MINNEAPOLIS (April 23, 1999) -- NRG Energy, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Northern States Power Company (NYSE:NSP), announced its selection as winning bidder for the Seyitömer Power Station in Küthya, Turkey.

NRG, with its partners Peabody Group, Koç Holding, Demir Export and EGEM Energy won the bid to acquire the 600 MW lignite-fired plant. The plant consists of four, 150 MW units. Power from the Seyitömer station will be sold to TEAS, the Turkish national power company, under a 20-year power sales agreement

The Seyitömer plant is NRG's second acquisition to be announced in Turkey. In 1998, NRG signed an agreement to acquire the 450 MW coal-fired Kangal plant in central Turkey with its partners Peabody Group, Koç Holding and Demir Export.

"The acquisition of Seyitömer is a key element in NRG's strategy to build a significant, long-term position in the high-growth energy market in Turkey," commented Ron Will, CEO, NRG Europe.

NRG is one of the world's leading independent power producers, specializing in the development, construction, operation, maintenance and ownership of low-cost, environmentally-sensitive power plants. Established in 1989, NRG has a high quality portfolio of projects in the United States, Europe, the Pacific Rim, and Latin America. NRG is involved in approximately 15,000 MW of projects utilizing diverse fuel types including natural and landfill gas, hydro, and solid fuels such as coal, lignite, biomass and refuse-derived fuel.

Certain information included in this press release contains statements that are forward-looking. Such forward-looking information involves risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect anticipated results in the future and, accordingly, such results may differ from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of NRG.

For more information regarding these risks and uncertainties, review NRG's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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Trudy Marshall
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612/373-5410