Letter: Power company doesn’t care if the lights go out

Wednesday, May 1, 2002 | 9:17 a.m.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I have great concerns with the fast approaching summer and the possibility of endless power outages with the recent decision by the Public Utilities Commission's not to give Nevada Power its unrealistic rate increase. I believe we here in the valley will be forced to pay up or go without.

Did anyone notice that when the temperature nearly reached the century mark in the early part of April, we entered a yellow alert for power failure? Nevada Power is using this as propaganda to get the residents of Southern Nevada to scream "uncle" and capitulate to paying for the power company's mistakes.

Don't be surprised to see that Nevada Power will stand idly by and allow the power to go out as punishment for not spending every dime we have to support its poor choices. Then they'll tell us how their credit rating was ruined because of the PUC ruling.

If Nevada Power cannot resolve this financial problem without raising our power rates to star-reaching levels, they should do the honorable thing and declare bankruptcy and allow a more financially sound company to step in and stop the madness.

One final note: Every person must make it their business to cut power usage wherever and whenever they can. The office I work in, some employees couldn't care less about the power they waste. I am constantly turning off lights in rooms that aren't being used.

I hear these people complain about the lights being shut off; I wonder how they will react when the power goes out because of this unwillingness to do their part to conserve.

WALT STEBRITZ