04/08: The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (NMPRC) approved a 6.4 percent, or an estimated $33 million, rate adjustment for Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM). PNM had originally favored a 14.7 percent, or between $77 million and $82 million, in its request to the NMPRC. Source: New Mexico Public Regulation Commission http://www.nmprc.state.nm.us/

10/02: The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) to increase the amount of renewable energy utilities provide to their customers. If the NOPR were passed, utilities would be required to increase their renewable portfolio standard to 4 percent by January 1, 2004, 7 percent by January 1, 2007 and finally 10 percent by January 1, 2010. According to the NOPR, no one renewable energy source can make up “more than 50% of the portfolio of any utility.”

9/00: The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (PRC) issued its final order on rehearing case no. 3109. The order answers the question, "whether cost is a factor in determining whether to require the inclusion of a renewable resource in standard offer service." The PRC decided to include the cost as a factor, but capped the increase to standard offer service as a result of encouraging renewables at one-tenth of a cent per kWh. Green power will be offered as an option.

8/00: New Mexico's Attorney General, the New Mexico Industrial Energy Consumers, and the New Mexico Rural Electric Cooperative Association have asked the PRC to postpone a pending decision to authorize the state's IOUs to begin unbundling their operations. The groups are concerned about the recent price spikes and supply problems in California and feel that delaying the decision would allow them time to revisit restructuring issues before the state legislature convenes again in January 2001.

5/00: The PRC ruled that the schools', small businesses', and residential consumers' retail access date is delayed one year to January 1, 2002. The delay provides utilities additional time to prepare their customer information and billing systems to accomodate customer choice.

5/00: The PRC issued code of conduct rules for public utilities and their affiliates offering retail electric services in New Mexico.

4/00: New Mexico IOUs requested the PRC to delay the beginning of competition for a year, claiming they are unprepared to implement new billing and computer systems.

3/99: The State Supreme Court ruled that the PUC exceeded its authority when it ordered the Public Service of New Mexico to open its power lines to a competitor. The competitor plans to ask the court to address the matter again.

2/98: New Mexico PRC submitted legislative language to the legislature and Governor that would give PUC authority to resolve deregulation issues. The PUC is pushing for retail competition; legislation will likely be introduced in the 1999 legislative session.