SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES The significant accounting policies for both utility and non-utility operations are as follows: Basis of Presentation The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of NV Energy, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, NPC, SPPC, Sierra Pacific Communications, Lands of Sierra, Inc., NVE Insurance Company, Inc. and Sierra Gas Holding Company. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of certain assets and liabilities. These estimates and assumptions also affect the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of certain revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates. In the opinion of the management of NVE, NPC and SPPC, the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements contain normal and recurring adjustments necessary to present fairly the consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods shown. These consolidated financial statements do not contain the complete detail concerning accounting policies and other matters, which are included in full year financial statements; therefore, they should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements included in the 2012 Form 10-K. The results of operations and cash flows of NVE, NPC and SPPC for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. Accounting Policies Consolidations of VIEs To identify potential variable interests, management reviewed contracts under leases, long-term purchase power contracts, tolling contracts and jointly owned facilities. The Utilities identified certain long-term purchase power contracts that could be defined as variable interests. However, the Utilities are not the primary beneficiary as they primarily lacked the power to direct the activities of the entity, including the ability to operate the generating facilities and make management decisions. The Utilities' maximum exposure to loss is limited to the cost of replacing these purchase power contracts if the providers are unable to deliver power. However, the Utilities believe their exposure is mitigated as they would likely recover these costs through their deferred energy accounting mechanism. As of September 30, 2013, the carrying amount of assets and liabilities in the Utilities’ balance sheets that relate to their involvement with VIEs are predominately related to working capital accounts and generally represent the amounts owed by the Utilities for the deliveries associated with the current billing cycle under the contracts. Recent Accounting Standards Update Derivatives and Hedging (ASC 815) In July 2013, the FASB amended its existing guidance related to hedge accounting. The amendment permits the Fed Funds Effective Swap Rate (OIS) to be used as a U.S benchmark interest rate for hedge accounting purposes under ASC 815, in addition, to the current approved U.S. rates which include interest rates on direct Treasury obligations of the U.S. government (UST) and LIBOR. The amendment is effective prospectively for qualifying new or redesignated hedging relationships entered into on or after July 17, 2013. The adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on the presentation of the consolidated financial statements or disclosure requirements for NVE and the Utilities. Income Taxes (ASC 740) In July 2013, the FASB amended its existing guidance related to the presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit on the financial statements. ASC 740, Income Taxes, does not include explicit guidance on the financial statement presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a NOL carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists. As a result, there is diversity in practice in the presentation of unrecognized tax benefits. The objective of the amendment is to eliminate the diversity in practice, requiring the unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a NOL carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward with certain exceptions. The amendment can be applied prospectively or retrospectively and is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013 for public entities. NVE and the Utilities have elected to early adopt this amendment prospectively as of September 30, 2013, presenting their unrecognized tax benefit as a reduction to their NOL deferred tax asset. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the presentation of the financial statements for NVE and the Utilities. Federal Income Tax Regulations In September 2013, the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Treasury Department released final tax regulations on the deduction and capitalization of expenditures related to tangible property. These regulations apply to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2014. NVE and the Utilities continue to evaluate the effects of the tangible property regulations as well as the generation guidance in Revenue Procedure 2013-24, but do not believe that these tax regulations will have a material impact on the presentation of the financial statements for NVE and the Utilities. Other Comprehensive Income (ASC 220) In December 2011, the FASB deferred the effective date of a portion of the June 2011 amendment related to the presentation of reclassification adjustments out of accumulated other comprehensive income. In February 2013, the FASB reinstated certain portions of the deferred amendment. The reinstated amendment is applied prospectively and is effective for NVE and the Utilities as of January 1, 2013. The adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on the presentation of the financial statements for NVE and the Utilities. Balance Sheet Offsetting Disclosures (ASC 210) In November 2011, the FASB amended the Balance Sheet Topic as reflected in the FASB Accounting Standards Codification to enhance current disclosures regarding offsetting (netting) of assets and liabilities on the face of the financial statements. The amendment requires an entity to disclose information about offsetting and related arrangements to enable users of the financial statements to understand the effect of those arrangements on its financial position. The scope of this amendment includes derivatives, sale and repurchase agreements and reverse sale and repurchase agreements, and securities borrowing and securities lending arrangements. The amendment is applied retrospectively to all periods presented and is effective for NVE and the Utilities as of January 1, 2013. The adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on the disclosure requirements for NVE and the Utilities.

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The significant accounting policies for both utility and non-utility operations are as follows:

Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of NV Energy, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, NPC, SPPC, Sierra Pacific Communications, Lands of Sierra, Inc., NVE Insurance Company, Inc. and Sierra Gas Holding Company. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of certain assets and liabilities. These estimates and assumptions also affect the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of certain revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

In the opinion of the management of NVE, NPC and SPPC, the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements contain normal and recurring adjustments necessary to present fairly the consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods shown. These consolidated financial statements do not contain the complete detail concerning accounting policies and other matters, which are included in full year financial statements; therefore, they should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements included in the 2012 Form 10-K.

The results of operations and cash flows of NVE, NPC and SPPC for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

Accounting Policies

Consolidations of VIEs

To identify potential variable interests, management reviewed contracts under leases, long-term purchase power contracts, tolling contracts and jointly owned facilities. The Utilities identified certain long-term purchase power contracts that could be defined as variable interests. However, the Utilities are not the primary beneficiary as they primarily lacked the power to direct the activities of the entity, including the ability to operate the generating facilities and make management decisions. The Utilities' maximum exposure to loss is limited to the cost of replacing these purchase power contracts if the providers are unable to deliver power. However, the Utilities believe their exposure is mitigated as they would likely recover these costs through their deferred energy accounting mechanism. As of September 30, 2013, the carrying amount of assets and liabilities in the Utilities’ balance sheets that relate to their involvement with VIEs are predominately related to working capital accounts and generally represent the amounts owed by the Utilities for the deliveries associated with the current billing cycle under the contracts.

Recent Accounting Standards Update

Derivatives and Hedging (ASC 815)

In July 2013, the FASB amended its existing guidance related to hedge accounting. The amendment permits the Fed Funds Effective Swap Rate (OIS) to be used as a U.S benchmark interest rate for hedge accounting purposes under ASC 815, in addition, to the current approved U.S. rates which include interest rates on direct Treasury obligations of the U.S. government (UST) and LIBOR. The amendment is effective prospectively for qualifying new or redesignated hedging relationships entered into on or after July 17, 2013. The adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on the presentation of the consolidated financial statements or disclosure requirements for NVE and the Utilities.

Income Taxes (ASC 740)

In July 2013, the FASB amended its existing guidance related to the presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit on the financial statements. ASC 740, Income Taxes, does not include explicit guidance on the financial statement presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a NOL carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists. As a result, there is diversity in practice in the presentation of unrecognized tax benefits. The objective of the amendment is to eliminate the diversity in practice, requiring the unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a NOL carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward with certain exceptions. The amendment can be applied prospectively or retrospectively and is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013 for public entities. NVE and the Utilities have elected to early adopt this amendment prospectively as of September 30, 2013, presenting their unrecognized tax benefit as a reduction to their NOL deferred tax asset. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the presentation of the financial statements for NVE and the Utilities.

Federal Income Tax Regulations

In September 2013, the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Treasury Department released final tax regulations on the deduction and capitalization of expenditures related to tangible property. These regulations apply to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2014. NVE and the Utilities continue to evaluate the effects of the tangible property regulations as well as the generation guidance in Revenue Procedure 2013-24, but do not believe that these tax regulations will have a material impact on the presentation of the financial statements for NVE and the Utilities.

Other Comprehensive Income (ASC 220)

In December 2011, the FASB deferred the effective date of a portion of the June 2011 amendment related to the presentation of reclassification adjustments out of accumulated other comprehensive income. In February 2013, the FASB reinstated certain portions of the deferred amendment. The reinstated amendment is applied prospectively and is effective for NVE and the Utilities as of January 1, 2013. The adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on the presentation of the financial statements for NVE and the Utilities.

Balance Sheet Offsetting Disclosures (ASC 210)

In November 2011, the FASB amended the Balance Sheet Topic as reflected in the FASB Accounting Standards Codification to enhance current disclosures regarding offsetting (netting) of assets and liabilities on the face of the financial statements. The amendment requires an entity to disclose information about offsetting and related arrangements to enable users of the financial statements to understand the effect of those arrangements on its financial position. The scope of this amendment includes derivatives, sale and repurchase agreements and reverse sale and repurchase agreements, and securities borrowing and securities lending arrangements. The amendment is applied retrospectively to all periods presented and is effective for NVE and the Utilities as of January 1, 2013. The adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on the disclosure requirements for NVE and the Utilities.