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Community groups press for intervener compensation and PUC accessibility
Summary
The Energy Equity Project and community advocates urged the committee to adopt intervener compensation to help resource‑constrained community groups participate meaningfully in Public Utilities Commission dockets; advocates said compensation has shown large returns in other states and can improve transparency and equity in utility proceedings.
Justin Schott, director of the Energy Equity Project, described intervener compensation programs that provide public funding to underrepresented organizations to participate in rate cases and other contested dockets. He cited examples from other states where interveners introduced data, expert witnesses and proposals that produced negotiated outcomes and programmatic benefits for ratepayers. Schott said such programs typically operate with modest budgets but can increase participation and produce net benefits to ratepayers.
Community groups that testified in support emphasized barriers: technical expertise, legal costs and scheduling that limit low‑income, non‑English speakers and others from engaging in PUC dockets. Audrey Perel (Chispa Nevada) and Hector Ariola (Nevada Environmental Justice Coalition) told the committee they often cannot participate meaningfully without compensation or improved language and remote access at PUCN consumer sessions.
Committee members asked the PUC and advocates about how intervener compensation would complement the Bureau of Consumer Protection and whether funds produce measurable returns. Schott said Michiganexamples show multiplied returns when interveners secured disallowances, targeted investments and low‑income programs; the group offered to follow up with design options and implementation choices.
