Dozens of community members from a variety of grassroots organizations held a rally outside the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) on Monday to protest what they said was a massive fixed-service fee hike proposed by NV Energy.
“The public utility has proposed to nearly triple the monthly fixed service charge on electric bills, raising the monthly charge for working class Nevadans while lowering the volumetric charge,” organizers of the protest said. “The policy has the effect of increasing bills for those who use less energy, while lowering bills for heavy users, like wealthy corporations.”
NV Energy’s spokesperson said that is not true and that the rate changes are designed so customers pay an averaged flat fee each month rather than lower or higher bills based on energy use.
“The proposal being heard by the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada would not increase average customer bills but will provide more predictable bills for customers and reduce the bill volatility that customers experience during periods of extreme weather,” NV Energy spokesperson Megin Delaney said.
The utility admitted, however, the move is “to recover investments the company has made” to deliver energy to northern Nevada’s growing population.
No changes will occur until the PUCN has issued an order in the case.
Critics said NV Energy’s plan will disincentivize rooftop solar, and the ratepayers were prevented from Monday’s PUCN hearing while global companies got to testify about NV Energy’s plan.
“We need energy that is reliable and affordable, clean and for the people,” said Leslie Vega, of the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada (PLAN). “We can either continue down the path of paying our utility bills each month to enrich CEOs and corporate shareholders invested in dirty energy, or we can demand a transition to affordable, clean energy with public oversight and authority.”
PLAN representatives said that a 2022 study found 27% of Americans struggled to pay utility bills, or they kept their homes at an unsafe temperature because of cost concerns.
