PNM submits pay-as-you-go renewable plan

From the Santa Fe New Mexican.com - Public Service Co. of New Mexico is proposing to charge customers extra on their bills as electricity generated from solar, wind and geothermal systems become available.The proposal is among several made in a 2013-2014 renewable energy plan the company filed with the Public Regulation Commission on Monday afternoon. The commission will hold public hearings before voting on approving, amending or denying the plan. New Mexico requires public and investor-owned utilities to meet standards for renewable energy every year. PNM, the state's largest utility, lags in meeting the standards currently. The company claims it was unable to meet the standard without going over a reasonable cost threshold established by the PRC. Among PNM's proposed sources of renewable energy through 2014:  • PNM would buy geothermal energy from the Lightning Dock geothermal project near Lordsburg under a proposed 20-year contract. • PNM would add 20 megawatts of new solar energy capacity by adding photovoltaic panels to the company's facilities in Los Lunas, Alamogordo and Deming. Currently, PNM owns 22 megawatts of solar capacity. • Customers could install up to 9 megawatts of solar capacity on their rooftops, tied into the main PNM grid, under the plan and receive renewable energy credits from the company. Read more

PNM submits pay-as-you-go renewable plan