[Lwvcnmtopics] More info on the NM PRC and PNM/Avangrid merger

[George Richmond]

The following information is from Joseph Maestas, NM PRC Commissioner 
for District 3, which is Northern New Mexico. (Our commissioner in 
District 1 is Cynthia Hall.)

Commissioner Maestas is an engineer/business man, but also served as a 
Santa Fe City Council Member and Mayor of Espanola.  Elected to the PRC 
in November 2020 he was elected Vic Chair, NM PRC this January.

This article is provided for your information and I am making no 
recommendations.  Also, Commissioner Maestas will speak at Indivisible 
Nob Hill either next Monday or Monday the following week. Meetings can 
be attended via Zoom or in person, so check the Indivisible Nob Hill web 
site for more details.


  What You Need to Know On the Status of the PNM-Avangrid Merger

*By Joseph Maestas, PRC Commissioner*

With less than 1.5 years remaining on our terms, I and my fellow Public 
Regulation Commissioners (PRC) have plenty of work to do. We are focused 
on implementing New Mexico’s clean energy transition, including grid 
modernization and community solar, and advocating for increased 
resources to ensure a smooth transition to an appointed PRC on January 
1, 2023, while continuing our core duties of scrutinizing utility 
company activities and proposals. One of the most significant cases 
currently before us is the proposed merger of Public Service Company of 
New Mexico (PNM) and Avangrid, a Connecticut-based subsidiary of 
Iberdrola a Spanish company.

A number of other parties intervened in the merger case and began 
gathering information through the discovery process, negotiating 
additional terms of the proposal with PNM and Avangrid, and presenting 
expert testimony and legal arguments for or against the agreement. 
Initially, most of these intervenors opposed the merger but many have 
now agreed to a “stipulation” that places additional requirements on 
PNM. The stipulation, filed on June 4, is available for public viewing 
here: 
https://www.pnmresources.com/~/media/Files/P/PNM-Resources/rates-and-filings/Merger%20Filings/NMPRC%20Filing/20-00222-UT%20-%202021-06-04%20-%20Notice%20of%20Filing%202nd%20Amended%20Stipulation.pdf 
<https://www.pnmresources.com/~/media/Files/P/PNM-Resources/rates-and-filings/Merger%20Filings/NMPRC%20Filing/20-00222-UT%20-%202021-06-04%20-%20Notice%20of%20Filing%202nd%20Amended%20Stipulation.pdf>.

The Commission’s Utility Division staff, Bernalillo County, the 
Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority, and New Energy 
Economy are officially opposed to this newest stipulation. The New 
Mexico Affordable Reliable Energy Alliance was opposed to the 
stipulation and recently stated they have come to an agreement with PNM 
to support the proposed merger. The City of Albuquerque is a party to 
the case but has not taken a position on the most recent stipulation.

The PRC is holding public hearings on the stipulation soon, with a 
public comment hearing set for 9:00 a.m. on August 9, and an evidentiary 
hearing beginning on August 11 with formal arguments from the parties in 
the case and testimony from their witnesses. We have allotted enough 
time for the evidentiary hearing to continue through August 20, if 
necessary.

To sign-up to make public comment, please contact Ana Kippenbrock at 
Ana.Kippenbrock at state.nm.us <mailto:Ana.Kippenbrock at state.nm.us>. The 
public can watch the August hearings, live or on recording, on the PRC’s 
YouTube channel at 
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYLzHnXeUx413Bxc8g2oXGA 
<https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYLzHnXeUx413Bxc8g2oXGA>.

The Commission is charged with investigating the proposed merger, 
holding a public hearing, and taking action consistent with the public 
interest. The Commission designated a hearing examiner to oversee the 
proceeding and, at its conclusion, submit a recommendation for the 
Commission to consider. There is no deadline for the Commission to take 
final action in this case.


George Richmond, Observer to the NM PRC

-- 
George M. Richmond
152 Juniper Hill Road, NE
Albuquerque, NM 87122-1913

C: 505-280-2105
E: geomrich1 at comcast.net



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