1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, any person owning, controlling, operating or maintaining or having any contemplation of owning, controlling or operating any public utility shall, before beginning such operation or continuing operations or construction of any line, plant or system or any extension of a line, plant or system within this State, obtain from the Commission a certificate that the present or future public convenience or necessity requires or will require such continued operation or commencement of operations or construction.
2. The provisions of this section do not require a public utility to secure such a certificate for any extension within any town or city within which it lawfully has commenced operations or for any other extension if the extension:
(a) Is undertaken by a small-scale provider of last resort to serve a telephone toll station or stations to be located not more than 10 miles from existing telephone facilities;
(b) Is undertaken for any purpose by a competitive supplier; or
(c) Remains within the boundaries of the service area which have been established by the Commission for its railroad, line, plant or system, and not then served by a public utility of like character.
3. Upon the granting of any certificate of public convenience, the Commission may make such an order and prescribe such terms and conditions for the location of lines, plants or systems to be constructed, extended or affected as may be just and reasonable.
4. When a complaint has been filed with the Commission alleging that any utility is being operated without a certificate of public convenience and necessity as required by this section, or when the Commission has reason to believe that any provision of this section is being violated, the Commission shall investigate such operations and the Commission may, after a hearing, make its order requiring the owner or operator of the utility to cease and desist from any operation in violation of this section. The Commission shall enforce compliance with such an order under the powers vested in the Commission by law.
5. If any public utility in constructing or extending its line, plant or system interferes or is about to interfere with the operation of the line, plant or system of any other public utility already constructed, the Commission, on complaint of the public utility claiming to be injuriously affected, after hearing, may make such an order prohibiting the construction or extension, or prescribing such terms and conditions for the location of the lines, plants or systems affected, as to it may seem just and reasonable.
6. Except as otherwise provided in subsections 7 and 8, if the Commission, after a hearing upon its own motion or upon complaint, finds that there is or will be a duplication of service by public utilities in any area, the Commission shall either issue a certificate of public convenience and necessity assigning specific territories to one or to each of such utilities, or, by certificate of public convenience and necessity, otherwise define the conditions of rendering service and construction, extensions within such territories, and shall order the elimination of such duplication, all upon such terms as are just and reasonable, having due regard to due process of law and to all the rights of the respective parties and to public convenience and necessity.
7. The Commission may allow and regulate a duplication of service by telecommunication providers in an area where the provider of last resort is a small-scale provider of last resort if the Commission finds that the competition should occur and that any duplication of service is reasonable.
8. The Commission:
(a) Shall allow a duplication of service or facilities by telecommunication providers in an area where the provider of last resort is a competitive supplier; and
(b) On or after January 1, 2012, shall not regulate a duplication of service or facilities by telecommunication providers in an area where the provider of last resort is a competitive supplier.
9. A competitive supplier that is a provider of last resort:
(a) Must provide to the Commission a description of and map depicting the boundaries of the service area in which the Commission has designated the competitive supplier as the provider of last resort; and
(b) May change the boundaries of that service area by filing an application with the Commission. The application shall be deemed approved if the Commission does not act on the application within 120 days after the date the application is filed with the Commission.
[Part 36 1/2:109:1919; A 1925, 243; 1947, 743; 1955, 407]—(NRS A 1959, 269; 1963, 814, 1117; 1971, 727; 1985, 1018; 2007, 703)
Structure Nevada Revised Statutes
Chapter 704 - Regulation of Public Utilities Generally
NRS 704.001 - Purpose and policy of Legislature in enacting chapter.
NRS 704.006 - "Basic network service" defined.
NRS 704.007 - "Biomass" defined.
NRS 704.008 - "Business line service" defined.
NRS 704.010 - "Commission" defined.
NRS 704.011 - "Competitive supplier" defined.
NRS 704.012 - "Consumer’s Advocate" defined.
NRS 704.013 - "Fund to maintain the availability of telephone service" defined.
NRS 704.0135 - "Incumbent local exchange carrier" defined.
NRS 704.0136 - "Inmate calling service" defined.
NRS 704.0137 - "Interexchange carrier" defined.
NRS 704.014 - "Local exchange carrier" defined.
NRS 704.015 - "Person" defined.
NRS 704.018 - "Provider of last resort" defined.
NRS 704.020 - "Public utility" or "utility" defined.
NRS 704.021 - "Public utility" or "utility" further defined.
NRS 704.023 - "Small-scale provider of last resort" defined.
NRS 704.025 - "Telecommunication" defined.
NRS 704.027 - "Telecommunication provider" or "telephone company" defined.
NRS 704.028 - "Telecommunication service" or "telephone service" defined.
NRS 704.031 - Power to subpoena person claiming exemption.
NRS 704.032 - Participation of Office of Economic Development in proceedings before Commission.
NRS 704.050 - Special contract rates.
NRS 704.060 - Charge for shorter haul included within longer haul.
NRS 704.062 - "Application to make changes in any schedule" and "application" defined.
NRS 704.066 - "Schedule" defined.
NRS 704.068 - Acts deemed to be change in schedule.
NRS 704.130 - Rates effective and regulations enforceable until modified by Commission or court.
NRS 704.140 - Free or reduced rates for transportation unlawful; exceptions; penalty.
NRS 704.150 - Duty of connecting railroad to transfer car for just and reasonable charge.
NRS 704.160 - Duty of railroad to provide and maintain depots, stations and other facilities.
NRS 704.170 - Duty of railroad to furnish freight cars to shippers; regulations.
NRS 704.175 - Compliance with standards for electrical construction; inspection; exemption.
NRS 704.183 - Examination of certain public utilities.
NRS 704.185 - Use of deferred accounting by certain natural gas utilities; procedure; limitations.
NRS 704.187 - Use of deferred accounting by certain electric utilities; procedure; limitations.
NRS 704.195 - Recording of telephone call concerning emergency or service outage; disclosure.
NRS 704.215 - Powers of Commission: Adoption of certain rules, regulations and rates by reference.
NRS 704.280 - Powers of Commission: Regulation of lines and tracks; regulations; safety devices.
NRS 704.300 - Railroad crossings: Powers of Commission; payment of expenses.
NRS 704.322 - "Security" defined.
NRS 704.325 - Limitations on application of security or proceeds.
NRS 704.326 - Guarantee or obligation of State not implied.
NRS 704.327 - Payment of necessary expenses of Commission by public utility.
NRS 704.328 - Inapplicability of NRS 704.322 to 704.326, inclusive, to certain public utilities.
NRS 704.3296 - "Electric utility" defined.
NRS 704.350 - Prerequisites to issuance of certificate.
NRS 704.360 - Conduct of investigations and hearings.
NRS 704.400 - Order of Commission prima facie lawful from date of order.
NRS 704.440 - Investigation and ascertainment of value of property of public utility; exceptions.
NRS 704.600 - Administrative fines for failure or refusal to make reports or allow examination.
NRS 704.630 - Additional civil remedies of Commission.
NRS 704.635 - Order by Commission to cease and desist.
NRS 704.640 - Criminal penalties.
NRS 704.645 - Remedies of State cumulative; election of remedies.
NRS 704.655 - Public utility required to pay interest on deposits made by customers; penalty.
NRS 704.6622 - Plan of water conservation: Contents; approval by Commission.
NRS 704.669 - Regulation of sale of geothermal energy to public; system of operating permits.
NRS 704.684 - Limitations on regulation of broadband service; exceptions.
NRS 704.6875 - Customer entitled to written notice of duration of certain calls.
NRS 704.6883 - Judicial review of certain decisions of Commission.
NRS 704.68861 - Applicability.
NRS 704.68863 - Powers and duties under certain federal and state laws preserved.
NRS 704.68865 - Adoption of regulations.
NRS 704.68867 - Filing of reports.
NRS 704.68873 - Exemption from regulation of telecommunication service; exceptions.
NRS 704.68877 - Requirements and exemptions regarding basic network service.
NRS 704.68885 - Requirements regarding discontinuation of service.
NRS 704.68887 - Anticompetitive acts and unlawful discrimination prohibited.
NRS 704.716 - Calculation of amount of adjustment; effect on rates, prices and charges.
NRS 704.721 - Filing of tariff on date of conversion.
NRS 704.731 - Faith of State pledged.
NRS 704.7312 - "Coal-fired electric generating plant" defined.
NRS 704.7313 - "Electric utility" defined.
NRS 704.7314 - "Emissions reduction and capacity replacement plan" defined.
NRS 704.7315 - "Renewable energy facility" defined.
NRS 704.7317 - Electric utility required to record certain amounts in regulatory asset.
NRS 704.7331 - "Asset" defined.
NRS 704.7332 - "Decommissioned" defined.
NRS 704.7333 - "Electric utility" defined.
NRS 704.7334 - "Operational" defined.
NRS 704.7335 - "Post-operational reserve" defined.
NRS 704.7336 - "Pre-operational reserve" defined.
NRS 704.7337 - "Surplus" defined.
NRS 704.7338 - Electric utility to file list of assets with Commission; contents of list.
NRS 704.7339 - Reclassification of asset as surplus.
NRS 704.734 - Surplus asset retirement plans: Filing; contents; subject to approval by Commission.
NRS 704.7364 - "Cost effective" defined.
NRS 704.7366 - "Energy efficiency and conservation program" defined.
NRS 704.7368 - "Renewable energy facility" defined.
NRS 704.746 - Public hearing on adequacy of plan; determination by Commission; regulations.
NRS 704.754 - Reports regarding transmission plan.
NRS 704.7565 - "Affiliate" defined.
NRS 704.7568 - "Dispose of a generation asset" defined.
NRS 704.7571 - "Electric utility" defined.
NRS 704.7575 - "Generation asset" defined.
NRS 704.7578 - "Interest in a generation asset" defined.
NRS 704.7581 - "Person" defined.
NRS 704.7595 - Effect of violation.
NRS 704.7611 - "Alternative rate-making mechanism" defined.
NRS 704.7612 - "Alternative rate-making plan" defined.
NRS 704.7613 - "Decoupling mechanism" defined.
NRS 704.7614 - "Earnings-sharing mechanism" defined.
NRS 704.7615 - "Electric utility" defined.
NRS 704.7616 - "Formula rates" defined.
NRS 704.7617 - "Multi-year rate plan" defined.
NRS 704.7618 - "Performance-based rates" defined.
NRS 704.7619 - "Subscription pricing" defined.
NRS 704.7622 - Prohibition against construction limiting rate-making authority of Commission.
NRS 704.766 - Legislative declaration.
NRS 704.7675 - "Contiguous" defined.
NRS 704.768 - "Customer-generator" defined.
NRS 704.769 - "Net metering" defined.
NRS 704.771 - "Net metering system" defined.
NRS 704.7715 - "Renewable energy" defined.
NRS 704.772 - "Utility" defined.
NRS 704.7802 - "Energy efficiency measure" defined.
NRS 704.7803 - "Portfolio energy credit" defined.
NRS 704.7804 - "Portfolio energy system or efficiency measure" defined.
NRS 704.7805 - "Portfolio standard" defined.
NRS 704.7808 - "Provider of electric service" and "provider" defined.
NRS 704.7809 - "Qualified energy recovery process" defined.
NRS 704.7811 - "Renewable energy" defined.
NRS 704.7815 - "Renewable energy system" defined.
NRS 704.7818 - "Retail customer" defined.
NRS 704.7819 - "Utility provider" defined.
NRS 704.7820 - Legislative findings and declarations.
NRS 704.78215 - Calculation of portfolio energy credits.
NRS 704.7825 - Reports; exceptions; regulations regarding additional reports.
NRS 704.78253 - Reports by certain providers not subject to jurisdiction of Commission.
NRS 704.7826 - Certain providers not subject to jurisdiction of Commission.
NRS 704.7827 - Temporary renewable energy development program; regulations.
NRS 704.7831 - "Cost effective" defined.
NRS 704.7832 - "Electric utility" defined.
NRS 704.7833 - "Energy efficiency program" defined.
NRS 704.7834 - "Energy savings" defined.
NRS 704.78343 - "Historically underserved community" defined.
NRS 704.78347 - "Low-income household" defined.
NRS 704.7835 - Legislative findings and declarations.
NRS 704.792 - "Electric utility" defined.
NRS 704.793 - "Energy storage system" defined.
NRS 704.794 - "Procure" or "procurement" defined.
NRS 704.797 - Requirements for energy storage systems procured to meet targets.
NRS 704.7985 - Restrictions on persons performing work on or near electric infrastructure.
NRS 704.79872 - "Electric utility" defined.
NRS 704.79873 - "Electric utility that primarily serves densely populated counties" defined.
NRS 704.79874 - "Electric utility that primarily serves less densely populated counties" defined.
NRS 704.79875 - "High-voltage transmission infrastructure" defined.
NRS 704.79876 - "Transmission infrastructure for a clean energy economy plan" or "plan" defined.
NRS 704.79879 - Amendment may be filed as amendment to resource plan.
NRS 704.7988 - Modifications recommended by the Commission; actions by utility.
NRS 704.79882 - "Regional transmission organization" defined.
NRS 704.79883 - "Task Force" defined. [Effective through December 31, 2031.]
NRS 704.79884 - "Transmission provider" defined.
NRS 704.79885 - "User" defined.
NRS 704.800 - Unlawful acts involving theft or damage to property: Criminal penalties.
NRS 704.805 - Unlawful acts involving theft or damage to property: Civil remedies.
NRS 704.825 - Declaration of legislative findings and purpose.
NRS 704.834 - "Appropriate federal agency" defined.
NRS 704.840 - "Commence to construct" defined.
NRS 704.842 - "Environmental review" defined.
NRS 704.845 - "Local government" defined.
NRS 704.848 - "Other permitting entity" defined.
NRS 704.850 - "Person" defined.
NRS 704.855 - "Public utility" and "utility" defined.
NRS 704.860 - "Utility facility" defined.
NRS 704.871 - Approval of application for utility facility not intended to serve customers in State.
NRS 704.885 - Parties to proceeding for permit; limited appearance; intervention.
NRS 704.890 - Grant or denial of permit: Required findings; conditions and modifications.
NRS 704.893 - Limitations on purchase of capacity of utility facility by certain public utilities.
NRS 704.895 - Rehearing; judicial review.
NRS 704.900 - Cooperation with other states and Federal Government.
NRS 704.994 - "Alternative seller" defined.
NRS 704.995 - "Person" defined.
NRS 704.996 - "Potentially competitive service" defined.
NRS 704.999 - Restoration of service: Conditions; tariffs.
NRS 704.9992 - "Biogas" defined.
NRS 704.9993 - "Environmental attributes" defined.
NRS 704.9994 - "Renewable energy" defined.
NRS 704.9995 - "Renewable natural gas" defined.