The Public Utilities Commission has taken a lot of unwarranted heat lately in relation to the recently approved net metering rate schedules that apply to rooftop solar owners.
Letters
To all of the customers who purchased expensive rooftop solar systems under the false narrative of net metering, you are misdirecting your anger toward NV Energy, the Public Utilities Commission and Gov. Brian Sandoval.
It is an understatement to say the Public Utilities Commission made a controversial decision when it chose to raise connection fees and lower reimbursement rates for power generated by rooftop solar owners (“PUC OKs new solar rates,” Dec. 23 Review-Journal).
In the constant back-and forth-over the recent Public Utilities Commission ruling, one of the arguments in favor of the net metering decision is that solar technology isn’t reliable 100 percent of the time, the way traditional energy is.
Mehul R. Mehta, plant manager of the GE Engine Service facility in North Las Vegas, believes the U.S. Export-Import Bank is vital to GE and other companies and that without it, they would not be able to compete with foreign companies. He points out that 60 other countries have similar taxpayer-subsidized banks (“Nevada’s congressional delegation must support Ex-Im Bank,” July 30 Review-Journal).
Suddenly, the big topic for discussion concerns Las Vegas hotels planning to charge for parking, after many years of providing free parking.
Regarding John L. Smith’s column on the Nevada State Veterans Home, I am unable to discuss the pending litigation, but I am able to address other issues raised in the commentary.
Letters from Anthony Affronti, Tom Keller, John Welch and Robert Gardner.
A recent article on the new rooftop solar rate structure states, and not for the first time, that “filings with the PUC show that any new revenue from the change would go to reducing overall future rate increases for all ratepayers, not to Berkshire Hathaway or its shareholders” (“Agency: Rethink new rate structure,” Jan. 9 Review-Journal).
The controversy about rooftop solar power generation and the prices paid for excess generation versus power drawn from the grid is just a microcosm of what will happen nationwide as politicians mandate ever higher requirements for electric companies to generate more power from renewable sources (solar and wind). These sources of electricity are inherently intermittent and unreliable.
I found it ironic that Stephen T. Parente’s commentary on the “failed” implementation of the Affordable Care Act in Nevada was published the same week that it was reported that a record number of Nevadans had enrolled in health insurance through Nevada Health Link
Letters from James Collier, Tony Higgins, Patrick S. Cater and Lee Mallory.
Law enforcement officials at every level are reaping the whirlwind they created by not properly managing the Cliven Bundy incident in 2014.
Tara Pike and Nick Nordstrom’s op-ed is more frivolous and far less factual than they claim.
Letters from Fredric Rolando and Dan Barry.