Carson City briefs for Jan. 20, 2003

Monday, Jan. 20, 2003 | 9:31 a.m.

Guinn favors local bid preferences

Gov. Kenny Guinn said he favors a 5 percent bidding preference for Nevada firms who bid on contracts with state government.

Guinn made his comments Friday at a meeting of the state Board of Examiners, of which he is chairman. The board had delayed from its last meeting the awarding of a $1.2 million contract for printing Nevada magazine to Banta Publications Group LP of Minnesota.

Guinn and then-Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa questioned why the job was going out of state. State purchasing officials said Banta Publications was $200,000 lower in bid than Craftsman Press West of Stead, north of Reno.

State law says an agency must take the lowest responsible bid. The magazine has been printed in the past by Banta.

Power firm's court delay opposed

Consumer advocate Tim Hay has filed a motion in District Court opposing a request by Nevada Power Co. to delay oral arguments in a $900 million rate increase case.

Nevada Power filed a request to postpone for 60 to 90 days the scheduled Feb. 5 oral arguments before District Judge Bill Maddox. The company said it had a new lawyer, that there was ongoing litigation involved and there was a potential settlement or narrowing of the issues.

Hay said those reasons do not represent a "legitimate emergency." Nevada Power filed a request with the state Public Utilities Commission to increase rates by $922 million to cover increased cost of fuel. The commission authorized the utility to collect $485 million.

Nevada Power filed suit, seeking the full amount. Hay filed a countersuit saying the PUC should have denied the full $922 million.

Hay fights rollback in AC efficiency

Consumer advocate Tim Hay said electric customers in Las Vegas could save $39 million annually if efficiency standards are increased for air-conditioning equipment.

Hay said he opposes the action of Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham, who rolled back increased efficiency standards.

He is scheduled to argue the case Jan. 29 in a federal appeals court in New York.

Gov. Kenny Guinn

has selected Roberta "Midge" Carver, the widow of Nye County Commissioner Dick Carver, as her late husband's replacement on the commission.