NV Energy asks PUC to delay peak demand charge start date

By Dana Gentry, Nevada Current

NV Energy wants permission from the Public Utilities Commission to push back implementation of its controversial peak demand charge until Oct. 1. The legality of the demand charge is being challenged in court by the Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. It was scheduled to go into effect April 1.

“By delaying implementation, the Company is prioritizing customer understanding, transparency and readiness,” says the filing.

It will also avoid the public outcry that experts predict will result from peak demand charges on summer electricity bills.

“It’s interestingly timed with the election and the fact that the charge probably won’t be as apparent in November when bills come out, depending on how warm it is in Las Vegas in October,” former Nevada Consumer Advocate and federal energy regulator Jon Wellinghoff said of the utility’s request to delay the charge.

On Wednesday, the Current reported that Nevadans are asking Gov. Joe Lombardo to stop the demand charge from going into effect until lawmakers can have a say next year, and that the billing change, which was approved by Lombardo’s appointees to the PUC, could sway the election in favor of the governor’s opponent.

Lombardo’s office did not immediately respond when asked Wednesday if the governor played a role in delaying the rate’s implementation.

The utility says it wants to ensure “that customers understand daily demand, have the information and tools they need to assess the impact of daily demand on their utility bill, and understand how energy use affects daily demand.”

In a filing with the PUC late Tuesday afternoon, the utility said it believes “it can enhance the customer experience by improving customer tools and providing information and resources” such as personalized reports based on usage, detailing what a bill would be with and without the demand charge.

Under state law, utilities can ask to change implementation of new charges up to ten days before they are scheduled to go into effect.

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