FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 15, 2025
Media Contact: Carolina Chacon | carolina@chaconconsulting.com | 702-810-7155
LAS VEGAS – On Wednesday evening, staff of the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) requested to open an investigatory docket looking into NV Energy overcharging at least 80,000 customers more than $17 million since as early as 2001 — and to find out whether NV Energy broke the law and owes refunds to affected customers.
At least 3,177 of these customers also had their electricity shut off by NV Energy due to overdue bills, the staff report notes, potentially multiple times. Only 20,000 customers so far have received any sort of refund, all which NV Energy capped to paying back six months worth of overcharges, despite some overcharges happening over the course of many years.
These likely unlawful acts were only discovered because PUCN staff began an investigation after receiving customer complaints. NV Energy knew about the overcharges but did not report them to the PUCN, and claims not to have sufficient customer data for 16 years of potential overcharges.
Nevadans and members of Chispa Nevada are responding to this shocking news:
“Low-income Nevadans have already been struggling, in some cases sacrificing medicine and groceries, to pay high electricity bills. Now we find out over two decades, NV Energy wrongfully took more than $17 million from at least 80,000 customers, some who had their electricity shut off because they couldn’t keep up with their bills,” said Audrey Peral, Program Director of Chispa Nevada. “It is outrageous that NV Energy would harm so many customers like this and not report it or fully repay them. We call on the PUCN to ensure NV Energy faces immediate consequences, starting with paying back every stolen cent — with interest, as they prefer — and to deny NV Energy’s latest rate increase request. Nevada lawmakers must pass Assembly Bill 452 quickly to protect utility customers from these kinds of abuses. Hard-working families can’t keep paying the price for NV Energy’s wrongdoing.”
“The decisions NV Energy makes have real consequences for Nevada families. If we don’t pay our NV Energy bills, we don’t have electricity in our home. We suffer the consequences immediately. It’s not fair for NV Energy to make “mistakes” like this and not correct them. The PUCN must make them pay.” – Juan Carlos Guardado, Chispa Nevada Organizer
“As a retiree, I live on a fixed income. Paying the electricity bill is hard each month, especially when it increases every year. We need legislators and the PUCN to look closely at what we’re being charged and if it’s equitable. We can’t trust NV Energy to do the right thing.” – Maria Prentice, Chispa Nevada Member
“When NV Energy raises our rates each year, we have to look at our household budget and make adjustments to be able to pay our bills, because I’m paid the minimum wage. How is it fair that NV Energy isn’t checking that they charge us the right amount? This is why we need Nevada legislators to pass Assembly Bill 452.” – Citlali Ayala, Chispa Nevada Member
“This is another reason we can’t trust NV Energy. They raise our rates ruthlessly each year and now they’re taking even more from customers. Our families work hard to pay our bills and don’t deserve to be taken advantage of. We need legislators and the PUCN to hold monopoly utilities accountable.” – Dulce Guzman, Chispa Nevada Member
“I am a disabled woman on social security and I need utility bills to be lowered. Sometimes I can’t pay my NV Energy bill because it is too high. We need support from the Public Utilities Commission to make sure our bills are correct and fair for families like mine.” – Julissa Lopez, Chispa Nevada Member
“Sometimes I can’t sleep at night worrying about how I will pay the bills. As hard as I try, it’s difficult to have to choose between paying the power bill or putting food on the table. NV Energy should be ashamed of themselves for how they treat Nevadans. They should be the ones not sleeping at night.” – Jacqueline Banderas, Chispa Nevada Member
“I’m in a single parent household and it’s hard to pay electricity bills. We need solutions and accountability. I already feel overcharged each month, and now maybe I wasn’t wrong about that. We need lawmakers to support our families and hold NV Energy accountable.” – Sandy Julian, Chispa Nevada Member
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Chispa Nevada is a program of the League of Conservation Voters Education Fund that builds the power of Latine communities to fight for clean air, clean energy and a healthy environment that can sustain us today and for generations to come.