Smart Meters Are Here In Nevada
By Mike Hazard
August 30, 2011
Part I – The Green Agenda That Never Ends - On Tuesday August, 30th the fourth annual Clean Energy Summit opened at the Aria Hotel here in Las Vegas hosted by the Center for American Progress, Clean Energy Project, MGM Resorts International, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.1 All the smartest minds for supposedly keeping the environment clean and the power on, was on display for all to see. Nonetheless, the summit all took place in the backdrop of 3 more solar companies going bankrupt; Evergreen Solar, a Massachusetts subsidized solar Company ($486 million) that filed bankruptcy and headed to China;2 SpectraWatt; an Intel-backed solar company filed for bankruptcy as panel prices slid ($38 Million);3 Solyndra: solar-panel firm filed bankruptcy after receiving a $535 Million loan from the stimulus package.4
Remember in Oct of 2008 when Brad Sherman told us that Congress had been threatened if they didn’t pass their portion of the stimulus package that there would be martial law in the country because of the potential ensuing chaos in the streets? 5 The only real chaos occurring was Congress stumbling all over themselves trying to figure out how to pass this bill and still get elected again in the 2010 midterm elections.
Even if we had known about this part of the stimulus package, I doubt seriously that we could have actually stopped it in its tracks. Believe it or not this is where Obama’s “Smart Meter” agenda really took off. "I hope this investment will ignite our imagination once more in science, medicine, energy and make our economy stronger, our nation more secure, and our planet safer for our children," he said before signing the bill in February of 2009.6 There was a huge chunk of the Stimulus set aside for massive spending on our power grid system and other energy upgrades. Included in the energy package was $30 billion for a new electrical smart grid (including smart meters), $20 billion in tax incentives for renewable energy efficiency, grants of up to 30 percent subsidies for renewable energy projects, $5 billion to improve energy efficiency of more than 1 million modest income homes through weatherization, $5 billion to improve DOD facilities, $4.5 billion to make federal office buildings more energy efficient, $400 million went to the Advanced Research Project Agency-Energy and $580 million to the National Institute of Standards and Technology.7 What we didn’t know back then was that out of the $787 billion Stimulus package there was nearly $70 billion for renewable energy programs and tax incentives earmarked for the sluggish energy sector. Our tax dollars all earmarked for the “Green energy agenda” while Tens of billions of dollars for coal and nuclear energy were removed.8
According to recovery.gov Nevada has accepted nearly $1.3 billion out of the originally allocated $2.2 billion Harry Reid set aside for Nevada in what is better known as the “Stimulus package.” 9 The Nevada State Office of Energy has accepted funds for 36 geothermal, 20 solar, 5 wind, 4 transmission and 7 other types of renewable energy projects. 10 These projects are not free and they don’t come cheap. The total State Energy Program award alone is $34,714,000. and that doesn’t begin to account for the $138 million Nevada Energy took to roll out their new $300 million “Smart Grid” concept. There will be more on that later.
All of these monies are America’s tax dollars from the American Reinvestment and Reconstruction Act (ARRA). 11 They are a grant from the Federal Government, but we the American taxpayers are paying for all of it. If Nevada residents agree to the Dynamic Pricing Trial (NDPT)11a we’ll be agreeing to allow one of the largest corporate monopolies in Nevada control our electrical energy demand, retrieve our energy consumption data, and all the while we receive no compensation for the data mining of our information, which could lead to our complete lack of control in energy usage decisions, after the trial is over.
Part II – How Smart Meters Came to Nevada - I think it is important to keep in mind the dates of major legislative actions to establish the sequence of events that took place prior to getting us where we are today. This is a time sequence that goes much further back than I could have ever imagined.
There are two overall “notable” components of the “smart meter” issue that help guide us through the process. The components are the “Renewable Portfolio Standard” (RPS) and the definition of “Efficiency Measure.” These two elements are key in understanding the smart meter topic because they provide a road map or guide along the path of this developing story.
The term “Renewable Portfolio Standard “ came into existence when the 1997 Nevada Legislature passed AB 366 requiring electrical company providers to either purchase renewable energy credits or generate power from at least 1% of renewable energy sources. 12 However, 4 years later Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn changed all of that when he signed SB 372 dramatically increasing renewable energy source requirements for the power companies. He said that by 2013 the power companies would need to be providing 15% of its energy consumed by customers from renew-able resources. It would be a phased in process with 5% renewables required in 2003, 7% in 2005, 9% in 2007, 11% in 2009, 13% in 2011 and reach the ultimate goal of 15% in 2013. As of April 2005 the two major power companies in the state, Sierra Pacific Power and Nevada Power, now Nevada Energy, had not reached their 7% Renewable Portfolio Standard requirement. 13
In June of 2005 the Nevada Legislature introduced AB 03 and for the first time the other “notable” component in the process “efficiency measures” surfaced. These “efficiency measures” revised provisions governing the portfolio standard for renewable energy and energy from a qualified energy recovery process. From AB 03 in Section 7 Paragraph 2 section d [NRS 374.307] it states that “Renewable energy” means a source of energy that occurs naturally or is regenerated naturally, including, without limitation: (1) Biomass; (2) Fuel cells; (3) Geothermal energy; (4) Solar energy; (5) Waterpower; and (6) Wind. The term does not include coal, natural gas, oil, propane or nuclear energy. 14
In the same bill Section. 18. 1 “Energy efficiency measure” means any measure designed, intended or used to improve energy efficiency if: (a) The measure is installed on or after January 1, 2005, at the service location of a retail customer of a provider of electric service in this State; (b) The measure reduces the consumption of energy by the retail customer; and (c) The costs of the acquisition or installation of the measure are directly reimbursed, in whole or in part, by the provider of electric service. 2. The term does not include: (a) Any demand response measure or load limiting measure that shifts the consumption of energy by a retail customer from one period to another period. (b) Any solar energy system which qualifies as a renewable energy system and which reduces the consumption of electricity or any fossil fuel.15 Make a mental note of this bill because it will come back to haunt us again monetarily in the 2011 Nevada Legislature under AB 150.
Legislation is now in place that sets the stage for the future installation of smart meters en-masse throughout Nevada. Subsequent legislation followed in 2007 with AB1 expanding the definition of efficiency resources to include district-heating systems powered by geothermal hot water. 16 It was just a matter of time however, until smart meters would soon become a reality in Nevada.
In 2009, a whirlwind of activity in the legislature propelled the smart meter agenda faster than even the bill sponsors could probably have ever imagined. On March 23rd, 2009 three major pieces of legislation were introduced by then Governor Jim Gibbons that would give powerful enabling capability to smart meters. The first was SB395 that mandated requirements for “Energy Star” appliances. It also required the State Public Works Board to adopt standards for the efficient use of water and energy and that disclosure was provided concerning CO2 emissions on all vehicles beginning with the new 2012 models. 17
The second legislation was SB358 promoted by Governor Gibbons and brought to the floor of the Senate by the Energy, Infrastructure and Transportation committees. The sections of major importance were the creation of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Authority. This bill also required the PUCN (Public Utilities Commission of Nevada) to adopt regulations authorizing electric utilities to recover certain costs. Furthermore, it “required the Commissioner and the director of the Office of Energy to apply for and accept any money available pursuant to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.”18 This is a direct quote right out of the bill text from the Nevada Legislature. Keep in mind we have the legislature introducing this bill 38 days after the Stimulus bill is signed by the President and our Governor is ordering staff under his direction to not only ask for, but to welcome the opportunity to accept money from the Federal Government for “Green Energy” programs in this state.
On the same day that the two other bills were introduced, Governor Gibbons also signed what was known as the “Governor’s Assurance in accordance with the Section 410 of Recovery act.” 19 This was an agreement he signed in conjunction with the U.S. Dept. of Energy in response to a FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT, which was a huge State Energy Program Formula Grant through the DOE National Energy Technology Laboratory. 20 The governor agreed to 3 written conditions prior to receiving the $34,714,000. mentioned earlier to fund the Nevada State Office of Energy.
The first assurance essentially said that utility companies would need to “submit a plan to increase its supply of electricity or decrease the demands made on the system by its customers to the Commission (PUCN). This assurance also included the gas utility and all details of the plans to be submitted were covered in detail under NRS 704.741, NRS 704.751, and NRS 704.992. 21
The second assurance by Mr. Gibbons was that the Director of Nevada State Office of Energy (NSOE) would adopt the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and pursue legislation, SB 73, that in turn would require local jurisdictions that enforced the building codes to also adopt the same IECC. 22 The IECC® is a model energy building code produced by the International Code Council® (ICC®). The code contains minimum energy efficiency provisions for residential and commercial buildings, offering both prescriptive- and performance-based approaches. The code also contains building envelope requirements for thermal performance and air leakage. The IECC is part of the International “family” of Codes produced by the International Code Council®, which includes other codes such as the International Building Code® (IBC®), International Residential Code® (IRC®), International Mechanical Code® (IMC®), International Plumbing Code® (IPC®), and more. 24
The third assurance was that he told the DOE that Nevada would continue to pursue its LEED building program.23 The LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System™ is a feature-oriented rating system that awards buildings points for satisfying specified green building criteria.25 Stanton Yuwono, is the Dean's Office Undergraduate Assistant at Simon Graduate School of Business, University of Rochester 26 and has a differing opinion about the Green Building program in the U.S. “Though LEED certification — developed by the US Green Building Council to reduce energy consumption of buildings and construction materials — may sound good on paper, a study from the Institute for Research in Construction has found that a third of LEED certified buildings used more energy than their conventional counterparts and that there is little relationship between a building’s energy performance and LEED credits achieved. This, among many examples, just goes to show that “green” is not only poorly defined, but often results in adverse and unforeseen consequences. 27
Now less than 4 months later on July 1, 2009 Jennifer Robison with the Review Journal reported that NV Energy was going to file its 3-year integrated resource plan with the PUCN featuring $500 million for a green-energy transmission line, $325 million for efficiency and conservation projects and $100 million for solar-power arrays. There were no inclusions for projects that generate power from fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas. It was the first time since 2003 that NVE did not request funds for carbon-fueled plants because NVE’s chief executive officer, Michael Yakira said that need would not arise until at least 2015. 28
That plan however was scrapped and was resubmitted on February 1, 2010 with newly added elements. The new elements included application for a $138 million federal grant that would be used to help fund a nearly $301 million Advanced Service Delivery (ASD) project 29 which, in layman’s terms means development of a “smart grid” infrastructure utilizing, you guessed it, “smart meters.” So for the first time NVE has revealed its intent to install smart meters throughout the state to comply with the text requirements of Governor Gibbons agreements to receive the $34 million dollars from the Department of Energy.
On Friday, March 11, 2010, NVE announced that that it had signed a definitive agreement with the DOE providing them the $138 million to help fund their new $301 million smart grid project for the state. NVE became the first investor-owned utility to reach such a final agreement with the DOE. 30
In May of 2010, Jennifer Robison with the Las Vegas Review Journal reported that PUCN hearings were well underway regarding the Integrated-resource plan and details of the ASD revealed that almost 1.5 million analog service panel meters would be replaced with digital readout or “smart meters.” This new type of meter would help customers track power consumption and enable NVE to charge flexible utility rates based on peak use. Questions were raised by the PUCN about how the new ASD system would affect utility rates considering that the new installations may have cost overruns and would these be justified considering that the current system was reliable and effective. NVE suggested that Cost over-runs would be dealt with future higher utility rates. 31
The May PUCN hearings also revealed another new term that Nevada utility customers would soon need to add to their vocabulary; “peak-pricing trial (PPT)” This was research to be conducted by NVE to see if customers would actually use less energy during peak use periods such as the hot summer days of July and August or would they continue to use the same amount of electrical energy and pay the absorbent fees levied by NVE to try and reduce energy consumption. NVE justification for the PPT was that if they could convince customers to buy power at non-peak use hours it would save NVE expensive spot-market grid purchases during these peak load times and would curb the need for rate payer–funded investments in new generating plants. Documentation for all of this would be accomplished through the installation of the new smart meters because consumers and the utility itself could track power usage on an hourly and daily basis. Jennifer Robison with the RJ also reported that Smart meter technology would give NVE the ability to turn off power to customers who fall behind when they are more than $75. in arrears on monthly payments. 32 The dynamic pricing trial will begin in January of 2012. 33
By July 22, 2010 the PUCN had in large part approved the new proposals by NVE and the program was well on its way to roll out for implementation. Nonetheless, the PUCN did not approve of the plan without a good share of reservations. Major concerns included whether the smart meter technology was mature enough and fully reliable; whether customers would actually accept the smart meters; were there enough customer-privacy and cyber-security protections; how to ensure proper pricing on the peak-pricing initiatives and could the project be installed without budget problems or cost over-runs.34
NVE’s response to these concerns were that $35 million could be saved through the smart meter connections and disconnections. A separate investigation has yet to be performed concerning those disconnects where customers health and safety are concerned. A new transmission line connecting the north or rural producing plants to the south is supposed to ease the purchasing sources as well. NVE also plans to buy power from other sources despite the fact that they are going to pay a 2-4 times higher rate from renewable energy sources than the 4 cent average they have maintained over the last few years when purchasing from natural-gas generation electrical plants. 35
Now we move into the time frame of the 2011 legislature. On February 14th 2011 AB 150 was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Commerce and labor. This is not the first time legislators had seen the definition of an “Energy Efficiency Measure” because it had already appeared in AB 03 in June of 2005. However, AB 150 brought a big change to the 3rd condition of section 1 as outlined and mentioned above. Paragraph 3 in AB 03 section 18.1 as listed above stated: (c) The costs of the acquisition or installation of the measure are directly reimbursed, in whole or in part, by the provider of electric service. Now the way the current bill is written it states this: (3) The costs of the acquisition or installation of the measure are directly reimbursed, in whole or in part, by the provider of electric service and the new words “or by a customer of a provider of new electric resources pursuant to Chapter 704B of NRS.” 36
In September of 2010, NVE began replacing all of its 1.3 million analog meters in the state and hopes to be finished by March of 2012. In a September 1, 2010 Las Vegas Sun article by Dylan Scott “Edgar Patino, manager for local government affairs at NV Energy, said the Advanced Delivery Project would provide more control over energy consumption for consumers and decrease waste. It would save NV Energy $35 million per year, he said, savings that will be passed on to customers, he said.” 37 So if this huge energy savings dividend is going to be passed on to NVE customers, why was it necessary to raise utility rates by 3.4% in May of 2011? If the new “Smart Grid” project is so economically successful, why does NVE want to raise utility rates again by 24% in January of 2012?
Even the State’s Consumer Protection Bureau has concerns about what the customer will actually save and what savings will be passed on to the customer.
“It’s hard enough to explain that if you install a new light bulb, you’re still going to have a rate increase,” said Dan Jacobsen of the bureau. “It’s going to be harder to explain to people that if you decide to keep your home hotter (in the summer), because you want to conserve energy, your rate is going to increase.” 38
A presentation by Jeff Lyng at the AB 150 hearings introduced another way NVE will try to implement change in the usage habits of their customers to bring about less energy consumption. NVE would contract with a company called Opower to gather information about customer’s energy usage and then compare that usage analysis to their neighbor’s usage. He gave testimony at one of the committee hearings while AB 150 was under consideration and said “Behavior change programs leverage the power of social comparison to drive energy and utility savings. This approach has been proven to deliver persistent, verifiable energy savings across the country without the need to install new hardware in a home.” 39 Then he displayed a bar graph that showed a model 12-month customer energy consumption comparing the energy efficient neighbors to you and all your neighbors and it even detailed for the higher energy users how much more energy you used and how much more your energy cost than your efficient neighbors. The sample group comes from about 100 occupied nearby homes that are similar in size or homes averaging 2,600 sf and have electric heat. 40
Jeff lyng from Opower went on to say his program would save $20.00 per house per year and that the state or overall program he’d implement could save Nevada residents $15 million. 38 So now lets take the numbers Jeff gives us in the May 6th, 2011 Las Vegas Sun article and do the math. We already know per NVE estimates that they will be replacing 1.3 million meters so there must be 1.3 million houses or dwelling units that have meters. If we take 1.3m times $20.00 we save $26million maybe as a group of Las Vegas Valley customers which is not bad, but don’t forget the rate increase that went into affect July 1, 2011 per the May 23rd Las Vegas Sun article. Individually we only save $1.66 per month. That’s nothing really and it gets worse.
Using Jeff’s numbers, in which he appears to be using an average $155.00 monthly residential electrical bill we find that the savings start to erode after we add on the 3.4% rate hike that went into affect July 1, 2011. When we multiply Jeff’s $155.00 monthly bill times the new 3.4% rate increase 41 that gets us to the extra $5.29 Jeff said that will be added to our new “average” electrical bill. When you multiply $5.29 times 1.3 million meters in the Valley you have just wiped out $6.8million of the original $26million Jeff said we’d save by the new energy efficiency measures NVE is trying to implement in the valley. Are they really going to spend $301 million so we can save $26 million and then take it all away from us again through rate hikes to pay for their “smart Grid” implementation?”
Now here is where it gets really sticky. In a later LV Sun article on June 9th, 2011 NVE is asking for yet another rate hike in January 2012 of 24%. NVE said that this rate increase would be deferred for three years and the current rates would remain in place until the economy picks up again. Nonetheless, the Consumer Protection bureau sees an additional $246 million that ratepayers would need to shell out if NVE gets their rate request approved. 42
Literally this is insanity and our Nevada legislature is as much responsible for this as the power company. In fact one really needs to see the power company’s position that the legislature has ultimately forced them into. I’m not siding with the power company because I detest the installation of any smart meter and then be forced to pay for it imposed through higher utility rates and see my taxes go towards a stimulus that is promoting the smart grid in the first place. However, because of the stringent Renewable Portfolio Standards that were implemented under AB 366 and subsequent pieces of legislation the power company is boxed in or forced into a corner that is difficult to emerge from and still maintain a profitable bottom line. They are forced to solicit Renewable energy resources, pay premium prices for those resources and in the mean time forced to pass along the elevated costs to their customers.
So there you have it. The NVE smart grid project is going to be so profitable, so cost effective to the NVE customer, so green energy efficient that NVE wants us to share in the costs of mining our own personal energy consumption data. Furthermore, they want us to help pay for this monstrous debacle that doesn’t save energy, isn’t safe because of “dirty” electricity (per electrical pollution.com) and doesn’t calculate fees correctly. I’ve talked to several NVE customers who can relate to all of these scenarios.
Using smart meters to gather customer energy usage information places the customer’s health at risk due to harmful RF emissions from the meters themselves. The meters also subject them to security concerns and expose them to rate irregularities that leaves the customer at a disadvantage. Above all, there is no Federal mandate 43 for the Smart Meter implementation. It is a vicious cycle that is taking place across the country. Other governors are tapping into the free money offered by the stimulus and implement smart grid initiatives in their state as well.
They feel the pressure from the green energy companies who want to take advantage of the burgeoning green energy funds so these Non government organizations (NGO’s) lobby local and state governments who accept the federal dollars as well as the strings that go with them to satisfy job demands from the public. The state governments in turn apply pressure to the utility companies to increase energy efficiency, which subsequently is passed along to the customer with higher utility rates and expectations of lower energy usage. The legislature has a responsibility to understand what is reasonable and reestablish a balance that is equitable for both parties. The increased pressure to utilize expensive renewable and limited resources has got to be in par with what is available and what can be purchased at a reasonable price. The power companies need to seek a balance between maximizing their profits and providing a reliable source of energy that is generated and delivered with a consistent quality of power. 44 Together, common sense is restored, customer satisfaction is regained and successful business plans can be implemented. Together that would be a win-win for both the power company and the community it serves.
The public response to installation of smart meters is far from over. The installation process has been going on in California since 2006. The reaction there has not been receptive. There are a number of web sites in place now with tons of information and articles concerning what is going on in California.45 California residents are not happy with smart meters and the way the power companies there have approached the installation process. Susan Brinchman spells it out one of the best ways I’ve seen and gives us all an update and foretaste as to what may be coming across the country in her blog.
“In parts of CA north of here, 46 municipalities have filed severe complaints about smart meters, including many towns, cities, and 9 entire counties, such as Santa Barbara, with most around the greater San Francisco Bay area. In Southern California, only the City and County of Santa Barbara have filed official complaints and requests for an opt-out. Other counties and cities have banned or even criminalized the installation of smart meters, in Northern CA, such as Marin and Santa Cruz Counties. This, after their attorneys and councils examined extensive evidence that pointed to harm to public health.”
“Bottom line, SDG&E has been ordered to attend a Smart Meter Opt-0ut Workshop by two CPUC Administrative Law Judges in a row, to discuss the ways that people can opt-out of having a smart meter on their homes. SDG&E will be attending that meeting on Sept. 14th, at the CPUC Public Auditorium. SCE will also be attending, upon order of the CPUC, as will PG&E and Southern CA Gas. The meeting is public and will be carried online, live, and archived afterward. Verification of these facts may be found on www.CPUC.ca.gov under Calendar for Sept.”
“The reason all three major utilities (plus So CA Gas) are being ordered into this meeting is because there has been such an enormous uproar all over the state about the health effects and privacy issues to do with smart meters - make no mistake about that.”
“When counties feel compelled to criminalize the installation of these meters, after their attorneys have examined the facts, we are talking "serious." If you don't want a smart meter on your home that emits what scientists and doctors (including the CA Dept of Health) warn is at the very least, potentially harmful, pulsed, rf radiation; if you don't want to take a chance with your health and privacy; if you are experiencing health effects that you feel may be related to the smart meters on your home; if you don't have a smart meter and don't want one. “
10 WAYS TO TAKE ACTION [quote continues to end quote]
1.Go to the CPUC site http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/PUC/CEC/e_complaint/ and file a smart meter complaint immediately.
2. Complain to SDG&E, also, in writing, and send our nonprofit a copy, info@electrosmogprevention.org
3. Attend the CPUC Smart Meter Opt-Out Workshop Sept 14 meeting, 9:30 AM-4 PM, in San Francisco, in person or virtually(live webinar).
4. Let your local (town, city, county) governments and state legislators know your position on this issue, including any complaints, in writing and by phone if you can do so. See attached template in Media - Docs.
5. Consider supporting CEP's Proposal (http://www.scribd.com/doc/61171903/CEP-Smart-Meter-Opt-Out-Proposal-for-CPUC-7-28-11) We want wireless GONE from the smart grid plans.
6. Join Center for Electrosmog Prevention at http://electrosmogprevention.org/joinus.html.
7. Help educate the public by sharing your experiences, commenting online on articles, writing Letters to the Editor, blogging, and using the CEP Reasons to Say No To Smart Meters Educational Speaker's Packet with your friends, family, neighbors, and groups
http://www.scribd.com/doc/52614951/Reasons-to-Say-No-to-Smart-Meters
8. Consider posting signs and protesting smart meters. www.Refusesmartmeter.com. See Do Not Install Smart Meter letter template in Media - docs on this page.
9. Learn more about what people are doing to protect their analog meters. http://stopsmartmeters.org/ (Protect Your Analog Meters Parts 1-4)
10. Learn more about smart meter dangers and solutions at Smart Meter Dangers www.smartmeterdangers.org. Read all the recent local San Diego County Patch articles (in addition to this OC County Patch) about smart meters, including comments. These have appeared in LaMesa.Patch.com, LemonGrove.patch.com, Carlsbad.patch.com, LaJolla.Patch.com, Encinitas.Patch.com, and LaMesa.patch.com, to name a few.
What types of smart meters are there? Electric, gas, and water companies are using them lately. Helix Water District (San Diego County) dropped their smart meter plan after bad press in April, claiming that the program was too expensive and had few beneficial results (3 people saved water). Read articles about this at: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/node/5843, http://eastcountymagazine.org/node/5888, New Smart Meters Aren't So Smart: The Utility Company's Silent Killer
Having a problem with your smart meter? Start now, by telling us about it.
Or for those with no problems, think about this: is it worth a serious potential health risk to be able to save the utility money on meter readers and to be able to check your usage online? Talk about it! Take ACTION!” 46 [end quote]
California is not the only state where opposition to smart meters is rampant. “Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, citing an excessive financial burden on consumers, "sweetheart deals" and no guarantees of improved service, knocked down legislation that would have paid for the widespread installation of smart meters and other electric grid improvements.”47
Smart meters are very real in Nevada and similar actions of protest can be taken by Nevada residents as well. Attend the Public Utilities Commission Meeting on October 5th, 2011 at 1:30pm or 6:00pm at 9075 W. Diablo Dr., Las Vegas 89148. There is also a meeting October 11th 2011 at Cashman Convention Center 850 N. Las Vegas Blvd 89101 for NVE to discuss a 24% rate increase on your power bill.48
I have talked to so many Nevada residents who are not in favor of smart meters coming to Nevada for a myriad of reasons. We can make a difference to stop this if we act now. Waiting is not an option.
Endnotes:
1.) National Clean Energy Summit 4.0 The Future of Energy
http://cleanenergysummit.org/2011/index.html
2.) Evergreen Solar Seeks Bankruptcy With Plans to Sell Itself
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-15/evergreen-solar-seeks-bankruptcy-protection-with- debt-of-486-5-million.htm
3.) SpectraWatt Files for Bankruptcy, Second U.S. Solar Company This Month
http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/08/29/idIN188086341320110829
4.) FBI raids solar panel firm Solyndra after bankruptcy filing
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-solyndra-raid-20110909,0,7976969.story
5.) Congressman Brad Sherman: Martial Law if We Voted No [2]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55lOhYw8Lxk
6.) Obama signs stimulus plan, touts clean energy
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10165605-54.html
7.) Conference Report on American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Preliminary Overview
http://seia.org/galleries/pdf/Economic%20Recovery%20Conference%20Report%20Overview%2002%2012%2009%20FINAL.pdf
8.) Energy and efficiency intact in stimulus bill
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10159513-54.html?tag=mncol;txt
9.) Recovery.gov Track the Money
http://www.recovery.gov/Pages/default.aspx
10.) Renewable Energy Projects in Nevada
http://www.energy.state.nv.us/documents/Renewable-Energy-Projects.pdf
11.) SEP ARRA Grants
http://www.energy.state.nv.us/energy-efficiency/programs/
11a.) Consumer Behavior Study
http://www.smartgrid.gov/sites/default/files/pdfs/cbs/nvenergy-cbs-description-final_0.pdf
12.) Renewable Portfolio Standards – Nevada
http://www.newrules.org/energy/rules/renewable-portfolio-standards/renewable-portfolio-standards-nevada
13.) Ibi
14.) Assembly Bill No. 3–Committee of the Whole http://www.leg.state.nv.us/22ndSpecial/bills/AB/AB3_EN.pdf
15.) Ibid
16.) AN ACT relating to energy; Assembly Bill No. 1
http://www.leg.state.nv.us/74th/Bills/AB/AB1_EN.pdf
17.) Nevada Governor Signs Renewable Energy Measure
http://www.kolotv.com/legislature2009/headlines/47241472.html
18.) Senate Bill No. 358–Committee on Energy, Infrastructure and Transportation
http://leg.state.nv.us/75th2009/Bills/SB/SB358_EN.pdf
19.) “Governor’s Assurance in accordance with the Section 410 of Recovery act.”
http://energy.nv.gov/documents/comments/ResponsibleEnergyCodesAlliance.pdf
20.) State Energy Program Formula Grants
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/wip/pdfs/sep_arra_foa.pdf
21.) Ibid
22.) Ibid
23.) Ibid
24.) What is the International Energy Conservation Code®?
http://reca-codes.org/pages/current_code.html
25.) U.S. Green Building Council
http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=1988
26.) Stanton Yuwono
http://www.linkedin.com/in/stantonyuwono
27.) The U.S. green economy is a complete fallacy
http://www.campustimes.org/2011/04/14/the-u-s-green-economy-is-a-complete-fallacy/
28.) NV Energy executives see ecofriendly future
http://www.lvrj.com/business/49591717.html
29.) NV Energy files resource plan with Public Utilities Commission LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNALhttp://www.lvrj.com/news/breaking_news/nv-energy-files-resource-plan-with-public-utilities-commission-83300747.html
30.) NV Energy Receives $138M DOE Smart Grid Funding http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/19931
31.) Utility argues for digital meters
http://www.lvrj.com/business/utility-argues-for-digital-meters-94064714.html
32.) Peak-pricing test will mean high bills for summer
http://www.lvrj.com/business/peak-pricing-test-will-mean-high-bills-for-summer-94409089.html
33.) NVE Peak Pricing Trials
http://www.smartgrid.gov/project/nv_energy_inc_nv_energize
34.) NV Energy's plan for future power gets early approval
http://www.lvrj.com/business/plan-to-obtain-and-finance-electricity-on-track-for-approval-99041659.html
35.) Ibid
36.) Assembly Bill No. 150 AN ACT relating to energy
http://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/76th2011/Bills/AB/AB150_EN.pdf
37.) NV Energy to begin installing electronic meters
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/sep/01/nv-energy-begin-installing-electronic-meters/
38.) Bill would let NV Energy seek another rate increase for energy efficiency
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/may/06/bill-would-let-nv-energy-seek-another-rate-increas/
39.) Testimony of Jeff Lyng, OPOWER, in support of AB 150
http://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/76th2011/Exhibits/Assembly/CMC/ACMC597D.pdf
40.) Home Energy Report - Last Month Neighbor Comparison
http://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/76th2011/Exhibits/Assembly/CMC/ACMC597E.pdf
41.) Power bills rising to pay for energy efficiency programs
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/may/23/power-bills-rising-pay-effiency-programs/
42.) NV Energy seeks 24 percent general rate increase
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/jun/09/nv-energy-seeks-24-percent-general-rate-increase/
43.) Smart Meters: No Federal Mandate
http://ppjg.wordpress.com/2011/08/15/smart-meters-no-federal-mandate/
44.) Opinion: Smart Meters are not the Answer to the U.S. Power problem
http://gigaom.com/cleantech/opinion-smart-meters-are-not-the-answer-to-the-us-power-problem/
45.) “Smart” Meters: Not Smart. Not Green. Not Safe. Not Legal.
http://stopsmartmeters.org/
46.) Take Action: How to Opt Out of Radiation-Emitting Smart Meters
http://sanclemente.patch.com/blog_posts/take-action-how-to-opt-out-of-radiation-emitting-smart-meters-2
47.) Ouch! Illinois governor dumps smart grid bill
http://www.smartgridnews.com/artman/publish/Business_Policy_Regulation/Ouch-Illinois-governor-dumps-smart-grid-bill-3995.html
48.) Before the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada
http://pucweb1.state.nv.us/pdf/CS13117.pdf