I Like Reliable Energy, Don’t You?
In the 1990s and early 2000s, over 20 states deregulated their electricity and Nevada was about to follow suit. However, with 20 years of recurring problems such as blackouts, increased rates, and the Enron energy resale scandal that cost $40 billion for consumers and taxpayers, Nevada backed out. We’ve seen what deregulation can do. Question 3 should be a solid no for Nevadans.
Not only would Question 3 cut jobs for NV Energy employees but according to RGJ Journalist Jason Hidalgo, the passing of the amendment would increase rates for residential consumers and disproportionately benefit large companies.
People for Question 3 claim that is will give Nevadans freedom of choice on their electricity which will subsequently lower rates because consumers can choose their company. An article written on the Nevada Independent concluded that rights belong to the citizens of Nevada, and people should have the right to decide whether they want their power provided by a solar, coal, or natural gas.
Of course, people want to attach to the opinion of choice right? However, Question 3 nor NV Energy have the power to determine what type of rate you will be paying. Why? It’s because the Nevada legislature is the one who creates the rates. NV Energy has put in billions of dollars for infrastructure, grid education, as well as public service. So if anyone is to blame for increased rates, it would be the Legislature and not a company that has supported Nevada for 19 years without a hitch.
The attack against the energy monopoly is entirely invalid. Rumors such as the $30 million NV Energy allegedly spent on telling Nevada’s they “shouldn’t” have the right to choose is false. NV Energy supports choice, and they hope Nevada chooses them. Not only did the company come into Nevada back in 1998 to create a secure and efficient infrastructure, but they also care about the community.
Where do people think NV Energy money is going? It’s not making people richer, and it’s not necessarily going back to the employees. A lot of the money Question 3 supporters say is wasted on anti Question 3 advertisements is actually going back to the community.
Get Emilie Rodriguez’s stories in your inbox
Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.
On NV Energy’s website, they track for Nevadans to see where their support is going. It goes through the Boys and Girls Club, Girl Scouts, and many other nonprofits in the community. NV Energy is also a huge supporter of clean and environmentally friendly energy. They work with the Nature Conservancy, Nevada Land Trust, Desert Research Institute, Conservation Land Foundation, and many other organizations to spread education, environmental resources, and support to Nevada’s communities.
Supporters of Question 3 also pose the issue of NV Energy using “dirty” resources such as coal mines. This is false as well. In 2017, NV Energy achieved an overall 23.8 percent Renewable Portfolio Standard -exceeding its 20 percent requirement for the eighth straight year. Separate from this success, NV Energy has a goal to double this portfolio by 20203. That’s over 45 percent. This goal also exceeds Question 6 in regards to making Nevada 50 percent renewable by 2030.
NV Energy is clean, it’s Nevada first, it’s involved in the community, and it strives every day to make Nevada’s energy grid better and more efficient. I highly doubt these actions will be the actions of other energy companies. First off, it would take over a decade for them to implement an efficient system such as NV energies. Secondly, why are Nevadans wanting to deregulate a system that already works well? Do we want to become California…I think not.
The implementation of other companies would not only take a long time, but these companies infrastructures would also pop up all over Nevada. Don’t we, as Nevadans, pride ourselves in our State’s vast open spaces for wildlife, such as deer and horses? Don’t we pride ourselves in having clear blue skies and an open environment? Do we not appreciate the fact that we are not overcrowded? Yes, Nevada’s business growth rate has increased over the years, but at a pace that we can handle. Question 3 would quicken the pace, and it may even hurt our environment and economy.
The passing of Question 3 would not only bring businesses from other states, but it would also bring the people as well. While these companies might hire Nevadans for short-term construction jobs, in the long term, they would bring over their employees. Thus making Nevadans lose jobs. That speaks for itself when these other companies don’t care about Nevada first.
With the more people coming in, the more crowded our state gets, and we’ve already seen in increase in housing development and overpopulation of schools. Nevada doesn’t have the money to grow that quickly. We might find ourselves in a lot more trouble than we bargained for.
Question 3 is not the right choice for Nevadans. It brings a lot of risks that we’ve avoided so far. Don’t let yourself vote for an amendment that could hurt taxpayers, the everyday consumer, and small business owners. NV Energy has been faithful to bring efficient and clean energy to Nevada for years. It would be a great injustice for Nevadans to turn their back on a company that has dedicated itself to meeting the needs of Nevadans everyday using great energy.
