Nevada Power Deal Heads to PUC

Nevada Power Deal Heads to PUC

May 14 - Las Vegas Review-Journal

Nevada Power Co. and state officials on Thursday filed tentative agreements that will settle a variety of disputes so they can and cooperate on providing electric power this summer.

The staff of the Public Utilities Commission was among the parties signing the agreement, and is urging the three-member commission to approve the agreement . Others agreeing are the Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection, Southern Nevada Water Authority and Colorado River Commission.

The PUC staff "believes the agreements are prudent and in the public interest," a memo says. "Staff believes these agreements should increase (power) operating efficiencies and reliability and should decrease system operating costs."

Nevada Power previously expressed hope the agreements could be completed by June 1 so it will have access to power from the Silverhawk Power Plant at the Apex Industrial Park north of Las Vegas as the summer cooling season begins. The agreements are scheduled to be considered Tuesday by the PUC, meaning they could be approved about two weeks before the June 1 deadline.

In February, the government agencies and Nevada Power announced an agreement to end a federal lawsuit over alleged wholesale power manipulation by the water authority and failure of Nevada Power to pay fees to the river commission for excess power.

In addition, the water authority agreed to allow Nevada Power to use its share of power from the Silverhawk plant. The electric company agreed to provide the river commission with so-called "balancing" services for wholesale power deliveries.

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