LETTERS: Net metering decision all about NV Energy’s profits

The Review-Journal's coverage of the Jan. 13 meeting on the net metering fiasco covered some good points, none of which came from Public Utilities Commission Chairman Paul Thomsen or Commissioner David Noble ("Utility regulators reject call to delay new rooftop solar rates," Jan. 14). Mr. Thomsen was offended by comments stating that PUC commissioners didn't know what they were doing when they adopted the new rates.

The commissioners should be offended. They just approved what NV Energy told them the company should get through increased monthly rates and less credit per kilowatt hour put back to the grid. Mr. Thomsen stated the new rate is designed to create a path forward for the solar industry while treating all ratepayers fairly. Really? How is it fair to impose a 40 percent increase in the monthly rate in the first year, from $12.75 to $17.90, followed by an increase every year after that until the monthly rate is more than $38 for all solar ratepayers?

Also in the Jan. 13 meeting, the PUC approved major Strip casinos leaving NV Energy to buy power on the open market. Oh wait, it'll cost them a combined $126.5 million to do so. Profits fall when customers leave. If you want to leave your cable company, you don't have to pay to cover the cable company's loss of profit. That only happens if you are connected to the NV Energy grid and choose to leave.

David Noble said the annual bill increase in the first year of the new rates is $20.15, a $1.68-per-month increase. That is false. The new service charge for solar owners effective Jan. 1 is $17.90 per month, up from $12.75. That is a $5.15-per-month increase. It is this kind of math that has stopped solar in its tracks in Nevada.

Mr. Noble said the average annual solar bill in Nevada is $1,054, and the average nonsolar annual bill is $2,156, a difference is $1,102 in annual savings for rooftop solar owners. Multiply that by the 17,255 rooftop solar owners in Nevada and you get about $19 million in pure profit that NV Energy loses. The power company will fight to the death to save it.

NV Energy and its puppets at the state level have you snowed, so that the power company doesn't lose millions every year.

Scott Hippert

Las Vegas

Cox-KLAS showdown

A simpler solution to the battle between Cox Communications and Nexstar, the parent company of KLAS-TV Channel 8, would have been for Cox to enter an agreement with the Los Angeles CBS affiliate and forget about the local affiliate. There are other local channels quite capable of covering news and other happenings in Las Vegas.

Many local residents are transplants from California and would welcome news from Southern California. At the same time, everyone would continue to see the CBS network shows. It would be a plus for viewers and Cox alike.

David Adams

Las Vegas

NFL to Vegas

I recently drove my car, with its Oakland Raiders license plate frame, to my favorite bakery. I parked next to a car with a San Francisco 49ers plate frame, and a nice young man wearing a New England Patriots sweatshirt opened the door for me.

This city is screaming for an NFL team ("Las Vegas Raiders has catchy ring to it," Jan. 29 Review-Journal). I held Los Angeles Raiders season tickets for years and would never have moved to Las Vegas had they not returned to Oakland. If I knew where to send it, my season ticket deposit — along with deposits from thousands of others — would be on its way today.

Vicki Bennett

Las Vegas

Oregon standoff

Having lived in the Las Vegas valley for more than 40 years before recently moving to Indiana, I have been following with interest the latest episode with the Bundy boys. They spoiled for a gunfight back when their dad was ripping off the federal government for more than $1 million in grazing fees, and it was only due to Sheriff Doug Gillespie that a bad outcome was avoided.

Fast-forward to January, and again the Bundys were pushing for a standoff. It seems they got one, and ended up getting one of their followers killed. This would not have happened if those self-appointed militia members had not forced a showdown in Oregon. I hope Cliven Bundy is satisfied that he raised his children this way. He should share some of the blame for the outcome.

Dave Dobbins

South Bend, Ind.