SB237 was passed this week by the Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee and referred to the Appropriations Committee. SB237 would expand the availability of direct access to all nonresidential customers. The expansion would begin by July 1, 2019, and be phased-in over a period of no more than three years. The full text of SB237 is available on the NEM Website.

The Governor’s Committee on Energy Choice held its final meeting last week and approved changes to finalize its Report of Findings & Recommendations on the energy choice ballot initiative. The Committee's policy recommendations include:
* Establishment of POLR service in areas of Nevada open for retail competition;
* Implementation of a retail market should include joining or contracting with an existing Independent System Operator "with a deep, liquid, and robust market, located in close geographic proximity to the State of Nevada, and already integrated with Nevada and neighboring western states";
* Further study and investigation of divestiture and standard costs should be commissioned by the legislature;
* Retail choice should be implemented in a manner that aligns with existing state goals for renewable energy, energy efficiency and technology;
* Consumer education initiatives should accompany retail market opening;
* Consideration should be given to adopting a model Terms of Service Disclosure for retail supplier use;
* Rules should be established to ensure the protection and privacy of consumer data;
* Third party retail marketers, particularly those for whom compensation is based on sign-ups, should be prohibited;
* Consideration should be given to prohibiting door-to-door sales and/or telephonic solicitation;
* Variable rate contracts should be prohibited; and
* Consideration should be given to "capping fees, especially related to enrollment, and prohibit[ing] disenrollment fees."

In its discussion of the recommendation for comprehensive efforts to educate consumer about choice, the Report cites favorably and extensively to NEM's presentation to the Committee, as well as NEM's Consumer Bill of Rights and National Marketing Standards of Conduct. The full text of the