N.M. Admin. Code § 17.9.571.14 - RENEWABLE ENERGY AND CONSERVATION FEE

A. A distribution cooperative may collect from its customers a renewable energy and conservation fee of no more than one percent of a customer's bill.

(1) In no event shall a distribution cooperative annually collect more than $75,000 from any single customer.

(2) Money collected through the renewable energy and conservation fee shall be segregated in a separate renewable energy and conservation account from other distribution cooperative funds, and it shall be expended only on programs or projects to promote the use of renewable energy, load management, or energy efficiency.

B. Each distribution cooperative that collects a renewable energy and conservation fee from its customers shall deduct from the fees paid to the state pursuant to Section 62-8-8 NMSA 1978 an amount equal to fifty percent of the amount of money collected through the renewable energy and conservation fee during the preceding calendar year. The money shall be included in the account with other money from the renewable energy and conservation fee and expended only on programs or projects to promote the use of renewable energy, load management, or energy efficiency.

C. In its annual report to the public regulation commission by April 30 pursuant to 17.9.571.15 NMAC, a distribution cooperative that collects a renewable energy and conservation fee from its customers shall include the information described below for the preceding calendar year:

(1) the total amount of money collected by the distribution cooperative from its customers during the preceding calendar year through the assessment of a renewable energy and conservation fee and the balance of funds in the distribution cooperative's renewable energy and conservation fund, as of January 1 and December 31 of the preceding calendar year;

(2) the amount of money withheld by the distribution cooperative from the inspection and supervision fees due to the state that was placed in the renewable energy and conservation fund as a partial match of the renewable energy and conservation fees collected during the preceding calendar year;

(3) the amount of money received by the distribution cooperative from any third party that was placed in the renewable energy and conservation fund;

(4) whether and to what extent the distribution cooperative will assess its customers for a renewable energy and conservation fee in the succeeding calendar year; and

(5) a summary of each renewable energy project, energy efficiency program, or load management program upon which money from the renewable energy and conservation fund was expended during the preceding calendar year, which includes:

(a) a description of the anticipated benefits to the distribution cooperative's members from each project or program;

(b) the amount of money spent on each project or program; and

(c) the status of each project or program.

Notes

N.M. Admin. Code § 17.9.571.14

Adopted by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXVI, Issue 12, June 24, 2025, eff. 6/24/2025