The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada is investigating whether separate customer classes of service should be established for customers who embrace net metering. On November 17, 2014, the PUCN published a draft order (Docket 14-06009) that included a report recommending that the PUCN require NV Energy to conduct cost-of-service studies for Nevada Power and Sierra Pacific Power to determine whether any systemic rate-design changes should be made for its customer classes in response to the requirements of NEM/DG customers. NV Energy would be required to file the two studies and any proposed rate-design changes by October 1, 2015. The report also recommends that the PUCN continue to address the inter-class and intra-class subsidies that still exist among both utilities’ customers. The PUCN’s draft order approves the report and adopts its recommendations.

The PUCN is also inviting public comments addressing a list of 12 specific questions if COS studies for both utilities are performed to determine whether any systemic rate-design changes should be made for customer classes in response to the requirements of NEM/DG customers. The deadlines for comments and reply comments are January 14, 2015, and January 23, 2015, respectively. The PUCN has also scheduled a workshop for January 29, 2015.