for a minimum period of five (5) years. And to provide free EV charges to the public during this five (5) year period. On November 16, 2013 Brad Johnson, the District’s principle engineer, purchased four (4) Eaton 70 amp EVCSes on behalf of the District from Verdek, LLC. for $23,143.44 without Board approval. The motivation for this purchase was the lure of a NV Energy $5,000/EVCS grant. But of course the cost to the public was not limited to the EVCSes’ cost. There was the installation and signage costs. And the cost of electricity incurred to satisfy the grant’s requirement that the District provide five (5) years worth of free charging to the public. Then the District was required to become a member of ChargePoint which operates a networking system to notify EV owners where EVCSes are located; yearly membership fees for five (5) years. And the hidden internal services costs where the time of our employees is billed out to the District department which benefits from these services (see our What Are Internal Services Costs discussion for a more detailed explanation). When everything was and is said and done, the public was into this boondoggle for $55,000 or more! And don’t forget. Under the grant agreement the District is responsible for all maintenance and repairs to these EVCSes.

In 2023 some in our community wanted an update on the EVCSes. Were they still in service? What costs were being incurred with them? What revenues were they generating? And here’s what they learned. Two (2) of the four (4) EVCSes are non-operational. We realize no revenue from any of them as there is no means of paying for the electricity they deliver. We have no means of determining the cost of the electricity furnished by these EVCSes because they are not separately metered. And notwithstanding, we’re still paying yearly membership fees to ChargePoint. And unbelievably, staff reports they are wasting internal services time pursuing another NV Energy grant! How could this have happened? How can it continue? Because the Board has abdicated essentially all powers to its unelected staff. And what has the Board done to address this abuse once it was brought to its attention? Nothing.

But wait. There’s more.

As elsewhere stated, the District obtained the basic power to furnish facilities for electric power on May 5, 1969¹. Specifically, the District was granted the power “to acquire, either by purchase…or other legal means, all lands, rights and other property necessary for the construction, use and supply, operation, maintenance, repair and improvement of the works…system, facilities or properties…used and useful primarily for the distribution of electric energy to or for the public for any purpose.” Broad enough powers to justify staff’s acquisition and operation of the four (4) EVCSes. But here’s the kicker. Subsection (1) of ¶1 of Bill No. 277 “provided that all such tangible works of the district shall, upon acquisition…be transferred to and…thereafter owned and maintained by a public utility…regulated by the Public Service Commission of Nevada².” So has the District ever transferred these EVCSes to a public utility regulated by the PUC? Of course not. Has this failure been brought to the IVGID Board’s attention? Yes it has. How can this continue? Because the Board has abdicated essentially all powers to its unelected staff.

1. See Washoe County Bill No. 227 which amended Ordinance No. 97.
2. The predecessor to today’s Public Utilities Commission (“PUC”).