Nevada insurance commissioner warns of rising homeowners and auto premiums; urges wildfire mitigation and consumer outreach

Scott Kipper, Nevada Insurance Commissioner, told the Washoe County Board of County Commissioners on March 18 that rising claims from natural disasters and higher reinsurance costs are pushing homeowners and auto insurance premiums up and that some carriers are limiting the number of policies they will write.

Kipper said the Nevada Division of Insurance’s mission is to protect consumers’ rights and make sure carriers remain solvent. “Our mission is … to protect the rights of Nevada consumers and their experiences with the insurance industry, but also to make sure that we maintain company solvency so that insurance companies have the wherewithal and the resources to pay on the claims that consumers make to them,” he said.

He told commissioners that the division regulates roughly $30 billion in…