MINUTES OF THE
SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE AND LABOR
Sixty-seventh Session
February 17, 1993
The Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor was called to order by Senator Lori L. Brown, at 8:30 a.m., on Wednesday, February 17, 1993, in Room 207 of Cashman Field Center, Las Vegas, Nevada. Exhibit A is the Meeting Agenda. Exhibit B is the Attendance Roster.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:
Senator Randolph J. Townsend, Chairman
Senator Sue Lowden, Vice Chairman
Senator Ann O'Connell
Senator Mike McGinness
Senator Raymond C. Shaffer
Senator Leonard V. Nevin
Senator Lori L. Brown
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT:
Denise Pinnock, Committee Secretary
Sheri Asay, Committee Secretary
Brian Davie, Senior Research Analyst
Frank Krajewski, Senior Research Analyst
OTHERS PRESENT:
Melvin Lipman, Private Citizen
Larry Brown, Las Vegas Valley Water District
Carey Casey, Director of Finance, Las Vegas Valley Water District
Charles A. Lindsay, Chairman of the Board, Nevada Power Company
Stan Warren, Lobbyist, Sierra Pacific Resources
Steve Olden, Director of Finance, Sierra Pacific Power Company, Reno, Nevada
Charlie Sylvestri, Southwest Gas Corporation
David Gildersleeve, Manager, Rates and Tariffs Department, Southwest Gas Corporation
Fred Schmidt, Consumer Advocate, Attorney General's Office, State of Nevada
Joyce Newman, Lobbyist, Executive Director, Utility Shareholders Association of Nevada, Inc.
Marcia Cobian, Executive Director, Nevada Telephone Association
Margaret McMillan, Lobbyist, Centel Central Telephone Company
Brian Herr, Lobbyist, Nevada Bell
Helen Foley, Lobbyist, Centel Cellular
Bill Armstrong, Centel Cellular
Paul Taylor, General Manager, Cellular One
Jim Endres, Assistant Vice President, AT&T
Steve Tackes, Lobbyist, MCI Telecommunications
Senator Brown opened the meeting, and invited Melvin Lipman, Private Citizen, to speak regarding mobile home park water meters. Mr. Lipman submitted written testimony (Exhibit C) supporting the ability to install water meters, if all parties agreed.
Larry Brown, Las Vegas Valley Water District, and Carey Casey, Director of Finance, Las Vegas Valley Water District, explained the amount of preparation they had gone through to address the issue of water meters for mobile homes. The witnesses expressed their desire to comply with the wishes of the committee.
Senator O'Connell asked what the cost of meter installation would be. Mr. Casey said the cost of installing a meter would be in excess of $500. He estimated metering a whole mobile home park could be less expensive.
Senator Brown clarified that if the proposed legislation passed, it would give groups who wished to do so the right to install meters. It would not force anyone to install them. Mr. Lipman agreed.
SENATOR TOWNSEND MOVED TO DRAFT A BILL ALLOWING MOBILE HOME PARK OWNERS AND RESIDENTS TO INSTALL WATER METERS.
SENATOR NEVIN SECONDED THE MOTION.
THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
* * * * *
Charles Lindsay, Chairman of the Board, Nevada Power Company, submitted handouts regarding population growth, and the electric utility (Exhibit D).
Senator O'Connell asked what the response of the Public Service Commission (PSC) had been. Mr. Lindsay said their response had been very positive.
Senator O'Connell wondered how the population growth, and increased demands on the utility would affect the state's ability to draw new corporations. Mr. Lindsay stated the electric supply would not be a problem. He said they worked closely with new companies to make sure they had the power to accommodate them.
Stan Warren, Lobbyist, Sierra Pacific Resources, submitted handouts showing the structure of the company (Exhibit E), and its service area (Exhibit F).
Steve Olden, Director of Finance, Sierra Pacific Power Company, Reno, Nevada, submitted written testimony (Exhibit G), regarding their bond rating, and ability to raise capital.
Charlie Sylvestry, Southwest Gas Corporation, and David Gildersleeve, Manager, Rates and Tariff Department, Southwest Gas Corporation, submitted a packet of information which included written testimony. (Exhibit H. Original in the Research Library.)
Senator Brown asked if Southwest Gas vehicles used natural gas. Mr. Gildersleeve said the majority did.
Fred Schmidt, Consumer Advocate, Attorney General's Office, State of Nevada, explained the role of his office.
Joyce Newman, Lobbyist, Executive Director, Utility Shareholders Association of Nevada, Inc., stated her organization's interest in the meeting.
Senator Brown thanked the shareholders for coming to the meeting.
Senator Brown recessed the meeting. The committee reconvened 10 minutes later.
Marcia Cobian, Executive Director, Nevada Telephone Association, introduced Margaret McMillan, Lobbyist, Centel Central Telephone Company, Brian Herr, Lobbyist, Nevada Bell, and Helen Foley, Lobbyist, Centel Cellular. Ms. Cobian also submitted a packet of information about Centel. (Exhibit I. Original is in the Research Library.)
A video presentation giving the history of the telephone industry followed.
Ms. McMillan submitted written testimony (Exhibit J).
Mr. Herr gave an explanation of voice mail.
Ms. McMillan stated the advances in the industry had been a big plus in attracting new business to Nevada. The witnesses explained some of the advances, such as video conferencing, and caller identification.
Ms. Foley narrated a slide presentation (Exhibit K) regarding cellular telephones.
Senator Lowden wondered if there were any new developments which would make cellular calls more private.
Bill Armstrong, Centel Cellular, acknowledged a prior problem with lack of privacy. He said they had made great strides.
Ms. Foley explained why Centel would not use a calling-party-pays system. She said the owner of a cellular phone contractually agreed to pay for the calls, and that was an understood aspect of ownership.
Paul Taylor, General Manager, Cellular One, gave a history of his company. He mentioned some of the technology which would be available through Cellular One in the near future. Mr. Taylor spoke of the growth of the cellular phone industry.
Jim Endres, Assistant Vice President, AT&T, submitted written testimony (Exhibit L).
Steve Tackes, Lobbyist, MCI Telecommunications, submitted an information packet regarding his company (Exhibit M).
Senator O'Connell expressed her appreciation for the presentations, and the fine work done by the industry in general, and Centel in particular. Senator Nevin echoed her thanks.
The committee then participated in a demonstration of some of the newer technology.
As there was no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 11:55 a.m.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:
Denise Pinnock,
Committee Secretary
APPROVED BY:
Senator Randolph J. Townsend, Chairman
DATE:
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Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor
February 17, 1993
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