N.M. Admin. Code § 17.7.2.9

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 21, November 5, 2024

Section 17.7.2.9 - RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS

A. The programs should enable residential customers or households to conserve energy, reduce demand, or reduce residential energy bills.

B. Provided that the public utility's total portfolio of programs remains cost-effective, no less than five percent of the amount received by the public utility for program costs shall be specifically directed to energy efficiency programs for low-income customers.

(1) A public utility may coordinate with existing community resources, including affordable housing programs, and low-income weatherization programs managed by other utilities and federal, state, county, or local governments. This section does not preclude the public utility from designing and proposing other low-income programs.

(2) Whenever possible, providers of low-income energy efficiency measures or programs should have demonstrated experience and effectiveness in the design, administration and provision of low-income measures and programs, along with experience in identifying and conducting outreach to low-income households. In the absence of qualified independent agencies, a public utility that does not provide measures or programs directly, may solicit qualified competitive bids for these services.

(3) In developing the utility cost test for energy efficiency and load management measures and programs directed to low-income customers, unless otherwise quantified in a commission proceeding, the public utility shall assume that twenty percent of the calculated energy savings is the reasonable value of reductions in working capital, reduced collection costs, lower bad-debt expense, improved customer service, effectiveness, and other appropriate factors qualifying as utility system economic benefits.

N.M. Admin. Code § 17.7.2.9

17.7.2.9 NMAC - Rp, 17.7.2.9 NMAC, 5-3-10, Adopted by New Mexico Register, Volume XXV, Issue 24, December 30, 2014, eff. 1/1/2015, Adopted by New Mexico Register, Volume XXVIII, Issue 18, September 26, 2017, eff. 9/26/2017, Amended by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXII, Issue 20, October 26, 2021, eff. 10/26/2021