Nevadans fight back against NV Energy’s anti-solar proposals
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Imagine your utility bill included charges for executive limousines, luxury hotel stays, and premium alcohol. Not for you, but for your utility company’s executives. That’s exactly what happened when NV Energy attempted to pass millions in questionable expenses onto Nevada ratepayers, according to a recent state audit.
That same mentality is at the heart of NV Energy’s latest proposals, which are poised to raise electricity bills for Southern Nevadans and gut solar compensation for families across the state.
With the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) set to decide on these proposals this fall, the clock is ticking. August marks the final opportunity for the public to speak up and defend their energy rights.
How Nevada’s solar compensation system works and why it’s already unfair
Right now, Nevada solar customers receive credit for the extra electricity their systems produce through a policy called net metering. When your solar panels generate more electricity than you use, that power is sent back to the grid to help supply your neighbors. In return, your utility gives you a credit on your bill.
However, unlike many other states, where solar customers receive the full retail rate for their excess energy, Nevada only offers 75%. Meanwhile, utilities turn around and sell that same solar power to your neighbors at the full retail rate and pocket the difference. It’s already a bad deal, and if approved by the PUCN, NV Energy’s new proposals would make things even worse.
For Northern Nevada customers: The proposals would essentially end net metering as we know it for new solar owners, drastically reducing the payback customers receive for the solar power they send back to the grid.
For Southern Nevada customers: The proposal includes three significant changes: ending meaningful net metering compensation for new solar owners, plus new demand charges, plus overall rate increases. These changes would increase monthly bills for existing solar customers who made their investments under current policies.
The bottom line across Nevada: While the specific changes differ between north and south, both sets of proposals share the same outcome—increasing rates and making solar far less financially attractive and accessible. If NV Energy’s changes are accepted by the PUCN, fewer Nevada families will be able to afford making the switch to renewable energy.
“Nevada families invested in solar under the promise that their contributions to the grid would be fairly valued,” said Julia Hubbard, SUN Nevada Program Director. “This change pulls the rug out from under those families and slashes the value of their solar energy, making it harder to recover the cost of their investment.”
For Reno resident Greg Pfotenhauer, going solar was always a question of when, not if. But NV Energy’s proposals deeply concerned him, so he moved his timeline up to install his panels as quickly as possible. “I’ve experienced nine power outages this year alone, including one lasting over 24 hours,” he shared. “NV Energy should be thanking customers who invest our own money in solar to improve grid reliability, not punish us with reduced compensation.”
Greg’s story is a reminder that these proposals aren’t just numbers on a spreadsheet; they affect real families who are doing their part to build a cleaner energy future. Now is the time to speak up and demand a system that works for people, not just for profits.
SUN’s response and advocacy efforts
Solar United Neighbors (SUN) has been organizing across the state to fight back against NV Energy’s unfair proposals. From Las Vegas to Reno, we’ve been on the ground this summer and into the fall to make sure solar customers, community leaders, and clean energy advocates are heard.
We showed up in full force at both PUCN General Consumer Sessions in June and July. Before each session, SUN and our partners hosted press conferences to help inform the public and the media about what’s at stake. And when it came time to testify, our supporters stepped up with powerful personal stories about energy independence, financial security, and the value their solar investments provide to the grid.
We’ve built powerful momentum over the last few months. Now, the final PUCN consumer sessions in August are the last chance for Nevadans to speak directly to regulators before they make their final decision to approve or deny NV Energy’s proposals. This is the culmination of a summer of advocacy. It’s our moment to stand strong together and defend the progress we’ve made toward energy independence. This is your critical, last chance to tell regulators what these proposals mean for your family, your bills, and your right to produce your own energy. Act now, before it’s too late.
If you live in northern Nevada, come out on Wednesday, August 21 at 6:00 pm at the Washoe County administration complex in Reno. If you’re in the south, join us on Sunday, August 25 at 6:00 pm at the Clark County government center in Las Vegas. These sessions are your opportunity to look PUCN commissioners in the eye and say enough is enough. We deserve fair credit for our solar power, and we won’t sit by while NV energy makes it harder for families to go solar, RSVP below:
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