The city's broken promise that rates wouldn't increase significantly once it took over water distribution from Public Service Company of New Mexico decades ago is already haunting the early stages of a debate about whether Santa Fe should take over electric power distribution from PNM.
District 2 Councilor Joseph Maestas at Wednesday night's Public Utilities Committee meeting advocated for his resolution that would direct city staff to "explore, research and analyze" steps identified in a 2012 study on the
in Santa Fe.
District 1 Councilor Patti Bushee questioned whether the study would have reliable cost estimates of taking over electric power from PNM before asking the public its opinion on the issue.
A feasibility study would have to appraise PNM's distribution system in estimates that not only account for the company's infrastructure, but also so-called "stranded costs," or PNM's investment in that infrastructure.
Bushee said she doesn't oppose the idea of taking over electric distribution.
"I know that maybe the intent of this is to really bring back good information, but if you're not starting with good information, then I don't really know what the point of this is," she said.
"Conceptually everybody's interested in knowing more about this idea," Bushee told the committee. "However, I am really, seriously stressing that the devil is in the details on this one."
The resolution, also sponsored by District 3 Councilor Chris Rivera, passed with votes from him, Maestas and Peter Ives. Councilor Bill Dimas was absent from the meeting, and Bushee abstaining from the vote. "I'm looking for more details before I vote on it," she said said.
The Finance Committee is scheduled to hear the resolution Jan. 5 before the full council considers it on Jan. 15.
Public Utility Resolution by justinhorwath
Santa Fe Reporter