NV Energy begins issuing $63 million in customer refunds over billing misclassifications
NV Energy has begun issuing more than $63 million in refunds, with interest, to customers who were overcharged due to misclassification of multifamily versus single-family billing, a resolution reached earlier this year with Nevada regulators. The refunds cover about 3.5% of residential customers, with active accounts receiving bill credits and former customers receiving refunds by check; the process is expected to take several billing cycles to ensure accuracy. The overcharges date back to April 2002 for active customers and June 2017 for some inactive customers, with some exceptions due to gaps in data. An independent third-party review by CBIZ supported the reliability of NV Energy’s classification processes and the company has strengthened its internal controls to prevent recurrence. NV Energy notes that a formal settlement with the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada and the Nevada Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection governs the distribution of funds and the ongoing account reviews, reaffirming that the company did not profit from the misclassification. Brandon Barkhuff, NV Energy’s President and CEO, emphasizes the company’s commitment to making customers whole and completing the refunds promptly while maintaining accuracy.