Southern Nevada HBA Win on Utilities May Lower Cost of New Townhomes
The Southern Nevada Home Builders Association recently won a long battle with the state’s energy authority over the classification of townhomes when calculating the cost to install new electric lines.
For years, Nevada Energy has classified newly constructed townhomes as multifamily properties. The issue for home builders and developers is that Nevada Energy’s Rule 9 Line Extension Allowances are lower for multifamily projects on a per-unit basis than for single-family homes.
Over the last year, the Southern Nevada HBA has been working diligently on behalf of its members, lobbying at the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada to seek clarity on the classification of townhomes. After receiving a grant from the NAHB Legal Action Fund, the HBA submitted a petition to the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada and ultimately won reclassification of townhomes as single-family dwellings.
The reclassification could have a big impact on development in Southern Nevada, which includes Las Vegas. The HBA estimates it could save as much as $3,500 per unit.
This was a significant issue for prospective home buyers in Las Vegas, where townhomes are one of the most accessible products in the housing market and represent 30% of the Southern Nevada market.
Latest from NAHBNow
Economics
Aug 17, 2026
Affordability Pressures Keep Builder Confidence Low
Builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes inched up one point to 35 in August, according to the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) released today.
Regulations | Environmental Issues
Aug 14, 2026
Administration Acts on 3 Key NAHB Deregulatory Priorities
Two regulations will become effective under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) on Aug. 20, and a third final rule rescinding the ESA’s 45-year-old “harm” regulatory definition becomes effective next month.
Latest Economic News
Economics
Aug 17, 2026
Consumer Credit Slowed in Q2
In the second quarter of 2026, consumer credit growth slowed over the quarter and was lower than a year ago. According to the Federal Reserve’s G.19 Consumer Credit Report, total outstanding U.S. consumer credit reached $5.17 trillion in the second quarter of 2026.
Economics
Aug 17, 2026
Affordability Pressures Keep Builder Confidence Low
Builder sentiment remains muted from economic and geopolitical uncertainty, elevated mortgage rates and rising construction costs.
Economics
Aug 14, 2026
Single-Family Permitting Declines Through June in Contrast to Multifamily
Single-family permitting activity continued to weaken through the first half of 2026, while multifamily permitting remained somewhat stronger compared with the same period last year.