Advocates press for public reporting of utility disconnections by ZIP code; utilities raise privacy and implementation concerns

Senate Bill 442 would require regulated public utilities to publicly report the number of service disconnections due to nonpayment, broken down by ZIP code and submitted quarterly (with monthly aggregation) to the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada.

Sponsor staff framed the bill as a transparency measure to help community organizations, local governments and utilities target assistance and evaluate the effect of programs such as LIHEAP. "This bill requires public utilities to publicly report the number of monthly disconnections due to nonpayment. The data must be broken down by zip code providing a more detailed understanding of which communities are most affected by disconnections," Olivia Tanager of the Sierra Club's Toiyabe chapter told the committee.

Multiple advocates said available public reporting in Nevada is limited and out of date; they cited national estimates that roughly 1 percent of households experience energy disconnections annually and reported higher disconnection rates in sample Nevada ZIP codes. Tanager and other witnesses said the data would help philanthropies, charities, and counties deploy limited assistance when and where it is needed, and could be used to evaluate how federal and state programs affect disconnections.

The sponsor circulated an amendment before the hearing that narrowed reporting frequency from monthly to quarterly filing (while keeping the underlying monthly aggregation) and relaxed the form in which the report may be made public. Supporters framed the change as a compromise with utilities.

Utilities and industry witnesses testified in neutral and said they already work to prevent disconnections through outreach, deferred-payment plans and nonprofit partnerships, and they asked for clarity on data definitions and customer privacy. Southwest Gas said it disconnects a small share of eligible customers and that, in most cases, it tries to enroll customers in payment plans or community assistance before disconnection. NV Energy and Southwest Gas described existing outreach and low-income assistance programs, with NV Energy noting it provides direct financial assistance through programs such as Project Reach and Project Safe and is proposing additional low-income rate options in an upcoming general rate case.

The PUC general counsel said the commission appreciated early outreach and that any reporting rules would be implemented by the commission; he noted the bill would allow utilities to apply for flexibility on timing and implementation through regulatory proceedings.

Supporters including United Way, Nevada Conservation League, Solar United Neighbors Action, community groups and labor urged the committee to pass the bill, saying the data will guide targeted relief. Utilities and the PUC said they would work with the sponsor to refine data definitions and protect customer privacy.

No committee vote was recorded in the transcript; the hearing closed after neutral and supporting testimony and stakeholders said they would continue to work on definitions and implementation details.

Sources: Testimony from Olivia Tanager (Sierra Club Toiyabe), Leslie Vega (PLAN), Dylan Keith (Southwest Gas), Anthony Ruiz (NV Energy), Henry Rosas (United Way Southern Nevada), Garrett Weir (PUCN General Counsel) and multiple advocacy groups.