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Tuesday, June 7, 2011 | 2:05 a.m.
CARSON CITY -- NV Energy made a hard, successful push for a major policy bill requiring the Public Utilities Commission to allow it to build transmission lines, with lawmakers passing it in the final minutes of the legislative session.
Energy experts say the cost of transmission lines could be up to $1 billion, which would be paid for by ratepayers. Sen. Mike Schneider, D-Las Vegas, who introduced the amendment, said ratepayers could be paid back as the state exports renewable energy to California.
Tacked onto Assembly Bill 416, the amendment was a model of quick action, introduced shortly before midnight in the Senate and passing overwhelmingly.
Some Republicans voted no, concerned about a geothermal provision and its impact on counties. The Assembly then agreed to the amendment shortly before its 1 a.m. deadline.
The effects on ratepayers were unclear Tuesday night, though NV Energy vice president Tony Sanchez noted that any rate case and approval would have to go through the Nevada Public Utilities Commission.
So we already have to pay back NV for saving energy now they want to charge us for power lines to serve someone else. Good job legislaters realy looking out for nevada consumers.
Anything passed like this can't be good for the people.
I have been fuming over NV Energy since Enron. Paybacks that were supposed to have occurred when they robbed us then with rate increase, never materialized, only still higher rates. Then, the guaranteed income from consumers using less energy, paid by all.
Now, this really boils my blood. An end run around the Public Utilities Commission who oversees their efforts to rob us blind. Made worse by the fact it was at the last possible minutes, so no hearings, no testimony, nothing that would speak for the consumer, or need.
Only that we get the privilege of paying for the lines that allow NV Energy to make a profit from selling energy to California. That profit is supposed to help us. ROFL No way that will happen. Past history of NV Power/Energy proves it. And, what happens when energy conscious CA decides it doesn't need our power? They won''t like being dependent on robbers.
This will continue until we start voting, and then voting for legislators who are not in the pocket of NV Energy. I vote, how about you? I write, how about you?
A thieving monopoly at it's finest. I'm certain we'd still be using landlines & rotary dial phones while paying $100/month if AT&T was still a monopoly. Where is the competition to keep these money grabbers in check?!?!
This is the result of "Privatizing the Utility". The only increased efficiency is noticed in robbing the public.