit Agreement

<PAGE>

                                                                             S-3

Address                                            WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., as
-------                                              Syndication Agent, as
                                                     Co-Lead Arranger and as a
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.                               Lender
555 Montgomery Street, 17/th/ Floor
San Francisco, CA  94111
Attn: Dennis Bloch
                                                   By__________________________
                                                      Name:
                                                      Title:

           Signature Page to Sierra Pacific Resources Credit Agreement

<PAGE>

                                                                             S-4

Address                                            BANK ONE, NA, as
-------                                              Co-Documentation Agent and
                                                     as a Lender
Bank One, NA
1 Bank One Plaza, Suite IL1-0363
Chicago, IL 60670
Attn:  Dawn M. Lawler                              By__________________________
                                                      Name:
                                                      Title:

           Signature Page to Sierra Pacific Resources Credit Agreement

<PAGE>

                                                                             S-5

Address                                            BNP PARIBAS, as
-------                                              Co-Documentation Agent and
                                                     as a Lender
BNP Paribas
787 Seventh Avenue
New York, NY 10019
Attn:  Sean Finnegan                               By__________________________
                                                      Name:
                                                      Title:

                                                   By__________________________
                                                      Name:
                                                      Title:

           Signature Page to Sierra Pacific Resources Credit Agreement

<PAGE>

                                                                             S-6

Address                                            MELLON BANK, N.A., as
-------                                              Co-Documentation Agent and
                                                     as a Lender
Mellon Bank, N.A.
One Mellon Center
500 Grant Street, Room 4530
Pittsburgh, PA 15258-0001                          By__________________________
Attn:  Mark W. Rogers                                 Name:
                                                      Title:

           Signature Page to Sierra Pacific Resources Credit Agreement

<PAGE>

                                                                             S-7

Address                                            BAYERISCHE LANDESBANK
-------                                              GIROZENTRALE

Bayerische Landesbank Girozentrale
560 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10022                                 By__________________________
Attn:  Jim Monaghan                                   Name:
                                                      Title:

                                                   By__________________________
                                                      Name:
                                                      Title:

           Signature Page to Sierra Pacific Resources Credit Agreement

<PAGE>

                                                                             S-8

Address                                            LEHMAN COMMERCIAL PAPER INC.
-------

Lehman Commercial Paper Inc.
101 Hudson Street
Jersey City, NJ 07302                              By__________________________
Attn:  Michele Swanson                                Name:
                                                      Title:

           Signature Page to Sierra Pacific Resources Credit Agreement

<PAGE>

                                                                             S-9

Address                                            FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK
-------

First Union National Bank
301 South College Street
Charlotte, NC 38388-0251                           By__________________________
Attn:  Joe Dancy                                      Name:
                                                      Title:

           Signature Page to Sierra Pacific Resources Credit Agreement

<PAGE>

                                                                            S-10

Address                                            MERRILL LYNCH BANK USA
-------

Merrill Lynch Bank USA
15 W. South Temple, Suite 300
Salt Lake City, UT 84101                           By__________________________
Attn:  Butch Alder                                    Name:
                                                      Title:

           Signature Page to Sierra Pacific Resources Credit Agreement

<PAGE>

                                   Commitments
                                   -----------

                [See definitions of "Commitment" in Section 1.01]

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

Union Bank of California, N.A.                                 $15,000,000.00

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.                                         $15,000,000.00

Bank One, N.A.                                                 $10,588,235.29

BNP Paribas                                                    $10,588,235.29

Bayerische Landesbank Girozentrale                             $ 7,941,176.47

Mellon Bank, N.A.                                              $ 7,058,823.53

Lehman Commercial Paper Inc.                                   $ 3,529,411.78

First Union National Bank                                      $ 2,647,058.82

Merrill Lynch Bank USA                                         $ 2,647,058.82

                   Total:                                      $75,000,000.00

                                      (i)

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