Revises provisions governing public utilities. (BDR 58-888)

Existing law requires the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada to adopt regulations which provide simplified procedures or methodologies for a change of rates for those public utilities which furnish water or services for the disposal of sewage, or both, and which: (1) serve 3,000 or fewer persons; and (2) had during the immediately preceding 12-month period gross sales for water or services for the disposal of sewage amounting to $2,000,000 or less. Existing law also requires the regulations adopted by the Commission to authorize public utilities that satisfy those requirements to file letters of advice to change rates based on a nationally recognized inflation index approved by the Commission. (NRS 704.095) Section 1 of this bill instead requires the regulations adopted by the Commission to provide for simplified procedures or methodologies for a change of any rates or for public utilities which furnish water or services for the disposal of sewage, or both, and which: (1) serve 4,000 or fewer persons; and (2) had during the immediately preceding 12-month period gross sales for water or services for the disposal of sewage amounting to $4,000,000 or less. In addition to providing for the filing of letters of advice to change rates based on an approved nationally recognized inflation index, section 1 requires those regulations to provide for the filing of letters of advice to change fees, as authorized by the Commission, based on such an index. Existing law generally requires a public utility to submit an application and obtain the approval of the Commission for a change in any schedule of rates or services. (NRS 704.110) However, existing law authorizes a public utility to submit a letter of advice in lieu of filing an application with the Commission if, among other criteria, the proposed change does not change any rate or will result in an increase in annual gross operating revenue in an amount that does not exceed $15,000. Existing law additionally sets forth various requirements for the submission of a letter of advice in lieu of an application by a small-scale provider of last resort. (NRS 704.100) Section 2 of this bill authorizes a public utility other than a small-scale provider of last resort to submit a letter of advice if the proposed change does not change any rate or will result in an increase in annual gross operating revenue in an amount that does not exceed $100,000. Section 2 maintains the requirements for the use of a letter of advice by a small-scale provider of last resort provided under existing law.