FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 24, 2017
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(Carson City, NV) MAY 24, 2017– With unanimous support, the Nevada State Legislature passed Assembly Bill 223, which will expand the energy savings programs implemented by NV Energy. These programs help consumers and businesses save electricity and money by offering incentives to buy or upgrade energy-efficient buildings, appliances, lighting, cooling systems, and more. In addition, the programs save water and cut air pollution by reducing how much fossil fuel power plants must burn.
“Through AB 223, Nevada is demonstrating its commitment to cutting energy waste,” said Howard Geller, Executive Director of the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP), a public interest organization advocating for greater energy efficiency across the Southwest. “The legislation will result in more households and businesses benefiting from the energy efficiency programs implemented by NV Energy.”
AB 223’s key provisions include:
- Allowing the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) to approve energy efficiency programs as long as they are part of an overall energy efficiency plan that is cost effective;
- Directing NV Energy and the PUCN to include non-energy benefits in energy efficiency program and plan benefit-cost analysis;
- Directing NV Energy to dedicate at least five percent of its overall energy efficiency budget to programs targeted to low-income customers, as long as its overall energy efficiency plan is cost effective.
“The provisions in AB 223 will enable NV Energy to offer a more robust set of energy efficiency programs for its customers,” said Assemblyman William McCurdy II, lead sponsor of the legislation. “Low-income households in particular need assistance reducing their utility bills, and AB 223 will get them the help they need.”
“AB 223 is a win-win policy for consumers, the state economy, and the environment,” said Tom Polikalas, SWEEP’s Nevada representative. “Consumers will save on their electricity bills, the economy will benefit from additional jobs in selling and installing energy efficiency measures, and the environment will benefit from reduced pollutant emissions and less water consumption by power plants.”
SWEEP thanks Asssemblyman McCurdy, Assemblywoman Tolles and the other bill sponsors for their leadership in advancing this important bill. Given its unanimous support in the legislature, SWEEP is optimistic that Governor Sandoval will promptly sign AB 223 into law.
About SWEEP: The Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP) is a public interest organization dedicated to advancing energy efficiency in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. For more information, visit the SWEEP website: http://www.swenergy.org/
