SENATE BILL 50

50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2011

INTRODUCED BY

Stephen H. Fischmann

AN ACT

RELATING TO UTILITIES; ENACTING A NEW SECTION OF THE PUBLIC UTILITY ACT TO LIMIT THE ALLOWABLE COST RECOVERY OF A PUBLIC UTILITY'S LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS IN ANY SINGLE CASE BEFORE THE PUBLIC REGULATION COMMISSION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. A new section of the Public Utility Act is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] COST RECOVERY--PUBLIC UTILITY--LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.--The commission shall approve recovery of no more than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) of a public utility's legal and administrative costs in a single rate case or two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) in a single renewable portfolio case, energy efficiency case or integrated resource plan before the commission, unless the commission makes a finding that more than this amount is fair, reasonable and justified based on the circumstances of that case."

- 2 -