Jan 16, 2011

Still Sierra Pacific Powerful
by Andrew Barbano

Last month, IBEW Local 1245/AFL-CIO, which has represented the utility’s workers since the Truman administration, conducted a poll of 1,000 likely voters. It found 82 percent supporting a plan to form a “citizen utility board” to represent ratepayers before the PUC. Just 10 percent opposed.

The survey also found strong support for requiring shareholder approval of top executive pay and creation of a public utility agency for electricity and gas services similar to northern and southern water providers. Somewhere, Joe Neal is laughing.

Stockholder salary approval was supported by 63 percent, 21 opposed. Creation of a publicly owned utility was supported by 54 percent, 18 opposed. I wonder how Elko feels these days. The union is reviewing bringing these issues before the voters via petition.

The Barbwire has an exclusive copy of the findings and more analysis which will be posted with the web edition of this column at NevadaLabor.com.

Read Andrew Barbano's full column from the Daily Sparks Tribune or on Barbwire.