HOUSE BILL 73

53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2018

INTRODUCED BY

Paul C. Bandy

AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES; REQUIRING THE PUBLIC REGULATION COMMISSION TO CONSIDER ECONOMIC IMPACTS IN DECIDING TO APPROVE THE ABANDONMENT OF A PUBLIC UTILITY FACILITY.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. Section 62-9-5 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1941, Chapter 84, Section 48, as amended) is amended to read:

     "62-9-5. ABANDONMENT OF SERVICE.--No utility shall abandon all or any portion of its facilities subject to the jurisdiction of the commission, or any service rendered by means of such facilities, without first obtaining the permission and approval of the commission. The commission shall grant such permission and approval, after notice and hearing, upon finding that the continuation of service is unwarranted or that the present and future public convenience and necessity do not otherwise require the continuation of the service or use of the facility; provided, however, that ordinary discontinuance of service or use of facilities for nonpayment of charges, nonuser or other reasons in the usual course of business shall not be considered as abandonment. In considering the present and future public convenience and necessity, the commission shall specifically consider the impact of the proposed abandonment of service on all consumers served in this state, directly or indirectly, by the facilities sought to be abandoned and the economic impact on New Mexico's energy-producing communities from the proposed abandonment of the facilities. Applications for abandonment shall include an evidence-based economic impact analysis of the proposed abandonment and an implementation plan to address the economic impact on affected energy-producing communities."

- 2 -