Nevada Energy Choice Initiative

Nevada voters have rejected a hotly contested and expensive ballot initiative that backers characterized as open market energy choice while opponents led by the state s dominant electric utility.

Nevada energy choice initiative.

The energy choice initiative would create uncertainty across the energy sector said howard geller executive director of the southwest energy efficiency project in an interview. On november 8 2016 the voters of the state of nevada approved ballot question 3. Energy choice initiative eci eliminates the electric monopoly in nevada opening the way for competition innovation and lower costs. The energy choice initiative which would amend the nevada constitution if voters approve the initiative again in the 2018 general election.

On november 6 2018 nevada voters will go to the polls to decide whether or not to approve nevada s energy choice initiative also known as question 3. Rather it imposes upon the legislature the responsibility to ensure meaningful choice freedom to compete and customer protection. Nv energy is the product of the 1998 merger of the two major utilities in nevada northern nevada s sierra pacific power. The measure was defeated.

In addition as ratepayers we are limited in the types of renewable energy we can purchase because most of us are forced to buy energy from a monopoly. Eci does not mandate what the new market will look like. Nevada has some of the highest electricity rates in the west. In 2016 and 2018 nevada voters considered a proposal to establish a competitive retail energy market in the state in place of the traditional one utility model.

If approved the energy choice initiative would end nv energy s monopoly on electricity and allow consumers the right to choose their own electricity providers.