PRC acts quickly to keep the lights on

With the failure of legislation that would keep the San Juan Generating Station open in order to prevent rolling blackouts next summer, the Public Regulation Commission acted quickly to make sure PNM knows it is allowed to keep the San Juan Generating Station open through the heat of next summer. PNM says it will now close the plant on September 30, 2022.

That is good news for utility customers concerned about electricity outages next summer and for Gov. Lujan Grisham’s reelection chances, but it doesn’t solve New Mexico’s long-term electricity problems as the Energy Transition Act is implemented.

As the Albuquerque Journal noted in a recent editorial (and we have as well), the electricity reliability issue does NOT go away assuming we get through the coming summer.

So, we SHOULD be okay for 2022 and that is good news. At least MLG won’t be dealing with blackouts as she runs for reelection!