SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Liberty is the agency that supplies electricity for South Lake Tahoe and the California portion of the Sierra from Loyalton to Coleville, but how they obtain their power will be changing in the Spring of 2027. NV Energy has been the source for much of Liberty’s power, but the contract between the two will be ending as NV Energy prepares for Data Centers. When NV Energy’s Greenlink-West transmission project becomes operational, it will need its own resources, so Liberty will utilize the energy market for a new supply. .
NV Energy has been providing both the wires and a portion of the electric supply that moves through them to be distributed to Liberty customers, but in 2027, it will be just providing the wires. Their transmission lines also serve other wholesale customers.
Liberty filed an advice letter on March 19 with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) that seeks permission to go to the open market for power. Once the company receives the okay (could be 3-5 months), Liberty will release a “request for proposal” for a new energy supplier.
“We are looking to have new energy supply partners in place a year from now,” said Liberty President Eric Schwarzrock.
“We are a good energy supply partner for many,” said Schwarzrock. He said many suppliers have a high use of power in the summer months due to air conditioners, while Lake Tahoe’s peak use is around the Christmas and New Year’s holidays due to snow making and heating needs. He said Tahoe’s power needs are rare when compared to others in the regional electricity market place.
Schwarzrock said Liberty is excited to evaluate all of the opportunities that seeking new sources brings. They could expand renewable energy and possibly make it cheaper, but that won’t be known until companies reply to the RFP. He said there is always a risk, but they will need to compete for the business to serve the region.
“Nobody wants to pay more,” said Schwarzrock. “We want to deliver what our customers want so our goal is twofold: We want to achieve our renewable goals, and we also want it to be as affordable as possible.”
Energy suppliers that serve other wholesale customers in the western region will most likely be among those responding to the RFP. Power from California is not possible at this time without a notably large transmission line investment that comes with environmental and other impacts. Liberty does not have any transmission lines that connect to California. They all connect directly to Nevada.
Schwarzrock said the company is committed to transparency as “there are no secrets.” Liberty has created an FAQ page to help the public understand the situation (see HERE). They will also be at the April 21 South Lake Tahoe City Council meeting to discuss both the changing of the energy supply and a new line inspection program they are excited to launch this summer.