Achieving a renewable energy future that is driven by our communities and benefits us all isn’t just about technology. It’s about people like you stepping up to shape a fairer, more sustainable energy system however you can. Whether you’re interested in community solar, increasing access to solar, holding utilities accountable, or pushing for stronger clean energy policies, there are many ways to get involved and make a real impact.
 

Here are a few ways you can make an impact:
 

Engage in Regulatory Advocacy:
 

For-profit electric utilities have long enjoyed the financial benefits of operating as regulated monopolies, with guaranteed profits and significant political power. But advocates for clean energy and energy democracy are increasingly using regulatory processes to hold these utilities accountable and demand affordable, reliable electricity for everyone.
 

There are many great resources that can help you understand the regulatory landscape and how to take action. Here are a few:
 

• IEJ Utilities 101: Initiative for Energy Justice's beginner-friendly guide breaking down the basics of the electric utility industry with a focus on justice.
   

• People's Utility Commons Workbook: This workbook is an interactive guide designed to support individuals and groups to learn together about the past, present, and future of the energy utility system.
   

• People's Utility Justice Playbook: Energy Democracy Project’s People’s History of Utilities and Utility Justice Playbook give us the tools and knowledge we need to organize strong local campaigns for energy democracy. 
   

• Who Holds the Power: Demystifying Public Utility Commissions: This report from The Chisholm Legacy Project explains how Public Utility Commissions work, and who represents people in this decision making authority.
   

• Energy Justice: An Evolved Model: This report from the Climate and Clean Energy Equity Fund is part of a series on the transformation of the utility system, and frameworks for developing equitable utility policies.
   

• Connecting to the Grid: The Interstate Renewable Energy Council has many resources on interconnection best practices and state policy that can inform your efforts.
   

• Amp Up the People – A Guide for Energy Justice Advocates in Utility Regulation: Initiative for Energy Justice and Vote Solar made this great resource to help energy justice advocates understand and engage in utility regulation.
   

• REFOCUS Messaging Tools: Energy Democracy Project's REFOCUS campaign has excellent tools to help build effective narratives for our organizing strategies. 
   

By learning more about the regulatory process, you can influence utility decisions that impact your community’s energy future. Here are some organizations actively engaged in this work:
 

• Community Voices in Energy
   

• Partnership for Southern Equity
   

• Pushing for Energy Justice with Fairbanks Climate Action Coalition
   

• Reclaim Our Power
   

• Sane Energy
   

• Energy Allies
   

• Vote Solar (workshops on energy policy and collective activism)
   

• Third Act
   

Advocate for Legislative Change in New Mexico:

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Source: Albuquerque Journal, Photo by Eddie Moore
 

Many of the solutions explored in our report will be proposed in various policies introduced in future legislative sessions. The New Mexico Legislature is the last unpaid, part-time, “citizen” legislature in the United States. Many groups are working to modernize the legislature to include more paid staff, longer sessions, and to pay legislators to improve the legislative process and our elected representatives' capacity for community engagement in the policymaking process.

The New Mexico legislative session begins on the third Tuesday of January each year. Odd-numbered years have 60-day sessions, while even-numbered years have 30-day sessions. Interim committees meet between sessions across the state to take deeper looks at the state’s big issues and budget planning, without passing legislation, while standing committees meet during the session itself, and move proposed bills along through the sessions. All committee meetings are open to the public and can also be viewed online. Committees allow the public comment on legislation during the session, and sometimes interim committees do as well.

How a Bill Becomes Law:
 

1. Bill Drafting: Bills are drafted with input from interested parties and sponsored by legislators. Bills are then assigned numbers and referred to standing committees.
    

2. Committee Hearings: Committees hold hearings on the bill, where they can either pass it, not recommend it, or table it.
    

3. Floor Debate: If bills are passed through committee, they move to the full Senate or House for debate and a vote.
    

4. Second Chamber: If passed by one chamber, the bill goes through the same committee and floor process in the other chamber.
    

5. Governor's Approval: If passed by both chambers, the bill is sent to the Governor. If the Governor signs the bill, it becomes law.
    

To effectively advocate for or against a bill, it's important to establish a relationship with your legislators, gather support from others, and clearly communicate your perspective. Using resources like the New Mexico Legislature website and attending pre-legislative forums can help you stay informed and engaged in the legislative process.

Here are more resources on navigating the legislative process in New Mexico as an advocate:

 

• New Mexico Legislature:

  • Find Your Legislator

  • Legislative Handbook

  • Structure of New Mexico Government

  • 2024 Legislative Session Highlights

  • 2024 Legislative Finance Committee Newsletter

  • About the New Mexico Legislature
     

• New Mexico Voices For Children:

  • Advocacy Guide

  • Advocate’s Guide to the State Budget

  • New Mexico Tax Guide
     

• Creative New Mexico

  • Advocacy Resources

  • Advocacy Toolkit

 

Engaging with the Public Regulation Commission:

 

 

The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (PRC) is a three-member board within the New Mexico state government responsible for regulating various industries, including utilities (electricity, natural gas, water, and wastewater), and telecommunications. The Commission's authority is derived from Article XI of the New Mexico Constitution and is tasked with ensuring safe, reliable utility services at fair and reasonable rates in line with the state's legal, economic, environmental, and social policies.
 

Prior to 2023, the PRC consisted of five elected commissioners serving staggered four-year terms. A constitutional amendment changed the structure to a three-member board with commissioners appointed to staggered six-year terms. 
 

The PRC's regulatory oversight is extensive, encompassing various aspects of the industries it regulates. In the utility sector, the Commission oversees rate setting, certificates for building and acquiring generating resources, mergers and acquisitions, territorial disputes, service quality, cost recovery for purchased power and gas, interconnections, arbitrations, mediations, abandonments of utility plants or services, complaints, permits, financing, and enforcement actions. In telecommunications, the Commission's role includes registering and ensuring compliance for intrastate long-distance service providers, local exchange carriers, and inmate operator service providers. It also reviews tariff and interconnection agreement filings, addresses customer and carrier complaints, reviews legislation, and oversees numbering resources.

The Commission is actively involved in rulemaking proceedings related to critical issues like utility reliability standards, distribution planning, greenhouse gas emissions, grid modernization, and cybersecurity. It is also leading discussions on integrating New Mexico's utilities into regional markets to leverage the state's strategic geographic location. 
 

How to Engage with the PRC:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Source: New Mexico Political Report
 

The PRC is actively working on several key initiatives to enhance its effectiveness and public engagement. It is implementing a new strategic plan focusing on improving staff morale and support, modernizing agency operations and processes, and increasing transparency and accessibility for stakeholders and the public.

The public may sign up for free access to view PRC dockets here.
 

PRC staff is working diligently on improving engagement and access for the public.. The Commission holds regular open meetings, typically bi-weekly on Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. The schedule and agendas for these meetings are posted on the Commission's website and at the Bokum Building in Santa Fe. The public can participate in these meetings in person, via Zoom, or by telephone. To provide public comment, individuals must sign up by emailing public.comment@prc.nm.gov or calling (505) 490-7910 by 5:00 p.m. the day before the meeting. The public may provide comments at a designated time at any open meeting. Written comments are also accepted at prc.records@prc.nm.gov.

Dockets worth paying attention to include:
 

• Interconnection Variance Docket - 23-00072-UT: None of the utilities regulated by the PRC currently comply with the state's interconnection rule, necessitating variances. PNM, the state's largest utility, is seeking nine variances due to challenges integrating distributed energy resources (DERs). 
   

• Grid Modernization Docket - 22-00058-UT: PNM is seeking approval for a six-year implementation plan for grid modernization projects. This includes advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), intelligent grid devices, communication networks, distribution system hardening, and cybersecurity enhancements. The estimated cost for the first six years is $344 million.
   

• Community Solar Phase II Rulemaking Docket - 24-00094-UT: Docket No. 24-00094-UT is a rulemaking proceeding by the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (Commission) to consider amendments to the Community Solar Rule. The Commission seeks to modify the statewide program capacity cap, its allocation among utilities, and low-income qualification provisions. Stakeholders, including REIA, CCSA, Lightstar Renewables, and PNM, have submitted responses with recommendations. Key issues include the appropriate size and allocation of the capacity cap, the frequency of cap reviews, the effectiveness of the RFP process, and the need for consolidated billing and self-attestation for low-income customers. Additionally, there are discussions on the inclusion of energy storage resources and the potential for a value-of-solar methodology to ensure long-term program sustainability. Initial written comments were due Monday, July 22nd. A hearing is scheduled on August 21st which is after the date of writing this report and before the date of publishing. 
   

Other PRC Work to Monitor:
 

• Distribution Planning: The PRC is exploring revisions to its distribution planning process to incorporate more public input.
   

• Rate Cases: PNM is introducing a new cost allocation method in its next rate case, focusing on customer classes and renewable portfolio savings.
   

• 2027 Integrated Resource Planning: New Mexico's next Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) cycle is in three years.
   

Additionally, the PRC's Consumer Relations Division (CRD) serves as the agency's point of contact for New Mexicans with inquiries or disputes related to regulated services.
 

The PRC’s website provides resources and information on how to file complaints, participate in proceedings, and stay informed about regulatory developments.