Nevada Power raised electricity rates by 11.6% prior to the beginning of summer 2007.

I have had many phone calls for listings because people can no longer afford their home because their interest rate went up and their electrical bill went up too.  I definitely feel their pain!  I think those that may have the luxury of living in a modest 2000+ square foot home with dual air conditioners and pools are experiencing closer to a 25-50% increase.  Which, by the way accounts for a good chunk of middle class homeowners.

While overall gaming revenue is UP, it is mostly for strip (tourist oriented) casinos.  Off strip casinos (local oriented) are feeling a crunch. 

I am sure there is a residual hurt with small businesses and this is also contributing to our already sickly residential real estate market. 

We are still paying dearly for the manipulated energy crisis of 2000/2001 and Nevada Power is striving to make us one of the top innovative green powered cities.  One concept bad, another not so bad.  

People then wonder why Las Vegas has gotten so expensive even though a large business customer electrical rate is only half of a residential customer.  (Not really complaining as large business carries our tax burden, yin and yang if you will.) 

We do enjoy low property taxes, no income tax but there are other things out there that will zap your wallet, even if you are diligent enough to keep your nose clean in Sin City.  Hopefully the green energy initiatives that Nevada Power is implementing will save us in the long run.