Grassroots organizers are coming together to raise awareness of a proposed rate increase.

You may remember us reporting a couple months ago NV Energy's increased rate proposal and the backlash it received from dozens of consumers.

The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada held a consumer session today allowing rate payers to express their views on the proposal.

Just before the meeting a variety of grassroot organizations hosted a rally to bring awareness about the rate increase, just like last time in June.

"A lot of folks we talked to through our organization are already having to choose between paying their rent or paying their utility bill and so people are already really strapped and so to propose this type of increase is really just kind of kicking people when they're already down," said Chasity Martinez, community organizer, Faith in Action Nevada.

NV Energy is requesting an increase to the basic service charge from $16.50 to $45.30.

Martinez says this is also unfair to people who don't use a lot of energy.

"For folks that use less energy including folks that aren't just lower income but have solar in their homes, this really disincentivizes people from being able to have those clean energy choices," she said.

"Just to have electricity you would have to pay a basic service charge of over $40," said Audrey Peral, program director, Chispa Nevada. "That means even if you don't consumer any electricity that whole month you would still be stuck with that forty-something dollar payment on a monthly basis."

NV Energy says there continues to be a misunderstanding on how the rate change would work if approved.

They released a statement saying:

"The general rate case proposal being heard by the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada would not increase average customer bills but will provide more predictable bills for customers and reduce the bill volatility that customers experience during periods of extreme weather."

Once again today's meeting is just a consumer session meaning no decisions will be made today on the proposal. If the proposal does get approved sometime next month, NV Energy says the increase would appear on October bills.