Existing law requires a utility which supplies natural gas in this State to file annually with the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada an informational report describing certain information regarding the demand for natural gas, certain costs related to the provision of gas service and sources of planned acquisitions of natural gas. (NRS 704.991) Section 14 of this bill replaces the requirement to file an annual informational report with a requirement for a public utility which purchases natural gas for resale to 10 or more customers in this State to file with the Commission, on or before October 1, 2025, and on or before October 1 of every third year thereafter, a plan designed to meet the current and future needs for natural gas at the lowest reasonable cost to the public utility and its customers. Section 14 requires the plan to include certain information related to the provision of gas service by the utility, including certain expenses of the utility and certain activities and programs that the utility plans to engage in. Section 14 requires the Commission to require each public utility to meet with personnel from the Commission and the Bureau of Consumer Protection in the Office of the Attorney General and any other interested persons at least 4 months before filing the plan or within a reasonable period before filing an amendment to an existing plan to provide an overview of the plan or amendment. Sections 2-10 of this bill define terms related to the plan required to be filed by a public utility. Section 11 of this bill requires the Commission to convene a public hearing on the adequacy of the plan and establishes certain determinations regarding the plan that the Commission is required to make following such a hearing. Section 12 of this bill requires the Commission to issue an order accepting or modifying the plan, and any amendment to the plan, within a certain period of time and authorizes the public utility to respond to any modifications to the plan made by the Commission. Section 12 provides that a plan or an amendment to a plan that is accepted by the Commission shall be deemed prudent and a public utility is authorized to recover all prudently incurred costs for the reasonable implementation of such a plan or amendment. Section 13 of this bill prohibits a public utility which purchases natural gas for resale to 10 or more customers in this State from filing a general rate application within 180 days before or after the filing of a plan. Existing law requires the Commission to adopt regulations authorizing a public utility which purchases natural gas for resale to expand the infrastructure of the public utility in a manner consistent with a program of economic development. (NRS 704.9925) Section 16 of this bill instead requires the Commission to adopt regulations authorizing a public utility which purchases natural gas for resale to 10 or more customers in this State to include in the plan required to be filed by the public utility a proposal to expand its infrastructure in a manner consistent with a program of economic development. Section 15 of this bill removes the existing requirement for the Commission to adopt certain regulations establishing methods and programs that remove financial disincentives which discourage a public utility which purchases natural gas for resale from supporting energy conservation.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 704.991, 704.992, 704.9925, 271B.130
Reprint 1: 704.991, 704.992, 704.9925
Reprint 2: 704.991, 704.992, 704.9925
As Enrolled: 704.991, 704.992, 704.9925
BDR: 704.991, 704.992, 704.9925, 271B.130