More than 43,000 New Mexicans could have their power shut off come August. That is how many people are behind on their bills since the start of the pandemic. Sign up for our Newsletters “That absolutely is the last thing we ever wanted to do and will ever want to do for customers,” PNM spokeswoman Shannon Jackson said. Ever since the pandemic started, the New Mexico Public Regulatory Commission prohibited utility companies from disconnecting.
Legislation to Fund State and Local Cybersecurity Efforts
This should have a high possibility of being passed.
May 14, 2021 • Here are the highlights of a new bi-partisan cybersecurity “funding” bill that I think will see the light of day:
Establishes a $500 million Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grant program that incentivizes states to increase their own cybersecurity funding.
Requires DHS’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to develop a strategy to improve the cybersecurity of state, local, tribal and territorial governments.
Requires state, local, tribal and territorial governments to develop comprehensive cybersecurity plans to guide use of grant dollars.
Establishes a State and Local Cybersecurity Resiliency Committee so state, local, tribal and territorial governments can advise CISA on their cybersecurity needs.
El Paso Electric plans to go to a smart, automated customer metering system beginning in 2023 in Texas and New Mexico under a proposal recently filed with Texas regulators.
The smart meters will allow the company to read electric meters, and start or stop electricity remotely from a central location, and remake its rate structure to reduce electric usage at peak hours based on meter-generated data.
The system, to cost $157 million in Texas, will be paid for mostly through customer bill surcharges lasting 12 years for residential customers and five years for other customer classifications, under the company s Texas proposal. It has yet to file its New Mexico plan.
Here’s a look at some local news brought to you by Silver City Radio.
Recently, the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission voted to end the yearlong COVID moratorium on shutting off electricity starting as soon as August 12
th for PNM customers. The moratorium had been a temporary emergency pandemic measure designed to help customers at the start of the pandemic. According to a release, the utility moratorium on disconnects prevented customers from having their electricity disconnected due to non-payment, however, customers are still responsible for paying the energy they have used which has resulted in past-due bills stacking up over the months. “As of May 7, approximately 43,413 residential customers, about 8 percent of 530,000 total PNM customers, are past-due on their PNM bill with an average past-due amount of $469 per customer.” Customers that require help paying past-due PNM bills may visit PNM.com/help or call 855-364-2950.