EDITORIAL: PUC should welcome public input, not discourage it

The men and women who serve on government boards and commissions should welcome input from those they serve. So why does it appear that the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada is attempting to stifle public comment?

NV Energy recently proposed a controversial new “demand charge” that could increase the price of electricity during peak demand periods. The issue has been on recent agendas of the PUC, which oversees the state’s public utilities. Opponents of the charge have sought to make themselves heard at commission meetings.

It hasn’t always been easy.

Last week, the PUC convened for a Tuesday hearing. Typically, the panel holds both an afternoon and evening session, allowing working Nevadans more opportunities to attend. This time, however, the commission members met only in the afternoon. Interest in the gathering was higher than usual, but attendees were forced to wait outside in high heat once the 50-seat meeting room hit capacity, the Nevada Current reported.

As a result, a great many people were forced to line up outside in triple-digit temperatures while waiting to see if they would be allowed in. The Current reported that an overflow room was available but never utilized.

“This is the first time in the 16 years I’ve been going to consumer sessions that they did this,” attendee Angel DeFazio told the Current, adding that the inconvenience that many attendees endured was an effort to deter public participation.

Another critic, Jackie Spicer of the Nevada Environmental Justice Coalition, wrote in a statement to the online news site, “Typically, the PUCN opens an overflow conference room when large crowds show up. This year, the overflow room was full of police officers, not the public. They are effectively discouraging the public from raising our concerns.”

A PUC spokesman defended the setup as a means of crowd control and ensuring public safety. He told the Current that the commission provided “ice-filled coolers of cold water for attendees” who were forced to wait outside. How thoughtful.

This was an unforced error. PUC members know that the demand charge has stoked intense public interest, making it even more vital that citizens on both sides of the issue be allowed to express themselves at meetings. The goal must be to make it more convenient for members of the public to attend and participate. If that entails securing larger venues, ensuring that overflow space is available when needed or making other accommodations, so be it. Public engagement should be welcomed rather than subverted.