NV Energy requests 3.6 percent rate increase

NV Energy is looking for a 3.6 percent rate increase that would begin Oct. 1, a month after the utility wants a previously announced 18 percent increase request to go into effect.

The latest rate request, filed Friday afternoon with the state Public Utilities Commission, would cover $77 million that the electric utility spent for its own power plants and on wholesale power but has not collected from customers through rates.

The utility already has a pending request to increase its general rates for operations and maintenance, investments in power plants and lines, and profits.

It is seeking a 15 percent overall general rate increase but asked the Public Utilities Commission to boost residential rates by 18 percent based on arguments that residential customers are not paying their share of costs.

If regulators approve the general rate increase as requested, the average monthly bill for a typical local residential customer using 1,250 kilowatt hours of electricity would increase 3.6 percent, from $175.04 to $181.25, beginning Oct. 1, if the purchased-power request is also approved.

The $6.21 increase in the average monthly residential bill on Oct. 1 would follow a $26 increase in the average monthly residential bill on Sept. 1 under the general rate case that was filed earlier.

The commission will hold public hearings April 6 in Las Vegas.

In the general rate case, NV Energy is seeking higher rates to offset its $500 million purchase of the Bighorn power plant near Primm from Reliant Energy in October, building the $400 million in additional power generating capacity at the Clark Generating Station in Las Vegas and installing environmental retrofits and plant additions.

Call 486-7210 for information about the hearings.