New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 17 - PUBLIC UTILITIES AND UTILITY SERVICES
Chapter 7 - ENERGY CONSERVATION
Part 3 - INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLANS FOR ELECTRIC UTILITIES
Section 17.7.3.9 - FACILITATED STAKEHOLDER PROCESS; IRP PROCESS
Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 18, September 24, 2024
A. At least six months prior to the filing of its IRP, the utility shall notify the commission, members of the public, the New Mexico attorney general, and all parties to its most recent base rate case and most recent IRP case of its intent to file an IRP. The commission, upon notification, shall initiate a facilitated process for the utility, commission utility division staff, and stakeholders to reach a potential agreement on a proposed statement of need pursuant to 17.7.3.10 NMAC and an action plan pursuant to 17.7.3.11 NMAC. The commission, aside from utility division staff and the appointed facilitator, shall not participate in the facilitated stakeholder process.
B. In selecting the facilitator, the commission, through its designee, may solicit recommendations of the names of independent firms or individuals that demonstrate independence from public utilities supplying electric service in the state, their affiliates, and likely bidders, and demonstrate the qualifications, expertise, and experience to perform the functions of a facilitator as provided in this rule. The commission shall comply with the New Mexico procurement code in its solicitation of a facilitator.
C. The commission, through its designee, shall develop a standard form of contract between the facilitator and the commission that requires the facilitator, in consultation with the utility, to issue notice of facilitated stakeholder meetings, and to host and moderate facilitated stakeholder meetings, including but not limited to, preparing the agenda, and acting as the coordinator between the utility's presentation and the stakeholders' questions and comments.
D. Funding for the services of the facilitator shall be paid by the utility and treated as a regulatory asset to be recovered through rates established in the utility's next general rate proceeding.
E. Not later than six months after the facilitated stakeholder process commences, the utility shall file the IRP with the commission, explaining all resolved and unresolved issues resulting from the facilitated process.