A new campaign is calling for greater accountability and transparency from the utility companies that power Southern Nevada—and hoping to connect with the public and better inform consumers about energy issues.
Led by the Nevada Conservation League (NCL), a coalition of organizations launched Utility Watch Nevada last month, aiming to educate residents and community members about the impacts of utility energy decisions and empower people to help shape a healthier energy future. Utilitywatchnv.org contains plenty of information and resources as well as a petition created so Nevada residents can demand affordable, reliable and clean energy from primary providers NV Energy and Southwest Gas.
“What we’ve seen in recent years is a steep increase for Nevadans and what they’re having to pay to turn the lights on and run gas appliances,” says Kristee Watson, NCL executive director. “Seeing the public sentiment become frustrated and ask why it is like this and what we can do to make a change ... we felt like there was a real knowledge gap, and we could step in and help clarify and make the process more transparent.”
NCL deputy director Christi Cabrera-Georgeson says understanding why your power bill changes can be complicated, especially with the fluctuating cost of natural gas, which provides the largest share of the state’s power. “Part of it is inflation, but ... we also don’t necessarily make the connection that global events affect our fuel costs. And the utilities don’t feel any of that pain of soaring prices, it’s passed directly to customers, and people don’t understand why, they just know they’re suffering and they need solutions.”
Utility Watch was created in partnership with Chispa Nevada; Caring, Helping, Restoring Lives; Faith In Action Nevada; Faith Organizing Alliance; For Our Future Nevada; Moms Clean Air Force; and Solar United Neighbors. The statewide campaign also seeks to mobilize customers to demand stronger policies and regulations that ensure energy efficiency as well as affordable bills.
In a news release, Chispa Nevada program director Audrey Peral said, “Corporate greed is forcing Nevada working families to choose between paying for groceries or paying their utility bills, and we need urgent relief.”
Nevada’s utility corporations are classified as regulated monopolies, and the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) is tasked with enforcing compliance of federal laws and developing rules and regulations.
It also holds consumer sessions, where the public gets to speak about utility issues and the Legislature receives transcripts from those feedback sessions—and the Utility Watch campaign is highlighting those opportunities. Southern Nevada consumer sessions are scheduled for this week, September 23 at 1 p.m. and September 25 at 6 p.m. at the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada at 9075 West Diablo Drive #250.
Watson says the Utility Watch website offers information for customers so they don’t feel as if they don’t know what to do at the consumer sessions. “If residents need help or talking points for clarification, that is on the website, and we’re also there and talking to anyone who is curious about how they can affect change and be helpful,” she says.
NV Energy officials say the company “continues to advance plans in Nevada for our customers that result in both reliable and affordable energy,” in a statement to Las Vegas Weekly. “In Southern Nevada, bills will be lower by the end of 2024 than they were in 2023. We have worked hard at NV Energy to make that happen. We’ve heard from our customers, and we always work to keep bills affordable.”
The statement also noted, “We look forward to hearing directly from our customers during upcoming consumer sessions later this month.”
Nevada doesn’t produce natural gas, a fossil fuel, but relies on it heavily for energy. The Nevada Conservation League and its Utility Watch partners believe new NV Energy projects like the Silverhawk Generating Station peaker plant in North Las Vegas (as well as more natural gas developments for which the utility is currently seeking approval) will end up exacerbating the problems of higher bills and unsustainable resources.
“Nevada went over a decade without building any new fossil fuel infrastructure until last year, when the [PUCN] approved several projects,” says Cabrera-Georgeson. “And [NV Energy] is asking for additional fossil fuel resources in its plan filed this year. If approved, it will be $1.1 billion in new methane gas infrastructure in the last two years, which is unacceptable for a state that doesn’t produce any methane but is the top state in the country in solar energy potential.”
NV Energy notes its 2024 Integrated Resource Plan “will bring new resources to our state and our customers, including proposing more than 1,000 new megawatts of solar energy and more than 1,000 new megawatts of battery storage.
“The proposal is still pending with the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada,” the statement continues. “If approved, customers will not see costs from these projects in their rates or on their bills until they are in use and useful.”
The PUCN decision on NV Energy’s Integrated Resource Plan is expected December 20.
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