For two decades, my old friend Randolph has been politically bulletproof because of the pro-consumer image I helped create for him between 1978 and 1981. Back then, he was indeed pro-ratepayer. Strange things happen to some people once they get elected. Things will get even worse, according to Deep Tax, my government insider. Deep Tax says that new laws which changed utility taxation will exacerbate the movement of the tax burden onto residences and away from big business.
Public utilities pay a lot of property tax.
Because of two boring bills passed this year, utilities will over time avoid a lot of current taxation, forcing counties to jack up yours and mine. Our policy is to stick it to the little guy and benefit corporations. The goal of utility deregulation in Nevada is to give unjustifiable volume discounts to big users like casinos and gold mines. Sen. Townsend and I attended the same seminars on utility ratemaking, but he long ago converted to the fallacious corporate mantra that it costs less to serve a big user. He knows better and his public change of positions proves it.