Nevada Electricity Rates
Rate data for Nevada is being refreshed. The regulator and market facts below are current; figures return with the next data load.
Can you choose your electricity supplier in Nevada?
No. Nevada has not opened its residential electricity market to competition, so the utility that delivers your power also sells it. Its prices are set in rate cases before the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada, and the rate you pay depends on which utility serves your address, your rate schedule, and the season.
Grid operator: No RTO; Western bilateral market (WECC). Wholesale power costs flow through to retail bills on the regulator's schedule rather than month to month, which is why regulated-state rates move more slowly than the market-based states listed below.
Want to shop for a supplier? Retail choice is open on this site in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington DC.
There is no electricity supplier to pick in Nevada — the 2018 Question 3 Energy Choice Initiative failed 67.05 to 32.95 percent — but NV Energy customers get a Consumers Bill of Rights that caps deposits at 150 percent of a month's bill and forbids nonpayment shut-offs on forecast 105°F days, and residential rates ran 12.77 cents/kWh in July 2026 against 33.61 cents in neighboring California.
Who will deliver your power in Nevada
The utility is fixed by your address. These are the largest in the state, with what each says it needs from a new customer.
NV Energy (Nevada Power Company in the south, Sierra Pacific Power Company in the north)investor-owned
Two PUCN-regulated companies doing business as NV Energy: Nevada Power Company serves the southern Nevada territory and Sierra Pacific Power Company, based in Reno, serves the northern Nevada territory. About 916,000 residential customers (Nevada Power) plus ~331,000 (Sierra Pacific) in 2024, per EIA Form 861.
NV Energy's PUCN-filed Rule 13 (Sierra Pacific/northern tariff) caps a new-service deposit at 150 percent of the estimated average monthly bill based on the last 12 months of usage at the premise, halves it for elderly customers, and waives it for people receiving disability, Social Security or retirement payments, active-duty military, veterans, or anyone who enrolls in and keeps bank draft/EFT payment. NV Energy's start-service page does not state ID, Social Security number or lead-time requirements.
Start service with NV Energy →Sources: nvenergy.com, nvenergy.com, eia.gov, leg.state.nv.us
Valley Electric Associationcooperative
Member-owned cooperative headquartered in Pahrump with about 6,800 square miles of service territory. About 22,400 residential customers in 2024 (EIA); the co-op reports 21,352 memberships.
You must become a member first; the residential application asks for at least one form of government-issued ID, your Social Security number and, if you have one, a credit reference letter from a previous electric provider. VEA says some applicants may owe a deposit based on service type or account history, that a good-standing letter from a prior provider may waive it, and that processing times vary (existing locations connect faster than new construction).
Start service with Valley Electric Association →Overton Power District No. 5public power district
Political-subdivision power district with offices in Overton (Moapa Valley) and Mesquite. About 15,500 residential customers in 2024 (EIA).
OPD5 requires 24 hours notice to connect or transfer service, two forms of government-issued ID, a lease (if renting) or proof of ownership, a $25.00 customer service fee and a $250.00 security deposit if renting; renters must apply in person, and all fees must be paid before service is provided.
Start service with Overton Power District No. 5 →Boulder City Electric Utilitymunicipal
City-owned utility serving Boulder City, billed through the city's Utility Billing office. About 7,100 residential customers in 2024 (EIA).
Call Utility Billing at 702-293-9244 option 2 with at least one working day's notice (same-day service is a $50 fee); renters need a signed lease showing the address and occupants. Deposits are 1.5 times the estimated monthly bill with minimums of $100 for owners and $125 for all others, halved for residents over 62, refunded as a credit after 12 consecutive months of good payment history, plus a non-refundable $25 account setup fee.
Start service with Boulder City Electric Utility →Mt. Wheeler Powercooperative
Cooperative based in Ely serving more than 4,600 member-owner accounts across a 16,000-square-mile territory in four Nevada counties and three Utah counties. About 5,200 Nevada residential customers in 2024 (EIA).
Membership is required to begin service and includes completing an application and meeting deposit requirements; deposits are calculated on the four-month average historical usage at the location, and you can choose a $15 credit check at application that waives the deposit if your delinquency risk is low enough. One REAL ID or passport suffices; otherwise two forms of ID are required, and electronically submitted ID must be notarized.
Start service with Mt. Wheeler Power →Sources: mwpower.net, mwpower.net, mwpower.net, eia.gov
Deposits, ID, and supplier choice in Nevada
Deposits. For PUCN-regulated utilities (NV Energy), NAC 704.328–704.333 cap a deposit at 150 percent of the estimated average monthly bill (50 percent for elderly customers), bar a deposit from anyone with satisfactory credit at any regulated or municipal energy utility, a guarantor, or Social Security/retirement income, require the utility to offer installment payment, and require the deposit back after 12 consecutive months of timely payments. The PUCN notes some utilities ask for a Social Security number but many accept an alternative such as a driver's license number. (leg.state.nv.us)
Choosing a supplier. None for residential customers: Nevada has no retail electric choice; Question 3, the 2018 Energy Choice Initiative to constitutionally require a competitive retail market by July 1, 2023, failed 316,951 (32.95%) yes to 644,843 (67.05%) no, so you take service from the utility that serves your address. (https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Division/Research/VoteNV/BallotQuestions/2018.pdf)
The PUCN regulates investor-owned NV Energy but not cooperatives (Valley Electric, Mt. Wheeler), districts (Overton Power) or city utilities (Boulder City), so the NAC deposit and shut-off protections apply only to NV Energy customers; the Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection represents residential ratepayers in PUCN cases. Nevada's residential price averaged 12.77 cents/kWh in July 2026 versus 18.31 cents nationally and 33.61 cents in California (EIA), with a 2024 average bill of $139.39 for 930 kWh.
Sources: leg.state.nv.us, puc.nv.gov, puc.nv.gov, puc.nv.gov, puc.nv.gov, ag.nv.gov, leg.state.nv.us, eia.gov, eia.gov
Help paying an electric bill in Nevada
Energy Assistance Program (EAP) — Nevada's LIHEAP
Nevada Division of Social Services
Nevada households at least partly responsible for heating or cooling costs that meet citizenship criteria and whose gross monthly income is at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines (FY2027: $1,995 for one person, $2,705 for two, $4,125 for four, plus $710 each additional person). Eligible households get one annual benefit paid to the energy provider; the program year runs July 1–June 30 and applications are taken by mail, fax, DSS drop box or energyassistance@dss.nv.gov, with Fast-Track processing for households facing shut-off after a recent income loss and an Arrearage component once every five years.
Sources: dss.nv.gov, dss.nv.gov, dss.nv.gov, dss.nv.gov, liheapch.acf.gov
Weatherization Assistance Program
Nevada Housing Division (Department of Business and Industry) through regional providers: Community Services Agency (north), HELP of Southern Nevada (Las Vegas/Henderson) and Rural Nevada Development Corporation (North Las Vegas and rural counties)
Households at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level; approved homeowners and renters receive air sealing, insulation, LED lighting, solar screens and HVAC/refrigerator/water-heater work at no cost, with applications accepted year-round. Owners of eligible rental properties may be responsible for 50 percent of the cost.
Sources: housing.nv.gov, business.nv.gov
Project REACH (NV Energy, southern Nevada)
United Way of Southern Nevada, funded by the NV Energy Foundation
NV Energy residential customers age 62 and older who meet income guidelines; pays a past-due energy bill once in a 12-month period.
Sources: puc.nv.gov, liheapch.acf.gov
Special Assistance Fund for Energy (SAFE) (NV Energy, northern Nevada)
United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra
A gap-filling emergency fund for northern Nevadans who need financial help to keep utilities on.
Sources: puc.nv.gov, liheapch.acf.gov
Programs that change what you pay
- Rooftop solar (net metering)available
- Under AB 405 (2017), rooftop systems up to 25 kW are credited at a percentage of the retail rate locked for 20 years; Tiers 1–3 (95%, 88%, 81%) are closed and Tier 4 at 75% is open with no capacity limit as of October 2026.
Source: puc.nv.gov
- Community solarlimited
- The PUCN's consumer-assistance page lists no community-solar subscription program; it points to NV Energy's Expanded Solar Access Program, which gives eligible low-income customers a lower electric rate without installing panels.
Source: puc.nv.gov
- Time-of-use ratesavailable
- NV Energy's time-of-use program is voluntary and relies on its smart meters (15-minute interval reads); customers who opt out of a smart meter for a refurbished analog meter pay a one-time and monthly fee and cannot join time-of-use rates.
Source: puc.nv.gov
Questions people ask before moving to Nevada
How far ahead should I set up electricity before moving to Nevada?
The small utilities publish their lead times: Overton Power District needs 24 hours notice and Boulder City needs at least one working day (same-day service costs $50), while Valley Electric says processing times vary and existing locations connect faster than new construction. NV Energy's start-service page is an online application; it published no lead time we could read, so start it as soon as you have a move-in date.
Sources: opd5.com, bcnv.org, vea.coop, nvenergy.com
Will I have to pay a deposit to start electric service in Nevada?
At NV Energy a deposit can be no more than 150 percent of your estimated average monthly bill, is waived if you have satisfactory credit with any regulated or municipal energy utility, receive Social Security or retirement income, or (under NV Energy's northern tariff) enroll in bank draft/EFT, and must be refunded after 12 consecutive on-time payments. Non-regulated utilities set their own: Overton Power charges renters a flat $250 deposit, Boulder City charges 1.5 times the estimated bill with $100/$125 minimums, and Mt. Wheeler will waive it if a $15 credit check comes back low-risk.
Sources: leg.state.nv.us, nvenergy.com, puc.nv.gov, opd5.com, bcnv.org, mwpower.net
Can I shop for a cheaper electricity supplier in Nevada?
No. Nevada voters rejected Question 3, the 2018 Energy Choice Initiative that would have required a competitive retail market by July 1, 2023, by 67.05 percent to 32.95 percent, so your supplier is simply the utility that serves your address.
Source: leg.state.nv.us
Can NV Energy shut off my power during a Las Vegas summer?
Not on a day the National Weather Service forecasts extreme temperature: for nonpayment shut-offs in the southern (Nevada Power) territory the trigger is 105°F or higher (103°F, or 100°F in a pre-2000 mobile home, for elderly or disabled customers covered by NAC 704.390), in the northern (Sierra Pacific) territory 105°F or 95°F, and in winter 15°F or 20°F or lower. NV Energy must also give 10 days' written notice plus a 48-hour second notice, cannot disconnect on weekends, holidays or the day before, cannot disconnect a smart-meter customer who owes $100 or less, and must postpone 30 days on a doctor's certification.
Sources: leg.state.nv.us, puc.nv.gov, puc.nv.gov
How do Nevada electricity rates compare with California and the rest of the country?
Nevada residential power averaged 12.77 cents/kWh in July 2026 against 18.31 cents nationally and 33.61 cents in California, and the 2024 average Nevada home bill was $139.39 for 930 kWh (the U.S. average was $142.26 for 863 kWh). Rates differ by utility: Boulder City's combined rate starts at about 9.4 cents/kWh with a $13.13 service charge, while Valley Electric charges $0.145/kWh plus a $40 basic service charge.
Researched 2026-10-16 from utility, regulator, and agency pages; every statement links to where it was read. Rules change: confirm deposits and program dates with the utility or agency before you rely on them.
Every state ranked by residential rate, updated weekly: Electricity Rates by State →