Atkinson named CFO of Sierra Pacific Resources

Richard K. Atkinson has been named

vice president and chief financial officer

of Sierra Pacific Resources, the company

said last week.

Atkinson, previously vice president,

treasurer and investor relations officer of

Sierra Pacific Resources, succeeds Dennis

Schiffel as CFO, said Walter M.

Higgins, chairman, president and chief

executive officer of Reno-based Sierra

Pacific Resources.

Atkinson, who reports directly to

Higgins, is now responsible for all financial,

accounting and risk management

activities of the corporation.

The operating subsidiaries of Sierra

Pacific Resources include Sierra Pacific

Power in northern Nevada and Nevada

Power Co. in the Las Vegas region.

Atkinson joined the company in 1980

and has held management positions in

financial planning/forecasting,

financial/economic analysis and treasury

operations. He was named assistant

treasurer in 1996, treasurer and investor

relations officer in 2000, and vice president

in 2002.

Schiffel joined Sierra Pacific

Resources in July 2001 after a 20-year

career with Atlantic Richfield Company.

He said he left to pursue other interests.

"I believe the company is on the road

to financial recovery," he said.

Sierra Pacific Resources has struggled

since the state's utility regulators said the

company couldn't pass along to its customers

all of the sharply higher costs it

paid for power in 2001.

Atkinson, whose offices are currently

in Reno, will be relocating to Sierra

Pacific Resources' offices in Las Vegas.