Hotel Energy Surcharges

[BEAV]

This past week I stayed at the Atlantis Hotel/Casino in Reno, NV on a non-Priceline/Hotwire booking. Room was reserved direct on the hotel's website. Throughout the booking process, I was advised of a $3 per night energy surcharge that would be added to my room account.

A few questions......

1. Is there still an energy crisis? I recall the infamous 'rolling blackouts' in California during the year 2000, but I've not run across energy surcharges at hotels in a very long time. If there is currently an energy crisis, where is it?

2. My one night reservation was charged to my credit card immediately upon booking. Why does the energy surcharge have to be collected upon check-in, after signing disclosures, under separate transaction, especially after being advised during the hotel online booking process?

3. Has anyone refused to sign the disclosure? If so, what was the hotel's next move?

4. Is there any regulatory body that oversees such surcharges, or imposes a cap on the amont of the surcharge?

5. I was actually taxed 12% on the surcharge. Taxing a surcharge?

6. And the obvious question. Why don't the hotels just factor the surcharge into their nightly room rates?