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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR:	Griego		DATE TYPED:	02/7/03		HB
SHORT TITLE:		Repeal Public Utility & Telecom Laws				SB	350
					ANALYST:		Valenzuela

REVENUE

Estimated Revenue		Subsequent Years Impact	Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY03	FY04
		See Narrative

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Revenue Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Legislative Finance Committee files

Responses Received From

Office of the Attorney General

Public Regulation Commission (PRC)

Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Bill 350 repeals the delayed repeal (July 1, 2003) of the Public Utility Act, Chapter 63 Article 7 NMSA 1978, the Telephone and Telegraph Company Certification Act, the New Mexico Telecommunications Act, and the Cellular Telephone Services Act.

Significant Issues

According to the PRC, allowing the delayed repeals to remain will eliminate price and quality of service regulation, which would create unregulated public utility monopolies.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

Senate Bill 350 does not contain an appropriation. The PRC points out, if SB 350 is not enacted, a potential revenue loss if its regulatory authority is removed over public utilities. The agency receives approximately $12 million annually in fees paid by utilities under the Public Utility Act and the other acts addressed in this bill.

MFV/prr