SB 081: UTILITY CHARGES FOR CERTAIN SCHOOLS

An Act Relating To Utilities; Amending A Section Of The Renewable Energy Act To Exempt From Charges By A Utility For Renewable Energy Procurements Certain Educational Institutions In Article 12, Section 11 Of The Constitution Of New Mexico If The Institution Has Consumption Exceeding Twenty Million Kilowatt-hours Per Year At Any Single Location Or Facility And Owns Renewable Energy Generation.

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MOD SB 081
UTILITY CHARGES FOR CERTAIN SCHOOLS

Legislative URL:

SB 081 on nmlegis.gov

Emergency Clause:

No

Germane:

Yes

Location:

Signed

Action:

SPREF [2] SCC/SCONC/SCORC-SCC [4]germane-SCONC [7] DP-SCORC [11] DP - PASSED/S (27-0) [13] HENRC- DP - PASSED/H (63-1) SGND BY GOV (Mar. 7) Ch. 41.

Issue(s):

Energy

Related Legislators

Bill Sponsor:

William Payne

Related Documents

Downloads:

Introduced
SCC Committee Report
SCONC Committee Report
SCORC Committee Report
Final Senate Vote
Final House Vote
HENRC Committee Report
Fiscal Impact Report
Final Version

Summary

This bill amends the Renewable Energy Act to exempt some of the States educational institutions from charges by a utility for renewable energy procurements if the institution has electric consumption exceeding 20 million kilowatt-hours per year at any single location or facility and if it owns renewable energy generation. According to the FIR for last year’s version of this bill (SB 321), only UNM would currently qualify for the exemption. This same exemption from renewable energy procurement charges exists in current law for political subdivisions of the state with the same level of consumption.

The political subdivisions (and the educational institutions if the bill passes) must certify to the State Auditor and notify the Public Regulation Commission and the utility serving its area that it will expend 2.5% of that year’s annual electricity charges to continue to develop within 24 months customer-owned renewable energy generation. And, the customer must also certify that it will retire all renewable energy certificates associated with the energy produced from that expenditure.

The bill might be a positive step towards the development of additional renewable energy generation systems because such development may become more financially feasible for educational institutions.

Date of Summary:  1/20/2014

Outcome:

SB 081 passed the Senate (27-0) and passed the House (63-1) and was signed by the Governor on March 7, 2014.

Updated 7/31/14