A pair of cooperative projects in Nevada that will provide clean energy while bolstering grid resilience and reliability received a new loan award through the Department of Agriculture’s $1 billion Powering Affordable Clean Energy program.
USDA awarded an $80.3 million PACE loan to Valley Electric Association to help build a 35-megawatt energy storage system to serve Pahrump and a 2-megawatt solar power and energy storage system to serve the Fish Lake Valley region. The projects will produce enough electricity to serve around 3,500 homes and help mitigate price volatility and grid resilience risks in the area.
Fish Lake Valley is fed by a 55-kilovolt radial line that crosses an area of extreme wildfire risk, raising the potential for public safety power shutoffs for co-op members.
The investment was part of $140 million in new PACE support announced Aug. 29 and follows a string of co-op awards under the program.
“These projects are projected to greatly benefit Valley’s members. Resiliency and reliability concerns will be addressed specifically at Fish Lake Valley,” Valley Electric CEO Mark Stallons said in a joint statement with Gabe DeGuzman, the co-op’s director of transmission services and load management.
Construction on the projects is slated to start in the second half of 2025 and finish by the first quarter of 2027.
The PACE program, created through the Inflation Reduction Act, provides partially forgivable, low-interest loans for new clean energy and storage projects in rural America.
Valley Electric will receive 20% loan forgiveness as part of its PACE award. In addition, the projects can qualify for direct-pay tax credits championed by NRECA for inclusion in the IRA. The projects are expected to get a 30% direct-pay investment tax credit, with one project also eligible for a 10% bonus incentive for being located in an “energy community” that has lost jobs or revenue from the energy transition.
The partial loan forgiveness and federal tax incentives will cover about $47.3 million of the $80.3 million investment, Valley Electric said.
“With the passage of direct pay legislation and cooperative access to the PACE initiative, our path to owning power supply assets became obvious,” Stallons and DeGuzman said. “Advocacy and policy efforts from NRECA laid the foundation for Valley Electric to receive this award. It truly has been a team effort.”
So far, the USDA has announced more than $655 million in PACE investments, including awards for several co-ops. The department said it expects to announce additional awards through the program in the coming months.
Valley Electric Association (VEA) offers several convenient options for Pahrump members to pay their electric bill You can pay online, by phone, through the VEA app, by mail, or in person I’ll outline the simple steps for each method below so you can choose the best bill payment option for you.
Pay Online
The fastest way to pay your VEA Pahrump electric bill is through online bill pay on their website Follow these steps
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Go to VEA’s website and click on “Pay Bill” or visit SmartHub directly
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First-time users must register for an online account with your VEA account number.
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Existing members can login with your username and password.
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Select the account and outstanding balance you want to pay.
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Choose your payment amount and preferred method – credit/debit card or bank draft.
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Carefully review all payment details before submitting.
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You’ll receive instant payment confirmation onscreen and by email.
Paying online allows you to store payment methods for future use. You can also view billing history and set up autopay through SmartHub.
Pay Using the VEA App
In addition to the website, VEA offers an app for iOS and Android mobile devices to manage accounts and pay bills on the go.
To use the VEA app:
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Download the free “VEA” app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
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Login using your existing SmartHub credentials or register as a new user.
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Select the outstanding balance and preferred payment method.
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Carefully review payment details before submitting.
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Receive instant confirmation of your payment within the app.
The VEA app also allows reporting outages, tracking energy use, contacting customer service, and more.
Pay by Phone
To pay your VEA Pahrump electric bill over the phone, call 775-727-5312. VEA’s automated phone payment system is available 24/7.
Have these items ready when you call:
- Your VEA account number
- Service address zip code
- Payment amount
- Credit/debit card or bank account details
Follow the voice prompts to enter your payment info. Registering your account online first will expedite phone payments.
Pay by Mail
To pay your VEA Pahrump bill by mail, follow these tips:
- Write your VEA account number clearly on the check or money order.
- Make payments payable to Valley Electric Association.
- Mail your payment at least 7-10 days before the due date.
- Consider certified mail and retaining the receipt as proof of mailing.
- Login to SmartHub to confirm when your mailed payment is processed.
While slower, paying by mail can be reliable when done properly. Just remember to account for mailing time so your payment arrives on time.
Pay in Person
You can also pay your VEA Pahrump electric bill in person at their office located at:
800 E Nevada Hwy
Pahrump, NV 89048
Be sure to bring:
- Your VEA account number
- Recent bill or know your balance
- Preferred payment method – cash, check, money order, or card
- Retain your printed receipt as payment confirmation
In-person payment allows you to get an instant receipt during VEA’s regular office hours.
Understand Payment Cycles
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VEA Pahrump bills monthly, with due dates around the 25th of each month typically.
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Account for holidays and weekends that can impact due dates.
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Your first VEA bill may be prorated based on your service start date.
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Then you transition to regular billing cycles each month.
Avoid Late Fees
To avoid late fees on your VEA Pahrump electric bill, be sure to:
- Note due dates on your calendar.
- Pay at least 1 week before the due date.
- Go paperless and enable billing alerts.
- Set up reliable autopay if possible.
- Contact VEA immediately if you expect payment issues.
- Learn VEA’s late payment penalty policies.
Establishing good payment habits prevents costly late fees and keeps your VEA account in positive standing.
Moving Out? How to Close Your VEA Account
If you’re moving out of your VEA Pahrump service location, you must close your account to avoid ongoing charges.
Contact VEA a few days before your move date to terminate service. On your last day, VEA will take a final meter read and issue a final bill.
Pay your final bill by the due date. Any deposit credit will be applied to the balance. Disconnection and collections fees can apply if closing accounts improperly.
New Member Tips
As a new VEA Pahrump member, keep these tips in mind regarding your electric bill:
- You’ll receive an initial prorated bill for your first partial billing cycle.
- Standard monthly billing starts after this transition bill.
- Note your specific due date, as cycles vary by location.
- Set up online account access early to view bills.
- Consider enrolling in autopay right away for ease.
- Know who to contact with new member billing questions.
Summary
Paying your VEA Pahrump electric bill is fast and convenient through online, phone, app, mail, or in-person options. Setup autopay or recurring payments through your bank for reliability. Note due dates carefully and pay on time to avoid penalties. Contact VEA promptly regarding any billing issues as a member.
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FAQ
Where does Pahrump get its electricity?
