Bill would allow New Mexico cities, counties, tribes to control energy generation – By Kevin Robinson-Avila (Albuquerque Journal) / Jan 30. 2023
A coalition of grassroots organizations with support from some cities and counties are promoting a new Local Choice Energy Act to allow municipal, county and tribal governments to take over electric generation in their communities.
Senate Democrats Carrie Hamblen of Las Cruces and Liz Stefanics of Cerrillos introduced the bill, SB-165, in the current legislative session to allow local governments to launch publicly owned utilities that, once approved by the state Public Regulation Commission, would immediately take control of local electric generation away from privately run utilities like Public Service Company of New Mexico. Community consumers now served by PNM or other utilities could choose to continue under their current providers, but they must directly notify the newly-formed government utility of their choice to opt out.
Government utilities would only manage electric generation in their communities, leaving transmission and distribution in the hands of private companies.
