Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo recently enacted the Utility Accountability Act, which mandates that utility companies must fully refund customers, along with interest, for any overcharges. This law was spurred by a Channel 13 investigation revealing that NV Energy was issuing only partial refunds to customers who had been incorrectly billed.
The law is set to take effect on July 1, coinciding with an ongoing investigation by the state Public Utilities Commission (PUC) into NV Energy’s billing practices. These practices reportedly affected around 80,000 customers and involved over $17 million in incorrect charges, some spanning decades, leading to significant public outrage and the resignation of the utility’s CEO.
Highlighting the impact of these overcharges, Carlin Dinola, a customer who had been wrongly billed for six years and only received a $96 refund after being overcharged by over $1,100, shared her experience. She expressed her feelings of being robbed, emphasizing the urgent need for accountability from utility companies.
In light of the new legislation, the Utility Information Alliance has launched a campaign to commend lawmakers for their efforts in holding NV Energy accountable. They are simultaneously advocating for a full investigation into the utility’s practices to ensure that any customers affected by overbilling receive their rightful refunds.
The PUC is currently examining how to implement the new law and whether it will apply retroactively to include customers who have previously been overcharged. While the commission has declined to comment specifically on these inquiries due to their independent regulatory role, they affirm their commitment to resolving billing errors and addressing consumer grievances.
As the PUC prepares for a public hearing on the matter, both the community and utility watchdog groups are hopeful for a thorough examination of NV Energy’s billing practices and full restitution for unjustly charged customers. This law marks a significant step towards empowering consumers and reinforcing oversight on utility companies, fostering a more accountable and fair utility system in Nevada.