Nevada
Northern Nevadans fear NV Energy plan would mean some of highest service charges in U.S. • Nevada Current
Northern Nevada residents voiced their opposition Tuesday to NV Energy’s proposal to increase its shareholder return by increasing the basic monthly service charge from $16.50 to $45.30, beginning Oct. 1.
The utility recently increased the monthly service charge in Southern Nevada by almost 50%, from $12.50 to $18.50.
The proposal, which is confined to the north for now, is designed to stabilize energy bills, according to the utility, which wants to increase its rate of return to investors from 9.5% to 10.4%.
The 9% increase on electricity bills would generate $96 million a year for NV Energy, according to executive Janet Wells. Gas customers would fuel an additional $12 million in revenue.
“When we were preparing this filing, we were cognizant of how challenging 2023 was for our customers,” Wells said Tuesday in Carson City. “Inflation was a nationwide issue in 2023 and NV Energy was no exception.”
Wells said by the end of the year, the average customer’s bill is projected to be 8% less than at the end of 2023, including the proposed increase in the basic service charge.
“Under the current proposal, the average monthly bill for a residential customer would drop from $119 in 2023 to $114 in 2024,” she said.
Wells cited “misinformation shared indicating that by increasing the basic service charge, certain customers like low income customers and those on fixed income will pay more and that is not the case.”
But two groups of customers – low-income residents who limit their energy use to save money, and customers who invested tens of thousands of dollars in rooftop solar – told Public Utilities Commissioner Randy Brown they will be disproportionately harmed by a 170% increase in the monthly service charge.
Lyon County resident Eric Obermayer says he saves $500 a year on electricity costs since investing in rooftop solar. That savings would be slashed while the time required to pay off his system would be tripled.
“I respectfully ask the Public Utilities Commission to reject this tone deaf, self-serving proposal,” he said..
The move is a departure from long standing utility regulatory policy that assesses energy costs based on consumption.
“You are not balancing consumer needs but sacrificing them to benefit NV Energy from my perspective,” said Dr. Sandra Koch, a Carson City obstetrician and gynecologist. “Over the past two years, you have granted NV Energy the unprecedented financial benefits of allowing a 10% profit above the costs for operations, maintenance, administration and general costs.”
Allowing profit from operating, maintenance, administration and general expenses will cost ratepayers $9.5 million, she noted.
“In a second unprecedented financial benefit to NV Energy, the PUC approved ratepayers paying for the bonuses NV Energy had paid staff,” Koch added.
Finally, she said, the PUC allowed NV Energy “to circumvent the usual process for application for new expensive projects and approved an emergency request to build a $33 million natural gas peaker plant. That’s a $33 million profit for NV Energy by granting them approval under an emergency request. And the cost is borne directly by the ratepayers.”
The proposed hike in the basic service charge, Koch said, “would make Nevada the state with the highest base rate in the nation, and will unquestionably be a financial assault on low energy users and low income families.”
NV Energy customer Thomas Komadina cited a survey indicating the average service charge among 170 investor-owned utilities is $11.66.
NV Energy “is attempting to insulate its revenue streams from growing competition with technology,” Jeff Galloway wrote in a comment submitted to the PUC.
He called the plan discriminatory, noting NV Energy is “creating two very different rates for the same service provided in Nevada.”
The proposed increase, he wrote, creates “intra-class customer inequities. Higher than average energy users get a lower than average rate increase, while low energy customers pay a higher percentage than the average rate increase proposed.”
Galloway noted NV Energy “is a private business and thus not a state-owned entity. Yet there is clear evidence that the customers are the financiers of last resort, without the benefits of ownership.”
Galloway says offsetting energy costs via a higher service charge amounts to bundling energy costs.
“The bundling of services is typically a competitive business sales strategy. The bundle is commonly employed by cellular and cable TV providers,” he wrote.
But electricity, unlike cable TV, is a necessity, not an option.
“I just don’t believe that they should move the base rate so high. It really hurts the low-income,” said Kari Wilson, a native of Carson City. “I only have so much money. It has to stretch till I die. And the more you eat it up, if I run out I’ll have to be on the dole.”
The PUC will hold its first hearing on the proposal June 26.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom addressed Nevada Democrats who packed a Las Vegas brewery Wednesday evening for a discussion about his upbringing, his political life and efforts his state has taken to combat the Trump administration agenda.
Newsom, who has been floated as a possible White House contender for 2028, sidestepped a quip from former Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak who introduced him as the next U.S. president amid cheers from the crowd.
“I’m very grateful for your friendship, and a friendship that’s only strengthened over the course of the last year or so,” Newsom told Sisolak.
Book tour stop
The event, which served as a book tour stop for the California governor, was organized by the Nevada Democratic Party. It took place at Nevada Brew Works near Summerlin.
Nevada Assemblymember Daniele Monroe-Moreno, the state party chair running for North Las Vegas mayor, moderated the discussion.
It was part of the party’s Local Brews + National Views series that’s been bringing Democrats for similar discussions at intimate venues. Past speakers have included former President Joe Biden, Arizona U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker.
Criticizing President Donald Trump, Newsom spoke about the immediate aftermath of the 2024 general election.
“We were handwringing, a lot of finger pointing, and a sense of weakness,” Newsom said. “And just incapable of dealing with this moment, this existential moment.”
He said he is taking account for what he described as his own complicity.
“This happened on my watch. This is all happening on our watch,” Newsom said. “And so I realized that I needed to be better.”
That included his advocacy to redraw California’s Congressional map after Trump called for the same in Texas, he said.
“They’re not screwing around, nor are we,” he said about Trump and his administration. “All of us.”
‘You’re giving us a voice’
Newsom spoke out against the surge of federal immigration enforcement operations in California and later Minnesota, calls from the Trump administration to nationalize elections, and cuts to government funding due to the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act.
He said that pushback against Trump’s policies, including dozens of lawsuits filed by California, were making the president retreat on some of his proposals and policies.
“You’re filling the void, you’re giving us a voice, you’re giving us courage,” he told the crowd. “For things to change, we have to change. And it’s changing.”
The Republican National Committee reacted to Newsom’s Las Vegas visit. Earlier in the day, Newsom attended a private Boulder City event.
“Democrats are selling out to the spoiled, phony rich kid governor from California for years,” RNC spokesperson Nick Poche wrote in a statement. “President Donald Trump and Republicans are delivering major tax cuts and keeping Nevadans safe, unlike Democrats.”
The national Republican Party also criticized California’s policies, and tied them back to Nevada Democrats.
Most of Newsom’s remarks weren’t specific to Nevada. He didn’t take any questions from media.
Polling shows Newsom and Vice President JD Vance leading in hypothetical races for their parties’ nomination. That includes a survey of likely Nevada voters conducted one by Emerson College Polling in November.
Contact Ricardo Torres-Cortez at rtorres@reviewjournal.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – It’s time to “free your heels” and embrace Tahoe’s winter recreation at the Nevada Nordic Freeheel Festival on March 7. Whether you’re a seasoned pro at cross-country skiing or snowshoeing, or you’re trying to get your feet wet, Saturday’s event is teeming with nature, brews, and camaraderie.
Travel North Tahoe Nevada (TNTNV) is teaming up with Nevada Nordic, Tahoe Multisport, Alibi Ale Works, UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center, Nevada Division of Outdoor Recreation and other local partners in the wondrous Tahoe Meadows, providing attendees a chance to engage with outdoor recreation experts, check out free cross-country and snowshoe rentals, and more.
“We’re excited to see the Nevada Nordic Freeheel Festival enter its second year, building on last year’s strong community response. In collaboration with our local partners, this event is thoughtfully curated with residents in mind – offering free equipment for the day, expert instruction, locally crafted brews, and other experiences in a welcoming setting,” said Andy Chapman, President and CEO of Travel North Tahoe Nevada. “It’s designed to make it easy for residents to get outside, try something new, and bring people together. Events like this reflect the spirit of North Lake Tahoe and what’s possible when our community comes together.”
Along with opportunities to test out free demos and rentals, there will be live music, beer tasting and races.
Tahoe Meadows is known for its gentle trails, and is a popular spot for snowshoeing due to its flat terrain. This event, located near Chickadee Ridge, will offer stunning views of the surrounding mountains.
This family-friendly event is on the second to last day of the 10-day SnowFest winter festival that’s been taking place in the North Lake Tahoe area. It starts bright and early at 9 a.m. and will close out at 2 p.m.
“Nevada Nordic is thrilled to be a part of SnowFest again this year,” said Meghan Pry, Nevada Nordic Board Member. “We love sharing our passion for cross-country skiing and watching our community grow. We are proud to keep winter recreation accessible by offering free access to our 20km trail network. This is the perfect opportunity for our community to gather together and free our heels!”
For more information about the Nevada Nordic Freeheel Festival or to check out the SnowFest schedule, visit tahoesnowfest.org.
A swarm of earthquakes has been rattling a remote stretch of central Nevada near Tonopah, including a magnitude 4.0 quake that hit near Warm Springs Tuesday morning.
Seismologists said the activity is typical for Nevada, where clusters of earthquakes can flare up in a concentrated area. “This is a very Nevada-style earthquake sequence. We have these a lot where we just see an uptick in activity in a certain spot,” said Christie Rowe, director of the Nevada Seismological Lab.
The latest magnitude 4.0 quake struck east of Tonopah near Warm Springs. The largest earthquake in the swarm so far has measured a 4.2.
What has stood out to researchers is the fault involved. Rowe said the earthquakes are occurring along a fault stretching along the southern edge of the Monitor and Antelope ranges — and that it was previously unknown to scientists. “We didn’t know this fault was there. It’s a new fault to us — not to the Earth, obviously — but it was previously unknown,” Rowe said.
For now, the earthquakes have remained moderate. Rowe said the lab would not deploy additional temporary sensors unless activity increases to around a magnitude 5 or greater.
Seismologists said they are continuing to watch the swarm closely as Nevada works to bring the ShakeAlert early warning system to the state. The program, already active in neighboring states, can send cellphone alerts seconds before shaking arrives. “For me, it’s a really high priority. That distance to the faults gives us enough time to warn people — and that can make a big difference in reducing injuries and damage,” Rowe said.
Seismologists encouraged anyone who feels shaking to report it through the U.S. Geological Survey’s “Did You Feel It” system, saying even small quakes can help scientists better understand Nevada’s seismic activity.
Experts said the swarm is worth monitoring but is not cause for alarm. They noted that earthquakes like the 5.8 that hit near Yerington in December 2024 typically happen in Nevada about every eight to 10 years, and said they will continue monitoring the current activity closely.
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