Judge allows NV Energy demand charge to proceed, attorney general to appeal

[transcript] the clock, a major development today in a pair of lawsuits, opposing envy energies plans to implement a new billing structure. The Nevada Attorney General's Office and a coalition of solar advocates said it was illegal. Judge did not agree. Fox 5's Joe V. Hill has been following this case. He joins us right now with the latest joke. Yeah, Tom, envy energy plans to change the way it builds customers met opposition from customers and solar advocates almost from the start, but today it did not face opposition in a Clark County courtroom. That is where district court judge Mary K. Holt this said it could move forward this morning. Attorneys for the PUC and envy energy, the Bureau of Consumer Protection and vote solar presented their arguments for organs, the demand charge. It bases a customer daily rate on the 15 minutes in which they use the most electricity. Opponents say that rates structure not only violates state law, but the PUC and lacked the legal authority to approve it. After hours of debate, Judge Holt this reached a decision. She ruled the demand charge could move forward, but she also acknowledged her decision might not stand. I see a microlb very limited and I don't have much room, whether I agree or disagree isn't what matters and there will be, what's up, where I go, there will be a court about this. It tells us whether I got it right or wrong. So moments after Judge Holt this announced her ruling attorney general Aeron Ford announced, he would appeal Ford issued a statement just a short time ago, writing in part in the middle of a cost of living crisis, it is outrageous for big utility companies to drop yet another expense on Nevada and shoulders in the form of the unlawful demand charge. The price hike would force hundreds of dollars and new costs on two families were already stretched thin. The court got it wrong and I will be appealing, it's ruling too, the Nevada Supreme Court. Ford says this lawsuit is, quote, far from over, will continue to follow what comes next. Tom, back to you. All right, Joe. Thank you. An envy energy has already pushed back implementation of the new rate structure until January of 2027, the utility says the delay will give it time to educate customers on how to get the most savings from the change.