Pacific Power Group history

In 1976 it formed Northern Energy Resources Company (NERCO) to manage its coal properties and mining operations.

In 1979 Pacific bought Alascom from RCA Corporation for $210 million.

At the same time, the company decided to push electricity sales to make use of its huge excess generating capacity. Its earnings also were helped by the 1982 purchase of two gold and silver mines in Nevada.

NERCO launched a drive in 1983 to sign industrial customers to long-term coal contracts to make up for declining sales to utilities.

In 1984 PacifiCorp formed Inner PacifiCorp, Inc., to hold NERCO, Pacific Telecom, and other nonelectric businesses.

By 1985 conditions had improved for PacifiCorp's electric business.

Utah and Oregon provided most of the company's electric revenue, with 37.2 percent and 29.6 percent, respectively, in 1989.

By 1990 PacifiCorp provided electricity to 1.2 million customers.

As a first step in entering a competitive market, PacifiCorp established a marketing office for wholesale power in Las Vegas in 1994.

In 1995 PacifiCorp sold its long-distance telephone provider Alascom to AT&T. Not only did these sales bring in cash that could be used in strategic acquisitions, it also helped the company focus on its electric utilities and its wholesale marketing of electricity.

In 1997 PacifiCorp bought TPC, a natural gas exploration and marketing company, for $435 million.