PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF NEW MEXICO’S RATE INCREASE CASE IS UNDERWAY IN SANTA FE STARTING MONDAY, AUGUST 7TH. BUT WORD IS THERE WON’T BE SO MUCH OPPOSITION TO WHAT PNM IS ASKING FOR FROM STATE REGULATORS. MOSTLY ALL INTERVENORS EXCEPT ONE SUPPORTS OR DOES NOT OPPOSE THE NINE PERCENT THE UTILITY WANTS.
THE NINE PERCENT REQUEST IS THANKS TO A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT THAT MORE THAN A DOZEN PARTIES SIGNED IN MAY OVER CONFLICTS IN THE RATE HIKE CASE. THE SETTLEMENT LOWERED PNM’S REQUEST FOR ABOUT A 14 PERCENT INCREASE TO NINE PERCENT.
ONLY ONE INTERVENOR … NEW ENERGY ECONOMY … IS OPPOSED. IT SPECIFICALLY IS AGAINST A RATE RECOVERY FOR PNM INVESTMENTS IN THE 4 CORNERS POWER PLANT AND COSTS LINKED TO THE SAN JUAN GENERATING STATION.
