N.M. Admin. Code § 17.7.3.7

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

Section 17.7.3.7 - DEFINITIONS

When used in this rule, unless otherwise specified the following definitions shall apply:

A.Definitions beginning with "A":

(1)action plan means the proposed process and specific actions the utility shall carry out to implement the integrated resource plan spanning a three year period following the filing of the utility's integrated resource plan;

(2)availability factor means the ratio of the time a generating facility is available to produce energy at its rated capacity to the total amount of time in the period being measured;

B.Definitions beginning with "B": [RESERVED]

C.Definitions beginning with "C": capacity factor means the ratio of the net energy produced by a generating facility during a given time period to the amount of net energy that could have been produced if the facility operated continuously at full capacity during that same time period;

D.Definitions beginning with "D":

(1)demand response means a form of load management that involves changes in electric usage by end-use customers from their normal consumption patterns, either in response to changes in the price of electricity over time, or to incentive payments designed to induce lower electricity use at times of high wholesale market prices or when system reliability is jeopardized;

(2)demand-side resource means storage, responsive distributed generation, and loads engaged in demand response programs that can support the grid by responding to market signals or direct load control;

(3)derating means a temporary or permanent reduction in the expected power output of a generating facility;

(4)distributed energy resource (DER) means the equipment used by an interconnection customer to generate, store, or generate and store electricity that operates in parallel with the electric distribution system.

(a) DER may include, but is not limited to: an electric generator with or without an energy storage system, a prime mover, or combination of technologies capable of injecting power and energy into the electric distribution system, which also includes the interconnection equipment necessary to safely interconnect with the distribution system;

(b) DER may not always be interconnected with the bulk power system;

(c) DER may include distributed generation resources, distributed energy storage, demand response energy efficiency, and electric vehicles and chargers that are connected to the electric distribution power grid;

(e) DER may be capable of exporting active power to an electric power system;

(f) DER includes the customer's interconnection facilities but shall not include the area electric power system operator's interconnection facilities.

E.Definitions beginning with "E":

(1)emergency procurement means a utility's procurement to address a system-based emergency condition including a serious threat to public health, welfare, safety, or property caused by a flood, fire, epidemic, riot, act of terrorism, equipment failure, or similar event.

(2)energy efficiency means measures, including energy conservation measures, or programs that target consumer behavior, equipment, or devices, to result in a decrease in consumption of electricity without reducing the quantity or quality of energy services;

(3)energy storage resource means a commercially available technology that is capable of absorbing energy, storing it for a period of time, and thereafter delivering the energy.

(a) specifically, it means a commercially available technology that:

(i) uses mechanical, chemical, or thermal processes to:

(ii) store energy, including energy generated from renewable energy resources and energy that would otherwise be wasted, and deliver the stored energy for use at a later time; or

(iii) store thermal energy for direct use for heating or cooling at a later time in a manner that reduces the demand for electricity at the later time;

(iv) is composed of stationary equipment;

(v) if being used for electric grid benefits, is operationally visible and capable of being controlled by the distribution or transmission entity managing it, to enable and optimize the safe and reliable operation of the electric system; and

(b) achieves any of the following:

(i) reduces peak electrical demand;

(ii) defers the need, or substitutes for, an investment in electric generation, transmission, or distribution assets;

(iii) improves the reliable operation of the electrical transmission or distribution systems; or

(iv) lowers customer costs by storing energy when the cost of generating or purchasing it is low and delivering it to customers when the costs are high.

F.Definitions beginning with "F":

(1)facilitated stakeholder process means the statutory public advisory process pursuant to Section 62-17-10 NMSA 1978, conducted by a commission appointee to facilitate advisory discussions among stakeholders, including members of the public, to advise the public utility and reach potential agreement in the utility's development of its statement of need and action plan;

(2)flexibility means the ability of a power system or resource to timely respond as needed to changes in supply and demand through deployment or curtailment of resources by system managers or other control methods, to maintain a balanced load, and to compensate for the variability of renewable energy resources;

(3)flexible generation means generation resources that can start, ramp up, and ramp down quickly and efficiently, can be dispatched, and run at low output levels, and can serve frequency response and ancillary service needs, as needed;

G.Definitions beginning with "G": [RESERVED]

H.Definitions beginning with "H": heat rate means the ratio of energy inputs used by a generating facility expressed in British thermal units, to the energy output of that facility expressed in kilowatt-hours;

I.Definitions beginning with "I":

(1)integrated resource plan (IRP) means a public utility's plan to meet New Mexico jurisdictional retail customers' existing and future demand in accordance with this rule and applicable state policies.

(a) specifically, it means a set of resource options that a utility could use to meet the service needs of its customers over a forecast period, including an explanation of the supply and demand circumstances under which, and the extent to which, each resource option would be used to meet those service needs.

(b) these resource options include, but are not limited to, using, refurbishing, and constructing utility plant and equipment, buying power generated by other entities, controlling customer loads, and implementing customer energy conservation;

(2)independent monitor (IM) means a person or entity appointed by the commission to oversee the conduct of a utility's competitive procurement process as addressed in this rule. The IM shall report to the commission regarding the utility's conformance with the most recently accepted statement of need and action plan and the sufficiency, reasonableness, competitive fairness, and completeness of that process;

J.Definitions beginning with "J": [RESERVED]

K.Definitions beginning with "K": [RESERVED]

L.Definitions beginning with "L":

(1)load forecasting means the prediction of the demand for electricity and energy over the planning period for the utility;

(2)load management means measures or programs that target equipment or devices to decrease peak electricity demand or shift demand from peak to off-peak periods;

M.Definitions beginning with "M": most cost-effective resource portfolio means those supply-side resources and demand-side resources that minimize the net present value of revenue requirements proposed by the utility to meet electric system demand during the planning period consistent with reliability and risk considerations;

N.Definitions beginning with "N":

(1)net capacity means the amount of flexible capacity necessary to supply instantaneous demand over and above the available capacity from variable energy resources, including wind and solar generation;

(2)net load means the difference between forecasted load and expected electricity production from variable generation resources;

O.Definitions beginning with "O": [RESERVED]

P.Definitions beginning with "P":

(1)planning period means the future period for which a utility develops its IRP, which, for purposes of this rule, is 20 years;

(2)public utility or utility has the same meaning as in the Public Utility Act, except that it does not include a distribution cooperative utility as defined in the Efficient Use of Energy Act.

Q.Definitions beginning with "Q": [RESERVED]

R.Definitions beginning with "R":

(1)regional energy market means an organized interstate market for energy, ancillary services, or capacity, operated by an independent entity (independent system operator or regional transmission operator) subject to regulatory authority of the Federal energy regulatory commission;

(2)renewable energy means electrical energy generated by use of renewable energy resources and delivered to a public utility;

(3)renewable energy resource means the following energy resources, with or without energy storage:

(a) solar, wind and geothermal;

(b) hydropower facilities brought in service on or after July 1, 2007;

(c) biomass resources, limited to agriculture or animal waste, small diameter timber, not to exceed eight inches, salt cedar and other phreatophyte or woody vegetation removed from river basins or watersheds in New Mexico; provided that these resources are from facilities certified by the energy, minerals and natural resources department to:

(i) be of appropriate scale to have sustainable feedstock in the near vicinity;

(ii) have zero life cycle carbon emissions; and

(iii) meet scientifically determined restoration, sustainability and soil nutrient principles;

(d) fuel cells that do not use fossil fuels to create electricity; and

(e) landfill gas and anaerobically digested waste biogas; and

S.Definitions beginning with "S": statement of need means a description and explanation of the amount and type of new resources, expressed in terms of energy or capacity, necessary to reliably meet an identified level of electricity demand in the planning horizon and to effect state policies.

T.Definitions beginning with "T": [RESERVED]

U.Definitions beginning with "U": [RESERVED]

V.Definitions beginning with "V": [RESERVED]

W.Definitions beginning with "W": [RESERVED]

X.Definitions beginning with "X": [RESERVED]

Y.Definitions beginning with "Y": [RESERVED]

Z.Definitions beginning with "Z": [RESERVED]

N.M. Admin. Code § 17.7.3.7

17.7.3.7 NMAC - N, 4-16-07, Amended by New Mexico Register, Volume XXVIII, Issue 16, August 29, 2017, eff. 8/29/2017, Adopted by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXIII, Issue 20, October 25, 2022, eff. 10/27/2022