Nevada Pre-Pay Experience
NASUCA 2015
Barry Gold
AARP Nevada
[email protected]
Nevada Pre-Pay Experience
• Originally part of rate case filing
• Pushed to investigatory docket
Issues related to costs, CBOR, eligibility, viability, more
• Investigatory docket ruling - move forward with Tariff Filing
Discussed numbers, costs, CBOR equivalent/better
• Initial Tariff Filing – 11/3/2015
Issues / problems
raised by AARP NV
• Voluntary vs low income alternative
• Impact to low income – additional costs, lose other services
• Changes to CBOR – need legislative approval, not “better”
• No customer input – not requested by ratepayers
• Shut off numbers in other states – health impacts
• Subsidized by other ratepayers
Voluntary program
Impacts to low income
• No deposit vs $250
• $2 month additional charge – plus any credit card
fees/interest
• Lose other services – internet/phone first
affecting notifications
• Customer agreement – sign or no service
Changes to CBOR
• NAC states agreements can not be less
PUC staff ruled this is as good or better
• Changes to Transmittal of info to customers, Content of
Bills, Equalized billing, Deferred payment of delinquent,
Termination of service notification
• Notification – “REQUIRE” internet access, verify 1x year
People using others email/phone if not have
• Changes need to have approval by Legislative Commission
• Agree to this or no service
if cannot pay deposit
Health Impacts
• Although keep temperature shut-off protections
can still turn off at 104 degrees
• Non eligibility for health is self declaratory
• Age discrimination – cannot sign up if 62 or older
self declaratory
• Status changes are up to customer
my husband coming from hospital with oxygen
• Hide or – or NO service
Other Issues / Wins
• Shut off numbers from other states
• Costs shared by other ratepayers
• No consumer input – not requested by customers
• CA – “cannot waive CBOR”
• Wins – Cannot use pay day loan sites
Slowed process – required separate hearings
Entire tariff process