New Mexico Allows 3rd Party Ownership; Cost Recover for Net Metering
On March 9, 2010, House Bill 181/Senate Bill 190 was signed by Governor Richardson, legislatively establishing third-party ownership in New Mexico. This legislation negates the previous Public Regulation Comission order on third-party ownership but establishes that it will be allowed starting in 2011. Additionally, upon request of an investor-owned utility in any general rate case, the…
On March 9, 2010, House Bill 181/Senate Bill 190 was signed by Governor Richardson, legislatively establishing third-party ownership in New Mexico. This legislation negates the previous Public Regulation Comission order on third-party ownership but establishes that it will be allowed starting in 2011. Additionally, upon request of an investor-owned utility in any general rate case, the commission will approve interconnected-customer tariffs to recover the costs of ancillary and standby services for new interconnection customers. In essence, this means that the bill allows for net-metering cost recovery by the utilities, which may end up leading to rate cases to establish special rates for net metered customers.