Little debated at power hearing for consumers

Thursday, Feb. 6, 2003 | 9:58 a.m.

Sparse attendance at two consumer sessions Wednesday to address a proposed Nevada Power Co. rate decrease stood in stark contrast to last year's standing-room-only crowds that railed against the utility.

Only eight ratepayers combined spoke at the sessions at North Las Vegas City Hall and Richard H. Bryan Elementary School in Summerlin.

Last year the Las Vegas company sought rate increases of as much as 25 percent for energy used by Southern Nevadans in 2001. Now the utility has applied for rate adjustments that would amount to a 5.6 percent decrease in monthly residential bills and a 5.3 percent discount for all customers.

State Public Utilities Commission Chairman Donald Soderberg, who attended the evening session at the elementary school that drew comments from only two ratepayers, said he had never witnessed such a sparse turnout among the dozens of town hall-style meetings he has witnessed.

"We typically get at these meetings people who are either angry at a proposed increase or have service problems," Soderberg said.

The Public Utility Commission is expected to open hearings in Las Vegas in late March and the rate adjustments, if approved, could become effective as early as mid-May.

"It is extremely important that we hear from our customers," Nevada Power President Shalmy told the North Las Vegas gathering. "We want to provide you with lower utility rates."

Last spring the PUC granted the company a rate increase of $485 million to cover energy it bought in 2001. It had requested $922 million, and the decision put the utility in financial distress.

Shalmy said the reason the company can afford to ask for a rate decrease this time is that wholesale energy prices have declined substantially.

"As the market allows us, we can give you these savings," he said.

Not everyone has been sold on Nevada Power's efforts, however.

"I really want to thank you for the proposed 5.3 percent decrease but on behalf of veterans and senior citizens it's not enough and it's a fraud," Las Vegas resident Arby Hambric said. "You don't deserve another dollar from the customers until you have returned all that you have stolen from them."

Two more consumer sessions will be conducted on Monday at 2 p.m. at the Henderson Convention Center at 200 Water St. in Henderson and at 6 p.m. at the Winchester Community Center at 3130 McLeod Ave.