Press conference in Las Vegas calls for greater utility accountability amid data-center frenzy and record-breaking utility company profits
LAS VEGAS — Utility customers, consumer advocates, faith leaders and community organizations from across the country gathered outside the Edison Electric Institute’s annual summit Wednesday to call attention to rising electricity costs, utility shutoffs, and growing concern over utility profits and executive compensation.
Photos from today’s event are available here (credit: Photo by Hannah Benet | Survival Media Agency) and here (credit: Bryan Steffy/Getty Images for People’s Action).
Participants included customers of NV Energy, American Electric Power, NextEra Energy, Duke Energy, and other major utility companies whose executives are participating in the summit and have brought in record company profits, exceeding $244 billion in 2025. Advocates pointed to massive executive compensation packages — including $36.6 million for American Electric Power CEO Bill Fehrman, $24.2 million for NextEra Energy CEO John Ketchum, and $22 million for Berkshire Hathaway Energy Vice Chair Gregory Abel — as families across the country struggle to afford rising electricity bills.
“Families across Nevada and the country are being forced to make impossible choices between paying utility bills and covering other basic needs,” said Jackie Spicer, coalition coordinator for the Nevada Environmental Justice Coalition. “As utility executives gather in Las Vegas to discuss meeting the energy demands of data centers and their profit margins, our communities are demanding they consider people first. We need affordable, reliable energy to meet basic needs and safety. It’s time to put people over profits.”
Speakers shared stories about rising electricity bills, economic hardship, extreme heat, utility shutoffs and the need for affordable and reliable energy. Organizers said the action was intended to highlight the growing disconnect between utility company profits and the financial pressures facing families across the country.
“Every time I open my electricity bill, I wonder what I’m going to have to give up that month to afford it,” said Leslie Vega, member of the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada and Nevada Energy ratepayer. “Families are falling behind, living with constant anxiety and fear of shutoffs, while utility companies keep raising rates and making billions. People should not have to suffer so corporations and executives can profit.”
Immediately before the press conference, ratepayers interrupted a speech at the summit by NV Energy CEO Brandon Barkhuff, chanting, “Cancel, cancel the daily demand,” insisting that utilities serve the public good instead of corporate greed (see here for livestream recording of the interruption). Participants in the action highlighted the disconnect between their worsening struggles paying their energy bills while executives lived large at a posh Las Vegas event and raked in millions in profits.
The Edison Electric Institute summit brings together senior executives from investor-owned electric utilities, major technology companies, governors, and regulators to discuss industry priorities, infrastructure investment, and the future of the energy system. Advocates participating in Tuesday’s press conference pointed to growing and record breaking utility profits and argued that conversations about grid investment and energy planning must center on the needs of customers – not just company profits – including affordability, transparency, and accountability for ratepayers.
“Electricity is a necessity that every family depends on to stay safe and healthy,” said Pastor DeWayne McCoy of Faith in Action Nevada. “Communities should not be burdened with rising costs that have resulted in struggling families and power shutoffs at record rates. It is unconscionable. People deserve an energy system rooted in fairness, accountability and care for our neighbors.”
“Governor Kemp, how can you be in Vegas seeking investments from extractive corporations and exploitative industries such as AI and hyper-scaled data centers?” said Rev. Michael Malcom, Executive Director of The People’s Justice Council. “The people of Georgia need care, not AI. You can’t eat data!”
Energy affordability has become an increasingly urgent issue as households face rising temperatures, higher cooling costs, and continued economic strain.
“But behind every number is a family. Behind every shutoff is a story,” said Tony Chavez with Alchemical Opus Foundation in Nevada. “Behind every bill is someone trying to keep a roof over their head, food on the table, and the lights on.”
The action also coincided with broader advocacy efforts taking place online during the summit week focused on utility accountability and consumer impacts.
“While utility CEOs and investors take home record breaking profits, seniors in public housing in Baltimore are facing eviction because they can’t afford their outrageous utility bills,” said Octavia with the Baltimore Public Power Campaign. “Their greed is ruining lives, but as long as there are people like them, there will be people like us fighting for publicly-owned utilities that put people over profits.”
United Ratepayers includes 14 member groups organizing for affordable energy for all; 100% clean, renewable power; reliable power; and accountability and fairness. Across the country, ratepayers are coming together to push back on for-profit utilities and build the energy future we deserve. When we act together, we win.
People’s Action is a proud national network of 38 member-based, power-building organizations in 29 states with more than a million members and tens of thousands of national volunteers. We are from every background, speak many languages, and live in small towns, cities and rural areas. Learn more at https://peoplesaction.org.
The Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada was founded in 1994 by Nevada activists to build a more fair and just Nevada that puts people and planet first. We organize with front line communities and directly impacted leaders for policy changes and community investments that improve the lives of Nevadans.