HOUSE MEMORIAL 60

57th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2026

INTRODUCED BY

Dayan Hochman-Vigil

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE ENERGY CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT DIVISION OF THE ENERGY, MINERALS AND NATURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT TO DIRECT THE CREATION OF A STUDY GROUP TO STUDY AND DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO MAKE BUILDINGS A FLEXIBLE GRID ASSET VIA ELECTRIFICATION IN NEW MEXICO THAT ENABLES THE USE OF BUILDINGS AS A GRID ASSET AND LOWERS ENERGY BILLS.

     WHEREAS, New Mexico faces growing electricity demand and the need to modernize the electric grid while keeping energy costs affordable for residents and businesses; and

     WHEREAS, building technologies, including energy controls and analytic and electric appliances, can lower utility bills, reduce peak demand on the electric grid and support economic development while improving energy efficiency and comfort; and

     WHEREAS, electric appliances add megawatts to the grid that can be strategically leveraged to reduce peak demand and put downward pressure on rates when enrolled in demand flexibility programs, rates and tariffs to the benefit of ratepayers and the grid; and

     WHEREAS, adopting electric building technologies, especially in concert with demand flexibility programs, can increase customer cost certainty and control and reduce New Mexico pollution emissions through beneficial electrification; and

     WHEREAS, energy efficiency and building shell improvements can amplify the benefits that building electrification enrolled in flexibility programs provide to the customer, ratepayers and the grid; and

     WHEREAS, this is an opportunity to prioritize affordability, consumer protection, energy efficiency and grid reliability by developing flexibility programs that enable buildings and electric appliances to use energy more flexibly, efficiently and cost-effectively; and

     WHEREAS, these priorities can be more easily attained by expanding the number of flexibility-enabled buildings, appliances and devices in New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, a study group would be a collaborative effort to align, harmonize or consolidate activities across utility planning, building trades, consumer programs, workforce development, financing mechanisms and state clean-energy goals for maximum benefit, administrative efficiency and ease of consumer access; and

     WHEREAS, it is important to ensure that the priorities and efforts of utilities, grid operators, the public regulation commission, consumers, architects and engineers, builders, contractors, distributed energy resource providers, aggregators and other stakeholders are aligned;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the energy conservation and management division of the energy, minerals and natural resources department be requested to convene a study group that includes stakeholders to develop and make recommendations to the appropriate interim legislative committee for a comprehensive statewide approach to accelerating and maximizing the deployment of building technologies, including electric appliances, that are enrolled in demand flexibility programs, rates and tariffs, to the benefit of the electric grid and energy affordability for ratepayers, including recommendations for necessary funding and proposed legislation; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the energy conservation and management division of the energy, minerals and natural resources department coordinate the activities of the study group, including meeting at regular intervals; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the goals of the study group in developing recommendations include identifying best practices for:

          A. utility and non-utility building flexibility, efficiency and electrification programs and planning;

          B. establishing consumer protections and program participation standards;

          C. ensuring avenues for third-party solution providers to assist consumers;

          D. developing financing mechanisms to accelerate deployment of building technologies and complementary building efficiency upgrades with little or no up-front cost to consumers;

          E. ensuring equitable access to programs for low-income and environmental justice communities;

          F. integrating building flexibility programs with utility integrated resource planning and distribution system planning;

          G. identifying workforce development and contractor training needs;

          H. evaluating rate design options that support flexible energy use;

          I. establishing measurement and verification standards;

          J. proposing public policies to support affordable, efficient and grid-responsive buildings; and

          K. identifying complementary energy affordability strategies and programs; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study group be composed of a minimum of eleven members, one each appointed from the following agencies and stakeholder entities:

          A. the energy conservation and management division of the energy, minerals and natural resources department;

          B. the staff of the public regulation commission;

          C. the New Mexico mortgage finance authority;             D. investor-owned New Mexico electric utility companies;

          E. New Mexico rural electric cooperatives, distributed energy resource providers and aggregators;

          F. building contractors and trades representatives;

          G. heat pump manufacturer representatives;

          H. consumer advocacy organizations;

          I. low-income and environmental justice community representatives;

          J. energy efficiency and building science experts; and

          K. a representative from New Mexico's clean energy industry; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the energy conservation and management division of the energy, minerals and natural resources department write a final report and present its findings and recommendations to the appropriate interim legislative committee before November 1, 2026; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the co-chairs of the New Mexico legislative council, the governor, the secretary of energy, minerals and natural resources, the chief of staff of the public regulation commission, the president of the New Mexico rural electric cooperative association, the presidents and chief executive officers of investor-owned electric utility companies in New Mexico, the executive director of the New Mexico mortgage finance authority and the chief executive officer of New Mexico counties.

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