By definition, the contest for Clark Public Utilities commissioner qualifies as a down-ballot race. Yet while it will not garner as much attention as, say, president, or U.S. senator, or governor, the role of utility commissioner has a daily impact on the lives of every Clark County resident.
In other words, it matters — even if we don’t notice the utility commission until the lights go out or the water doesn’t come out of the faucet. Because those occurrences are infrequent, and because Clark Public Utilities typically ranks high in terms of customer service and in terms of controlling costs, The Columbian’s Editorial Board recommends a vote for Nancy Barnes to remain on the three-person board.
As always, this is merely a recommendation designed to foster discussion. The Columbian trusts the ability and desire of voters to examine the issues and the candidates before casting an informed ballot.
In considering Barnes’ bid for a fifth six-year term on the commission, voters should note the words of challenger Mike Lyons, who told the Editorial Board, “I think the PUD does a wonderful job. I don’t have any issue with her performance.” That wonderful job is reflected in the fact that Clark Public Utilities has received J.D. Power’s highest ranking for customer satisfaction each of the past nine years, leading Barnes to say, “We see it as a reflection of how we’ve always done things — putting customers first.”
This, however, is no time for the utility to rest on its laurels. Partly because of a growing public desire to pursue environmentally friendly energy sources, changes are coming to the industry. Washington voters, for example, will consider Initiative 732 in November, a ballot measure that would place a carbon tax upon polluting industries. Clark Public Utilities receives about 40 percent of its electricity from the River Road Generating Plant, a natural-gas facility that is a heavy carbon emitter, and commissioners have formally opposed I-732.
This is mentioned as a manner of highlighting the challenges facing Clark Public Utilities, challenges that led Barnes to say, “This presents an opportunity, if you choose to look at it like that.”
Barnes is well-positioned to shepherd the utility through those opportunities. The publicly owned company has been at the forefront of promoting alternative power sources, but the fact that it has gone six years without a rate increase demonstrates that the company approaches such innovation in a responsible fashion that benefits customers.
Lyons, meanwhile, presents a worthy challenge to Barnes. He is well-versed on the issues and promotes his candidacy by saying, “I want to add some fresh ideas.” Six years ago, he lost to Barnes by 641 votes out of more than 117,000 cast. He agrees with the commission’s opposition to I-732 and says that carbon initiatives are best pursued at the federal level.
Barnes and Lyons both demonstrate a strong understanding of the issues facing the utility commission, along with a desire to responsibly move away from fossil fuels. They also share an enthusiasm for policy details and a desire to serve customers well.
As Barnes summarized, “I believe we have a great thing going,” and that is enough to warrant her return to office. The Columbian recommends a vote for Nancy Barnes for the Clark Public Utilities commission.
