NEW: Ford to Introduce Legislation to Expand PUCN, Protect Consumers From Data Center Electricity Price Hikes

Today, Attorney General Aaron Ford announced his bill draft requests for legislation to protect consumers from higher energy costs driven by increased demand from data centers and NV Energy PUCN members approving illegal price hikes.

Ford’s first bill draft request would expand the Public Utility Commission of Nevada to add three commissioners with consumer protection experience to the commission. Ford’s goal is to strengthen the Commission's duty towards protecting consumers and ensure that no unfair utility rate price hikes are passed off to Nevada ratepayers.

Ford’s second proposal would ensure that data centers are responsible for the costs associated with the additional energy infrastructure and electricity demand they create, rather than shifting those costs onto Nevada consumers.

“Under Joe Lombardo, NV Energy and data centers are raising electricity bills on consumers as Nevadans are already struggling to afford gas, groceries, rent, and health care,” said Attorney General Aaron Ford. “Today, I’m introducing legislation that would stop Nevada consumers from being forced to foot the bill from increased electricity bills due to data centers' increased energy usage. Joe Lombardo’s campaign is being bankrolled by MAGA data center billionaires and big utility companies, so it’s no surprise that he “wholeheartedly” supports data centers and NV Energy’s demand charge price hike. As Governor, my top priority will be to lower energy costs and we’ll get it done by any means necessary – and that includes taking on the greedy data centers and big utility companies.”

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