Editorial: Advocate’s tenacity made for low rates

Friday, March 10, 2000 | 9:56 a.m.

Over the years Nevadans have enjoyed some of the lowest utility rates in the nation. While the state Public Utilities Commission has the final say on gas, electric and telephone rate hike requests, state Consumer Advocate Fred Schmidt's doggedness certainly contributed significantly to these lower rates. But after 12 years in the job representing the interests of Nevada's consumers, Schmidt announced this week that it is time for him to move on and enter private practice.

Even though he was vigorous in opposing utility rate hike requests he thought were too high, Schmidt couldn't be tagged as just a bureaucrat looking to keep the status quo. For instance, Schmidt didn't resist deregulation, acknowledging the value of letting consumers have a choice. What Schmidt did advocate, however, was a deregulated environment that meant all consumers -- including residential -- would have a choice, not just the big companies that energy retailers obviously would covet.

With deregulation of utilities now a certainty the job of the state consumer advocate naturally will evolve. The era of heavily contested rate cases will eventually end as the market forces of competition will be allowed to set prices instead. The job of the state consumer advocate, who is appointed by the attorney general, increasingly will center more on consumer protection involving issues such as unfair and deceptive trade practices. It will be important, then, for Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa to find someone with Schmidt's diligence to fill this tough job.