El Paso Electric is seeking revised New Mexico retail rates that would increase both customer charges and energy charge rates.

Organ Mountain News report

LAS CRUCES - The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission will hold a public comment hearing Monday in Las Cruces on El Paso Electric’s pending New Mexico rate case.

The hearing is scheduled for 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, June 22, at the Doña Ana County Government Center in Las Cruces. The PRC also lists a livestream for the Monday public comment hearing, scheduled to begin five minutes before the meeting.

EPE filed an application March 27 asking the PRC to approve revised New Mexico retail electric base rates. The case has been assigned Docket No. 25-00082-UT.

According to the PRC customer notice, EPE says it has a $70.6 million non-fuel base rate revenue deficiency and is seeking a net operating revenue increase of $70.4 million in New Mexico revenues. EPE says the proposed increase is needed to recover costs tied to $408.44 million in investments since its 2020 rate case, including investments in distribution, transmission, nuclear production, local generating plants, general plant, advanced metering and battery storage capacity costs.

The proposed increases would affect both customer charges and energy charge rates, according to the customer notice.

For a residential customer using an average of 750 kilowatt-hours during a summer month, EPE projects a $24.62 monthly increase in Phase 1 followed by an additional $30.38 in Phase 2, totaling $55 per summer month. For a residential customer using an average of 500 kilowatt-hours during a winter month, EPE projects a $10.83 monthly increase in Phase 1 followed by an additional $17.13 in Phase 2, totaling $27.96 per winter month.

The PRC customer notice says the bill impacts are subject to change based on the commission’s findings in the case.

Residents who want to submit written comments should reference Docket No. 25-00082-UT. The PRC says written comments can be submitted through its PRCe360 online docketing system, and registration is not required to submit written public comment. Comments can also be mailed to:

PRC Records
P.O. Box 1269
Santa Fe, NM 87504

City Councilor Becky Corran urged residents to weigh in, writing in a message to constituents that Monday is the last day to submit comments online.

The PRC customer notice says written comments must be submitted before the commission makes a final decision. The notice also says the deadline to file a motion to intervene as a party in the case is Monday, June 22.

A separate public hearing to hear and receive testimony, exhibits and legal argument is scheduled for Sept. 21 through Oct. 2. The PRC notice says that hearing will be conducted online and can be viewed through the commission’s YouTube channel and website.