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Corrales approves 15‑year PNM franchise and grants limited overhead exceptions after lengthy debate
Summary
After two years of negotiations, the council approved a nonexclusive 15‑year franchise with PNM covering rights‑of‑way and service expectations; council corrected a drafting error that listed 20 years in one section. The council also approved specific overhead exceptions, including a request at 390 Camino De Los Milagros, and discussed long‑term policy options to underground lines.
The Village of Corrales voted to adopt a nonexclusive franchise agreement with Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) that grants the utility rights to use public streets, alleys and rights‑of‑way for electricity service. Councilors amended the draft to correct inconsistent language—several places listed a 15‑year term while one section mistakenly showed 20 years—and instructed staff to finalize the ordinance with a 15‑year term.
PNM representatives described a detailed vegetation and wildfire‑management plan; the village and PNM agreed to annual review and closer communication around vegetation/forestry maintenance. Councilors pressed PNM and staff about whether the franchise could or should include a rider to fund undergrounding of lines; staff noted that an undergrounding rider would be separate from the franchise and likely require either a per‑customer fee or other funding mechanism used in other jurisdictions (for example, a small percentage surcharge on utility bills used to create an undergrounding fund).
Separately, the council considered and approved specific code exceptions allowing new overhead service drops in locations where undergrounding was deemed impractical or economically unreasonable. One such approval granted an exception for 390 Camino De Los Milagros after owner Bryson Preiwald explained a PNM quote that would have required a costly under‑road bore; the contractor clarified the owner’s team would trench the yard while PNM would charge to bore under the roadway. Councilors acknowledged the broader policy tension—approving individual exceptions now while seeking a longer-term approach to reduce overhead lines in high‑fire‑risk areas.
The franchise resolution and the individual overhead exceptions passed by roll call vote as amended.
