Starting in October, you'll save a couple of dollars on your energy bill. That's right. Nevada Power says it's going to lower the electric rates -- for a short time.
The low rates won't last long, because the price of natural gas is skyrocketing and the cash to pay for that will come out of your wallet.
Steve Rypka's energy bill is only $8 a month. That's because the energy in his house runs off of solar panels. He got the idea from the ones at the Desert Springs Preserve.
"If you look at a chart of all the non-renewable resources on the planet, it's minuscule to all the amount of solar energy we get every year," he said.
Steve is big on using alternative energy, like the sun and wind. That's because he knows the price of fossil fuels like oil, coal and natural gas will only get expensive.
"The price of gas and other fossil fuels can only go up because it's a non-renewable resource," he said.
Officials at the Public Utilities Commission couldn't agree more. "I think our bills will see a 15-percent increase in our bill, our rates and our electric rates in the future," said Andrea Holtz. She is an educator at the PUC and says Nevada Power is heavily reliant on natural gas.
Eighty percent of Nevada Power's electrical generating capacity comes from natural gas.
"And some of the third world countries become more industrialized and require more energy needs just like our energy needs have escalated, then needs escalate and it becomes supply and demand. And there's not going to be enough natural gas," said Holtz.
But that could be years in the future. However, prices on your bill will continue to go up. The PUC says start learning to conserve energy around your home now -- or do the alternative, like Steve Rypka did.
Replacing 10 of your light bulbs at home with compact fluorescent ones can save you $70 a year.
The PUC is holding a meeting Tuesday night at 7 p.m. at the Sahara West Library at 9600 West Sahara. At the meeting, you can get info on how to save money on your bill and ask about the possible rate hike in the future.
Tedd Florendo, Reporter
Updated: July 15, 2008 07:47 PM EDT
http://www.lasvegasnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=8680622
