Slice of light

On March 15, the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada voted to eliminate NVEnergy’s lighting rebate and low-income weatherization programs. Cuts were also made to programs such as the refrigerator recycling program.

According to a statement released by the Southwest Energy Efficient Project, “These actions will mean households in Nevada will be paying millions of dollars more in utility bills because they will purchase and use less energy-efficient devices such as compact fluorescent and LED lamps. In addition, jobs will be lost in businesses that produce, market and install energy-efficiency measures in Nevada.”

The decision is also expected to affect businesses participating in the lighting rebate programs, such as Goodwill Industries, which has sold 500,000 compact fluorescent lights in the last two years.

The rebates had already been suspended in January while the PUCN deliberated. Commissioner Rebecca Wagner voted against the cuts.