NV Energy customers to get small reduction on electricity bills

CARSON CITY – Southern Nevada utility customers will get a small break on their electricity bills beginning next week.

The reduction taking effect Tuesday is the result of an agreement approved Wednesday by the state Public Utilities Commission.

The agreement, reached by Nevada Power, doing business as NV Energy, PUC staff and the state Bureau of Consumer Protection, will save the typical residential customer in Southern Nevada about $1.35 a month.

The reduction is based on a customer using 1,145 kilowatt hours of electricity a month, and equates to a 0.88 percent decline from $154.04 to $152.69.

The reduction is the result of Nevada Power’s deferred energy rate application filed in March. It encompasses fuel and purchased power expenses for 2013 and a reset of several renewable energy and energy efficiency program rates.

The initial filing proposed to increase rates an estimated 0.39 percent across all rate classes in Southern Nevada.

Instead, because of the agreement, rates will be lower starting July 1.

There was no opposition voiced to the proposal at a consumer session held Thursday.

The overall result is a decrease in the utility’s revenue requirement of $20.7 million, or 0.90 percent.

Contact Capital Bureau reporter Sean Whaley at swhaley@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3900. Follow him on Twitter @seanw801.