Your New Utilities

In Nevada, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) supervises and regulates the operation and maintenance of utility services. Nevada residents are protected by the PUC’s Consumer Bill of Rights, which is designed to make it easy to obtain utility services and to keep those services on. The Bill of Rights also recognizes that utilities provide vital services that must be made available to all.

Establishing Service

Before you call local utility providers to set up service, be prepared to provide information such as the new service address, account holder’s name, Social Security number, previous address as well as the name and account number of the previous utility provider. You may also be asked for the account holder’s employment information and a valid Nevada driver’s license number.

Electric

In the Las Vegas area, electric service is provided by NV Energy (www.nvenergy.com). If you’re asked to pay a security deposit, that amount plus accrued interest will be refunded to you after one year of service, less the amount of unpaid bills, as long as you have no more than one returned check, no more than three late payments and no service disconnects. Deposits are based on the historic average monthly bill. If your residence does not have a previous billing history, NV Energy will charge $100 per service. NV Energy payment options include: online pay, electric check, equal payment plan, select your due date, bill matrix, and mail–in payment. Contact NV Energy for more information about these payment options. NV Energy customers can sign up online for MyAccount (www.nvenergy.com/myaccount/signin.cfm), offering more than a few amenities: Pay bills online immediately, see 24 months of previous energy usage, get conservation tips customized to customer usage for home or business, check account status and latest payments, analyze and graph your energy use, find ways to save energy and money, see how the weather affects usage, view individual customer energy usage month-to-month or year-to-year, compare your energy usage to other homes of the same size, complete a detailed energy audit, and see new programs and incentives that can increase your savings.

Water

Since 1954, the Las Vegas Valley Water District (LVVWD) has serviced the water needs of Southern Nevada residents. The company currently serves more than 1 million customers.

Start Service

To start or transfer residential water service, call (702) 870-4194 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For a $15 charge, you can also request same-day service before 3:30 p.m. (not available on weekends or holidays). District water rates are regulated by law and can cover only the costs of water delivery and the maintenance and building of facilities. Rates are structured to encourage conservation – the more water you use, the more you pay. The district is the operating agency for the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA), a regional organization that works to secure water resources for the Valley. SNWA also provides conservation programs for customers of member agencies. You can learn more at www.snwa.com.

Deposit

You may be required to provide a deposit of $150, which is due when you request service. You can also request service by visiting LVVWD’s offices at 1001 South Valley View Boulevard. SNWA officials are charged with managing the region’s water resources and providing for Las Vegas Valley area residents’ and businesses’ present and future water needs. Its Board of Directors has set a conservation goal of 199 gallons per capita per day (GPCD) by 2035. The community used 254 GPCD in 2008. The water authority offers a variety of resources, services, programs and information to help meet this conservation goal, save money and live water smart. These include programs dealing with landscaping, car washing, drinking water, and water efficient appliances. Learn more by visiting SNWA’s Web site at www.snwa.com.

Gas

For more than 50 years, Southwest Gas Corporation has provided Las Vegas Valley residents with natural gas service. To start service, go to the company’s website at https://ssm.swgas.com/start_service.php and follow the prompts to select your area and provide your address information. You can also call Southwest Gas at (702) 365-1555. Payment options include Automatic Payment Plan (APP), Credit, Debit/ATM Card and Electronic Check, E-bill, Equal Payment Plan (EPP), pay by mail and pay at Pay Station locations. The corporation offers a number of special assistance programs, including: Energy assistance, Low-income weatherization, Deferred payment options, Online energy conservation tips, and Online and store-based payment options.

Trash Removal

Throughout the Valley, solid waste collection services and recycling are provided by Republic Services. For information on garbage pickup days for your area or to inquire on renting a 96 gallon mobile cart, contact customer service at (702) 735-5151 and follow the voice prompts to residential service or visit www.republicservicesvegas.com. Services provided by Republic include curbside trash pickup twice a week, recycling programs and dumpster rentals. Republic asks that you use nothing larger than a 33-gallon trash can or lease a 96-gallon mobile cart. All trash must be in a trash container. You may place your heavy items out on any scheduled pickup day.

Telephone Service

In choosing a telephone provider, you’ll find numerous options in the Valley, including landline service, Voice-over-Internet protocol, mobile service or a bundled package through a cable provider that includes Internet and TV. The following companies provide telephone service in the Las Vegas Area. MetroPCS 888-8metro8 www.metropcs.com Cox Communications (702) 933-9849 www.cox.com Embarq (702) 244-7723 www.embarq.com AT&T Wireless (702) 227-4000 www.att.com/wireless Verizon Wireless (702) 657-8916 www.verizonwireless.com