PUCN Regulated Companies & Service Providers

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1. PUCN Regulated Companies & Service Providers

State law (NRS 704.020) determines who the PUCN regulates. As a general rule, the PUCN regulates investor-owned public utilities that provide a monopoly utility service to customers.

The lists below of regulated companies and service providers are supplied by the PUCN as a courtesy to the public. This information is updated frequently. However, the PUCN does not verify the accuracy or validity of this information. Members of the public are encouraged to seek verification from the PUCN by contacting the Financial Analysis Division at 775-684-6155.

PLEASE NOTE: Although cooperative utilities may appear in the following lists, the PUCN has limited authority over cooperative utilities. The PUCN does not regulate the rates or service quality of these utilities and cannot assist consumers with complaints. For more information on filing a complaint against non-PUCN regulated companies, please see the "Non-PUCN Regulated Companies & Service Providers" section below.



2. Non-PUCN Regulated Companies & Service Providers

As a general rule, the PUCN does not regulate the service quality or rates of cooperatives or other non-profit utilities. The PUCN also does not regulate utilities operated by a city, county or state government, or quasi-governmental entity. However, the PUCN may have some limited oversight concerning these types of utilities’ service territory, construction permits for new plant, and excavation practices that may impact underground facilities (pipeline, electrical wire, etc.). Additionally, the PUCN has no regulatory authority over cable companies, Internet, satellite service, or trash collection services.

Please see below for information on obtaining assistance with complaints against non-PUCN regulated services or utilities.

  • Cable: Contact your county commission for complaint assistance. In Clark County, contact the Clark County Consumer Information Line at (702) 455-8888.
  • Cooperatives: Contact the appropriate member of the cooperative's Board of Directors. You can find this information by calling the office of the cooperative that serves you or by visiting the cooperative's website.
  • General Improvement Districts (GIDs): Contact the appropriate county commission official or GID board member who oversees the utility. You can find this information by calling the office of the GID that services you or by visiting the GID's website.
  • Internet, Satellite & Cellular Service: For complaints against Internet, satellite and cellular providers, please contact the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) at 888-225-5322 or online at www.fcc.gov/complaints.
  • Las Vegas Valley Water District, Southern Nevada Water Authority, Truckee Meadows Water Authority: Contact your county commission for complaint assistance:
    • Clark County Commission: (702) 455-3500
    • Washoe County Commission: (775) 328-2005
     
  • Payphones: Contact the payphone service provider listed on the payphone for assistance. The FCC may also be able to help you. Contact the FCC at 888-225-5322 or online at www.fcc.gov/complaints.
  • Taxicab Companies: For assistance with complaints against taxicab companies in Clark County, please contact the Nevada Taxicab Authority at (702) 668-4000 or online at taxi.nv.gov. For assistance with complaints against taxicab companies in all other parts of Nevada, contact the Nevada Transportation Authority at (702) 486-3303 in Las Vegas, (775) 688-2800 in Northern Nevada, or tsa.nv.gov.
  • Trash Collection Services: Contact your local jurisdiction's business license department.


3. What is an investor-owned utility?

It is a utility owned by an individual or group of people who invest their money in the utility for the purpose of making a reasonable profit. That is, they want to sell service at a price higher than their costs. Any money left over can then be reinvested in the utility or returned to the owners as a cash dividend.

4. What is a monopoly?

The Nevada Legislature has passed laws which allow investor-owned utilities in Nevada to be monopolies. A monopoly exists when there is no competition for a product or service. In the case of utility companies, this means that there is only one provider of a utility service in a given area, or service territory. In return for being granted the right to be sole provider in a service territory, the investor-owned utility submits to price and service quality regulation by the PUCN. Regulation of investor-owned utilities exists because the investor-owned utility is motivated by the pursuit of a reasonable profit. Regulation ensures that the utility provides reliable service at just and reasonable rates. In other words, the PUCN’s role is to prevent utilities from price gouging and/or providing substandard service because their customers have no available alternative provider of service.

5. Why monopolies?

Utility services such as water, gas and electric service, etc., are considered essential public services and require expensive infrastructure, such as transmission and distribution lines and pipes. It is often impractical for more than one provider in an area to provide utility services due to the cost of producing and constructing competing infrastructure. In other words, the barriers to entry for a competitor are high.

Deregulation of utility services is a possible alternative to a monopoly system. For example, the telecommunications industry was largely deregulated by the federal government through the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Advances in technology, such as fiber optics and cell phones, allowed competitors to function in this industry and a competitive market to be created. As a result, the PUCN’s regulation of telecommunication companies in Nevada is minimal. As of May 2013, the PUCN exercises traditional regulatory authority over rate and service quality for only 10 telecommunications companies called Small Scale Providers of Last Resort, which operate largely in the rural areas of Nevada.



6. Why doesn’t the PUCN regulate cooperatives, non-profit utilities or utilities owned by municipalities?

The primary reason is that these utilities have their own governing bodies, generally elected by customers, which set prices and determine service quality. Thus, these utilities are considered by lawmakers to be self-regulated because they are run by and/or take direction from their customers. They set prices as high or as low as they deem appropriate and customers weigh in on these matters through the voting process. Regulation by the PUCN would be duplicative of the customer protections these utilities already have in place.

7. How can I tell the difference between a for-profit, investor-owned utility and a cooperative, non-profit or quasi-governmental utility?

The best way to determine this is to contact the utility or look for this information on its website. Short of that, many times the name of the utility provides a clue. Look for the words “cooperative” or “association” in the name (e.g., Harney Electric Cooperative., Inc., and Valley Electric Association, Inc.). Cooperatives and associations generally have their own governing bodies. Other words in a name that indicate an entity is not regulated by the PUCN include “authority,” “district” and “mutual.” These words indicate that a utility was created and is run by a government or quasi-governmental entity (e.g., Las Vegas Valley Water District or Truckee Meadows Water Authority).

8. What is a quasi-governmental utility?

A quasi-governmental utility is formed by an act of legislation and is generally run similarly to a government agency. The Truckee Meadows Water Authority (TMWA) is an example. Its website, tmwa.com, states that it “is a not-for-profit, community-owned water utility, overseen by elected officials and citizen appointees from Reno, Sparks and Washoe County.” The website also states that TMWA was “formed under the Joint Powers Legislation of the state of Nevada and is subject to the Open Meeting Law.”

The Southern Nevada Water Authority is another example. Its website, snwa.com, states that it “is a cooperative agency . . . governed by a seven-member agency comprised of representatives from each of its member organizations.” The member organizations include the city of North Las Vegas, the city of Henderson, and the city of Las Vegas, among others.