New Mexico Register / Volume XXXVII, Issue 5 / March 10, 2026

NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING - DOCKET NO. 25-00008-UT

The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission ("Commission") gives notice of its initiation of a formal rulemaking to promulgate a new rule and appendices at Title 17, Chapter 9, Part 575 of the New Mexico Administrative Code entitled "Interconnection of Generating Facilities with a Nameplate Rating up to and Including 10 MW Connecting to a Rural Electric Cooperative's System," as well as amendments to Title 17, Chapter 9, Part 568 of the New Mexico Administrative Code, "Interconnection of Generating Facilities with a Nameplate Rating up to and Including 10 MW Connecting to a Utility System." A rule, appendices, and amendments, which may be adopted as the final rule, appendices, and amendments, by the Commission may include all, part, or none of the language in the proposed rule, appendices, and amendments.

Summary and concise statement of proposed rule, appendices, and amendments: The proposed rule and appendices, 17.9.575 NMAC, would provide interconnection standards for generating facilities with a nameplate rating up to and including 10 megawatts (MW), applicable only to rural electric cooperatives. The Commission's current rule concerning interconnection of such generating facilities to electric utilities' systems, 17.9.568 NMAC, applies to rural electric cooperatives as well as investor-owned electric utilities. The proposed rule and appendices would provide interconnection standards and procedures modified to suit the unique conditions and challenges faced by rural electric cooperatives. The proposed amendments to 17.9.568 NMAC would remove its applicability to rural electric cooperatives.

Legal authority: The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission Act, Section 62-19-1 et seq., NMSA 1978; The Public Utility Act, Section 62-3-1 et seq., NMSA 1978; the Rural Electric Cooperative Act, Section 62-15-1 et seq., NMSA 1978; the Energy Transition Act, 62-18-1 et seq., NMSA 1978; the Grid Modernization Act, Section 62-8-13, NMSA 1978; and the Community Solar Act, Section 62-16B-1 et seq., NMSA 1978.

How a copy of the full text of the proposed rule, appendices, and amendments, may be obtained: A copy of the full text of the proposed rule, appendices, and amendments, as well as instructions on how to access the complete rulemaking record, reports, and other items filed in the Commission's e360 system may be obtained from the Rulemaking Proceedings section of the Commission's website at https://www.prc.nm.gov/rulemaking-proceedings/ under Docket No. 25-00008-UT or by calling LaurieAnn Santillanes in the Office of General Counsel at (505) 670-4830.

How a person may comment on the proposed rule, appendices, and amendments, and where comments will be received and when comments are due: Written initial comments may be filed no later than April 13, 2026, written response comments may be filed no later than April 27, 2026. Filed comments shall refer to Docket No. 25-00008-UT. Comments may be electronically filed by sending them in PDF format to prc.records@prc.nm.gov. All written comments will be available through the Commission's e360 system, which can be accessed through the Commission's website, within three days of their receipt by the Commission's Records Management Bureau. The record of this case closes on May 7, 2026. From that date through the completion of this proceeding, rulemaking participants shall be forbidden from communicating with the Commission or its representatives concerning substantive issues in this proceeding.

When and where a public comment hearing will be held and how a person may participate in the hearing: A public hearing on the proposed rule, appendices, and amendments, as well as any proposed alternatives, to be presided over by the Commission or its designee, shall be held beginning at 9:00 A.M. on April 30, 2026, at the Wendell Chino Building, Pecos Hall, 1220 S. Saint Francis Drive, Santa Fe, NM, and via the Zoom video-conferencing platform. Any interested person who wishes to make a comment at the hearing may contact Patrick Rodriguez via email at public.comment@prc.nm.gov or by phone at (505) 490-7910 as soon as possible before the start of the hearing to sign up as a commenter to sign up as a commenter. The Commission shall email a Zoom invitation to all commenters. The Zoom invitation shall include a call-in number for those commenters who are unable to access Zoom's video-conferencing platform. The public comment hearing shall be held to receive oral comments. All commenters may be limited in time to speak, subject to the discretion of the Commission or its designee. The Commission or its designee may also determine that a spokesperson should be designated to speak on behalf of an organization, a group, or a group of individuals that shares the same message or seeks the same goals, in order to maximize the efficiency of the public hearing. No testimony or other evidence shall be taken at the hearing as this is a rulemaking proceeding. The subject of public comments shall be relevant to matters within the Commission's jurisdiction. A court reporter shall prepare a transcript of the hearing for filing in this docket.

Any person with a disability requiring special assistance to participate in the hearing should contact the Consumer Relations Division of the Commission at (505) 827-8019 as soon as possible prior to the commencement of the hearing.