New Mexico
PRC approves NM Gas Co. rate increase agreement – NM Political Report
The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission approved a stipulated agreement which is expected to result in a rate increase for customers. The stipulated agreement is between New Mexico Gas Company and various consumer and environmental advocates. The gas utility initially asked for the ability to collect nearly $49 million in additional revenue from customers. The […]
The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission approved a stipulated agreement which is expected to result in a rate increase for customers.
The stipulated agreement is between New Mexico Gas Company and various consumer and environmental advocates. The gas utility initially asked for the ability to collect nearly $49 million in additional revenue from customers. The stipulated agreement reduced that to $30 million.
The rate increase will go into effect in October.
Commissioner James Ellison said he supports the stipulated agreement. He also expressed concerns that this is at least the fourth time in eight years that a rate case involving NM Gas Co. has been resolved through a stipulated agreement.
“I do think it’s also reasonable to ask how many stipulations in a row would we like to see before we’d like to have a litigated case,” he said.
He said the advantages of a stipulation is that it provides a mutually acceptable resolution, especially in cases where there are multiple intervening parties. That makes it unlikely that any party will appeal the ruling.
“But I do think with the litigated case, there is more scrutiny,” he said.
Commission Chairman Patrick O’Connell said he believes there’s value in both litigated cases and in stipulated agreements.
“If you just settle, settle, settle, who knows what’s buried in the trajectory there,” he said.
He said the best way to learn all the details is to have the transparency that a litigated process brings.
“Having said that, I think probably, if we have concerns about that, I think we’ll want to somehow signal that ahead of when they file their next case,” O’Connell said.
Ellison said that NM Gas Co. has indicated that the lower increase in revenue will mean that some of the projects it is undertaking, such as replacing meters, will be done more slowly. However, he said, the utility is not canceling any projects required for pipeline safety or compliance with federal regulations.
“I do take the company at its word here that they’re going to replace the 90-year-old uncoated steel pipeline first, and if they need to delay something, they’re going to delay projects that are more discretionary like the meter replacements,” he said.
Commissioner Gabriel Aguilera said that there is not 100 percent visibility about which projects will be performed using the $30 million additional revenue and which ones are going to be delayed because of the reduced amount in the stipulated agreement.
“But I received some assurance from the explanation that the projects that are needed for reliability and safety will be the ones that will be pursued here,” he said.
At the same time, Aguilera said that he does not anticipate that the projects NM Gas Co. initially requested money for will go away. He said those projects will now be delayed due to the smaller revenue increase.
“I anticipate that they will be back before us with similar if not the same projects,” he said.
Good morning!
We are trending on the milder side throughout New Mexico to start the weekend. Temperatures in the metro area have fallen into the 50s this morning, which is above normal – especially for Albuquerque. Typically for April 11th low temperatures trend in the low 40s in the Duke City. A few showers have stuck around overnight after a wet Friday. Clovis was the big winner in regard to rainfall from yesterday’s showers and thunderstorms. The city picked up more than an inch of rainfall! Today, temperatures around the Land of Enchantment are forecasted to reach the 60s and 70s as showers and storms come back for the Land of Enchantment.
Showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop this afternoon and push east through the evening. Some of these storms have the potential to turn strong to severe across northern and eastern New Mexico. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has part of the northern mountains along with eastern New Mexico in a Level 1 Risk to see severe storms and a Level 2 Risk in the southeast corner of the state. If storms do turn strong to severe this afternoon large hail and damaging winds will be the primary concern along with downpours. Showers are expected to linger late tonight into early Sunday morning as drier air funnels in.
Rain and mountain snow are expected in northwest and northern New Mexico on Monday and Tuesday as moisture funnels back into the state. A few inches of snow are forecasted to accumulate in the highest terrain of the mountains. Our next weathermaker will also bring strong winds to the Land of Enchantment again early next week. Wind gusts will range from 35-45 mph and possibly reach 50 mph along the central mountain chain and in eastern New Mexico. High temperatures next week will be seasonable to mild, throughout the state, before highs become slightly below normal on Tuesday. Stay weather aware today and have a great weekend!
BERNALILLO COUNTY, N.M. – Bernalillo County says the reopened Route 66 Visitors Center will host free Saturday concerts for eight weeks featuring New Mexico artists.
The concert series starts Saturday April 11 at 12 p.m. The New Mexico Music Hall of Fame will present the shows.
The lineup for the opening event includes Ivon Ulibarri and Café Mocha followed by Son Como Son. The release says local food trucks and Tractor Brewing will provide food and drinks.
The programs will run every Saturday in April and May beginning at 12 p.m. Other performers include Albuquerque Jazz Orchestra, Mariachi Promesa, Picoso, Red Wine Band with David Nunez, Sorela, Hillary Smith & Chill House, Animated Jukebox and others.
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