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
Design | IBS
Jan 09, 2026
From Décor to Resiliency, IBS Design Central Covers It AllAt the 2026 NAHB International Builders’ Show® (IBS) in Orlando Fla., there will be education sessions centered on design. Design Central will offer engaging presentations led by some of the industry’s top professionals, covering everything from décor to sustainability. Here are the Design Central presentations, all taking place at the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC).
IBS
Jan 09, 2026
Final Touches Underway at The New American Home 2026Watching a new home come to life in the final stages of construction is a satisfying experience—not just for the owners, but for the builder as well. That feeling is only amplified when the home is a focal point of the International Builders’ Show (IBS)—the industry’s largest trade show.
Latest Economic News
Economics
Jan 09, 2026
Townhouse Construction Share Gains ContinueAccording to NAHB analysis of the most recent Census data of Starts and Completions by Purpose and Design, during the third quarter of 2025, single-family attached starts totaled 46,000. Over the last four quarters, townhouse construction starts totaled a strong 179,000 homes, which is 1% higher than the prior four-quarter period (177,000). Townhouses made almost 20% all of single-family housing starts for the third quarter of the year.
Economics
Jan 09, 2026
Job Growth Slowed as 2025 EndedJob growth continued to slow at the end of the year, reinforcing signs of a cooling labor market. Nonfarm payrolls increased by 50,000 jobs in December, while the unemployment rate edged down slightly to 4.4%.
Economics
Jan 09, 2026
Residential Construction Softens Amid Ongoing Housing Market HeadwindsThe latest residential housing market report, delayed by the federal government shutdown last fall, indicates that builders have faced significant headwinds in recent months. Elevated mortgage rates earlier in the year have restrained buyer demand and weighed on home building activity, alongside persistently high construction costs.