Committee approves statute to create Energy Affordability and Grid Reliability Council amid debate over $2 million appropriation
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Summary
House Bill 329 would establish a statutory council attached to the PRC to study affordability and grid modernization; the committee debated the need for a funded statutory body versus an unfunded memorial and approved the bill on a do-pass vote.
The committee approved House Bill 329, which would create an Energy Affordability and Grid Reliability Council administratively attached to the Public Regulation Commission. Sponsor Representative Dixon said the council would develop legislative, regulatory and administrative recommendations to protect customers and ensure investments in grid modernization.
Public testimony was mixed. Glenn Weichel of Third Act asked for a clear problem statement and questioned the need for another task force. Industry witnesses including Mike D’Antonio of Xcel Energy and Alyssa Kenny Geier of the Sierra Club voiced support: D’Antonio said New Mexico needs to balance affordability and economic development, and Kenny Geier urged a focus on clean energy as part of affordability planning.
Committee members concentrated debate on a $2,000,000 appropriation in the bill, membership selection, the council’s permanency in statute and overlap with an earlier House Memorial that creates a study group. Representative Montoya and others asked whether an unfunded memorial would suffice; the sponsor and governor’s office representative, Rebecca Roos, said a statutory, funded council would be able to hire outside expertise and produce required recommendations.
After discussion the committee moved and voted to give HB329 a do-pass recommendation; the clerk recorded a roll-call vote in the transcript and the chair announced passage by committee.
