**Photos, recording and live streaming are available**
After a year of scandals and rising energy costs,
Nevadans are pushing back
LAS VEGAS – Nevadans, nonprofits, and organizations will join Nevada Conservation League (NCL) in protesting NV Energy’s rising power bills, pattern of bad behavior, and scandals at a rally and press conference ahead of the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada’s (PUCN) General Consumer Session today, Wednesday, Oct. 22, starting at 4:45 p.m.
Due to a hacking of the Nevada state government in August, the annual General Consumer Session at the PUCN was cancelled and rescheduled for today.
But key decisions that negatively impacted Nevadans were made by the PUCN before the General Consumer Session could be rescheduled — including passing the cost of building Greenlink onto consumers, approving the complicated daily demand charge, and changes to how solar customers are billed.
The General Rate Case is decided, and intervenors are now seeking reconsideration. The General Consumer Session is the only public forum for Nevadans to discuss anything and everything regarding utility monopolies including the increasing strain of high bills on Nevadan families ans businesses, the totality of NV Energy’s pattern of poor behavior this year — from the overcharge scandal, changes to net-metering in Northern Nevada and trying to pass on costs like limo services, liquor, and luxury onto everyday people. Attached is a timeline of these patterns of bad behaviors from October 2024 to October 2025.
Following the rally, there will be a public memorial for Rev. Leonard B. Jackson, Faith Organizing Alliance, whose work as a civil rights leader included advancing and advocating for clean energy at 5 p.m.
For members of the press who need to set up mics and cameras, please arrive at 4:45 p.m., ahead of the memorial service. At 5:15 p.m., NCL and our partners will start the press conference.
The rally and press conference will be held outside of the building where the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada, at 9075 W. Diablo Drive. Please view map attached for the exact location. After, rally attendees and nonprofits will give public comment in Suite 250, Hearing Room A.
“Faith Organizing Alliance remains unwavering in our commitment to ensuring that every Nevadan has access to clean, affordable energy,” Cheryl Peters, Executive Director, Faith Organizing Alliance, said. “We are deeply concerned by the Public Utility Commission’s approval to raise NV Energy bills — a move that would place even greater strain on families already struggling to make ends meet. At a time when so many households can barely afford the basics, increasing energy costs is not just unjust — it’s unconscionable.”
“Vote Solar is committed to ensuring that all Nevadans have access to clean, affordable energy. We are deeply concerned about the impact of the PUC’s decision on this rate case, and are weighing all options to defend the rights of Nevada customers,” Chauntille Roberts, West Regional Director of Voter Solar, said.
“We’re here once again to raise our voices and make ourselves heard,” said Ana Gonzalez, Chispa Nevada member. “The PUCN’s rate case decision is unjust and shows that they don’t understand what Nevada working families are going through. We are willing to pay a fair price. But these constant price increases, overcharges and abuses by monopoly utility companies are increasing poverty in our state, with no relief in sight. We can’t go on like this. We demand change.”
“The PUCN’s approval of a daily demand charge is bad for everyone,” said Gloria Pharr, a supporter of Solar United Neighbors. “It’s confusing and unfair, and it is one more way for NV Energy to make another buck at the expense of everyday Nevadans. Families should have a fair chance to lower their energy bills and the freedom to choose homegrown solar power – not higher costs and fewer options. We need more local and affordable clean energy, and that means solar.”
“When energy bills go up, families are forced to make impossible choices,” Dr. House, CEO of CHR, Inc., said. “It’s all too common. Parents are choosing between keeping the lights on and putting food on the kitchen table. NV Energy’s frequent attempts to raise our monthly bills have real consequences for real people. The Commission must do more to investigate the utility’s requests and insist on fair bills, not overly complicated schemes that make it harder for families to get by.”
“High energy bills don’t just strain household budgets — they weaken entire communities,” Pastor DeWayne McCoy, a member of Faith In Action Nevada, said. “When NV Energy pushes to raise rates or makes costly mistakes, the burden to pay falls hardest on those who can least afford it. The Commission must stand with Nevadans, not the utility, and do more to lower bills and protect families.”
“As a veteran that relies on federal benefits related to my service, I can tell you how painful it is to see the constant rise in energy prices on a fixed income,” Manuel Santamaria, of Veterans Power America, said. “Veterans in this position are now dealing with the skyrocketing cost of power in a state that is becoming increasingly unaffordable. The PUCN is being used by NV Energy to run cover for their monopoly, and we urge them to take the consumer into consideration.”
“Nevadans deserve an energy system rooted in transparency, fairness, and accountability. For too long, NV Energy’s prioritization of profits over people has burdened working families, seniors, and small businesses with unjustified rate hikes and a lack of oversight,” Jonathan Aguilar, a member with Make the Road Nevada, said. “With extreme temperatures like the ones in Nevada, electricity is a basic need in Nevada, not a luxury. It’s time consumers stand up, demand change, and hold this company accountable—because every Nevadan deserves affordable, reliable power. We must take action now to stop these abuses and ensure a fair future for all.”
“Showing up is not symbolic. It is how we, the people, demand what is right for our communities and families, but unless we speak them into the record, they are invisible in the law,” Leslie Vega, Policy Fellow at Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada. “We are asking Nevadans not to watch this debate from the outside and let NVEnergy win once again, but to occupy the spaces where our voice counts by design: the record.”
“While monopoly utilities boost profits on the backs of working families, Nevadans are left struggling with rising bills. Moms Clean Air Force is calling for transparency and strong oversight because no family should have to choose between groceries and keeping the lights on, and utilities shouldn’t get away with asking for forgiveness later. Our bills should fund reliable, affordable, clean energy, not corporate perks. We’re demanding energy planning that protects our families, safeguards our children’s future, and puts people before corporate greed,” Mary Wagner, Nevada Field Organizer, Moms Clean Air Force-EcoMadres.
“We understand the impossible choices our families, communities, and fellow Nevadans face as prices continue to rise. We know that energy bills are increasing at twice the rate of inflation. We know that the PUCN is tasked with the important and difficult role of ensuring utility monopolies, like NV Energy, deliver power in a prudent, efficient, economically responsible, and reliable way,” Kristee Watson, Executive Director of NCL, said. “But we also know that it’s our families, our seniors, our faith leaders, and our veterans who power Nevada. We urge the PUCN to stand beside us to build a better energy system in Nevada and to weigh our voices, our stories, our hardships with the same consideration they give NV Energy, a utility monopoly embroiled in too many scandals this year to count.”
NCL and our partners will host this press conference and rally. The PUCN is not affiliated with this event. The signs were handmade by members of the public ahead of the rally.
The press conference will be live-streamed, and the meeting will be recorded on NCL’s YouTube Channel for media unable to attend. B-Roll and courtesy photos will be made available here.
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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.