Following Overcharging Investigation, CEO Resignation, the utility monopoly asks for rate increases and demand charges
NEVADA – Nevada Conservation League will join our members to challenge NV Energy’s rate increase request during the General Rate Case Consumer Session, on Wednesday, June 4th at 6 p.m. at the Clark County Government Center, 500 S. Grand Central Pkwy.
General Rate Case Consumer Sessions are part of an approximately 200-day process to approve rate increases hosted by the Public Utility Commission of Nevada (PUCN). The media is invited to attend the PUCN Consumer Session to listen to testimonies from people protesting high energy bills, push back against rate increases, and demand pricing.
Nevadans already face some of the highest energy costs in the country. One in four families in Las Vegas spends over 13% of their income on energy, with many skipping meals, medicine, or cooling their homes just to keep the lights on. NV Energy’s plan will raise bills by an estimated $17 a month, making things worse for families.
This is the third year that NV Energy is seeking to raise rates on Nevada families. If the PUC approves this request, the utility monopoly’s annual profit would increase by $216 million.
Despite the PUCN investigating the utility monopoly’s overcharging 80,000 Nevadans $17 million and NV Energy’s CEO resigning shortly after, it is asking to implement Daily Demand Pricing, that will complicate bills further.
Currently, customers are charged mostly based on how much electricity they use over a month. But under daily demand charges, Nevadans would also be charged on their highest 15-minute usage daily. For example, if a family cleans their home on a Saturday afternoon — running the dishwasher, vacuuming, doing laundry, and has the A/C on — their bill would reflect that spike even if their overall energy consumption was low.
Daily Demand Pricing would add confusion and unpredictability to bills, punishing normal energy use while doing little to help families save and add an estimated $20 to $40 to Southern Nevadan bills.
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The Nevada Conservation League is the independent voice of Nevada’s conservation community. NCL works to maintain and enhance the natural character of Nevada and the quality of life for Nevadans through effective advocacy, the election of pro-conservation candidates, and building collaboration.