New Ford proposal would expand PUCN, place restrictions on data centers
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Aaron Ford has proposed legislation in Nevada to expand the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) and implement new energy restrictions on data centers. The proposals aim to make data centers responsible for the costs associated with their energy demands, asserting that current policies unfairly burden consumers with higher electricity bills. Ford criticizes Governor Joe Lombardo for his support of data centers and NV Energy's demand charge hike.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Aaron Ford has unveiled a new set of proposals in Nevada aimed at addressing the impact of data centers on electricity costs and infrastructure. The first proposal seeks to expand the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) by adding three new commissioners with expertise in consumer protection, augmenting the current three-member body appointed by the Governor.
Ford's second, more contentious proposal, would hold data centers accountable for the additional energy infrastructure and electricity demands they generate. This legislation is designed to prevent Nevada consumers from shouldering the financial burden of increased electricity bills due to data centers' high energy usage. Ford explicitly stated, "Under Joe Lombardo, NV Energy and data centers are raising electricity bills on consumers as Nevadans are already struggling to afford gas, groceries, rent, and health care."
Attorney General Ford criticized incumbent Governor Joe Lombardo, alleging that Lombardo's campaign is financially supported by "MAGA data center billionaires and big utility companies." He further claimed that Lombardo "wholeheartedly" supports data centers and NV Energy's recent demand charge price hike. Ford emphasized that his priority as Governor would be to lower energy costs, even if it means confronting "greedy data centers and big utility companies."