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NV Energy Under Fire For Not Paying Taxes

NV Energy headquarters
Reliathon/Creative Commons

State documents show NV Energy, headquartered at Sahara Avenue and Jones Boulevard, has not paid income tax since 2000.

A report in the Las Vegas Sunexplained that NV Energy has not paid federal income taxes since 2000.

The company has collected at least $126 million over the last 15 years to pay these taxes, but documents filed to the Public Utilities Commission show NV Energy hasn't ponied up.

While it sounds bad, Las Vegas Sun reporter Kyle Roerink told KNPR's State of Nevada that it is legal for the utility to do it.

The power company said it has used the $126 million to help offset the cost of infrastructure. 

However, Roerink said a lot of big companies that pay for those taxes are questioning NV Energy's explanation. 

"What a lot of them think is that the money is going to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders," Roerink said.

The utility has said holding onto the funds benefits rate payers, but since no one can see where the money is really going, no one knows if that is true, Roerink said.

"It's just on paper that there is a benefit for consumers," he said. 

Despite the concerns, Roerink doesn't believe it is going to change much of anything at the energy company. 

Kyle Roerink, reporter, Las Vegas Sun

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Casey Morell is the coordinating producer of Nevada Public Radio's flagship broadcast State of Nevada and one of the station's midday newscast announcers. (He's also been interviewed by Jimmy Fallon, whatever that's worth.)