House Bill 91

HOUSE BILL 91

57th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2025

INTRODUCED BY

Kristina Ortez and Patricia Roybal Caballero and Mimi Stewart and Tara L. Lujan

 

 

 

 

AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES; ALLOWING ADDITIONAL RATE STRUCTURES.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. Section 62-8-6 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1941, Chapter 84, Section 42, as amended) is amended to read:

     "62-8-6. DISCRIMINATION.--No public utility shall, as to rates or services, make or grant any unreasonable preference or advantage to any corporation or person within any classification or subject any corporation or person within any classification to any unreasonable prejudice or disadvantage. No public utility shall establish and maintain any unreasonable differences as to rates of service either as between localities or as between classes of service. Nothing shall prohibit, however, the commission from approving:

          A. economic development rates; [and]

          B. rates designed to retain load; [or from approving]

          C. rates designed to reduce the burden of energy costs on low-income customers;

          D. rates that seek to decrease or eliminate participating customer arrears or increase the frequency of participating customer payments; provided that such programs would be designed to increase affordability and continuity of service for participating customers and reduce utility costs associated with customer account collection activities; and

          E. energy efficiency programs designed to reduce the burden of energy costs on low-income customers pursuant to the Efficient Use of Energy Act."

     SECTION 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2025.

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