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
Oct 07, 2026
Mortgage Rates Continued to Rise in September
Mortgage rates rose sharply in September as multiple factors applied significant upward pressure on U.S. treasury bond yields, a key factor in mortgage rates.
Membership
Oct 06, 2026
Median Revenue of NAHB Associate Members Climbs to All-Time High
According to NAHB’s most recent member census from 2025, approximately two-thirds of NAHB’s total members are Associate members. These members include those involved in a wide range of support industries and professions including, trade contractors, manufacturers, retailers/distributors, designers, and architects.
Latest Economic News
Economics
Oct 05, 2026
Two-Story Foyer Share Edges Up in 2025
In 2025, around a quarter of new homes were built with a two-story foyer, slightly up from 2024, according to data obtained from the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC) and tabulated by NAHB.
Economics
Oct 05, 2026
Trade Contractors Account for 42% of Associate Members
Every year since 2008, the NAHB has conducted a member census in order to better understand the composition and characteristics of the people who belong to its organization.
Economics
Oct 02, 2026
U.S. Economy Adds 29,000 Jobs in September as Prior Months Are Revised Down
The U.S. labor market cooled in September, with nonfarm payroll employment increasing by just 29,000 as downward revisions erased most of August’s previously reported strength. The unemployment rate edged up to 4.2%, as both employment and the labor force continued to grow.