Poll: Nevada voters overwhelmingly want Lombardo to block utility rate hike
NV Energy increase to take effect in April
LAS VEGAS – Nearly 80% of Nevada Republicans and Independents who plan to vote in the upcoming gubernatorial election oppose a proposed utility rate hike that could add more than $50 monthly to residential bills, and they want Gov. Joe Lombardo to block it.
The survey of 317 Republican and Independent voters took place earlier this month and was conducted by North American Research for American Power Play, an energy advocacy group. The survey has a margin of error of 5.5 percent.
“What was overwhelmingly clear in this survey was that voters were not only strongly opposed to these rate hikes, but also want executive action to prevent them, and felt it the duty of the governor to do so,” said Aleks Oslapas, CEO of North American Research Group.
NV Energy is implementing a rate increase in Southern Nevada beginning April 1. The increase includes a new daily demand charge for residential and small business customers. The change is a structural shift in how rates are calculated and could increase bills for some customers, but the company says it won’t affect the total bill for the majority.
The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada approved the rate increase in September. But it now might reopen the approval of the mandatory daily demand charge after Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford’s office called the charge unlawful and asked the PUC to reconsider.
According to the survey, awareness of the PUC rate hike proposal was initially low at 42%, but 72% of aware respondents and 75% of unaware ones viewed it unfavorably once informed.
Most of the survey feedback about the rate hike focused on affordability and financial strain. Some of the comments mentioned corporate greed, corrupt politicians and out-of-touch officials. About 70 people mentioned the impact on struggling households and fixed-income seniors while 45 mentioned corporate greed. Others mentioned economic fears and homelessness.
“People already struggling to make ends meet,” one respondent said while another commented, “I’m furious because everything is already expensive.” Another said, “We’ll be out in the streets in our 70s.”
Those surveyed have a generally positive view of Lombardo, a Republican, but 62% of them said their opinion of him would worsen if he didn’t take executive action to stop the rate hike.
“Angry that he doesn’t care about us little people,” one respondent said about his thoughts if Lombardo doesn’t fight the rate hike, while another said, “I voted for him … disappointed he didn’t work harder to stop it.” And another said, “He should be doing everything in his power to save people money.”
In September, Lombardo announced plans to seek re-election in 2026. Ford, a Democrat, is seeking his party’s gubernatorial nomination as well.