Committee hears bill to require utilities to report shutoffs by ZIP code

The Assembly Committee on Growth and Infrastructure heard Senate Bill 442 on 2025-05-01, a measure that would require public utilities to publish monthly counts of customer disconnections for nonpayment broken down by ZIP code.

Supporters said the data would reveal which communities are most affected and allow state and local agencies to target assistance. "Without this granular data, it is difficult to understand the full extent of energy insecurity in our state and identify targeted solutions," said Olivia Tanager, director of the Sierra Club Toiyabe Chapter.

Senator Melanie Scheibel, the bill sponsor, said SB 442 is intended to help nonprofits and other agencies that assist Nevadans facing utility shutoffs by ensuring the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada requires regular reporting. "SB 442 is intended to help nonprofit organizations and other agencies that provide support to Nevadans who are facing the shut off of their utilities by ensuring that the utilities provide quarterly reporting on where shut offs are occurring," Scheibel said.

Advocates and nonprofit witnesses in Carson City and by phone described disconnections as a health and safety issue for elders, working families and others on fixed incomes. Michael Morton, special assistant attorney general with Nevada's Bureau of Consumer Protection, told the committee his office supports the bill. "We are in full support of Senate Bill 442," Morton said.

Other supporters included the Nevada Environmental Justice Coalition, Southwest Energy Efficiency Project, Western Resource Advocates, Native Voters Alliance Nevada, the Nevada Conservation League and Solar United Neighbors Action. Several witnesses told the committee that many other states require some form of disconnection reporting; Tanager said 26 states plus Washington, D.C., have at one point required reporting of utility disconnections.

Representatives of utilities generally testified in neutral. Dylan Keith, senior manager of government affairs for Southwest Gas, said his company disconnects a small share of customers who are eligible for disconnection and that the company has outreach and deferred payment programs available. "We are very proud to be able to service and assist the community," Keith said, describing company assistance programs and partnerships with local nonprofits.

Anthony Ruiz, testifying for NV Energy, said the utility supports data-informed approaches and described existing filings that include some ZIP code disconnection information in an annual quality-of-service report. Ruiz also said NV Energy and other utilities have provided millions of dollars in direct assistance in recent years and said last-minute federal action means LIHEAP funding appears available for FY2025: "We found out last night that they're releasing over $400,000,000 in block grant funds for LIHEAP for fiscal year 2025," he said, adding the utility would continue to monitor the situation.

Supporters told the committee the bill would make disconnection information public and machine-readable so local governments, legal aid, health departments and advocates could better direct scarce assistance dollars. Several witnesses also said public reporting would allow evaluation of existing programs such as federally funded LIHEAP and state weatherization efforts.

The committee took no formal vote on SB 442 during the hearing and closed the record after testimony and questions.