Chanos to replace Hay as consumer advocate

Cy Ryan and Kevin Rademacher

Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2004 | 10:56 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Adriana Escobar Chanos, a member of the state Public Utilities Commission since February 2001, today was named consumer advocate to represent the public in rate hearings sought by Nevada utilities.

The appointment was announced by Attorney General Brian Sandoval who also said Chanos probably will be based in Las Vegas. In the past the consumer advocate office has been based in Carson City.

Chanos will succeed Tim Hay, who has held the job since April 2000.

Hay says his appointment to the $99,772 position lasts until June 15. But Sandoval has a legal opinion from the Legislative Counsel Bureau that the term ends Jan. 1.

Hay said this morning that he expects Chanos to take over on Jan. 3.

"I expect I will move out next week," he said.

After some time off over the holidays, Hay said he will return to legal work on Nevada consumer issues.

"I would like to provide some low-cost legal services to some consumer groups," he said. "I am quite committed to making sure there is a forum for consumers to speak up."

In announcing the appointment of Chanos, Sandoval said she "brings antitrust experience and credentials to this post and her tenure at the Public Utilities Commission will serve her well as consumer advocate.

Richard Burdette, energy adviser to Gov. Kenny Guinn, praised Chanos' work.

"She knows the subject matter and how to work within commission rules," Burdette said. "She knows how to effectively represent consumers and small businesses who will now be her clients."

Chanos, as a member of the utilities commission, sometimes split with fellow commissioners and recommended a lower rate than sought by the utilities. For instance last May, she teamed with Commissioner Carl Linville to trim the request of Sierra Pacific Power Co. from $95 million to $46.7 million. She dissented on a Southwest Gas rate case, suggesting a $6.2 million increase rather than the $7.3 million approved by the commission.

Prior to her service on the PUC, Chanos was a member of the Nevada Taxicab Authority. She was appointed to that position by Gov. Bob Miller in 1997 and was reappointed by Gov. Kenny Guinn in 2000.

She is a founding partner of the Chanos Escobar Chanos, a law firm that practiced primarily in the areas of business transactions, litigation negotiation and dispute resolution.

She formerly served as a deputy city attorney for the city of San Diego. She received her undergraduate degree from UNLV and her law degree from the California Western School of Law.

Hay and Sandoval got cross-wise on some issues. For instance, Hay refused to move the headquarters for the Consumer Advocate's office from a building in east Carson City to one near the attorney general's office. Hay said his present location was near the Public Utilities Commission where most of his work is generated.

Greg Bortolin, a spokesman for Guinn, said a replacement for Chanos on the PUC will likely be named early next year.