New Mexico § 62-6-4.3 - Public utilities; generating plant investment, construction, acquisition and operation

§ 62-6-4.3. Public utilities; generating plant investment, construction, acquisition and operation

A. A public utility may invest in, construct, acquire or operate a generating plant

that is not intended to provide retail electric service to New Mexico customers, the

cost of which is not included in retail rates and which business activities shall

not be subject to regulation by the commission pursuant to the Public Utility Act,

except as provided by Section 62-9-3 NMSA 1978 . This section shall not diminish a public utility's obligation, by the prudent acquisition

of resources, to serve its retail load at a cost of service no higher than the average

book cost plus fuel, other operating and maintenance costs and the utility's authorized

rate of return on investment of the utility's unregulated generation constructed or

acquired after January 1, 2001; provided that this provision does not apply to a

public utility that does not acquire unregulated generation after January 1, 2001. The commission shall assure that the regulated business is appropriately credited

for any off-system sales made from regulated assets. B. This section shall apply only to a public utility that began investing in, constructing

or acquiring generating plant pursuant to this section before July 1, 2004. This section shall continue to apply until the latest of: (1) January 1, 2015; (2) the date the public utility divests its interest in [a] generating plant acquired

or constructed pursuant to the provisions of this section; or (3) the date the plant receives a certificate of convenience and necessity in accordance

with Section 62-9-1 NMSA 1978 .