New Mexico § 62-8-12 - Applications to expand transportation electrification

§ 62-8-12. Applications to expand transportation electrification

A. No later than January 1, 2021, and thereafter upon request by the commission, but

no more frequently than every two years, a public utility shall file with the commission

an application to expand transportation electrification. Applications may include investments or incentives to facilitate the deployment

of charging infrastructure and associated electrical equipment that support transportation

electrification, including electrification of public transit and publicly owned vehicle

fleets, rate designs or programs that encourage charging that supports the operation

of the electric grid and customer education and outreach programs that increase awareness

of such programs and of the benefits of transportation electrification. B. When considering applications for approval, the commission shall consider whether

the investments, incentives, programs and expenditures are: (1) reasonably expected to improve the public utility's electrical system efficiency,

the integration of variable resources, operational flexibility and system utilization

during off-peak hours; (2) reasonably expected to increase access to the use of electricity as a transportation

fuel, with consideration given for increasing such access to low-income users and

users in underserved communities; (3) designed to contribute to the reduction of air pollution and greenhouse gases; (4) reasonably expected to support increased consumer choices in electric vehicle

charging and related infrastructure and services; allow for private capital investments

and skilled jobs in related services; and provide customer information and education; (5) reasonable and prudent, as determined by the commission; and (6) transparent, incorporating public reporting requirements to inform program design

and commission policy. C. A public utility that undertakes measures to expand transportation electrification

pursuant to this section shall have the option of recovering the public utility's

reasonable costs for the expansion through a commission-approved tariff rider or base

rate or both. D. The provisions of this section do not apply to a distribution cooperative organized

pursuant to the Rural Electric Cooperative Act. E. As used in this section: (1) “ low-income ” means annual household adjusted gross income, as defined in the Income Tax Act,

of equal to or less than two hundred percent of the federal poverty level; (2) “ transportation electrification ” means the use of electricity from external sources to power all or part of passenger

vehicles, trucks, buses, trains, boats or other equipment that transport goods or

people; and (3) “ underserved community ” means an area in this state, including a county, municipality or neighborhood, or

subset of such area, where the median income of the area is low-income.