As Nevada faces unprecedented growth in electricity demand, national nonprofit SUN urges the state to make full use of rooftop solar, batteries, and other tools that customers are already investing in.
LAS VEGAS, NV — NV Energy filed its 2026 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) with the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) last week, kicking off one of the most important energy planning processes in recent state history. As electricity demand climbs sharply and Nevada's grid faces pressures it has never seen before, Solar United Neighbors (SUN) sees this filing as a pivotal opportunity to put every available tool to work, especially the rooftop solar and battery storage that Nevadans are already investing in across the state. SUN will be intervening in the IRP advocating for unleashing the potential of distributed resources like rooftop solar.
The IRP is filed every three years and is the central planning document the PUCN uses to evaluate how NV Energy will meet customer demand over the next two decades. NV Energy filed this IRP a year early, citing a dramatic increase in projected demand driven largely by new large-scale customers like data centers. The utility now expects to need 47 percent more energy than it forecast just two years ago.
"This is a moment that calls for every option on the table, and harnessing distributed resources like rooftop solar and storage," said Julia Hubbard, Nevada Program Director at Solar United Neighbors. "Nevadans have spent their own money putting solar on their roofs and batteries in their garages. That equates to real value for everyone, and it deserves a real seat at the planning table. It’s time for Nevada to deploy virtual power plants, in which networks of customer resources can work together to meet grid needs. The decisions made in this IRP will shape Nevadans' bills, their reliability, and their energy choices for years to come."
Nevada has roughly 1,200 megawatts of rooftop residential solar installed across the state, the equivalent of over 140,000 homes generating about four percent of Nevada's electricity. That capacity, built one home at a time by Nevadans investing in their own energy, can be deployed quickly, reduce strain on the grid during peak hours, and help moderate costs for all ratepayers, including those who don't have solar themselves.
As the PUCN reviews the filing in the months ahead, Solar United Neighbors will engage in the proceeding to advocate for:
Solar United Neighbors represents more than 25,000 Nevada solar owners and supporters and will continue to share updates and opportunities for public comment as the IRP proceeding moves forward.
About Solar United Neighbors
Solar United Neighbors is a nonprofit organization that works in Nevada and nationwide to represent the needs and interests of solar owners and supporters. Solar co-ops are part of the organization’s mission to create a new energy system with rooftop solar at the cornerstone. Solar United Neighbors holds events and education programs to help people become informed solar consumers, maximize the value of their solar investment, and advocate for fair solar policies.
LAS VEGAS, NV — NV Energy filed its 2026 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) with the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) last week, kicking off one of the most important energy planning processes in recent state history. As electricity demand climbs sharply and Nevada's grid faces pressures it has never seen before, Solar United Neighbors (SUN) sees this filing as a pivotal opportunity to put every available tool to work, especially the rooftop solar and battery storage that Nevadans are already investing in across the state. SUN will be intervening in the IRP advocating for unleashing the potential of distributed resources like rooftop solar.
The IRP is filed every three years and is the central planning document the PUCN uses to evaluate how NV Energy will meet customer demand over the next two decades. NV Energy filed this IRP a year early, citing a dramatic increase in projected demand driven largely by new large-scale customers like data centers. The utility now expects to need 47 percent more energy than it forecast just two years ago.
"This is a moment that calls for every option on the table, and harnessing distributed resources like rooftop solar and storage," said Julia Hubbard, Nevada Program Director at Solar United Neighbors. "Nevadans have spent their own money putting solar on their roofs and batteries in their garages. That equates to real value for everyone, and it deserves a real seat at the planning table. It’s time for Nevada to deploy virtual power plants, in which networks of customer resources can work together to meet grid needs. The decisions made in this IRP will shape Nevadans' bills, their reliability, and their energy choices for years to come."
Nevada has roughly 1,200 megawatts of rooftop residential solar installed across the state, the equivalent of over 140,000 homes generating about four percent of Nevada's electricity. That capacity, built one home at a time by Nevadans investing in their own energy, can be deployed quickly, reduce strain on the grid during peak hours, and help moderate costs for all ratepayers, including those who don't have solar themselves.
As the PUCN reviews the filing in the months ahead, Solar United Neighbors will engage in the proceeding to advocate for:
- Integrating rooftop solar and battery storage into the utility’s planning process as grid resources to optimize their full value and compare them side by side with other potential resources.
- Investment in programs that help Nevadans cut their energy use and power their own homes, including energy efficiency upgrades, rooftop solar, and battery storage.
- Enabling customer access to data produced by smart meters in real time, so they can make informed decisions about how and when they use power.
- Create a robust virtual power plant (VPP) program that harnesses customer energy resources (e.g. rooftop solar, battery, EVs, smart appliances) to meet peak demand by compensating customers for the energy they share with the grid.
- Create a competitive market rather than giving utilities exclusive control over how these customer resources are used.
Solar United Neighbors represents more than 25,000 Nevada solar owners and supporters and will continue to share updates and opportunities for public comment as the IRP proceeding moves forward.
About Solar United Neighbors
Solar United Neighbors is a nonprofit organization that works in Nevada and nationwide to represent the needs and interests of solar owners and supporters. Solar co-ops are part of the organization’s mission to create a new energy system with rooftop solar at the cornerstone. Solar United Neighbors holds events and education programs to help people become informed solar consumers, maximize the value of their solar investment, and advocate for fair solar policies.
