704.001 - Purpose and policy of Legislature in enacting chapter.
704.001 Purpose and policy of Legislature in enacting chapter. It is hereby declared to be the purpose and policy of the Legislature in enacting this chapter:
1. To confer upon the Commission the power, and to make it the duty of the Commission, to regulate public utilities to the extent of its jurisdiction;
2. To provide for fair and impartial regulation of public utilities;
3. To provide for the safe, economic, efficient, prudent and reliable operation and service of public utilities;
4. To balance the interests of customers and shareholders of public utilities by providing public utilities with the opportunity to earn a fair return on their investments while providing customers with just and reasonable rates; and
5. With regard to telecommunication service:
(a) To regulate competitive suppliers in a manner that allows customers to benefit from full competition regarding rates and services;
(b) To provide for basic network service to economically disadvantaged persons who are eligible for a reduction in rates for telephone service pursuant to NRS 707.400 to 707.500, inclusive; and
(c) To maintain the availability of telephone service to rural, insular and high-cost areas through:
(1) The levy and collection of a uniform and equitable assessment from all persons furnishing intrastate telecommunication service or the functional equivalent of such service through any form of telephony technology; and
(2) Payments to telecommunication providers from the fund to maintain the availability of telephone service.
(Added to NRS by 1993, 836; A 1997, 1904; 2007, 692)