Commission restructuring remains unclear

      Although some members of the Public Service Commission said Thursday they are willing to restructure the agency in the wake of anticipated deregulation, others refused to discuss the issue, citing the state's opening meeting law.
      Commissioner Tim Hay, former general counsel to the commission, and Commissioner Judy Sheldrew said they were concerned the agenda for Thursday's meeting didn't comply with the Nevada Opening Meetings Law.
      Hay said the meeting agenda didn't specify which version of PSC reorganization proposals would be discussed.
      Commissioner Galen Denio said the commission's agenda also didn't detail a plan to vote on changes to a separate PSC bill to deregulate electric utilities.
      "The folks out there listening to us have not been privy to a lot of that," Denio said.
      Denio dissented in the vote on those deregulation bill changes and complained he wasn't provided with the changes until Thursday morning. Commissioner Don Soderberg abstained.
      The commission discussed but didn't vote on a May 5 proposal from Sen. Randolph Townsend, R-Reno, to restructure the PSC.
      Chairman John Mendoza asked for commissioners to comment on Townsend's proposal in preparation for a commission appearance before the Commerce Committee at 8 a.m. today in Carson City.
      Townsend wants to take transportation regulation away from the PSC and give it to the proposed Transportation Service Authority. Townsend suggests the state refocus its Office of Consumer Advocate for Utilities as utility rate regulation is phased out.
      He advocates introducing competition in Nevada's natural gas utilities in July 1998 and for electric utilities in January 1999. To protect consumers, Townsend proposes rate caps on natural gas and electric utilities until July 2000.
      The senator also calls for the PSC to devise its own reorganization plan, subject to approval by standing legislative committees. The regulatory agency reorganization plan would be filed with the legislature 90 days before the 1999 legislative session.
      Some commissioners agreed with Townsend's call for a public education campaign to prepare consumers for utility deregulation. Mendoza, however, suggested the PSC retain its consumer division, which handles complaints from the public.
      Rose McKinney-James, chief executive officer of the Corporation for Solar Technology and Renewable Resources, told the regulators about legislation to encourage alternative energy development.
      She wants requirements for all power generators to rely on solar and other alternative energy sources for a portion of their generation.
      She also favored an experimental program to allow 200 customers to use solar panels for part of their power, the option for customers to pay a premium for alternative energy from utilities and property tax exemptions for solar facilities.