Carl Linvill Set to become Gov. Kenny Guinn's energy adviser

Gov. Kenny Guinn's office is defending his selection of a former public relations person and lobbyist to replace an economist on the three-member Public Utilities Commission.

Last week, Guinn named 36-year-old Rebecca Wagner, his energy adviser, to the commission to fill the unexpired term of Commissioner Carl Linvill.

The 45-year-old Linvill, a former University of Arkansas economics professor, is replacing Wagner as the governor's energy adviser, a position he held previously.

Wagner worked as a public relations representative for Far West Capital and Advanced Thermal Systems, two affiliated geothermal power plant companies, for seven years. She also served as public information officer and lobbyist for the Public Utilities Commission.

She said she obtained experience in accounting while preparing and administering federal grants at Advanced Thermal Systems. She was in charge of public relations, environmental issues and obtaining permits at the company, sources who know her said.

Wagner was also an unsuccessful Republican candidate for the Nevada Assembly in 1998. She earned a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Nevada, Reno with a major in English literature in 1992.

State law requires that commissioners have two years of experience in accounting, business administration, finance or economics, administrative law or professional engineering. Wagner said she got the all the experience she needs for her new job at her previous jobs.

"I worked for a very small company (in geothermal energy development). I did all of these things," Wagner said. "I learned it all by doing it."

One source called her "a very good fit for the PUC position."

In August, Guinn appointed her to succeed the late Richard Burdette as Guinn's energy adviser.

"To me, she's very qualified," said Steve George, Guinn's press secretary. "The governor, obviously, feels she's very qualified."

George promised to send Wagner's résumé to the Review-Journal with details of her education and experience. It wasn't received. Linvill could not be reached for comment.

Wagner said Guinn decided to have her and Linvill switch jobs after Linvill approached the governor.

"Carl has decided that he's ready to move on and do something different," Wagner said.

Wagner will join Don Soderberg, commission chairman and a lawyer, and Commissioner Jo Ann Kelly, a former accountant.

Eric Witkoski, state consumer advocate and chief of the attorney general's Bureau of Consumer Protection, said he didn't know enough about Wagner to discuss her qualifications. But he said he will miss Linvill on the commission. Linvill was concerned about the effect utility rate cases are having on consumers, Witkoski said.

When Linvill was a senior economist on the commission staff, he was intelligent and made a good witness, Witkoski said.

"I'm disappointed to see Commissioner Linvill go, because I had a lot of respect for him," Witkoski said. "But I guess we'll see where things go (with the new commissioner)."

Wagner will have an opportunity to vote on a 9 percent rate increase that Nevada Power Co. wants to start collecting in August. She also may vote on the next Nevada Power general rate case, which will be filed after the November election.

As commissioner, she is charged with weighing the interests of utility shareholders and customers, she said.

"I am concerned about the impact rates are having on consumers," she said. "I can't guess how I'm going to vote."

Linvill sometimes dissented from the commission majority on key decisions. Kelly has been the swing vote, and Soderberg did not always get her backing for measures he favored.

The consumer advocate noted Linvill was aggressively pushing Nevada Power of Las Vegas and Sierra Pacific Power Co. of Reno to satisfy the state law requiring the use of minimum amounts of renewable energy and solar power in particular.

"(Linvill) was working to get the company moving (on renewable power projects) and maybe was concerned it was not moving quicker, sooner," Witkoski said.

Nevada Power has failed to comply with state law on renewable energy and Sierra Pacific Power did not satisfy minimum requirements for solar power but it has bought, completed or started construction on 1,600 megawatts of generating capacity that burns expensive natural gas, which has led to rate increases.

Wagner said she expects to follow up on renewable energy work that Linvill started.

"It doesn't seem that we're being as effective as we can with renewables," she said.

Linvill opposed a commission decision to recommend the use of future costs in calculating general rate increases for utilities. He dissented from the commission majority when it authorized Sierra Pacific Power an opportunity to earn an extra profit if it completed a 500 megawatt, gas-fired power plant on time. He also suggested the plant should be smaller.