New Mexico’s energy solutions need cooperation, not soundbites
Why is it that New Energy Economy is once again the only party in opposition to PNM’s proposals? Is it because they are smarter than all other parties involved in the case?
There are 14 parties involved in the current PNM rate case including the New Mexico attorney general, the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission staff, businesses, municipalities and other environmental groups. Thirteen of the parties intervening in the case signed a stipulated agreement, meaning they support a well-crafted compromise. The only party that did not agree with the compromise was NEE, which claims to have hit the mother lode of facts everyone else missed — but that’s simply not true.
As an interested party representing thousands of gas and electric shareholders, the New Mexico Utility Shareholders Alliance generally does not intervene in PRC proceedings. Rather, we read the case filings, talk to different parties and seek an equitable middle ground. Most alliance members have a dual interest in rate cases: 1) Profitable company operations that support reliable, affordable service and 2) reasonable rates, because the majority of them are also ratepayers in New Mexico.
What is NEE’s focus in these proceedings? It appears to be shock and awe that leads to over-the-top fundraising efforts.
Recently New Energy Economy distributed a public statement with some interesting numbers; interesting because they were largely fabricated. The release started off talking about PNM’s newest $750 million rate case. The problem is that PNM’s rate case was originally filed at $99.2 million and was reduced in the stipulation to $62.3 million. NEE’s goal seemed to be the generation of something sensational that they could take back to donors.
With so much attention on fake news these days, out of the dozens that likely received a press release, only one news source ran it. What did NEE do next? They wrote an op-ed so their engineered news story would see the light of day.
The op-ed talks about demands made of PNM by NEE, and NEE’s need to file motions to compel the running of a rigged simulation. It’s interesting to note that not one other environmental group, all of which signed onto the stipulation, was swayed by the supposed compelling information produced.
Why? It was just a media act to drum up more money for NEE because the published op-ed produced fodder for fundraising.
The problem? All of this grandstanding only delays PRC proceedings and drives up legal fees and costs. Those costs go back to ratepayers and taxpayers, hurting those NEE claims to care about so deeply.
In addition, NEE once again tells us that we must produce 100 percent renewable energy, but yet again fails to tell us how to do that when the sun isn’t shining and the wind isn’t blowing. It’s long past time for NEE to stop the 30-second soundbites and put their efforts into laying out an achievable plan within today’s current limited battery and smoothing technologies. If they can do that, then they truly are smarter than the rest of us because as of right now, that is not even close to possible.
Furthermore, NEE needs to start dealing with the realities of decisions made in the past that benefited New Mexicans for decades with reliable and affordable energy from coal. It is time for New Energy Economy to stop standing on the sidelines and throwing rocks. They need to roll up their sleeves and become part of New Mexico’s future solutions, not a continual naysayer and inhibitor to true progress. They should join the team that accepts past financial decisions, the limitations of current technologies, and which seeks needed compromises that will lead New Mexico to a better energy future. When that happens, it will truly be a
news story to print.
The New Mexico Utility Shareholders Alliance is a statewide nonprofit organization that represents shareholders of gas and electric utility companies operating in New Mexico. For more information, visit www. nmusa.org.