NV Energy Rate Hike Request

NV Energy wants to raise rates again. Residential customers would see about a 2.3% increase. Commercial customers would see 3.2%. If approved in September, the hike would kick in October 1st. What do you think about the increase? Let us know by leaving a comment below, we may read it on air.

Comments

[Timbo123]

The price of natural gas dropped
from $13.67 in 2008 to $11.88
in 2009, representing a 13.1%
decrease. NV Energy should be
required to reduce electricity
rates, not increase them. I
wonder now if a citizen can
go before the Public Utility
Commission to request a rate
decrease based on facts. NV Energy simply is gouging users since they have a monopoly here
and the Public Utility Commission, holds a couple of
public meetings then approves
NV Energy rate increase proposals.

[Tim Brennan]

The possibility of collusion
exists between NV Energy and
the PUC and I would suggest
the Atty General of Nevada
look into this possibility.

[Richard]

I think the problem is that a necessity like energy should never be put in the hands of a company who's only purpose is to make profits. NV energy should be in contol by people of Nevada not for profit but to maintain energy production for all people's of Nevada. We should be using profits to expand solar power production and geothermal power so that one day we reusable power that doesn't cost more or less based on fuel costs or stock holders greedy desires.

[Bud V]

Coming from Long Island I've grown accustomed to these companies putting on the Power Play. It's not like we can shop someplace else for power. Just another company that only cares about stuffing their own pockets.

[Dale]

Since when is the public responsible for reimbursment of a company policy such as the incentive program instituted by NV Energy? Further, since when is the public responsible for underwriting the income losses sustained by all the empty and foreclosed homes in Clark County? The reasons presented by this company are bogus.

[Mike Babbitt]

How about cutting out the incentives they pay out for awhile. They pay the school district maintenance employees 8 hrs OT every month to change light bulbs out. How much does that add up to? Cut out the buying of old refrigerators, republic picks them up for free. what is their problem with cutting their expenses like everyone else. Why doesn't the profit they make go for re-investment into the company instead of all of it going to the stock holders pockets. My 401K is being swallowed up everyday, they should have to suffer their pocket book being hit as well.

[Mike Babbitt]

Here is another classic example of a company paying high dividends to it's investors and when everyone conserves energy the investors make less so our punishment as a consumer we have to pay higher rates to compensate for the lack of power usage. Has any one looked into the bonus programs at Nevada Energy? Does anyone that knows anything have any say in the equipment purchased and it's cost? How about the investors going without a raise for a couple of years to see how it feels to have your pay stay the same and all the necessities in their life keep going up in price IE: electricity, gas and food? All of us are not rich . Someone needs to stop these 2 and 3 price gouging hikes every year.

[Agnes L. Ruffin]

I think it very unfair that NVEngergy should raise our power bills every year since they are a monoply in this state. Every other state you can make a choice to use a cheaper company. My power bills goes up from June to July every year. This June it was $59 and in July it was $143 and my bill for Aug. is $177. I keep my thermostat on 80 degrees.
I didn't a summer job with the CCSD because of budget cuts and only teachers ge paid during the summer. It is not fair. NVEnergy CEO's salaries should be cut and stop raising our bills each year. Thank you Agnes a concern customer who is tired of paying higher bills every year. Raise the working class salaries.
Thank you again Agnes

[Matt]

I don't understand how this power company can be so numb from the valley current situation.. Everyday on the news you hear about how bad are housing market is..What happen to are Solar plans?? That energy is free minus the equipment..

[Marie Dexter]

what are they doing????? why dont our paychecks compensate for all the raising? My Husband is 89 years old and has to work still to pay our bills, yes I have to work too and I am 66, when do the Golden years start and the prices go down??

[Dave S.]

It's a desert out there...

We are constantly asked to conserve energy and resources and when we do, these 'concerned' utilities don't meet their predicted earnings. To remedy that, rates go up.
Now with the 'Cap and Tax' bill in the works, we can expect more "Change".
This is what happens when you tax "The Rich". It trickles down to "Joe".

[Gail Morrison-Goins]

I think that this is ridiculous for NV Power to want yet another increase in our bills. I am with most if not all of the posters here in the fact that I can barely afford what I already have to pay. I can't afford anymore and it is not like they are very good about working with you to pay your bill if you get a little behind. What are we supposed to do? Are we not supposed to feed our kids??? Are we perhaps supposed to send them to school naked??? I don't understand why NV Power is constantly requesting increases in their bills yet the other utility companies have not. Not like NV Power. Maybe they should lower what their stock holders get and just out of curiosity how much does an employee at NV Power get off of their bill that WE are paying for???

[Patrick Waring]

I tried for one year to lower what I was speanding on the electric bill. I'm an electrician, so it wasn't too hard to find ways to reduce the usage. I used 15% less electricity from last year...and ended up paying the same as last year, so someone else gets to pocket my conservation efforts.....no wonder people are getting frustrated with this greedy system

[Tony Ford]

NV energy doesn't have the communinity's interest in mind with these rate hikes. Remember "don't bite the hand that feeds you". No promise of reduced rates in the future. The community can't spend right now and NV Energy should do the same. Put off spending more until the economy improves.

[amy]

The monthly customer charge, taxes, etc. are already outrageous- not even getting to the meat and potatoes of the actual energy cost themselves... there has to be another way. I fear people will be keeping their air conditioners off to save money and potentially encountering dangerous health risks for their families and pets.

[Al Dee]

It's a shame that elected officials won't protect ratepayers from this kind of psychopathic behavior from NV Energy. the people on fixed incomes will suffer the most. something will have to be eliminated from the household budget to pay the 17% rate hike and that will most likely be visits to the casinos. the endless depth of their greed is outrageous.

[Elvira A. Walklin]

I think that NV power needs to stop giving there stock holders and CEO so much money and let them take the 18% out of their own pockets they can better handle it then use since they make so much money. 18% would bring my power bill over $400.00. When I fist moved here my power bill was $35.00 a month. I think they have gotten enough raises over the years with all their new customers they are making money hand over fist. Let the average person in this city keep what little they have in this economy.

[Melvin Taylor]

Give me a (circuit) BREAK! The law may require fee hike increase to be presented, but does it require a nearly 20% increase over a 12-month span? NO! NV Energy, with it's name change and new partnerships, must not be allowed to use "legal" talk and threats of "diminishing returns" to "rape" consumers who are already suffering from the toughest economic times in more than 50 years! Don't they know that median incomes are DOWN for all working Americans over the last eight years? BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD NV Energy or get new leadership with clearer vision!

[Leah Gross]

I think it's an out rage. Last July my power bill was over $400.00 for one month... Plus NVenergy has taken away Primm for desert racing... What's next? Most people live pay check to pay check. So what have power and not eat or buy your meds? How do you expect people to pay when most people have lost their jobs?

[Kathy]

NV Energy states that the rate hike is necessary to build the more efficient energy stations. Once these are built, NV will produce 75% of its own energy, so we won't have to buy more expensive electricity. Once they are built and the energy costs are cheaper, does NV Energy plan on reducing rates accordingly or are they going to pocket the extra cash?

[Wayne Curtis]

They just want to steal the money that Obama is going to give us by lowering our income tax. That's about $30.00 more a month. Maybe our bosses will give us a $30.00 a month raise to off set the NV Energy hike. Maybe if frogs had wings they wouldn't bump their asses when they hopped.

[artie]

I'd like to know how much the "change" to NV Energy cost. Mailings, letterhead, the repainting of their entire automotive fleet, uniforms, building facade, etc, etc, etc. Was this really a necessary move? Perhaps I'm nitpicking. I choose to believe that I'm pointing out their absurdity by being just as absurd. Perhaps these costs incurred could have been better used towards what they are making us pay.

[ROSE FENSTERMAKER]

I THINK NV POWER NEEDS TO LOOK AT HARNESSING SOLAR POWER..WITH ALL THE DAYS OF SUNSHINE HERE IN NEVADA IT IS A GOOD AND PROBABLY CHEAPER SOURCE

ROSE

[D]

I'm with the other posters here. I think an 18% tax hike is plain 'crazy talk'. Even in a normal economy such a drastic hike is deplorable, considering regular inflation is a mere 3%, but when one adds in the high unemployment, pay freezes/cut hours and the headaches of surviving day to day, this is like adding poison to an already sharpened stick. I understand that NV Energy is losing money...but welcome to the rest of the world! And although I agree that in time, due to the fact that everything rises in cost, a small hike would be acceptable, this is just too much and too soon. As it stands, energy consumption in the valley has lessened because it's already so darn expensive, so this will just push people already close to the edge over. I say, come back to this issue when everything improves, and if they want to save money and keep the stock holders happy for now, let the executives and directors take an 18% cut on their numerous bonuses, perks, pay.

And we'll see how they like them cookies!

[Jason]

$30/month.. are you kidding me? We spent extra money installing energy efficient hardware and now that we're not using that much, they want to increase their rates? Let's be reasonable here! People are losing their jobs, their homes, their livelihood, and you guys want to make everyone pay more?! This is absolutely the worse time to do this.