Representatives from both the Nevada Public Utilities Commission and the state Energy Office raised concerns Tuesday over a proposal by Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford to put the energy agency under the PUC.
Staff members from each entity told Senate Energy, Infrastructure and Transportation Committee members that they serve different purposes and should continue to operate independently.
The concerns were raised during discussion of a plan by Horsford, D-North Las Vegas, to transfer responsibilities from the Energy Office to a new "Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Authority" within the PUC.
The proposal is one of several amendments to SB358, a bill that reorganizes the state's effort to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. Horsford said the authority's goal would be to streamline and centralize renewable energy programs administered by the state.
PUC representatives said the plan presents unintended consequences and may not serve the best interests of stake holders or customers.
"I am personally opposed to the dissolution of the Office of Energy and putting it under the PUC because of the incompatible functions that would be put together in one location," PUC Chairwoman Jo Ann Kelly said.
The plan also may cause problems with federal stimulus dollars, said PUC Commissioner Sam Thompson.
"The energy office would be potentially distributing grant dollars to entities regulated or potentially regulated by the PUC," Thompson said. "Frankly, I think it would be difficult if not impossible for the PUC legal staff to represent both the energy office and the PUC in those types of matters."
Representatives from the State Office of Energy said that the organizational change would complicate procedures and that the new authority would create a new level of bureaucracy at a critical time in the emerging renewable energy industry.
Horsford said after the meeting that the authority would be an independent office within the PUC that saves time, resources and energy. He said he doesn't believe that "there is a blending of offices or a conflict of interest."
"The last thing we need is a duplication of government functions at the time when our state is facing a $2 billion shortfall," Horsford said, adding he recognized different opinions and welcomed suggestions.
"In the long term it would save in the process of not having multiple people doing the same things if you can have functions that are handled in one place, whether it be engineering or professionals who deal with permitting processes," Horsford said.
The authority would have its own commissioner and staff, Horsford said, adding that current Energy Office employees could transfer to the authority "to the extent that they qualify."