[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6650054,"mediaKeyId","2510713-dbe0d8069917b271349a35ed5b8c0831","parentId",2510713,"title","Water division reports valve corrosion, PRV rehab and plume monitoring in annual operations update","audioSeconds",972,"startMs",2018000,"endMs",2990000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2510713-dbe0d8069917b271349a35ed5b8c0831&start=2018&end=2990","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2510713-dbe0d8069917b271349a35ed5b8c0831/thumbnail_2018000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6650054/New-Mexico/Water-division-reports-valve-corrosion-PRV-rehab-and-plume-monitoring-in-annual-operations-update","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6650054-82c5d602d46976b4a52fe96c14be072a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770975850&Signature=lBs0IgxVABxxGpqGGegwJ~~wFJ5OFrFN4p~Kseq6TQr34m8wbXfLfHS89tyc7HeYXkJYJbLx0eq2uX~EevQBReXxy1wtLDkEKgwA-d2-fRNt0rQzkv9211rTxUq3dZbyRsL36gDyI4an5V31F--Jnbwr46sML390Fn-o4bCTY05JMoSiiqGOsqaNefRLmKKOnac24oFh5rYkkJXGT0YPCM~UmAczkG0UHiTWhONBkIEvaCyzy8fTBYRZiaJ6Pq5gLO52y-NOAtgyPVbgGpPMWuaQc8kFbHVDZTmtewU7f5T~nn1taETnsY5nTHDQgERe6U5pTRJiZPr6KWlMxkjzPw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Los Alamos County","date","2025-03-05T00:00:00Z","article","Clay Mosley, deputy utility manager for gas, water and sewer operations, presented the utilities’ annual water-system update and told the Los Alamos Board of Public Utilities the distribution system’s overall condition is “fair” and that staff are pursuing multiple capital and operational remedies.

The update matters to customers and municipal operations because much of the water distribution system is aging cast iron (many mains date to roughly 50–70 years), the utility experienced a major rupture this year that exposed systemic valve-bolt corrosion, and water production choices intersect with operational energy use and a nearby chromium plume that forced staff to suspend one production well.

Mosley summarized work and findings across three program areas. In distribution, a rupture in the Kimasan area revealed extensive corrosion of valve-bolt hardware that staff replaced with high‑tensile stainless steel; Mosley said crews worked weekends to complete the replacement work. Mosley also described a comprehensive fire‑hydrant testing program and a project to rehabilitate pressure‑reducing valve (PRV) stations: \"This PRV...was 1 of them that once, our contractor...took it all apart...and a lot of times he would find that other components couldn't be really salvaged,\" Mosley said, explaining why staff moved to full rehabilitation or replacement in several locations.

On water production, Mosley told the board the utility repaired motor-control and electrical issues at Pareto wells and brought wells back into service after diagnostic work. He also described a pilot to replace resistive heating with heat pumps at an OW4 station to reduce propane and electrical heating costs and to avoid pilot-line freeze incidents.

Mosley said staff are monitoring a chromium groundwater plume and that, after review, the utility suspended operation of Production Well 3 because of the plume’s proximity; he said the New Mexico Environment Department concurred. \"Through that, Philo decided that it was best to suspend the operation of PW 3 due to the proximity of the well and the chromium plume, and NMED was right there. They said, yep,\" Mosley said.

On nonpotable/reuse water, staff reported the Los Alamos Wastewater Treatment Plant and the White Rock plant are producing Class 1A effluent suitable for irrigation. The utility completed a nearly 1,000,000‑gallon bio‑storage tank and rehabilitated an older tank, allowing the utility to meet parks and golf‑course irrigation needs and to seek additional nonpotable customers.

Operationally, Mosley said the department maintains a GIS‑based condition index (age, material, break history) and plans to update condition maps now that a new GIS hire is on staff. He described an ongoing SCADA and fiber project that staff expect to deploy over about 18–24 months; the upgrade is intended to provide more real‑time telemetry to enable smarter pumping and to better align pump schedules with times of lower-cost solar generation. \"We're gonna get a lot more data points,\" Mosley said of the SCADA upgrades.

Mosley and board members discussed budget and capital priorities. He said water production projects are expensive and that the board’s capital program has increased water distribution and production allocations since about 2021. He noted ongoing grant-seeking (state Water Trust Board and other sources) and said coordination with roads projects remains an important way to schedule pipe replacements.

Board members asked for updated condition maps and for the asset‑management team’s overlay of public‑works road projects with pipeline priorities; staff said they will provide updated condition assessment maps next year.

The board took no formal action. Staff will continue project design and grant applications; the SCADA/fiber work and several capital projects will roll forward according to the five‑year capital plan.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Los Alamos County - Board of Public Utilities Work Session on 2025-03-05 5:30 PM - Public Participation: in person or https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84348385574. - Mar 05, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Clay Mosley, deputy utility manager for gas, water and sewer operations, presented the utilities’ annual water-system update and told the Los Alamos Board of Public Utilities the distribution system’s overall condition is “fair” and that staff are pursuing multiple capital and operational remedies.","taxTitle","Los Alamos, New Mexico","taxId",51137,"location","New Mexico","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6650058,"BPU debates timing for time-of-use rates and demand charges as Foxtail Flats project advances",1458,0,1458000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2510713-dbe0d8069917b271349a35ed5b8c0831&start=0&end=1458","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2510713-dbe0d8069917b271349a35ed5b8c0831/thumbnail_0.jpg","/articles/6650058/New-Mexico/BPU-debates-timing-for-time-of-use-rates-and-demand-charges-as-Foxtail-Flats-project-advances","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6650058-49cf6f38e93571f3bf8bd6c32fbbbc8b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770975850&Signature=QRRhVULLbCz5IUnbhZnsCsnb~gcpnIdfAryW7GrBB-JPI28HYJTOSSdLRmLfW-iyibfAbYm1Iktr1NF6aeTX02qjMoq4fiKCIp~pnRck~WHfLSSJ1EAYeupt5pT-sAiJZYUieZExnmxqtxAW~Lab0XDL5-AAu5kcu8ZGY34w9TnaTWbozVo-Ar-NwhTrZsARDHtCC28tGFsWSqI2EmxSrKZ2HwRQOYamnkCh~O0ed4lk~XFNkSW6HrS1iXRphQJm~SOCZcowY71-19nijRajHUz1ZYWhv66uwjVo51lRRMLv7EEVbJoHYFxRLo1k2p23BJUwk6ORDtPd8U4jpQaIEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Los Alamos Board of Public Utilities members discussed a proposed redesign of electric rates that would add time-of-use pricing and could include demand charges, with staff asking the board for guidance on timing and implementation.

The issue matters because the board’s choices will change how customers are billed, affect credits to distributed solar producers, and influence how the utility recovers costs as new resources (including the Foxtail Flats solar-plus-storage project) come online. Staff presented a draft ordinance with an implementation window that would not put the new time-of-use rates into effect before July 1, 2026, and asked whether the board wanted to formally authorize preparation of that ordinance or give more general direction for staff to ready the billing system.

Staff and board members framed the decision around two tensions: (1) the operational nature of the Foxtail Flats resource — utility-scale solar paired with batteries — which makes daytime energy cheaper but battery discharge periods expensive; and (2) longer-term industry trends and local distribution needs that make demand charges a likely future component of rates. Utility staff explained the technical tradeoffs and the planned billing transition. \"Okay. Chair and members of the board, we're here tonight to talk about rate design and, you know, what we'll present to you in 2 weeks,\" said Pablo, a utility staff presenter, describing the forthcoming two-week presentation and the billing changes staff is preparing.

Board members voiced two different preferences. One board member said she was inclined to implement time-of-use and demand charges together to present a cohesive package to customers: \"I would kinda do them together, the demand charge and the time of use,\" said Board member Matt. Another board member said phasing the changes could reduce customer confusion and allow staff to stage the billing rollout. \"We may want to bite off a smaller piece of the apple with the time of use charges with demand later,\" said Board member Karen.

Staff described several specific mechanics under consideration. Distributed generators (customers with rooftop or other local solar) would be credited for exported energy using a 12-month average of pooled avoided-costs; staff said the consultants and their analysis support that approach. Pablo explained that approach to credits, saying the net export payment would be based on the \"12 month average of the cost of the pool,\" a figure staff uses to reflect monthly cost fluctuations.

On implementation timing, staff noted the draft ordinance had an effective-date window tied to the billing-system conversion and the Foxtail Flats schedule. Board members asked for more operational data before committing to a date; one asked staff to bring intraday cost curves showing when the utility currently pays higher market prices for evening energy. \"If indeed there is a substantial premium now in power costs for the evening, that would soften my resistance to implementing ahead of Foxtail Flats by quite a bit,\" said a board member requesting that data.

Staff also described other rate tools being considered, including a Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) to reflect short-term contract or market-price swings and a gradual step-up in the fixed customer service charge (staff noted a multi-step increase to reach a stated endpoint, described in the briefing as a target around $22.50 in service-charge level). Staff cautioned that if neither time-of-use nor demand charges are implemented, the volumetric (¢/kWh) charge would likely have to be higher to recover costs.

No formal action was taken. Staff said it will present a clean draft ordinance and detailed cost curves at the next board meeting in two weeks and asked whether the board preferred a formal ordinance with a specified effective date or general direction that would allow staff to proceed with billing-system work while deferring the final implementation date. The board did not vote; members asked staff to return with the two-week presentation and additional intra-day cost data.

Next steps: staff will bring a draft ordinance and supporting data at the next scheduled meeting for further board direction; the board signaled it could delay a formal vote until it has reviewed the updated cost curves and the draft clean ordinance.","At a Los Alamos Board of Public Utilities work session staff outlined a proposed time-of-use rate and conversation focused on whether to phase in demand charges later or adopt both at once. Staff asked for board guidance; the draft ordinance includes an implementation window tied to billing-system readiness and the Foxtail Flats resource.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6650045,"Utility staff warns of possible single‑line transmission shutdown by PNM amid high wind, urges public preparedness",215,5872000,6087000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2510713-dbe0d8069917b271349a35ed5b8c0831&start=5872&end=6087","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2510713-dbe0d8069917b271349a35ed5b8c0831/thumbnail_5872000.jpg","/articles/6650045/New-Mexico/Utility-staff-warns-of-possible-singleline-transmission-shutdown-by-PNM-amid-high-wind-urges-public-preparedness","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6650045-d7a281faaace8fd93ad2d9dd5a6591f6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770975850&Signature=LjmanQ2pd1YM2Vwk48Dzj2ALLEo4tD4XJbxprylGHiEVrolhzuldOap-iiNo77ZjRGYZUgvLTCo9LFe7CkZoxAWAq3OpOOg~UjCNstikux1wKOy7g3rP~YXvdFFMxhuxd34wzEFvLPtRhtjN6JqMZPYMmj1CUPG7z3CGU4CcuBMRLy5TwNffMcU-giIHbDpaOuKj~RzpFms8ovtzUf0MCCqjKbLStbcID~oj2VYxxftFUJwvQtScHq0lIIgV0aiNJp7~utbLThvlHiQo1h8iMg2wANYPePrpOV53YUY0eAftpZv8e-v0onCoEU1P2nPAIoTHUKakQicvt0em39m~OA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Utility electric production staff informed the Board of Public Utilities that PNM (Public Service Company of New Mexico) notified the county this afternoon that it may shut down one transmission line feeding Los Alamos and Los Alamos National Laboratory because of forecast high winds and elevated fire risk.

The notice matters because a transmission‑line outage could increase the risk of service interruptions, and the utility is preparing public messaging and advising vulnerable customers to have contingency plans. Ben of the electric production team briefed the board, saying the decision is driven by wind forecasts and wildfire risk and that PNM is acting out of caution.

Ben told the board: \"This afternoon the electric production team was notified that PNM is considering shutting down 1 of the transmission lines that feeds the county and Los Alamos National Lab, primarily due to the high wind conditions that they're expected and forecasted for tomorrow, extending through the morning of the seventh.\" He emphasized the utility is planning for the possibility and that a public release will be issued if PNM deenergizes the line.

Staff said they do not currently anticipate loss of service to the county under normal conditions but acknowledged that a single‑line outage remains a risk if another unexpected failure occurs. The board asked whether LANL’s onsite generation would be available; staff said LANL’s generation can support prioritized emergency loads but is not sized to replace the transmission line for all services.

Staff said they will notify the public if PNM takes the line offline and recommended that residents who rely on electrically powered medical devices make contingency plans. The board heard no reports of outages at the time of the briefing.

No formal action was required. Utility staff will publish public guidance if the line is taken out of service and continue to coordinate with PNM and LANL.","Electric production staff told the board that PNM may take one transmission line serving Los Alamos and the National Laboratory offline during forecast high winds and elevated fire risk. Staff said they do not currently anticipate an outage but will issue public notice and advise residents with critical medical needs to prepare.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6650049,"BPU working group proposes survey edits, board delays action and schedules outreach",570,4938000,5508000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2510713-dbe0d8069917b271349a35ed5b8c0831&start=4938&end=5508","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2510713-dbe0d8069917b271349a35ed5b8c0831/thumbnail_4938000.jpg","/articles/6650049/New-Mexico/BPU-working-group-proposes-survey-edits-board-delays-action-and-schedules-outreach","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6650049-529c03d45247f9a2fc5a55866dc2ab8f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770975850&Signature=KiFtLIKc9biKIrKNirt1vkIcDm8pACt5tyfk-q1zafaayjwFpBkpslwlPAJhDiJ4iaMvrg53qo1po8wyq2RBhdeSubrz392Ayu~ds-7NVjPlGyM2KV5AjpVAqXDbkWCdGUJ1CY9h6XoHxeUs~Cd5UMZcDirxvsfPg0WV6q9aA45OV0lLvGqS~-EKqPGvI1~VyfBZbTbljIT58k47RTVSBqaKbYyw0xsJiRPj~uEIJYu5la7RdGbnPTJLpx5kl7HV5ag-5dnfS8XqYauPJf31c9~~yC6o6fyMj6pcE9A5aaTR4ESEm2ew9kqWAwNg-2hxKISio8J~MZd94z4f2xuOqg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Members of the Los Alamos Board of Public Utilities discussed proposed revisions to the board self‑assessment questionnaire and a related outreach schedule at their work session. The working group recommended converting many items to Likert-scale statements, clarifying organizational terminology (replace generic \"organization\" with \"DPU\" where appropriate), and adding a \"don't know\" response for yes/no items to reduce misleading results.

The changes are intended to improve clarity and to make the instrument better suited to assessing perceptions and attitudes. Jen, a member of the working group, summarized the recommendations and said it would be helpful to provide a clean, final draft before the board votes. \"I would suggest it would be important to continue to include a don't know option, for those uncomfortable with offering any assessment,\" Jen said.

Legal counsel advised that the work session was not the appropriate venue for a final vote, recommending the board not act that night. \"I would recommend that you not take action tonight,\" Tom said, explaining the procedural limits for work‑session decisions.

Board members also discussed whether staff responses should be collected and reported separately from board responses to preserve the distinct perspectives of governance and management. Several members asked for more time to review the redline and to see a clean version before a final vote. The working group and staff agreed to return with a clean draft for formal consideration at a later meeting.

Other business in the same agenda block included board outreach at the farmers market: board members volunteered for specific dates to staff a BPU information table this summer; the board agreed to assign available members to the market schedule and to follow up if conflicts arise.

No formal amendments or votes were taken. Staff will produce a clean version of the self‑assessment for the board’s next meeting and will coordinate the farmers‑market schedule with board members.","The BPU Self-Assessment Working Group proposed edits to the board’s self-evaluation survey (use of Likert scales, clarified terminology, added 'don't know' responses). The board discussed separating staff and board responses and agreed not to take formal action in the work session; members also volunteered for farmers‑market outreach dates.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Water division reports valve corrosion, PRV rehab and plume monitoring in annual operations update

BPU debates timing for time-of-use rates and demand charges as Foxtail Flats project advances

Utility staff warns of possible single‑line transmission shutdown by PNM amid high wind, urges public preparedness

BPU working group proposes survey edits, board delays action and schedules outreach