DEF 14A 1 a2016proxy.htm DEF 14A

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
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PNM Resources, Inc.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
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| PNM Resources, Inc. 414 Silver Ave. SW Albuquerque, NM 87102-3289 www.pnmresources.com

NOTICE OF 2016 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To Our Shareholders:
The 2016 annual meeting of shareholders of PNM Resources, Inc. will be held as follows:

DATE AND TIME: | Tuesday, May 17, 2016, at 9:00 a.m. Central Daylight Time (Meeting Room doors open at 8:15 a.m.)
PLACE: | Medical Center of Lewisville Grand Theater 100 North Charles St. Lewisville, Texas 75057 (map to meeting location included on back of proxy statement)
WHO CAN VOTE: | You may vote if you were a shareholder of record as of the close of business on March 28, 2016.
ITEMS OF BUSINESS: | (1) Elect eight (8) directors. (2) Ratify appointment of KPMG LLP as independent public accountants for 2016. (3) Approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers. (4) Consider three (3) shareholder proposals described in the accompanying proxy statement, if presented. (5) Consider any other business properly presented at the meeting.
VOTING: | On April 5, 2016, we began mailing to our shareholders either (1) a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials which indicates how to access our proxy materials on the Internet or (2) a printed copy of our proxy materials. After reading the proxy statement, please promptly vote by telephone or Internet or by signing and returning the proxy card so that we can be assured of having a quorum present at the meeting and so your shares may be voted in accordance with your wishes. See the questions and answers in our proxy statement about the meeting (including how to listen to the meeting by webcast), voting your shares, how to revoke a proxy, how to vote shares in person and attendance information.
| By Order of the Board of Directors Patricia K. Collawn Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON MAY 17, 2016: This Notice of Annual Meeting; our 2016 proxy statement; our 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K; a shareholder letter from Patricia K. Collawn, our Chairman, President and CEO; and stock performance graph are available at www.proxyvote.com and http://www.pnmresources.com/asm/annual-proxy.cfm.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Cover Page | Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders
i | Table of Contents
ii | Glossary
1 | Proxy Summary
3 | Questions and Answers About the Annual Meeting and Voting
9 | Information About Our Corporate Governance
9 | Corporate Governance Principles
9 | Code of Ethics
9 | Director Independence
9 | Majority Voting for Directors
10 | Board Leadership Structure and Lead Director
11 | Board’s Role in Risk Oversight
11 | Communication with the Board
11 | Director Service Policy
12 | Equity Compensation Awards Policy
12 | Related Person Transaction Policy
12 | Insider Trading Policy Includes No Hedging or Pledging
12 | Clawback Policy
13 | Additional Information About Our Board and Board Committees
13 | Board Meetings
13 | Board Committees and their Functions
16 | Director Compensation
19 | Ownership of Our Common Stock
19 | Five Percent Shareholders
20 | Executive Officers and Directors
21 | Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
21 | Proposal 1: Elect Eight Directors
21 | General Information
21 | Directors Nominated This Year
24 | Audit and Ethics Committee Report
25 | Independent Auditor Fees
26 | Proposal 2: Ratify Appointment of Independent Public Accountants
26 | Proposal 3: Advisory Vote to Approve Compensation of Named Executive Officers
28 | Executive Compensation
28 | Compensation Discussion and Analysis
44 | Compensation and Human Resources Committee Report
45 | Summary of 2015 NEO Compensation
64 | Equity Compensation Plan Information
65 | Shareholder Proposals
A-1 | Appendix A: 2015 Benchmark Data

i

GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED IN THIS PROXY
After-Tax Plan | PNM Resources, Inc. After-Tax Retirement Plan
AIP or Annual Incentive Plan | PNM Resources, Inc. Officer Annual Incentive Plan, detailing measurements and metrics for the calendar year 2015
Annual Meeting | Annual Meeting of PNM Resources, Inc. shareholders, to be held on May 17, 2016
Audit Committee | Audit and Ethics Committee of the Board
Board | Board of Directors of PNM Resources, Inc.
CD&A | Compensation Discussion and Analysis beginning on page 28
CEO | PNM Resources, Inc. Chief Executive Officer
CFO | PNM Resources, Inc. Chief Financial Officer
Compensation Committee | Compensation and Human Resources Committee of the Board
COO | PNM Resources, Inc. Chief Operating Officer
Company, PNMR or PNM Resources | PNM Resources, Inc.
Dodd-Frank Act | Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act
Earnings Growth | Non-GAAP adjusted earnings per share performance measure calculated for purposes of determining certain awards under the 2016 LTIP, 2015 LTIP, 2015 CEO Retention Grant, and 2015 CFO Retention Grant. Earnings Growth is calculated by measuring the annual growth rate in the Company’s adjusted earnings per share during the applicable performance period. Each of the 2016 LTIP, 2015 LTIP, 2015 CEO Retention Grant, and 2015 CFO Retention Grant sets forth (i) a definition of the adjusted earnings per share performance measure used thereunder (which definitions are generally similar, but not identical, to the Incentive EPS performance measure used for purposes of determining awards under the AIP), and (ii) a detailed formula for calculating Earnings Growth thereunder. Earnings Growth levels are not necessarily identical to any earnings outlook or guidance that may be announced by the Company and are designed to ensure that award payments are not artificially inflated or deflated
EPA | United States Environmental Protection Agency
ESA | PNM Resources, Inc. Executive Spending Account Plan, which allows Officers to receive reimbursement for income tax preparation, financial management and counseling services, estate planning, premiums for life and other insurance and travel expenses related to medical or financial planning services
ESP | PNM Resources, Inc. Executive Savings Plan, adopted in 1998. On December 17, 2008, this plan was merged into the PNM Resources, Inc. Executive Savings Plan II
ESP II | PNM Resources, Inc. Executive Savings Plan II
EVP | PNM Resources, Inc. Executive Vice President
FASB ASC Topic 718 | Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (Compensation - Stock Compensation)

ii

GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED IN THIS PROXY
FFO/Debt Ratio | Non-GAAP performance measure calculated for the purpose of determining certain long-term equity awards, as described in the CD&A. Equals PNMR’s funds from operations for the fiscal year that ends on the last day of the performance period divided by PNMR’s total debt outstanding (including any long-term leases and unfunded pension plan obligations) as of the last day of the performance period. Funds from operations are equal to the amount of PNMR’s net cash flow from operating activities (as reflected on the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows) adjusted by the following items: (1) including amounts received by PNMR as principal payments on the Palo Verde lessor notes, (2) including amounts attributable to principal payments on imputed debt from long-term leases, (3) excluding changes in PNMR’s working capital, including bad debt expense, (4) excluding the impacts of the Valencia Energy Facility consolidation, (5) excluding the amount of capitalized interest, and (6) excluding any contributions to the PNMR and TNMP qualified pension plans. For purposes of the 2016 LTIP, the FFO/Debt Ratio calculations are intended to be consistent with Moody's calculation of FFO/Debt (which Moody's refers to as "CFO Pre-WC/Debt"), as Moody's calculation methodology may be modified from time to time. The FFO/Debt Ratio levels are not necessarily identical to any earnings outlook or guidance that may be announced by the Company and are designed to ensure that award payments are not artificially inflated or deflated
Finance Committee | Finance Committee of the Board
GAAP | Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
GHG | Greenhouse Gas
GPBA Table | Grants of Plan Based Awards Table beginning on page 51
Incentive EPS | Non-GAAP adjusted earnings per share performance measure calculated for the purpose of determining awards under the AIP in accordance with the AIP for the applicable year. Incentive EPS is corporate earnings per share, excluding certain non-recurring items that do not factor into ongoing earnings. Incentive EPS levels are not necessarily identical to any earnings outlook or guidance that may be announced by the Company and are designed to ensure that award payments are not artificially inflated or deflated. For 2015, Incentive EPS of $1.64 equals net earnings attributable to PNMR per common share (as reflected on the Consolidated Statements of Earnings) of $0.20 adjusted to exclude: (i) $0.04 per share attributable to the mark-to-market impact of economic hedges, (ii) $0.03 per share attributable to net change in unrealized impairments of certain securities, (iii) $1.26 per share attributable to regulatory disallowances and restructuring costs, (iv) $(0.01) per share attributable to the settlement of a regulatory proceeding, and (v) $0.12 per share attributable to the loss, impairment, or write-up of any deferred tax asset or liability that was recognized in a prior tax year, but that was revalued in the current year due to a current year change in state or federal law. For 2014, Incentive EPS of $1.48 equaled net earnings attributable to PNMR per common share (as reflected on the Consolidated Statements of Earnings) of $1.45 adjusted to exclude: (i) $(0.05) per share attributable to the mark-to-market impact of economic hedges, (ii) $0.01 per share attributable to net change in unrealized impairments of certain securities, (iii) $0.01 per share attributable to regulatory disallowances, (iv) $0.01 per share attributable to loss from the San Juan Coal Company arbitration, and (v) $0.05 per share attributable to the loss, impairment, or write-up of any deferred tax asset or liability that was recognized in a prior tax year, but that was revalued in the current year due to a current year change in state or federal law. Incentive EPS herein refers to 2015 unless otherwise stated
KPMG | KPMG LLP
LTIP or Long-Term Incentive Plan | Long-Term Incentive Plan detailing measurements and metrics for specific plan years within the scope of the governing PEP
Moody’s | Moody’s Investor Service, Inc.
NEO(s) or named executive officer(s) | Named Executive Officers of PNM Resources, Inc. consisting of our five most highly compensated executive officers, including the CEO and CFO
Nominating Committee | Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board

iii

GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED IN THIS PROXY
Notice | Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials
NYSE | New York Stock Exchange
Officer(s) | PNM Resources, Inc. Officer(s)
OSHA | Occupational Safety & Health Administration
Pay Governance | Pay Governance LLC, the compensation consultant currently retained by the Compensation Committee and the Nominating Committee
PEP | A general reference to the applicable form of the Company’s performance equity plan, which covers incentive compensation awards to certain employees and non-employee directors
PNM | Public Service Company of New Mexico, a wholly owned subsidiary of PNM Resources, Inc.
PNM Resources, PNMR or Company | PNM Resources, Inc., which trades on the NYSE under the symbol “PNM”
PNMR Peer Group | Utility and energy companies comprising the PNMR director and executive compensation peer group listed on page 41
PS | Performance share award opportunity granted
Retention Plan | PNM Resources, Inc. Officer Retention Plan
RSA | Time-vested restricted stock right award
RSP | PNM Resources, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan, a 401(k) plan
Say-on-Pay | PNM Resources shareholders’ advisory vote on executive compensation
S&P | Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC
SAR | Stock Appreciation Right
SEC | United States Securities and Exchange Commission
SCT | Summary Compensation Table beginning on page 46
Severance Plan | PNM Resources, Inc. Non-Union Severance Pay Plan
SJGS | San Juan Generating Station
SVP | PNM Resources, Inc. Senior Vice President
Tax Code | Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
TCC or Total Cash Compensation | Total Cash Compensation, which consists of base salary and short-term cash incentives
TDC or Total Direct Compensation | Total Direct Compensation, which consists of base salary, short-term cash incentives and long-term incentives (equity grants, performance-based grants)
TNMP | Texas-New Mexico Power Company, an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of PNMR
TSR or Total Shareholder Return | A comparison over a specified period of time of share price appreciation and dividends paid to show the total return to the shareholder during such time period. TSR = (Price end – Price begin + Dividends) / Price begin
Willis Towers Watson | Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company, successor by merger on January 4, 2016 to Towers Watson & Co., the compensation consultant retained by PNMR management

iv

GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED IN THIS PROXY
2015 Benchmark Data | The compensation data from companies included in (1) the PNMR Peer Group and (2) the 2014 Towers Watson U.S. CDB General Industry Executive Database of similarly sized companies (companies with revenue of $1 billion - $3 billion), weighted respectively at 75% and 25%, to derive weighted market compensation statistics. The two compensation databases provide information on TCC, the expected value of long-term incentives and TDC. The companies in the 2015 Benchmark Data for the 2014 Towers Watson U.S. CDB General Industry Executive Database are listed in Appendix A
2016 Benchmark Data | The compensation data from companies included in (1) the PNMR Peer Group and (2) the 2015 Towers Watson U.S. CDB General Industry Executive Database of similarly sized companies (companies with revenue of $1 billion - $3 billion), weighted respectively at 75% and 25%, to derive weighted market compensation statistics. The two compensation databases provide information on TCC, the expected value of long-term incentives and TDC. The companies in the 2016 Benchmark Data for the 2015 Towers Watson U.S. CDB General Industry Executive Database will be listed in the appropriate appendix in the 2017 proxy statement

v

PROXY SUMMARY
The following summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this proxy statement. The summary does not contain all of the information that you should consider and should not be a substitute for reading the entire proxy before voting. Page references are provided for your convenience in locating detailed information.
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

Date and Time: |  | May 17, 2016, 9:00 a.m. Central Daylight Time (Meeting Room doors open at 8:15 a.m.)
Place: |  | Medical Center of Lewisville Grand Theater 100 North Charles St., Lewisville, TX 75057
Record date: |  | March 28, 2016
Voting: |  | Shareholders as of the record date are entitled to vote. Each share of PNM Resources common stock is entitled to one vote on each matter properly brought before the 2016 Annual Meeting.

GOVERNANCE HIGHLIGHTS (page 9)
The Company believes good governance is integral to achieving long-term shareholder value. We are committed to governance policies and practices that serve the interests of the Company and its shareholders. The Board of Directors monitors developments in governance best practices to assure that it continues to meet its commitment to thoughtful and independent representation of shareholder interests. The following table summarizes certain corporate governance practices and facts:

ü Independent non-employee directors | ü Gender, ethnic and experience-diverse Board
ü Annual election of all directors | ü Share ownership guidelines for executives and directors
ü Annual Board and Committee self-evaluation process | ü Independent directors meet without management present
ü Board Committees comprised entirely of independent directors | ü Prohibition of hedging Company securities
ü Majority voting for all directors | ü Prohibition of pledging of Company securities by directors and executive officers, including the NEOs
ü Equity awards subject to potential clawback |

VOTING MATTERS

| Board vote recommendation | Page Reference (for more detail)
Election of Director Nominees Named in this Proxy Statement | FOR each nominee | 21
Ratification of the Appointment of KPMG as our Independent Auditors for 2016 | FOR | 26
Advisory Vote on Approval of Executive Compensation | FOR | 26
Three Shareholder Proposals | AGAINST | 65

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Nominees for Director (page 21)
The following table summarizes information about each director nominee. Each director is elected annually. Detailed background and other information about each director can be found beginning on page 21.

Name | Age | Director Since | Occupation / Experience | Independent | PNMR Committees | Other Public Company Boards
Norman P. Becker (New Director Nominee) | 60 | N/A | President and CEO, New Mexico Mutual Casualty Company | ü | N/A |
Patricia K. Collawn | 57 | 2010 | Chairman, President and CEO, PNM Resources, Inc. |  |  | CTS Corporation
E. Renae Conley | 58 | 2014 | Chief Executive Officer, ER Solutions, LLC | ü | Finance Compensation |
Alan J. Fohrer | 65 | 2012 | Retired Chairman and CEO, Southern California Edison | ü | Audit Compensation (Chair) | TransAlta Corporation
Sidney M. Gutierrez | 64 | 2015 | Chairman and CEO, Rocket Crafters Inc. | ü | Compensation Nominating |
Maureen T. Mullarkey | 56 | 2014 | Partner, Blue Heron Investments, LLC | ü | Audit (Chair) Nominating |
Donald K. Schwanz | 71 | 2008 | Retired Chairman and CEO, CTS Corporation | ü | Audit Finance (Chair) | Multi-Fineline Electronix, Inc.
Bruce W. Wilkinson (Lead Director) | 71 | 2010 | Retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, McDermott International, Inc. | ü | Audit Finance | Cameron International Corporation

Auditors (page 25)
We ask that our shareholders ratify the selection of KPMG as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2016. Below is summary information about KPMG’s fees for services provided in fiscal years 2015 and 2014.

Type of Fees (in Thousands) | 2015 | 2014
Audit Fees | $1,956 | $1,701
Audit - Related Fees | — | —
Tax Fee | — | —
All Other Fees | — | —
TOTAL FEES | $1,956 | $1,701

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NEO Compensation Advisory Vote (page 26)
In 2015, shareholders continued their strong support of our executive compensation programs with 98.7% of the votes cast for approval of the Say-on-Pay proposal at the 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The Compensation Committee continues to examine our executive compensation program to ensure alignment between the interests of our executives and shareholders. We ask that our shareholders approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of our NEOs as described in this proxy statement.
For additional information, see the Executive Compensation section, including the CD&A and compensation tables, of this proxy statement.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING AND VOTING
1. Why did I receive these proxy materials?
You are receiving these materials because you owned shares of our common stock as of March 28, 2016, and are therefore eligible to vote at the Annual Meeting. This proxy statement summarizes the information you need to know to vote at the Annual Meeting. For a list of terms defined and used in this proxy statement, see the Glossary beginning on page ii.
After reading the proxy statement, please promptly vote by telephone or Internet or by signing and returning the proxy card so that we can be assured of having a quorum present at the meeting and so your shares may be voted in accordance with your wishes. You do not need to attend the Annual Meeting to vote your shares.
2. What is included in these proxy materials?
These proxy materials include:

• | Notice of Annual Meeting;

• | Our proxy statement for the Annual Meeting;

• | Our 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K, which includes our consolidated financial statements;

• | A shareholder letter from Patricia K. Collawn, our Chairman, President and CEO, and the stock performance graph.

If you requested printed versions of these materials by mail, these materials also include the proxy card for the Annual Meeting. Proxy materials are available at:
www.proxyvote.com and http://www.pnmresources.com/asm/annual-proxy.cfm.

3. | Why did I receive a one-page notice in the mail regarding Internet availability of proxy materials instead of printed proxy materials?

Most shareholders received a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”) instead of a full set of printed proxy materials. The Notice provides access to proxy materials in a fast and efficient manner via the Internet. This reduces the amount of paper necessary to produce these materials, as well as costs associated with mailing these materials to shareholders.
On April 5, 2016, (1) we began mailing to our shareholders either (a) the Notice (which indicates how to access our proxy materials on the Internet), or (b) a printed copy of our proxy materials, and (2) posted our proxy materials on the website referenced in the Notice.
All shareholders will have the ability to access the proxy materials on the website referred to in the Notice or request to receive a printed set of the proxy materials. The Notice includes instructions on how to access the proxy materials over the Internet or how to request proxy materials in printed form by mail or electronically by email for this meeting and on an ongoing basis. Pursuant to applicable law, beneficial owners of shares held in the RSP (our 401(k) plan for employees) will automatically receive paper copies of the proxy materials by mail instead of the Notice. In addition, shareholders who previously requested printed proxy materials or electronic materials on an ongoing basis will receive the materials in the format requested.
4. How may I obtain copies of the Annual Report on Form 10-K?
As stated above and reflected in the Notice, our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 (previously filed with the SEC), was made available to shareholders beginning on April 5, 2016. Copies of the Annual Report on Form 10-K are available without charge upon written request to Jimmie Blotter, Director, Investor Relations and Shareholder
3

Services, Corporate Headquarters, Mail Stop 0905, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87158, or electronically at www.pnmresources.com (under Investors). You may also obtain our SEC filings through the Internet at www.pnmresources.com (under Investors) or www.sec.gov.
5. Who may vote at the Annual Meeting?
You may vote all of the shares of our common stock that you own at the close of business on March 28, 2016, the record date. On the record date, PNM Resources had 79,653,624 shares of common stock outstanding that are entitled to be voted at the Annual Meeting. You may cast one vote for each share of common stock held by you on all matters presented at the Annual Meeting.
6. What proposals will be voted on at the Annual Meeting?
The following six proposals will be considered and voted on at the Annual Meeting:

Proposal | Description of Proposal | Proposal discussed on following pages: | Board Recommendation
PROPOSAL 1 | Elect eight (8) directors | 21-24 | FOR
PROPOSAL 2 | Ratify appointment of KPMG LLP as independent public accountants for 2016 | 26 | FOR
PROPOSAL 3 | Approve, on an advisory basis, our NEO compensation | 26-27 | FOR
PROPOSAL 4 | Shareholder proposal for PNM to adopt goals for reducing total GHG | 65-66 | AGAINST
PROPOSAL 5 | Shareholder proposal to adopt sustainability as a performance measure for executive compensation | 67-68 | AGAINST
PROPOSAL 6 | Shareholder proposal for PNM to issue an annual sustainability report | 68-70 | AGAINST

7. Will any other business be conducted at the Annual Meeting or will other matters be voted on?
As of the date of this proxy statement, we are unaware of any matter (other than the above six proposals) that may be properly presented at the Annual Meeting. If any other matter is properly presented for consideration at the meeting, including consideration of a motion to adjourn the meeting to another time or place, the proxy committee will vote on the matter in accordance with its judgment. Shareholders attending the meeting will directly vote on any such matters.
8. How do I vote my shares?
For your convenience, we have established four easy methods for voting shares held in your name:

By Internet: | Access www.proxyvote.com and follow the instructions. (You will need the control number on your Notice or on the requested paper proxy card to vote your shares.) Shareholders voting through the Internet should understand that there may be costs associated with electronic access, such as usage charges from Internet access providers and telephone companies that must be paid by the shareholder.
By Telephone: | For automated telephone voting, call 1-800-690-6903 (toll free) from any touch-tone telephone and follow the instructions. (You will need the control number on your Notice or on the requested paper proxy card to vote your shares.)
By Mail: | Request delivery of the proxy statement and proxy card by mail and then simply return your executed proxy card in the enclosed postage-paid envelope.
In Person: | You can attend and cast your vote at the Annual Meeting. For admission requirements please see Question 19 on page 7 “Who may attend the 2016 Annual Meeting?”

4

Your shares will be voted in the manner you indicate. The telephone and Internet voting systems are available 24 hours a day. They will close at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 16, 2016. Please note that the voting deadline is earlier for voting shares held in our RSP, as described below under question 15.
9. What constitutes a quorum and why is a quorum required?
A quorum of shareholders is necessary to conduct business at the Annual Meeting. If at least a majority of all of the PNM Resources common stock outstanding on the record date is represented at the Annual Meeting, in person or by proxy (by voting by telephone or on the Internet or by properly submitting a proxy card or voting instruction form by mail), a quorum will exist. Abstentions, withheld votes and broker non-votes will be counted as present for quorum purposes.
10. What vote is required to approve each proposal?
The existence of a quorum and the following votes are required for approval of each proposal at the Annual Meeting:

Proposal | Affirmative Vote Requirement | Effect of Abstentions and Broker Non-Votes (See Questions 16-18 below)
PROPOSAL 1 Elect eight (8) Directors | Majority of shares present, in person or by proxy, and entitled to vote on the matter | Votes may be cast in favor or withheld from each director nominee. Abstentions and withheld votes have the effect of a vote against the nominee. Broker non-votes will not be counted in calculating voting results.
PROPOSAL 2 Ratify Auditors | Majority of shares present, in person or by proxy, and entitled to vote on the matter | Abstentions have the effect of a vote against the matter. Brokers may vote your “street name” shares on this routine matter without your instructions.
PROPOSAL 3 Advisory vote to approve NEO Compensation | Majority of shares present, in person or by proxy, and entitled to vote on the advisory matter | Abstentions have the effect of a vote against the matter, while broker non-votes will not be counted in calculating voting results.
PROPOSALS 4 - 6 All Shareholder Proposals | Majority of shares present, in person or by proxy, and entitled to vote on the matter | Abstentions have the effect of a vote against the matter, while broker non-votes will not be counted in calculating voting results.

11. What is a proxy?
A proxy is your legal designation of another person (the “proxy”) to vote on your behalf. By voting by telephone or the Internet, or by completing and mailing a printed proxy card, you are giving the proxy committee appointed by the Board, A. J. Fohrer, S. M. Gutierrez, M. T. Mullarkey, the authority to vote your shares in the manner you indicate. If you are a shareholder of record and sign and return your proxy card without indicating how you want your shares to be voted, or if you vote by telephone or Internet in accordance with the Board of Directors’ voting recommendations, the proxy committee will vote your shares as follows:

• | FOR the election of the eight (8) directors nominated;

• | FOR ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as independent public accountants for 2016;

• | FOR the resolution approving the compensation of our NEOs, on an advisory basis, as disclosed in this proxy statement; and

• | AGAINST all shareholder proposals.

If you hold your shares in “street name” and do not provide specific voting instructions to your broker, a “broker non-vote” will result with respect to Proposals 1 and 3-6. More information about the implications of holding your shares in street name and broker non-votes is set forth in answers to questions 10, 13 and 16-18.
5

12. Can I change my vote or revoke my proxy?
Yes. Any subsequent vote by any means will change your prior vote. The last vote actually received before the Annual Meeting will be the one counted. You may also revoke your proxy by voting in person at the Annual Meeting.
13. What is the difference between a “shareholder of record” and a “street name” holder?
These terms describe how your shares are held. If your shares are registered directly in your name with Computershare, the Company’s transfer agent, you are a “shareholder of record” with respect to those shares and the Notice was sent directly to you by PNM Resources.
If your shares are held in the name of a broker, bank, trust or other nominee as a custodian, you are a “street name” holder and the Notice would have been forwarded to you by that organization. As a beneficial owner, you have the right to direct that organization on how to vote the shares held in your account. If you wish to attend the Annual Meeting and vote in person, you must obtain a legal proxy from the organization that holds your shares. Please contact that organization for instructions regarding obtaining a legal proxy.
14. Why did I receive more than one proxy card or notice?
You will receive multiple proxy cards or Notices if you hold your shares in different ways (e.g., joint tenancy, trusts, custodial accounts) or in multiple accounts. Each Notice and proxy card that you receive will contain a specific “control number” with the relevant information to vote the specific shares at issue. Note that the proxy card or Notice for shares registered in your name will include any shares you may hold in the PNMR Direct Plan, a dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan. If your shares are held by a broker (i.e., in “street name”), you will receive a Notice on how to obtain your proxy materials and vote from your broker. You should vote according to the instructions on each Notice you receive and vote on, sign and return each proxy card you receive.

15. | How do I vote my RSP shares?

If you participate in the RSP, our 401(k) plan for our employees, and shares have been allocated to your account under the PNMR Stock Fund investment option, you will receive the following materials by mail:

• | the proxy materials; and

• | a separate vote authorization form and voting instructions for these RSP shares from the PNMR Corporate Investment Committee.

Please use the RSP vote authorization form to vote your RSP shares by telephone, Internet or mail. To allow sufficient time for the record holder of the RSP shares, The Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company, to vote these shares, your voting instructions must be received by 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Monday, May 16, 2016.

16. | What happens if I don’t give my broker voting instructions for my “street name” shares?

You will receive proxy materials directly from your broker if your shares are not registered in your name, but are held by your broker as your “street name” shares. If you do not give your broker voting instructions, your brokerage firm may only vote your “street name” shares on certain “routine” matters. When a brokerage firm votes its customers’ unvoted shares on routine matters, these shares are counted to determine if a quorum exists to conduct business at the meeting. Ratification of the appointment of KPMG as independent public accountants for 2016 is considered the only routine matter for which brokerage firms may vote your shares without your voting instructions.

17. | What is a broker non-vote?

A broker non-vote occurs when a broker is not permitted under NYSE rules to vote on a “non-routine” matter without instructions from the beneficial owner of the shares and no instruction is given. “Non-routine” matters include the election of directors, actions relating to equity compensation plans and actions relating to executive compensation (including Say-on-Pay shareholder advisory votes). Thus, your “street name” shares cannot be voted on Proposals 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 without receipt of your voting instructions.
We encourage you to provide instructions to your broker by giving your proxy. This ensures that your shares will be voted in accordance with your wishes on all matters at the Annual Meeting.
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18. How are votes withheld, abstentions and broker non-votes treated?
As discussed in questions 9 and 10, votes withheld and abstentions are deemed as present at the Annual Meeting, are counted for quorum purposes and will have the same effect as a vote against matters requiring a majority of shares present and entitled to vote on the matter. Broker non-votes, if any, while counted for general quorum purposes, are not deemed to be present with respect to any matter for which a broker does not have authority to vote and so do not have any effect on proposals which require a majority of shares present and entitled to vote on the matter.
19. Who may attend the Annual Meeting?
Attendance is limited to shareholders of record or their legal proxy holder and beneficial owners as of March 28, 2016, and invited guests of the Company. If your shares are held in the name of your broker, bank, or other nominee, please bring an account statement or letter from the nominee indicating that you are the beneficial owner of the shares as of March 28, 2016. An authorized proxy must present proof that he or she is an authorized proxy of a shareholder. In all cases, government-issued photo identification is also required. Banners, signs, attire considered inappropriate and potentially disruptive to the meeting will not be allowed. All attendees will be subject to a security search for safety and security reasons. A map of the meeting location and parking directions are contained on the back of this proxy statement. Rules of the meeting will be printed on the back of the agenda that will be given to you at the meeting. We thank you in advance for your patience and cooperation with these rules.

20. | Will seating be limited at the 2016 Annual Meeting?

Yes. Seating will be limited and shareholders will be admitted on a first-come, first-served basis. Admission will begin 45 minutes before the start of the meeting.

21. | Will shareholders be given the opportunity to ask questions at the 2016 Annual Meeting?

Yes. The Chairman will answer questions asked by shareholders during a designated portion of the meeting. When speaking, shareholders must direct questions and comments to the Chairman and limit their remarks to matters that relate directly to the business of the meeting. For other rules, please see the back of the agenda that will be given to you at the meeting.
22. May I listen to the Annual Meeting by Webcast?
Yes. Shareholders may listen to the Annual Meeting by webcast at: www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/pnm2016
While any member of the public may listen to the Annual Meeting by webcast, only verified shareholders will be able to submit questions via the webcast to a moderator during the meeting. New Mexico law does not allow shareholders who do not attend the meeting in person to vote during the Annual Meeting. Thus, shareholders who listen to the Annual Meeting by webcast will be unable to vote during the Annual Meeting, so please vote before the Annual Meeting if you are unable to attend the meeting in person.
23. Can I vote my shares in person at the Annual Meeting?
If you are a “shareholder of record,” you may vote your shares in person at the Annual Meeting. If you hold your shares in “street name,” you must obtain a proxy from your broker, banker, trustee or nominee, giving you the right to vote the shares at the Annual Meeting.
24. Who pays the cost of this proxy solicitation?
The enclosed proxy is being solicited on behalf of PNM Resources’ Board of Directors. This solicitation is being made by mail, but also may be made in person, by telephone or via the Internet. The Company has hired Georgeson, Inc. (“Georgeson”) to assist in the solicitation for an estimated fee of $8,500 plus any out-of-pocket expenses. PNM Resources will pay all costs related to solicitation. Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions, Inc. is tabulating the vote and providing the webcast hosting services for listening to the Annual Meeting.
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25. Is this proxy statement the only way that proxies are being solicited?
No. As stated above, the Company has retained Georgeson to aid in the solicitation of proxies. In addition to mailing these proxy materials, certain directors, officers or employees of the Company may solicit proxies by telephone, facsimile, e-mail or personal contact. They will not be specifically compensated for doing so.
26. Where can I find voting results of the Annual Meeting?
Preliminary voting results will be announced at the Annual Meeting. The final voting results will be tallied by the inspectors of election and published in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC within four business days after the date of the Annual Meeting. Such results will also be published on our website at www.pnmresources.com.

27. | What are the deadlines and procedures to propose actions for consideration or to nominate individuals to serve as directors at the 2017 Annual Meeting?

If you want PNM Resources to consider including a proposal in our 2017 proxy statement and form of proxy next year, you must submit the proposal to us in accordance with applicable rules of the SEC and Article I, Section 4(d) of our bylaws, and your proposal must be received at our principal executive offices no later than the close of business (5:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time) on December 6, 2016.
We strongly encourage any shareholder interested in submitting a proposal to contact our Corporate Secretary in advance of this deadline to discuss the proposal, and shareholders may want to consult knowledgeable counsel regarding the detailed requirements of applicable securities laws. Submitting a shareholder proposal does not guarantee that we will include it in our proxy statement.
In addition, even if you do not want the proposal to be included in our next year’s proxy statement and form of proxy, under our bylaws, any shareholder intending to nominate a candidate for election to the Board or to propose any business at our 2017 annual meeting must give notice to our Corporate Secretary no later than the close of business (5:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time) on December 6, 2016. The notice must include information specified in Article I, Section 4(d) of our bylaws, including information concerning the nominee or proposal, as the case may be, and information about the shareholder’s ownership of and agreements related to our stock. For information on recommending individuals for consideration as nominees, see page 15 of this proxy statement. We will not entertain any proposals or nominations at the Annual Meeting that do not meet the requirements set forth in our bylaws.
Shareholder proposals should be delivered to or mailed and received by us on or before the above dates addressed to: Corporate Secretary, PNM Resources, Inc., 414 Silver Avenue SW, MS-1245, Albuquerque, NM 87102-3289.
If you would like a copy of the procedures for submitting shareholder proposals contained in our bylaws, please contact: Assistant Corporate Secretary, PNM Resources, Inc., 414 Silver Avenue SW, MS-1275, Albuquerque, NM 87102-3289, 505-241-2205.
For next year’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the persons appointed by the proxy to vote shareholders’ shares will vote those shares according to their judgment on any shareholder proposal that PNM Resources receives after December 6, 2016. If the shareholder does not also comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-4(c)(2) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, we may exercise discretionary voting authority under proxies that we solicit to vote in accordance with our judgment on any such shareholder proposal or nomination.
28. Whom should I call with other questions?
If you have any further questions about voting your shares or attending the Annual Meeting, please call Shareholder Services at 505-241-2868.
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INFORMATION ABOUT OUR CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Corporate Governance Principles
In recognition of the importance of governance to the proper management of the Company, the Board has organized the various governance policies adopted and practiced over the years into a consolidated Corporate Governance Principles document so that investors, employees, customers, regulators and the community may be aware of the policies followed by the Company. These principles have been approved by the full Board after analysis of policy considerations and peer benchmarks. With the goal of incorporating evolving best corporate governance principles, the Board requires the Nominating Committee to review the principles at least annually and recommend changes from time to time for consideration and adoption by the full Board.
The Corporate Governance Principles document can be found on PNM Resources’ website at www.pnmresources.com (under Corporate Governance). The principles document sets forth key practices and addresses the following:

Responsibilities of the Board Process for Director Nominations Director Qualifications Director Independence Planning/Oversight Functions | Stock Ownership Guidelines Director Service Director Compensation Leadership Structure Conflicts of Interest

Code of Ethics
The Company has adopted a code of ethics, Do the Right Thing-Principles of Business Conduct, which applies to all directors, Officers (including the principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer) and employees. Do the Right Thing is available in print to any shareholder who requests it by writing to the Ethics and Governance Department, PNM Resources, Inc., 414 Silver Avenue SW, MS-1285, Albuquerque New Mexico 87102-3289. Do the Right Thing is also available on our website at www.pnmresources.com (under Corporate Governance). The Company will post any amendments to or waivers from its code of ethics (to the extent applicable to the Company’s executive officers and directors) at this location on its website.
Concerns relating to financial statement disclosures, accounting, internal accounting controls, or auditing matters and other matters involving violations of law are handled in accordance with the complaint procedures, adopted by the Audit Committee, that are posted on the Company’s website at www.pnmresources.com (under Corporate Governance). The Company also established an anonymous/confidential hotline through which employees and others may report concerns about the Company’s business practices.
Director Independence
In accordance with the Company’s Corporate Governance Principles, the Board has affirmatively determined that all current directors and the director nominees are independent of PNM Resources and its management (with the exception of Ms. Patricia K. Collawn). Ms. Collawn is considered an inside director because of her employment as the President and CEO of the Company.
In determining the independence of the non-employee members of the Board, the Board examined all direct and indirect relationships of these non-employee directors with the Company and determined that all such relationships complied with the specific independence criteria under applicable law, including the NYSE listing standards. In addition, the only direct or indirect relationships between PNM Resources and each current non-employee director nominee consisted of service on the Board or a Board committee, being a shareholder or a retail utility customer of the Company, or were indirect relationships that were determined to be immaterial in amount and significance. Likewise, the Board had affirmatively determined that at all times while serving on the Board, former Board member J. B. Woodard was independent of PNM Resources and its management.
Majority Voting for Directors
Our articles of incorporation and bylaws provide for the annual election of directors. As discussed under Question 10 on page 5, each director must receive the affirmative vote of a majority of our shares of common stock represented at the meeting and entitled to vote on the election.
Our Corporate Governance Principles also provide that any nominee in an uncontested election who does not receive the required affirmative majority vote must promptly submit his or her resignation for consideration by the Nominating Committee which shall make a recommendation to the full Board within a reasonable period of time. The director whose resignation is under consideration
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will abstain from participating in the Nominating Committee’s recommendation and the Board’s decision on this matter. If a resignation is not accepted by the Board, the director may continue to serve. Directors added to the Board during the course of the year will stand for election at the next annual meeting of shareholders.
In addition to the annual election of directors, the Board’s accountability to shareholders is enhanced by:

• | the rigorous nomination process conducted by the Nominating Committee (which includes consideration of director candidates proposed by shareholders) and

• | the Board’s policy that a substantial majority of the Board be independent and that all Board committees consist of independent members.

Board Leadership Structure and Lead Director
We believe the Company and its shareholders are best served by a Board that has the flexibility to establish a leadership structure that fits the needs of the Company at a particular point in time. Under the Company’s Corporate Governance Principles and bylaws, the Board has the authority to combine or separate the positions of Chairman and CEO, as well as to determine whether, if the positions are separated, the Chairman should be an employee, non-employee, or an independent director.
The Board believes the most effective leadership structure for the Company at this time is one with a combined Chairman and CEO coupled with an independent lead director. The Chairman is Patricia K. Collawn, our President and CEO. Combining the roles of Chairman and CEO: (1) enhances the Board’s ability to provide strategic direction and communicate clearly and effectively with management; and (2) avoids creating a structure that would effectively duplicate the work of our lead director. Ms. Collawn’s knowledge of our utilities and our industry and her experience successfully navigating our Company out of the competitive businesses and through a challenging period make her best suited to serve as Chairman and CEO and provide strong unified leadership for PNM Resources.
The position of lead director and role of our Board committees (comprised entirely of independent directors) are designed to promote strong, independent oversight of our management and affairs. Our lead director, Mr. Bruce W. Wilkinson, performs the following functions:

• | approves Board meeting agendas and information sent to the Board;

• | approves meeting schedules to ensure sufficient time for discussion of all agenda items;

• | chairs all meetings of the independent directors, including executive sessions of the independent directors, and presides at all meetings of the Board in the absence of the Chairman;

• | works with committee chairs to ensure coordinated coverage of Board responsibilities;

• | ensures the Board is organized properly and functions effectively, independent of management;

• | in consultation with the Board, is authorized to retain independent advisors and consultants on behalf of the Board;

• | facilitates the annual self-evaluation of the Board and Board committees;

• | serves as a liaison for communications between (1) management and the independent directors, and (2) the Board and the Company’s shareholders and other interested parties; and

• | performs such other duties as the Board may from time to time delegate.

The lead director is elected by the independent directors, who review the role and functions of the lead director on an annual basis.
The lead director, with the above described duties, facilitates independent oversight of management. The balance of the lead director and combined Chairman/CEO positions ensures that the Board receives the information, experience and direction to effectively govern. Further, the Board believes that having Ms. Collawn serve in the combined role of Chairman and CEO is in the best interests of our shareholders because:

• | Ms. Collawn’s thorough understanding of the particular challenges facing the regulated utility industry and the need to balance various stakeholder interests is critical at both the management and Board level and she is uniquely qualified to identify key strategic risks; and

• | Ms. Collawn’s combined role promotes unified leadership and direction and conveys the Board’s confidence in her leadership to shareholders, customers and other stakeholders.

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Board’s Role in Risk Oversight
PNM Resources’ management is responsible for managing risk and bringing to the Board’s attention the most material risks facing the Company. The Board has oversight responsibility for the processes established to identify, assess, mitigate, and monitor material risks applicable to the Company. Throughout the year, the Board reviews briefing materials developed through the Company’s enterprise risk management program regarding the potential significant risks facing the Company. Each significant strategic risk is overseen by the full Board, with all its experience and expertise, in order to facilitate more effective integrated risk and strategy oversight.
In addition to oversight of strategic risks, the full Board regularly reviews significant operational and local risk assessments and mitigation plans, including those for safety and New Mexico stakeholder relationships. Meanwhile, the Board oversees the appropriate allocation of responsibility for oversight of specific risks among the committees of the Board. Over the past several years, Board committees have played an important role in risk oversight. For example, the Finance Committee reviews and recommends to the full Board the Company’s capital structure and oversees the Company’s management of risks associated with capital availability, liquidity and costs thereof. In addition, the Finance Committee monitors the execution of the Company’s energy supply, sales, and hedging programs. The Audit Committee plays a central role in overseeing the integrity of the Company’s financial statements and reviewing and approving the performance of the Company’s internal audit function and independent accountants. The Audit Committee also is regularly briefed on the Company’s cybersecurity and North American Electric Reliability Corporation risks and risk mitigation programs. While the full Board annually reviews the CEO succession planning process, the Nominating Committee oversees risks related to succession planning for the Board, and the Compensation Committee oversees risks related to succession planning for Company officers. In addition, the Compensation Committee considers risks related to the attraction and retention of talent and risks related to the design of compensation programs and arrangements. In doing so, the Compensation Committee monitors the design and administration of the Company’s overall incentive programs to ensure that they incentivize strong individual and group performance and include appropriate safeguards to avoid unintended or excessive risk-taking by Company employees.
The Board does not believe that its leadership structure (i.e., combining the Chairman and CEO roles, coupled with an independent lead director) affects its ability to effectively oversee risk management because a substantial majority of the Board is comprised of independent directors, each committee is comprised entirely of non-management independent directors, and the roles of the lead director and committees are designed to provide effective oversight of management.
Communication with the Board
Shareholders wishing to communicate with the Board or with a specific director may do so by writing to the Board or to the particular director and delivering the communication in person or mailing it to: Board of Directors, c/o Corporate Secretary, PNM Resources, Inc., 414 Silver Avenue SW, MS-1245, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102-3289. All shareholder communications will be relayed to the Board of Directors or an appropriate committee of the Board. If the shareholder desires to communicate a concern directly with the Board without initial review by the Corporate Secretary, the concern should be submitted in writing, in a sealed envelope addressed to the Board, in care of the Corporate Secretary, with a notation indicating that it is to be opened only by the Board. The Corporate Secretary shall promptly forward the unopened envelope to the Board. From time to time, the Board may change the process for shareholder communications with the Board or its members. Please refer to the Company’s website www.pnmresources.com (under Corporate Governance) for any changes in this process.
Shareholders and other interested parties wishing to communicate directly with the lead independent director or with the non-management or independent directors as a group may do so by writing to Lead Independent Director, c/o Corporate Secretary, PNM Resources, Inc., 414 Silver Avenue SW, MS-1245, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102-3289.
Director Service Policy
Our Director Service Policy provides that directors will not serve more than 12 years on the Board absent certain conditions. The policy requires directors serving more than 12 years, employee directors who leave the Company and directors who undergo a significant change in their business or professional career to submit resignations to the Board for acceptance at such time as the Board deems appropriate. The policy can be found on pages 7-8 of the Corporate Governance Principles found on the Company’s website at www.pnmresources.com (under Corporate Governance).
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Equity Compensation Awards Policy
The Board adopted the Equity Compensation Awards Policy to govern the granting of all forms of equity compensation. The policy provides that equity compensation awards shall only be made in compliance with the PEP and applicable laws and regulations. The PEP prohibits option repricing, incorporates, as a general rule, a “double trigger” vesting rule in connection with a change in control, and contains a “clawback” provision subjecting all awards issued under the PEP to potential forfeiture or recovery to the fullest extent called for by any clawback policy that may be adopted by the Company. The Equity Compensation Awards Policy provides that equity compensation awards are prospective only and sets forth additional good governance procedures for making equity awards when the regular schedule for the grant of equity compensation falls within a black-out period for trading in the Company’s securities under PNM Resources’ Insider Trading Policy. The Equity Compensation Awards Policy is available on our website at www.pnmresources.com (under Corporate Governance).
The Company conducts an annual review of equity compensation awards to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Equity Compensation Awards Policy.
Related Person Transaction Policy
Our “Policy and Procedures Governing Related Party Transactions” is posted on our website at www.pnmresources.com (under Corporate Governance). The policy provides that all transactions with executive officers, directors or greater than 5% shareholders or any immediate family member of any of the foregoing (collectively referred to as “related persons”), where the aggregate amount involved is expected to exceed $120,000 per year, are subject to pre-approval or ratification by the Nominating Committee, or by the Board or another committee in the normal fulfillment of their respective charters and responsibilities. In determining whether to approve such transactions, the Nominating Committee will consider, among other factors, the extent of the related person’s interest in the transaction; the availability of other sources of comparable products or services; whether the terms are no less favorable than terms generally available in unaffiliated transactions under like circumstances; the benefit to the Company; and the aggregate value of the transaction at issue. Since January 1, 2015, PNM Resources has not participated, and has no current plans to participate, in any transactions in which any related person has a material interest that would be subject to pre-approval under this policy or otherwise be reportable under applicable SEC Rules.
Insider Trading Policy Includes No Hedging or Pledging
The Company’s Insider Trading Policy prohibits all employees, Officers and directors from engaging in short sales of Company securities and states that speculative trading in Company stock is considered to be improper and inappropriate. In addition, the policy prohibits all directors, Officers and employees from engaging in hedging or monetization transactions, such as zero-cost collars and forward sales contracts, or transactions that allow a person to lock in much of the value of his or her Company securities. Further, our Insider Trading Policy prohibits all directors and executive officers, including the NEOs, from pledging Company securities as collateral for a loan.
Clawback Policy
In anticipation of the adoption of a clawback policy that is fully compliant with anticipated NYSE listing standards, the Company amended the PEP to provide that every award issued under the PEP is subject to potential forfeiture or recovery to the fullest extent called for by any future clawback policy.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT OUR BOARD AND BOARD COMMITTEES
Board Meetings
The Chairman of the Board presides at all meetings of the shareholders and of the full Board. As discussed above on page 10 under “Board Leadership Structure and Lead Director,” the lead independent director chairs meetings of the independent directors and assumes other duties designed to support the Board’s independent oversight of management. The lead independent director is nominated and approved by the independent directors annually. The independent directors meet at least four times a year without management present and will meet more often as the need arises. Bruce W. Wilkinson has served as the lead independent director since May 15, 2015.
In 2015, the full Board met six times. The independent directors held five regularly scheduled meetings in 2015. Attendance in 2015 at full Board and committee meetings was 100%.
Directors are expected to attend the Annual Meeting and, as stated in the Corporate Governance Principles, are responsible for attending all director meetings and for reviewing materials provided in advance of each meeting. Directors are expected to actively participate in Board and committee meetings. All directors attended the 2015 Annual Meeting held on May 12, 2015, with the exception of outgoing director Joan B. Woodard.
Board Committees and their Functions
The Board has four current standing committees: the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee, the Finance Committee and the Nominating Committee. All committee members are independent directors.
Each committee has a written charter that addresses the committee’s purpose and responsibilities. All current committee charters can be found at www.pnmresources.com (under Corporate Governance) and are available in print without charge to any shareholder who requests it. The charters comply with applicable NYSE Listing Standards.
The following table provides 2015(1) membership and meeting information for each of the four Board committees.

Name | Audit Committee | Nominating Committee | Finance Committee | Compensation Committee
A. E. Archuleta |  | x* | x |
E. R. Conley |  |  | x | x
A. J. Fohrer | x |  |  | x*
S. M. Gutierrez |  | x |  | x
M. T. Mullarkey | x* | x |  |
R. R. Nordhaus |  | x |  | x
D. K. Schwanz | x |  | x* |
B. W. Wilkinson** | x |  | x |
# Meetings in 2015 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4
# Executive Sessions in 2015 | 5 | 1 | — | 2
*Committee Chair **Lead Independent Director

(1)Prior to her retirement on May 12, 2015, Joan B. Woodard served on the Compensation and Nominating Committees. Mr. Nordhaus served as chair of the Nominating Committee until Mr. Archuleta became chair on July 13, 2015.
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A summary of each current standing committee’s responsibilities is included below:
Audit and Ethics Committee

Membership Functions: | Four independent, non-employee directors. Oversees the integrity of the Company’s financial statements, system of disclosure and internal controls regarding finance, accounting, legal, compliance and ethics that management and the Board have established. Ensures compliance with legal and regulatory requirements by the Company. Assesses and ensures the independent accountant’s qualifications and independence. Reviews and approves the performance of the Company’s internal audit function and independent accountants. Approves independent accountant services and fees for audit and non-audit services. Oversees the Company’s management of risks as assigned by the Board.
Charter: | A current copy of the Audit Committee Charter may be found on the Company’s website at www.pnmresources.com (under Corporate Governance). The Audit Committee Charter prohibits any committee member from serving on the audit committees of more than two other publicly traded companies.
Evaluation: | The Audit Committee evaluated its 2015 performance and confirmed that it fulfilled all of the responsibilities described in its Charter.
Financial Expert: | The Board has unanimously determined that all Audit Committee members are financially literate and qualify as “audit committee financial experts” within the meaning of SEC regulations.

Compensation and Human Resources Committee

Membership Functions: | Four independent, non-employee directors (including meeting the outside director rules under Section 162(m) of the Tax Code). Recommends the compensation philosophy, guidelines and equity-based compensation for officers (emphasizing rewarding long-term results and maximizing shareholder value). Establishes an appropriate compensation program for the CEO and reviews and approves corporate goals and objectives relevant to CEO compensation. Evaluates CEO performance in light of corporate goals and objectives. Reviews and recommends to the independent directors, the CEO’s annual compensation level and components. Reviews and approves all components of compensation and stock ownership guidelines for all senior officers, giving due consideration to the CEO’s recommendations. Monitors the Company’s affirmative action program. Oversees the Company’s annual compensation risk assessment.
Charter: | A current copy of the Compensation Committee Charter may be found on the Company’s website at www.pnmresources.com (under Corporate Governance).
Interlocks and Insider Participation: | No member of the Compensation Committee had a relationship during 2015 that requires disclosure as a compensation committee interlock or as insider participation.
Evaluation: | The Compensation Committee evaluated its 2015 performance and confirmed that it fulfilled all of the responsibilities described in its Charter.

Finance Committee

Membership Functions: | Four independent non-employee directors. Reviews and recommends to the Board the Company’s capital structure and financial strategy, including dividend policy. Oversees the Company’s financial performance, capital expenditures and investment procedures and policies. Oversees the Company’s investments in subsidiaries. Oversees the Company’s management of risks as assigned by the Board.
Charter: | A current copy of the Finance Committee Charter may be found at www.pnmresources.com (under Corporate Governance).
Evaluation: | The Finance Committee evaluated its 2015 performance and confirmed that it fulfilled all of the responsibilites described in its Charter.

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Nominating & Governance Committee

Membership Functions: | Four independent non-employee directors. Recommends candidates for election to the Board. Develops policy on composition and size of the Board, as well as director tenure. Develops director independence standards consistent with applicable laws or regulations. Oversees the performance evaluation of the Board. Recommends applicable revisions to the corporate governance principles. Recommends Board compensation levels and stock ownership guidelines. Oversees the Policy and Procedure Governing Related Party Transactions. Oversees the Company’s management of risks as assigned by the Board.
Charter: | A current copy of the Nominating Committee Charter may be found at www.pnmresources.com (under Corporate Governance).
Interlocks and Insider Participation: | No member of the Nominating Committee had a relationship during 2015 that requires disclosure as a director compensation committee interlock or as insider participation.
Evaluation: | The Nominating Committee evaluated its 2015 performance and confirmed that it fulfilled all of the responsibilities described in its Charter.
Director Candidates and Nominations: | The Nominating Committee will consider director candidates proposed by shareholders. Director candidates recommended by shareholders will be evaluated against the same criteria as nominees submitted by the Nominating Committee. Candidates must be highly qualified and exhibit both willingness and interest in serving on the Board. Candidates should represent the interests of all shareholders and not those of a special interest group. A shareholder wishing to nominate a candidate should forward the candidate’s name and a detailed description of the candidate’s qualifications, appropriate biographical information and signed consent to serve to the Secretary of the Company, taking into consideration the criteria for new directors: • directors should be individuals of the highest character and integrity and have inquiring minds, vision and the ability to work well with others and exercise good judgment; • directors should be free of any conflict of interest which would violate any applicable law or regulation or interfere with the proper performance of the responsibilities of a director; • directors should possess substantial and significant experience which would be of particular importance to the Company in the performance of the duties of a director; • directors should have sufficient time available to devote to the affairs of the Company in order to carry out the responsibilities of a director; • directors should have the capacity and desire to represent the balanced, best interests of the shareholders as a whole and not primarily a special interest group or constituency; and • each director’s ownership interest should increase over time, consistent with the stock ownership guidelines and applicable insider trading restrictions, so that an appropriate amount of stock is accumulated.

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| General Board attributes and director qualifications can also be found on pages 3-4 of the current Corporate Governance Principles document posted at www.pnmresources.com (under Corporate Governance). In addition, please see the answer to Question 27 on page 8 above for information on how to submit a shareholder proposal for nomination of a director candidate in accordance with our bylaws and applicable SEC rules. The Nominating Committee and the Board have no formal policy regarding diversity in recruiting directors. However, the Nominating Committee does consider diversity in identifying nominees for a balanced board with varied expertise including having accounting or related financial management expertise. For example, in the past, efforts were made to recruit more female nominees and to recruit candidates from Texas and New Mexico to reflect the geographic market served by the Company and its utility subsidiaries, PNM and TNMP. In addition, the Nominating Committee seeks to recruit nominees who will represent the balanced, best interests of the shareholders as a whole rather than special interest groups or constituencies. The Board’s gender diversity has been recognized by the 2020 Women On Boards campaign for the past five years.

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DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
Elements of Director Compensation
The Nominating Committee recommends non-employee director compensation levels and stock ownership guidelines for review and approval by the full Board. Ms. Collawn, our Chairman, President and CEO, is the only salaried employee serving on the Board and she receives no additional compensation for her Board service.
The general policy of the Board is to provide a reasonable director compensation package that will attract and retain highly qualified non-employee directors. The Nominating Committee reviews and compares the form and amount of director compensation on an annual basis to consider trends in director compensation and to recommend a total compensation amount that approximates the median of non-employee director compensation in similarly situated utility and energy companies, such as the PNMR Peer Group described on page 41 of this proxy statement.
As discussed in the 2015 proxy statement, director compensation was increased for 2015 based on an analysis showing the compensation levels were below the median of the PNMR Peer Group. In July 2014, Pay Governance prepared an analysis of director compensation that showed the annual retainer and nominating and finance chair fee were below the median of the PNMR Peer Group. Thus, to better align with market median, Pay Governance recommended changes to director compensation for 2015. The Nominating Committee requested additional information on retainer arrangements and meeting fees. Pay Governance provided the additional analysis in December 2014, which continued to demonstrate that our level of director compensation was below the median of the PNMR Peer Group. In December 2014, after reviewing the additional analysis and discussing Pay Governance’s recommendation, the Nominating Committee recommended and the Board approved the following changes to director compensation for 2015: (1) increasing the annual cash retainer from $52,500 to $60,000 and the Finance Committee and the Nominating Committee chair fees from $5,000 to $7,500 and (2) increasing the market value of the annual retainer equity award of restricted stock rights from $65,000 to $75,000. Thus, the 2015 annual retainer for non-employee directors consisted of the following cash and stock based compensation:

Annual Retainer (Cash and Equity): | $60,000 in cash Restricted stock rights(1) with a market value of $75,000(2)
Annual Lead Director Fee: | $20,000
Annual Audit Committee Chair Fee: | $10,000
Annual Compensation and Human Resources Committee Chair Fee: | $10,000
Annual Other Committee Chair Fee: | $7,500
Attendance Fees: | $1,500 per Board Committee meeting; $0 per Board meeting

(1) Restricted stock rights granted under the PEP vest in three equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date, subject to vesting acceleration upon retirement from the Board. These awards are typically made at the annual meeting of directors, unless the meeting occurs during a black-out period for trading in the Company’s securities as specified in the Company’s Insider Trading Policy. As set forth under the Equity Compensation Awards Policy, under those circumstances, the Board will either (a) schedule a special meeting after the expiration of the black-out period, (b) make awards pursuant to a unanimous written consent executed after the expiration of the black-out period, or (c) pre-approve the equity awards with an effective date after the expiration of the black-out period. The date of the awards is the date on which the Board approves the awards, unless (i) the approval date is a non-trading day, in which case the date is the immediately preceding trading date or (ii) pre-approval occurs during a black-out period, in which case the grant date is the first trading date after the expiration of the black-out period.
(2) The amount of restricted stock rights is determined by dividing $75,000 by the closing price of our stock on the NYSE on the day of the grant. Thus, 2,783 restricted stock rights were granted on May 12, 2015, based on the closing price on that date of $26.94 per share.
In addition, all directors were reimbursed for any board-related expenses, such as travel expenses incurred to attend Board and Committee meetings and director education programs sponsored by educational and other institutions. Further, directors are indemnified by PNMR to the fullest extent permitted by law pursuant to PNMR’s bylaws and indemnification agreements between the Company and each director. No retirement or other benefit plans are available to directors.
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In July 2015, Pay Governance prepared an analysis of director compensation that showed that although current compensation levels were slightly below the median of the PNMR Peer Group, the current compensation arrangements were competitive to the PNMR Peer Group. Following discussions and review of the Pay Governance analysis, in December 2015, the Nominating Committee recommended and the Board approved making no changes to director compensation for 2016.
Stock Ownership and Retention Guidelines for Directors
The Board believes directors should be shareholders and have a financial stake in the Company to help align director financial interests with the financial interests of the Company’s longer term shareholders. The Board requires directors to attain a significant level of Company stock ownership over a reasonable period of time.
The Nominating Committee is responsible for recommending Board compensation levels and stock ownership and retention guidelines to the Board for approval. In 2012, the Board adopted revised stock ownership guidelines which provide that non-employee directors will hold an amount of shares (including unvested restricted stock rights) equal to five times the annual cash retainer within a reasonable period of time. In addition, each director is required to hold 100% of all vested restricted stock rights until his or her holdings exceed five times the annual cash retainer (provided that sales of a portion of vested stock sufficient to satisfy related tax obligations are permitted). Further, directors must also hold all restricted stock rights awards for a period of six months after termination of Board service or until the Director achieves the holding requirements. We believe these holding guidelines are appropriate because they continue to approximate the holding requirements of the PNMR Peer Group. The directors have met or are making good progress toward meeting their holding requirements under the guidelines. Similar stock ownership guidelines have been developed for executives and are discussed on page 42.
The guidelines are reviewed periodically for any appropriate changes as described on page 7 of the Corporate Governance Principles document available on the PNM Resources’ website at www.pnmresources.com (under Corporate Governance).
Summary of Non-Employee Director Compensation in 2015
The following table summarizes the total compensation paid or earned by each of the non-employee directors for the year ended December 31, 2015.
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION IN 2015

Name(1) | Fees Earned Or Paid In Cash ($)(3) | Stock Awards ($)(4) | Option Awards ($) | Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($) | Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings | All Other Compensation ($) | Total ($)
A. E. Archuleta | 74,250 | 72,775 | — | — | — | — | 147,025 |
E. R. Conley | 72,000 | 72,775 | — | — | — | — | 144,775 |
A. J. Fohrer | 83,500 | 72,775 | — | — | — | — | 156,275 |
S. M. Gutierrez | 51,000 | 72,775 | — | — | — | — | 123,775 |
M. T. Mullarkey | 79,500 | 72,775 | — | — | — | — | 152,275 |
R. R. Nordhaus | 76,125 | 72,775 | — | — | — | — | 148,900 |
D. K. Schwanz | 81,000 | 72,775 | — | — | — | — | 153,775 |
B. W. Wilkinson | 96,000 | 72,775 | — | — | — | — | 168,775 |
J. B. Woodard(2) | 34,500 | — | — | — | — | — | 34,500 |
(1)Patricia K. Collawn does not receive any director compensation, as she is an employee, i.e., President and CEO. (2)After serving twelve years, Joan B. Woodard retired from the Board on May 12, 2015, pursuant to the Director Service Policy. (3)The following table provides additional information about fees earned or paid in cash to non-employee directors in 2015:

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Name | Annual Retainer ($) | Committee Chair Fee ($) | Committee Meeting Fees ($) | Lead Independent Director Fee ($) | Total ($)
A. E. Archuleta | 60,000 | 3,750 | 10,500 | — | 74,250
E. R. Conley | 60,000 | — | 12,000 | — | 72,000
A. J. Fohrer | 60,000 | 10,000 | 13,500 | — | 83,500
S. M. Gutierrez | 45,000 |  | 6,000 |  | 51,000
M. T. Mullarkey | 60,000 | 7,500 | 12,000 | — | 79,500
R. R. Nordhaus | 60,000 | 5,625 | 10,500 | — | 76,125
D. K. Schwanz | 60,000 | 7,500 | 13,500 | — | 81,000
B. W. Wilkinson | 60,000 | 2,500 | 13,500 | 20,000 | 96,000
J. B. Woodard(2) | 30,000 | — | 4,500 |  | 34,500
(4) Represents the grant date fair value of $26.15 per restricted stock right calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 of the 2,783 restricted stock rights awarded under the PEP to each non-employee director on May 12, 2015. The assumptions used in determining the grant date fair value of restricted stock rights are set forth in Note 13 of the consolidated financial statements in PNMR’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. As of December 31, 2015, (1) Mr. Gutierrez, who joined the Board in May 2015, had 2,783 outstanding restricted stock rights, (2) Ms. Conley and Ms. Mullarkey, who joined the Board in May 2014, had 4,351, and (3) the remaining non-employee directors listed on the table above had 5,301 outstanding restricted stock rights. The actual value that a director may realize on the vesting of the restricted stock rights will depend on the market price of our common stock at the date of vesting and ultimately, the value received by the director on the sale of stock. The restricted stock rights granted under the PEP vest in three equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the grant, subject to vesting acceleration upon retirement. As discussed above under “Stock Ownership and Retention Guidelines for Directors,” directors will hold 100% of the annual restricted stock rights award until they hold stock equal to the required multiple of annual cash retainer (provided that sales of a portion of vested stock sufficient to satisfy related tax obligations are permitted). This amount of restricted stock rights is held until six months after termination of Board service or until the director achieves the holding requirements.

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OWNERSHIP OF OUR COMMON STOCK
Five Percent Shareholders
The following table contains information regarding the only persons and groups we know of that beneficially owned more than 5% of our common stock based on reports filed by such persons with the SEC as of March 24, 2016.

Name and Address | Voting Authority | Dispositive Authority
Sole | Shared | None | Sole | Shared | Total Amount | Percentage of Class
BlackRock, Inc. (1) 55 East 52 nd Street New York, NY 10022 | 7,055,086 | — | — | 7,236,993 | — | 7,236,993 | 9.1%
GAMCO Investors, Inc. et al (2) One Corporate Center Rye, NY 10580-1435 | (2) | — | — | (2) | — | 5,788,350 | 7.27%
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.(3) 100 E. Pratt Street Baltimore, MD 21202 | 1,512,158 | — | — | 7,823,197 | — | 7,823,197 | 9.8%
The Vanguard Group (4) 100 Vanguard Blvd. Malvern, PA 192355 | 107,676 | 4,400 | — | 6,078,312 | 100,676 | 6,178,988 | 7.75%
(1) As reported on Schedule 13G/A filed February 10, 2016 with the SEC by BlackRock, Inc. as the parent holding company or control person of eleven subsidiaries. (2) As reported on Schedule 13D/A filed October 26, 2015 with the SEC by GAMCO Investors, Inc. et al. This filing reported that Gabelli Funds, LLC beneficially owned 3,098,000 shares (3.89%) with sole voting and sole dispositive power; GAMCO Asset Management Inc. beneficially owned 2,491,550 shares with sole voting power and 2,681,350 shares (3.37%) with sole dispositive power; and MJG-IV Limited Partnership beneficially owned 9,000 shares (0.01%) with sole voting and dispositive powers. The filing reported that Mario J. Gabelli is deemed to have beneficial ownership of the securities beneficially owned by each of the foregoing persons. (3) As reported on Schedule 13G/A filed February 10, 2016 with the SEC by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (4) As reported on Schedule 13G/A filed February 10, 2016 with the SEC by The Vanguard Group.

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Executive Officers and Directors
The Board believes that our directors and executive officers should be shareholders and have a significant long-term financial stake in the Company. The stock ownership guidelines for directors and officers are discussed on pages 17 and 42 of this proxy statement. The following table shows the amount of PNM Resources common stock owned by the Company’s current directors, the new director nominee, the named executive officers and our directors and executive officers as a group as of March 24, 2016.

Name | Amount and Nature of Shares Beneficially Owned (a)
Aggregate No. of Shares Held (b) | Right to Acquire within 60 Days (c) | Percent of Shares Beneficially Owned
Non-Employee Directors: |  |  |
Adelmo E. Archuleta | 27,815 | 5,301 | *
E. Renae Conley | 6,268 | 4,351 | *
Alan J. Fohrer | 8,746 | 5,301 | *
Sidney M. Gutierrez | — | 2,783 | —
Maureen T. Mullarkey | 784 | 4,351 | *
Robert R. Nordhaus | 18,017 | 8,351 | *
Donald K. Schwanz | 21,714 | 7,301 | *
Bruce W. Wilkinson | 33,301 | 6,301 | *
New Director Nominee: |  |  |
Norman P. Becker | — | — | —
NEOs: |  |  |
Patricia K. Collawn | 276,657 | 287,777 | *
Charles N. Eldred | 89,155 | 15,918 | *
Patrick V. Apodaca | 55,959 | 10,879 | *
Ronald N. Darnell | 26,377 | 3,928 | *
Ronald E. Talbot | 31,404 | 12,627 | *
Non-Employee Directors, New Director Nominee and NEOs as a Group (14 persons) | 596,197 | 375,169 | 1.22%
(a) Beneficial ownership means the sole or shared power to vote, or to direct the voting of a security and/or investment power with respect to a security. (b) The amounts shown are shares held in the individual’s name, individually or jointly with others, or in the name of a bank, broker, or nominee for the individual’s account. (c) The number of shares directors and executive officers have a right to acquire through (1) stock option exercises within 60 days after March 24, 2016, (2) potential accelerated vesting (upon retirement or disability) under the PEP of restricted stock right awards and (3) the number of shares that executive officers have a right to acquire through the ESP II upon the participant’s termination of employment. As of February 29, 2016, the number of shares reported in this column include the following ESP II share rights held by our NEOs: P. K. Collawn - 73,481; C. N. Eldred - 6,685; and R. E. Talbot - 6,139. *Less than 1% of PNM Resources outstanding shares of common stock.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires PNM Resources’ executive officers and directors to file certain reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC within two business days of a transaction. We believe all executive officers’ and directors’ applicable filing requirements were met.
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PROPOSAL 1: ELECT EIGHT DIRECTORS
(PROPOSAL 1 on your Proxy Card)
General Information
Each of the eight director nominees presented below was recommended by the Nominating Committee and nominated by the Board for election as directors to serve for a one-year term that expires at the Annual Meeting in 2017 and until their successors are elected and qualified.
Seven nominees are current members of the Board who were elected by the shareholders at the 2015 Annual Meeting and are standing for re-election. The remaining nominee was nominated by the Board to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Adelmo E. Archuleta on May 17, 2016. Pursuant to the Director Service Policy, Mr. Archuleta will complete his current term and will not stand for re-election at the Annual Meeting on May 17, 2016. In addition, Robert R. Nordhaus is retiring from the Board on May 17, 2016. Mr. Nordhaus’ retirement did not create a vacancy on the Board because the Board fixed the number of directors at eight, effective May 17, 2016. We sincerely acknowledge Mr. Archuleta’s and Mr. Nordhaus’ respective dedication, engagement and contributions to the Company during their tenure.
The Nominating Committee recommended that the Board nominate Norman P. Becker to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Mr. Archuleta. The Nominating Committee retained SpencerStuart to provide assistance in identifying candidates for consideration as new directors. SpencerStuart recommended Mr. Becker for Board consideration as a director candidate. The Nominating Committee interviewed Mr. Becker and, upon their recommendation, the full Board approved his nomination for election to the Board to fill the vacancy created by Mr. Archuleta’s retirement.
Each of the eight nominees has consented to being nominated and to serve if elected. In the unlikely event that any nominee becomes unable to serve for any reason, the proxies will be voted for a substitute nominee selected by the Board upon the recommendation of the Nominating Committee. Alternatively, the seat will remain vacant if a substitute nominee is not selected prior to the Annual Meeting.
All of the director nominees are independent directors, except Ms. Collawn, our Chairman, President and CEO. As shown by the following biographies, each nominee has valuable skills and experiences that, taken together, provide us with the variety and depth of knowledge and judgment necessary to provide effective oversight of our electric utility and related businesses. The noted age of each director is as of March 31, 2016.
Directors Nominated This Year For One Year Terms Expiring in 2017
NORMAN P. BECKER
New Director Nominee
President & CEO, New Mexico Mutual Casualty Company, 2008-present
Senior Vice President, Manuel Lujan Agencies, 2006-2008
President, Lovelace Health System, 2003-2006
President & CEO, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico, 1996-2003
Mr. Becker, age 60, is a resident of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and is President and CEO of New Mexico Mutual Casualty Company. He has more than 30 years of insurance industry experience. Other directorships include Chair (2009-2010) of United Way of Central New Mexico; Chair (2003-2004) of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce; Chair (2001-2002) of Leadership New Mexico; Director (1998-2001) Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association; Director (2004-2010) of First Community Bank Advisory Board; Chair, Vice Chair and Director (2009-2015) of the National Hispanic Cultural Center; Director (2005-2006) of the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce; Director (2003-2005) of NM Hospitals and Health Systems Association; and Director (2012 to present) of the Bank of Albuquerque Community Board. Mr. Becker is currently a Director of the United Way of Central New Mexico and a Director of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Becker earned his master’s degree in Health Administration from the University of Colorado.
Specific Qualifications/Attributes: CEO, board and board chairman experience; “financial expert” under SEC regulations; strategic operational and leadership experience; business background and experience; New Mexico community engagement and knowledge
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PATRICIA K. COLLAWN
Director since March 1, 2010
Chairman, President and CEO, PNM Resources, Inc., since January 1, 2012
President and CEO, PNM Resources, Inc., March 1, 2010-December 31, 2011
President and Chief Operating Officer, PNM Resources, Inc., August 11, 2008-February 28, 2010
Utilities President, PNM Resources, Inc., June 25, 2007-August 10, 2008
Ms. Collawn, age 57, is a resident of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and is Chairman, President and CEO of PNM Resources and PNM and Chairman and CEO of TNMP. Ms. Collawn has more than 20 years of utility experience. Other directorships in addition to various Company subsidiaries include CTS Corporation. She is also the former chair of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce and the former chair of United Way of Central New Mexico. She is currently chair of the New Mexico Partnership. Ms. Collawn earned her M.B.A. from Harvard University.
Specific Qualifications/Attributes: CEO and COO experience; business background and experience; extensive utility and energy industry expertise and leadership; Federal electric, natural gas and environmental regulatory experience
E. RENAE CONLEY
Director since May 15, 2014
CEO, ER Solutions, LLC, February 2014-present
Executive Vice President, Human Resources & Administration, and Chief Diversity Officer, Energy Corporation, 2010-2013
Chairman, President and CEO, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, 2000-2010
Ms. Conley, age 58, is a resident of Chicago, Illinois, and has over thirty years of business experience in significant leadership positions in finance, operations and human resources. She serves on the Ball State University Board of Trustees and the ReadyNation Advisory Board. She served on the board of ChoicePoint, Corp., a publicly held identification and credential verification company, prior to its acquisition by Reed Elsevier. She retired from the boards of the New Orleans Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering. Ms. Conley has a B.S. degree in accounting and an M.B.A., both from Ball State University.
Specific Qualifications/Attributes: Former CEO of a large U.S. electric utility; finance, field operations and regulatory strategy expertise; extensive utility and energy industry expertise and leadership; external relationship management and employee and labor relations experience
ALAN J. FOHRER
Director since March 1, 2012
Chairman and CEO, Southern California Edison, June 27, 2007-December 31, 2010
CEO, Southern California Edison, January 1, 2002-June 26, 2007
Mr. Fohrer, age 65, is a resident of Arcadia, California. On December 31, 2010, he retired as Chairman and CEO of Southern California Edison (“SCE”), one of the largest electric utilities in the United States. During his 37-year career at SCE, Mr. Fohrer gained extensive knowledge and experience in every aspect of the utility business.
Over the past ten years, Mr. Fohrer represented the electric utility industry in significant regulatory and legislative proceedings. He co-chaired the Edison Electric Institute’s Energy Delivery and Reliability Committees and also served on the Boards of Directors of the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations and the California Chamber of Commerce.
Other directorships include: lead director at MWH, Inc.; Blue Shield of California; Synagro, Inc.; and TransAlta Corporation. He served on the boards of Duratek, a publicly held nuclear services company, prior to its acquisition by Energy Solutions, Osmose Utility Services, Inc., a member of the Huntington Library Board of Overseers and Chairman of the California Science Center Foundation. Mr. Fohrer is a member of the Viterbi School of Engineering Board of Councilors for the University of Southern California. The Board has determined that Mr. Fohrer qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by the SEC regulations. Mr. Fohrer earned his B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in civil engineering from the University of Southern California and received an M.B.A. from California State University Los Angeles.
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Specific Qualifications/Attributes: extensive board experience, including board chairman; “financial expert” under SEC regulations; former CEO of one of the largest U.S. electric utilities; extensive utility and energy industry expertise and leadership; extensive electric utility regulatory experience
SIDNEY M. GUTIERREZ
Director since May 12, 2015
CEO of Rocket Crafters Inc. (RCI), a privately-held start up rocket company, 2015-present
Chairman of the Board, RCI, 2013-present
Board member, RCI, 2012-present
Director, Sandia National Laboratories, 2001-2015
Mr. Gutierrez, age 64, is a resident of Albuquerque, New Mexico. He retired as a Colonel after serving as a fighter pilot and test pilot in the Air Force and as an astronaut and Space Shuttle Mission Commander with NASA. He then spent over 20 years at Sandia National Laboratories where he led many complex, high technology efforts, including research on nuclear power reactors, solar and wind energy, advanced fuel cycles and nuclear fuel waste disposal. He was responsible for leading the Lab-wide safety effort that cut the accident rate in half. In addition to his current position with RCI he has served on a number of for-profit and non-profit boards including Texas New Mexico Power Company before it was acquired by PNM Resources, Road Runner Food Bank, Goodwill Industries of New Mexico, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology and the New Mexico Spaceport Authority. He has also served on several national advisory panels for NASA, reporting to the President and both houses of Congress. He has a B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering (Distinguished Graduate) from the United States Air Force Academy and an M.A. in Management from Webster University.
Specific Qualifications/Attributes: extensive board experience including utilities and board chairmanship; engineering background and experience including nuclear and renewable energy; community engagement; demonstrated success in leading safety improvements; in depth understanding of security threats including cyber and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA)
MAUREEN T. MULLARKEY
Director since May 15, 2014
Partner, Blue Heron Investments, LLC, a private investment firm, 2010-present
Entrepreneur in Residence with The Nevada Institute for Renewable Energy Commercialization, 2009-2011
Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President, International Game Technology, 1998-2007
Ms. Mullarkey, age 56, is a resident of Reno, Nevada. She retired in 2007 as executive vice president and chief financial officer of International Game Technology, a leading supplier of gaming equipment and technology, where she held a variety of financial and executive management positions in her 19 years with the company. She was a director of NV Energy, Inc. from 2008-2012 when the company was sold to Mid-American Energy Holdings Company, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. The Board has determined that Ms. Mullarkey qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by SEC regulations. Ms. Mullarkey has a B.S. from the University of Texas and an M.B.A. from the University of Nevada.
Specific Qualifications/Attributes: CFO experience; “financial expert” under SEC regulations; board governance experience; strategic and operational leadership expertise; renewable energy expertise
DONALD K. SCHWANZ
Director since July 29, 2008
Chairman and CEO, CTS Corporation, 2002-2007
CEO, CTS Corporation, 2001-2007
COO, CTS Corporation, January-September 2001
Honeywell, 1979-2000
Mr. Schwanz, age 71, is a resident of Scottsdale, Arizona, and is retired Chairman and CEO of CTS Corporation, a global manufacturer of electronic components and sensors and a provider of electronic manufacturing services. Mr. Schwanz held various management and senior executive roles at Honeywell from 1979 to 2000, where he last served as President of the Industrial
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Controls Business. Other directorships include: Multi-Fineline Electronix, Inc. (MFLX). Mr. Schwanz earned a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an M.B.A. from Harvard Graduate School of Business in 1968.
Specific Qualifications/Attributes: CEO experience; board and board chairman experience; “financial expert” under SEC regulations; regulatory environment experience; technology and innovation experience
BRUCE W. WILKINSON
Director since May 18, 2010
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, McDermott International, Inc., 2000-2008
Mr. Wilkinson, age 71, is a resident of Houston, Texas, and served as President and Chief Operating Officer from May 2000 to July 2000 and as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of McDermott International, Inc., an energy services company, from August 2000 until his retirement in September 2008. Other directorships include: Director of Cameron International Corporation (formerly, Cooper Cameron Corp.) since 2002. The Board has determined that Mr. Wilkinson qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by SEC regulations. Mr. Wilkinson earned a B.A. and a J.D. from the University of Oklahoma and an L.L.M. from the University of London.
Specific Qualifications/Attributes: board chairman and CEO experience; “financial expert” under SEC regulations; extensive business background and experience; energy and power industry experience; engineering and construction experience
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR each director nominee.
AUDIT AND ETHICS COMMITTEE REPORT
The primary function of our Committee is oversight of the Company’s financial reporting process, public financial reports, internal accounting and financial controls, and the independent audit of the annual consolidated financial statements. Our Committee acts under a charter, which can be found on the PNM Resources web site at www.pnmresources.com (under Corporate Governance). We review the adequacy of the charter at least annually. All of our members are independent and all are audit committee financial experts under Securities and Exchange Commission rules. We held five meetings in 2015 with KPMG LLP (“KPMG”), the Company’s principal independent registered public accounting firm for 2015, and one meeting to date in 2016 at which we had extensive reports and discussions with the independent auditors, internal auditors, and other members of management.
In carrying out our responsibilities, we look to management and the independent auditors. The Company’s management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of the Company’s financial statements and for maintaining effective internal control. Management is also responsible for assessing and maintaining the effectiveness of internal control over the financial reporting process in compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 requirements. The independent auditors are responsible for auditing the Company’s annual financial statements and expressing an opinion as to whether the statements are fairly stated in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. In addition, the independent auditors are responsible for auditing the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and for expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. The independent auditors perform their responsibilities in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”).
In performing our oversight function, we reviewed and discussed the consolidated financial statements with management and KPMG, the independent auditors. Management and KPMG informed us that the Company’s consolidated financial statements were fairly stated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. We discussed significant accounting policies applied by the Company in its financial statements, as well as alternative treatments. We discussed with KPMG the matters required to be discussed by the independent auditors with the Committee under the rules and standards adopted by the PCAOB. In addition, we reviewed and discussed management’s report on internal controls over financial reporting and the related audit performed by KPMG which confirmed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.
We received the written disclosures and the letter from KPMG required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding the independent accountant’s communications with us concerning independence, and we discussed the firm’s independence with KPMG.
We discussed with the Company’s internal auditors and KPMG the overall scope and plans for their respective audits. We met with the internal auditors and the independent auditors at each regularly scheduled meeting, both with and without management present. Discussions included the results of their examinations, their evaluations of the Company’s internal controls, and the overall quality of the Company’s financial reporting.
We have also assessed the performance of the independent auditors and have appointed KPMG to audit the Company’s financial statements for 2016, subject to shareholder ratification of that appointment.
Based on the reviews and discussions referred to above, reliance on management and KPMG, and subject to the limitations of our role described above, we recommended to the Board the inclusion of the audited financial statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Audit and Ethics Committee
Maureen T. Mullarkey, Chair
Alan J. Fohrer
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Donald K. Schwanz
Bruce W. Wilkinson
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR FEES
Audit Fees for 2015 and 2014
The following table represents aggregate fees billed to the Company for fiscal years ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 by KPMG, the Company’s principal accounting firm.

Fees | Fiscal Year Ended (in thousands) ($)
2015 | 2014
Audit Fees | 1,956 | 1,701
Audit-related Fees | — | —
Tax Fees | — | —
All Other Fees | — | —
Total Fees | 1,956 | 1,701
Audit fees are primarily for the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements, review of financial statements included in the Company’s 10-Q filings and the annual Sarbanes-Oxley audit. All fees have been approved by the Audit Committee. The reported aggregate fees billed for professional services include travel related expenses to perform the services and applicable gross receipts taxes.

The Audit Committee requires the independent accounting firm selected to audit the Company’s financial statements to obtain the approval of the Audit Committee before performing any non-audit services permitted by applicable law so that the Audit Committee may determine whether the provision of such services is compatible with the maintenance of that firm’s independence in the conduct of its auditing functions. Thus, the Audit Committee preapproves all audit services and all permitted non-audit services performed by the principal accounting firm.
PROPOSAL 2: RATIFY APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
(PROPOSAL 2 on your Proxy Card)
The Board is recommending that the shareholders ratify the selection of KPMG as independent public accountants for 2016.
The Audit Committee has performed its annual evaluation of the quality and cost of services provided by KPMG and an assessment of auditor independence. The Audit Committee reported to the Board complete satisfaction with the services provided by KPMG and recommended that KPMG be selected as independent public accountants for 2016. The Board agrees with the Audit Committee’s recommendations, as described in the Audit Committee report contained in this proxy statement.
Representatives of KPMG will be available at the Annual Meeting where they will have the opportunity to make statements and answer questions. If shareholders fail to ratify the appointment of KPMG, the Audit Committee will consider other auditors for 2016. However, because of the difficulty in making any substitution of auditors so long after the beginning of the current year, the appointment of KPMG as independent public accountants for 2016 will stand unless the Audit Committee determines there is a compelling reason for a change.
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR the ratification of KPMG LLP
as independent public accountants for 2016.
PROPOSAL 3: ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE COMPENSATION OF NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
(PROPOSAL 3 on your Proxy Card)
Shareholders will be given the opportunity to vote on the following advisory resolution (commonly referred to as Say-on-Pay):
“RESOLVED, that the shareholders of PNM Resources, Inc. approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers, as disclosed in the PNM Resources, Inc. 2016 proxy statement pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC (which disclosure includes the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section, the compensation tables and the accompanying footnotes and narratives within the Executive Compensation section of the proxy statement).”
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Background on Proposal
In accordance with the Dodd-Frank Act (and related SEC rules), shareholders are being given the opportunity to vote at the Annual Meeting on this advisory resolution regarding the compensation of our NEOs.
As described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, which begins below on page 28, we believe attracting, motivating and retaining talented executives is critical to our achievement of the Company’s financial and strategic objectives. Our executive compensation program is designed with that premise in mind. The Company’s basic philosophy is that our NEOs should be paid for performance, as determined by a combination of corporate performance measures and individual performance. For a comprehensive description of our executive compensation program, philosophy and objectives, including the specific elements of executive compensation that comprised the program in 2015, please refer to the CD&A. The Summary of 2015 NEO Compensation, including the Summary Compensation Table and other executive compensation tables (and accompanying narrative disclosures) that follow the CD&A, beginning on page 45, provide additional information about the compensation that we paid to our NEOs in 2015.
The Dodd-Frank Act and applicable SEC rules also require that, at least once every six years, shareholders be given the opportunity to vote on an advisory basis regarding the frequency (i.e., annually, every two years, or every three years) of future shareholder advisory votes on the compensation of our NEOs. At the 2011 Annual Meeting, the shareholders indicated a preference for holding Say-on-Pay advisory votes on an annual basis as recommended by the Board of Directors. Thus, the advisory vote in Proposal 3 reflects the approved annual frequency and the next advisory vote on the frequency of future Say-on-Pay votes will occur at the 2017 annual meeting.
Effects of Advisory Say-on-Pay Vote
Because the vote on this proposal is advisory in nature, it will not affect any compensation already paid or awarded to our NEOs and will not be binding on the Board or the Compensation Committee. However, the Compensation Committee will consider the outcome of the vote when making future executive compensation decisions.
The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR approval of the advisory resolution set forth above regarding the compensation of our named executive officers.
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
The following Compensation Discussion and Analysis (“CD&A”) should be read together with the Summary Compensation Table (“SCT”) and other tables that are presented beginning on page 45. Please note that this CD&A contains information about our corporate goals. We have included this information for the limited purpose of enabling investors and other readers of this CD&A to better understand our executive compensation philosophy, policies, programs and practices. This information should not be understood to represent our management’s estimates, or our future results or other guidance, and we specifically caution investors and other readers not to apply this information to other contexts.
This CD&A informs our shareholders about our compensation philosophy and decision-making process. It also explains the compensation-related actions taken, and factors considered, with respect to 2015 compensation for the NEOs. Based on 2015 positions and compensation levels, our NEOs are:

• | Patricia K. Collawn, Chairman, President and CEO

• | Charles N. Eldred, EVP and CFO

• | Ronald E. Talbot, SVP and COO

• | Patrick V. Apodaca, SVP, General Counsel and Secretary

• | Ronald N. Darnell, SVP, Public Policy

The Compensation Committee is composed entirely of independent directors and is responsible for approving and overseeing our executive compensation philosophy, policies, programs and practices.
OVERVIEW
2015 Performance and Resulting Performance-Based Compensation
Our 2015 performance demonstrates continued execution of our strategic goals with an executive compensation strategy that is grounded in pay for performance. The Company achieved certain performance goals set forth in its annual and long-term incentive plans (AIP and LTIP) and the Compensation Committee approved incentive awards based on the following results for 2015:
AIP Performance for 2015

• | Incentive EPS of $1.64 per share in 2015 (near maximum level for 2015), an increase of 10.8% when compared to 2014 Incentive EPS, which was $1.48 per share

• | Safety performance metric results were below the threshold performance goal

• | Customer satisfaction performance metric results were below the threshold performance goal

As in previous years, the 2015 AIP provided that no awards would be made unless the Company achieved the applicable threshold level of performance for Incentive EPS determined by the Compensation Committee. Incentive EPS is a non-GAAP adjusted earnings per share performance metric designed to measure the financial performance of the Company’s core business. Awards were earned under the 2015 AIP based on the Incentive EPS performance measure and two operational objectives, specifically safety and customer satisfaction. These two operational performance goals were designed to help align our compensation program with the interests of our customers, employees and shareholders.
The Compensation Committee approved annual cash incentive awards under the 2015 AIP based on corporate performance against these established goals. As described above, in 2015 the Company achieved near maximum level of Incentive EPS for the purposes of determining actual annual incentive awards under the 2015 AIP. The Company did not achieve threshold levels for the safety or the customer satisfaction goals. The Company’s 2015 annual incentive awards are described in more detail in the Cash Compensation - Annual Incentive Awards section of Elements of Executive Compensation.
LTIP Performance for 2013-2015 under the 2013 LTIP
The Company’s long-term incentive awards are tied to long-term shareholder returns to promote an appropriate focus on creating sustainable shareholder value. Incentives for the 2013-2015 performance period of the 2013 LTIP were earned based on the Company’s relative TSR (based on the Company’s performance compared to the S&P 400 MidCap Utilities Index), as well as the Company’s FFO/Debt Ratio.
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• | Relative TSR for the 3-year performance period, 2013-2015, was 52.08%, which ranked the Company at the 56 th percentile of the S&P 400 MidCap Utilities Index, as compared to the Company’s target relative TSR of 50 th percentile for the same performance period

• | The FFO/Debt Ratio for the 3-year performance period, 2013-2015, was 17.3%, as compared to the Company’s target FFO/Debt Ratio of 17.8% for the same performance period

As of December 31, 2015, the Company’s aggregate performance results for the 2013-2015 performance period were at below target performance levels. The Company’s long-term incentives are described in more detail in the Equity Compensation - LongTerm Incentive Awards section of Elements of Executive Compensation.
The Company’s annual goals and achievement levels are detailed beginning on page 48 and its long-term goals and achievement levels are detailed beginning on page 50.
Return to Shareholders
The Company is committed to achieving financial results that consistently provide a positive return to shareholders over time. In accordance with SEC requirements, the Company prepares a performance graph each year for inclusion in the materials provided to shareholders. The performance graph below is provided because of its relevance to the Company’s performance and is also being provided with the annual shareholder letter from our Chairman, President and CEO. The performance graph illustrates how a $100 investment in the Company’s common stock on December 31, 2010 would have grown to $270.55 by December 31, 2015, with all dividends reinvested. The chart also compares the TSR on the Company’s common stock to the same investment in the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 400 MidCap Utilities Index. The S&P 500 Index is provided for general comparison purposes, as it is in the annual performance graph, but it is not used by the Compensation Committee for any compensation decisions, benchmarking or determination of incentive awards. For the applicable year, LTIP potential performance share awards are earned based on the Company’s TSR performance relative to the S&P 400 MidCap Utilities Index, which is also shown in the performance graph. For further discussion of the LTIP, please refer to the Equity Compensation - Long-Term Incentive Awards section of Elements of Executive Compensation.

COMPARISON OF 5-YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015
PNM Resources | $100.00 | $144.31 | $167.06 | $201.98 | $254.85 | $270.55
S&P 500 Index | $100.00 | $102.12 | $118.38 | $156.64 | $177.99 | $180.50
S&P 400 MidCap Utilities Index | $100.00 | $116.70 | $123.02 | $156.11 | $185.33 | $174.40

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Data Source: Bloomberg. Historical performance does not necessarily predict future results. PNM Resources’ common stock is traded on the NYSE.

Compensation Philosophy and Objectives
Our long term success depends upon our ability to provide reliable, affordable and environmentally responsible energy and services to our customers and invest wisely for present and future shareholder return. Achievement of these outcomes depends upon our success in attracting, motivating and retaining highly talented professionals. Our executive compensation program is designed to promote and support the overall objective of enhancing shareholder value and is based on a philosophy designed to:
•Attract and retain highly qualified, motivated and experienced executives,

• | Provide total compensation opportunities that are market competitive and reflect the size and financial resources of our Company,

•Pay our NEOs for performance based on corporate and business unit measures,
•Link corporate compensation goals to the interests of our shareholders, and
•Recognize and reward outstanding Company and individual performance.
The Company’s compensation strategy is grounded in pay for performance, which is reflected in the way we have structured base pay, short-term incentives and long-term incentives. This philosophy applies to PNMR employees, with a more significant level of variability and compensation at risk for Officers. As illustrated below, the TDC target opportunity for our CEO, EVP and SVPs is primarily comprised of short- and long-term incentive compensation. The charts below illustrate the mix of pay opportunity for 2015 for our CEO and the average opportunity for our EVP and SVPs, in each case assuming these NEOs were paid under our incentive compensation plans at the target level for 2015. The average opportunity for the EVP/SVP group was derived from the average dollar amount of each component for all individuals within the group.
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The Compensation Committee also considers other factors in determining the compensation of our NEOs, such as their respective qualifications, experience, expertise, performance and results of their business area, as well as the market competitiveness of the compensation opportunity. The relative importance of these factors may vary from year to year and from NEO to NEO, because the Compensation Committee evaluates each component of pay in the context of each NEO’s total compensation.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION PRACTICES
The Compensation Committee strives to ensure that we compensate our NEOs consistent with shareholder interests. Highlights of our practices to sustain good governance alignment with shareholder interests include the following:
What We Do

• | Pay for Performance – PNMR’s pay for performance philosophy is emphasized through variability in compensation. A significant portion of executive pay is considered “at risk” and is based on actual Company performance. TDC varies depending on the Company’s achievement of financial and non-financial objectives and long-term incentive compensation is designed to closely align with shareholders’ interests.

• | Independent Compensation Committee – The Compensation Committee is comprised entirely of independent directors. Year-end results and related performance pay are reviewed and approved by the Compensation Committee for all NEOs, while the independent members of the Board review and approve the CEO’s compensation.

• | Independent Compensation Consultant – The Compensation Committee uses an independent compensation consultant, Pay Governance, to regularly review and evaluate the Company’s compensation program, to include periodic review of the PNMR Peer Group and to provide regular briefings regarding key trends and pending regulations. Pay Governance only provides services to the Board and its Committees. No other services are provided to the Company by Pay Governance.

• | Capped Incentive Award Payout – Awards are capped at a maximum payout under both our AIP and LTIPs.

• | Reasonable Change in Control Severance Provisions (Retention Plan) – We have implemented change in control provisions for our executives that we believe are reasonable and customary. The change in control provision only provides for acceleration or payment if a change in control actually occurs. More discussion appears in the Payments Made Upon a Change in Control section of Summary of 2015 NEO Compensation.

• | “Double Trigger” Change in Control Severance Benefits – The PEP generally provides for double trigger vesting following a change in control. More discussion appears in the Payments Made Upon a Change in Control section of Summary of 2015 NEO Compensation.

• | Clawback Provision – Pursuant to the PEP, all PEP awards to Officers, including annual incentive awards and long-term incentive awards, are subject to potential clawback, or forfeiture to the fullest extent called for by any Company policy.

• | Hiring and Retention of High-Achieving Executives – The objectives of rewarding performance and retention are balanced to ensure high-achieving, marketable executives remain motivated and committed to the Company.

• | Tally Sheets – The Compensation Committee reviews tally sheets that include compensation, benefits and retirement benefits for our NEOs prior to making annual executive compensation decisions.

• | Mitigation of Undue Risk – Management and the Compensation Committee evaluate, through an annual risk assessment process, whether the Company’s compensation programs for employees, including NEOs, create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company. Based on the risk analysis undertaken in 2015, the Compensation Committee does not believe that the policies and practices create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company. Examples of the features that assist in mitigating risk include the clawback provision and equity ownership holding guidelines. More discussion appears in the Board’s Role in Risk Oversight section on page 11.

• | Conservative Perquisites – Perquisites for our Officers are modest and serve a reasonable business purpose.

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• | Equity Ownership Holding Guidelines – The Compensation Committee believes rewarding the NEOs with equity compensation supports retention and helps align management with the best interests of our shareholders, our customers and the Company. Therefore, the Company has implemented equity ownership holding guidelines for all Officers requiring they hold from one (1) to five (5) times base salary in PNMR shares depending on the Officer’s position. See the Equity Ownership Holding Guidelines section of Additional Information.

What We Don’t Do

• | No employment contracts with our CEO or other NEOs.

• | No individual change in control agreements with our CEO or other NEOs.

• | No discounted stock options or SARs.

• | No excise tax gross-ups.

• | No repricing of stock options or SARs without prior shareholder consent.

• | No share recycling for stock options or SARs.

• | No evergreen provisions within the PEP.

• | No dividends or dividend equivalents on unearned restricted shares or performance shares.

• | No hedging or monetization transactions (such as zero-cost collars and forward sales contracts, which would allow for locking in much of the value of Company securities) are permitted by Officers, directors or employees.

• | No short sales of Company securities by any Officer, director or employee.

• | No pledging of Company securities by directors or Officers, including the NEOs.

Results of 2015 Say-on-Pay: Strong Shareholder Support
Our shareholders cast an advisory Say-on-Pay vote on executive compensation at the May 2015 Annual Meeting. The holders of 98.7% of the shares, present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at the 2015 Annual Meeting, approved, on an advisory basis, the compensation of our NEOs disclosed in our 2015 proxy statement. The Compensation Committee reviewed the outcome of the advisory vote and considered it to be high approval by our shareholders. Therefore, the Compensation Committee determined that significant changes to our executive compensation programs were not warranted and accordingly our current compensation philosophy remains consistent with the prior year. At our 2016 Annual Meeting, shareholders will have the opportunity to cast an advisory Say-on-Pay vote regarding the compensation of our NEOs, as disclosed in this CD&A and the accompanying tables. At the 2011 Annual Meeting, our shareholders indicated a preference for holding Say-on-Pay votes on an annual basis, as recommended by the Board. The next advisory vote on the frequency of future Say-on-Pay votes will occur at the 2017 Annual Meeting.
The Compensation Committee and management continue to review our executive compensation practices and policies to ensure alignment with competitive pay practices. As noted in the 2015 Changes section below, the Compensation Committee supported changes to the executive compensation program, as recommended by management.
2015 Changes
The following changes were made to our 2015 executive compensation program to further align the structure of the program with shareholders’ interests and current market practices:
Base Salary
The Compensation Committee approved an increase in base salary for one of the NEOs, Mr. Apodaca. Management requested, and the Compensation Committee and the Board concurred, that only Mr. Apodaca receive a base salary increase for 2015.
Annual Incentive Awards
The Compensation Committee approved the 2015 AIP for the performance period January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015. The performance metrics remained the same as the 2014 AIP: Incentive EPS (weighted 60%), customer satisfaction (weighted 20%) and safety (weighted 20%). The Company continues to focus on customer satisfaction by aligning operations and programs to better serve our customers’ evolving needs in a rapidly changing energy landscape. The primary goal of safety is to ensure all employees return home safely at the end of each day. The 2015 AIP target award opportunity level for the CEO was increased from 95% to 100% of base salary and the target award opportunity for the SVP, Public Policy was increased from 50% to 55% of base salary. In each case, the increase was made to maintain competitive AIP and total cash compensation levels.
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Long-Term Incentive Awards
The Compensation Committee also approved the 2015 LTIP for the 3-year performance period of 2015-2017 (incentives, if earned, will be awarded in 2018) to support long-term performance and to align with industry trends and market practices. The 2015 LTIP award mix is comprised 70% of performance shares (based on relative TSR weighted at 40%, FFO/Debt Ratio weighted at 35% and Earnings Growth weighted at 25%) and 30% of time-vested restricted stock right awards (vesting equally over a 3-year period). For the 2015 LTIP, the target award opportunity for the CEO was increased from 210% to 225% of base salary to maintain competitive LTIP and total direct compensation levels.
Additionally, the independent directors approved a special performance-based retention grant for the CEO for the performance period 2015-2019 to motivate her to remain in her current position for an extended period of time, in recognition of past contributions to Company performance, and to reward her for future Company performance based on Earnings Growth.
The Compensation Committee and the Board also approved a special performance-based retention grant for the CFO for the performance period 2015-2017 to motivate him to remain in his current position for a period of time to allow for transition of key officers, in recognition of past contributions to Company performance, and to reward him for future Company performance based on Earnings Growth.
Performance Equity Plan
On December 10, 2015, the Board approved a First Amendment to the PEP providing that every award issued pursuant to the PEP will be subject to potential forfeiture or recovery to the fullest extent called for by any clawback policy that may be adopted by the Company.
Retirement Benefits
The After-Tax Plan was terminated effective June 30, 2015.
Effective January 1, 2015, the ESP II was amended and restated to (1) eliminate specified date distributions for amounts credited to a participant’s account on or after January 1, 2015, (2) eliminate the annuity distribution option and (3) limit installment payments to a 5-year or 10-year period for amounts credited to a participant’s account on or after January 1, 2015. See Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation in Retirement Benefits section of Summary of 2015 NEO Compensation.
The ESP II was amended to change the method of calculating the Supplemental Credits (as defined in the ESP II) for participants in the ESP II who become Eligible Officers (as defined in the ESP II) on or after January 1, 2016. Prior to the adoption of the First Amendment, the supplemental contributions were intended to replace a certain percentage of an Eligible Officer’s pre-retirement income. Such an approach will continue to apply to the calculation of the supplemental contributions for Eligible Officers (including the NEOs) who were participating in the ESP II prior to January 1, 2016. For participants who become Eligible Officers on or after January 1, 2016, the supplemental contributions will be determined based on the market conditions as of the date that the Eligible Officer is hired or becomes eligible for a supplemental contribution. The supplemental contribution will be expressed as a percentage of the Eligible Officer’s current compensation and will not replace a certain percentage of the Eligible Officer’s pre-retirement income.
Additionally, the Compensation Committee approved contributions consistent with achievement of the ESP II competitive pay replacement ratios to the supplemental contributions for certain NEOs. The competitive pay replacement ratios are between 40% to 60% of pre-retirement income. See Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation in Retirement Benefits section of Summary of 2015 NEO Compensation.
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Elements of Executive Compensation
Our executive compensation program is designed to maintain an appropriate and competitive balance between fixed pay (base salary) and variable pay incentives (annual and long-term incentives). The program consists of three core elements that comprise TDC – base salary, annual cash incentive awards and long-term incentive awards that are targeted at the median level of compensation paid to executive officers of similar companies in the 2015 Benchmark Data (as described in the Role of the Independent Compensation Consultant section of Administration and Resources). The annual and long-term incentives are structured to reward the achievement of strategic, financial and operational performance goals. As the NEO with the highest level of responsibility, the CEO has the greatest variability in TDC. The Compensation Committee sets targets for each element of compensation separately at approximately the median range and then makes appropriate adjustments based on each individual NEO’s performance, experience and strategic role to the Company. If the Compensation Committee increases an NEO’s base salary, it also considers the resulting impact on annual and long-term performance-based incentive compensation levels and benefits. Below is a summary of compensation and benefits provided to our Officers.
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Compensation Component | Key Characteristics | Purpose
Base Salary | ž Fixed amount of cash compensation based on an Officer’s role, experience and responsibilities | ž Compensate Officers for scope of responsibilities, previous experience, individual performance and business unit performance ž Provide base compensation at a level consistent with our compensation philosophy
Annual Incentive Awards | ž Variable annual cash incentive based on corporate performance metrics with threshold, target and maximum opportunities for each Officer. Incentive EPS threshold must be achieved to receive any incentives and awards are capped at a maximum award level | ž Reward and motivate Officers for achieving the annual financial and operating goals across the organization ž Link annual pay with annual performance
Long-Term Incentive Awards | ž Variable compensation incentive based on long-term corporate performance metrics, typically with a 3-year performance period, and generally granted annually. Currently, the awards are a combination of performance shares and time-vested restricted stock rights awards. Amounts actually earned will vary based on corporate performance and the Officer's position | ž Reward Officers for achieving business objectives by tying incentives to the performance of PNMR’s stock price over the long term ž Align the interests of the Officers and the shareholders ž Reward and motivate long-term performance by linking long-term pay with long-term performance ž Enhance retention of Officers
Deferred Compensation and Retirement Benefits | ž Deferred compensation and other retirement benefits | ž Enhance recruitment and retention by aligning benefits with competitive market practices ž Provide for future retirement of Officers
Supplemental Benefits & Perquisites | ž Generally limited to perquisites such as officer life insurance, long-term disability, executive physicals and the ESA. The ESA is limited to $23,000 for the CEO and $18,000 for the EVP and SVPs | ž Attract and retain Officers
Potential Severance Benefits and Change in Control | ž Amounts payable only if employment is terminated under certain conditions | ž Support the objective assessment and execution of potential changes to the Company’s strategy and structure by our Officers ž Enhance retention of management by reducing concerns about employment continuity

As described below in Equity Compensation, two NEOs also have performance-based retention awards.
Cash Compensation
Base Salary
Base salary is the fixed component of compensation paid to compensate each NEO for effectively discharging the duties and responsibilities of his or her position. The Compensation Committee sets each NEO’s base salary (except the CEO’s base salary, which is set by the independent members of the Board) by considering a variety of factors, including, but not limited to:

• | Scope of responsibilities,

• | Previous experience,

• | Individual performance,

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• | Base salaries for comparable NEOs within the PNMR Peer Group,

• | Published compensation surveys and proprietary survey data such as the Towers Watson U.S. CDB General Industry Executive Database, and

• | Recommendations from the Compensation Committee’s independent compensation consultant.

The Compensation Committee considers all of these factors in arriving at each NEO’s base salary level. Salary adjustments, if any, are based on the median of base salaries revealed by the benchmarking of comparable positions, described in the Role of the Independent Compensation Consultant section of Administration and Resources, as well as the Company’s performance, internal pay equity among the NEOs and the Compensation Committee’s evaluation of the NEO’s performance. Performance is primarily measured on the basis of corporate and individual performance, with applicable goals and objectives being established at the beginning of each year.
Base salaries are reviewed annually. According to the 2015 Benchmark Data, each NEO’s base salary was either approximately at or below median levels. After reviewing the 2015 Benchmark Data, recommendations from management and Pay Governance and considering the Company’s performance, strategic objectives and each individual NEO’s performance in 2014, the Compensation Committee in 2015 increased the base salary for one NEO, Mr. Apodaca from $315,180 to $330,939. Even after taking into account the base salary increase approved in 2015 for Mr. Apodaca, all of our NEO’s respective base salaries remained approximately at or below the median of the 2015 Benchmark Data.
Annual Incentive Awards
The AIP provides annual cash incentives to reward the NEOs for the achievement of annual financial and operating goals and reinforces the Company’s pay for performance philosophy. Our philosophy is to set the AIP award opportunities at the approximate median for NEOs in comparable positions based on a benchmarking analysis, which for 2015 consisted of the 2015 Benchmark Data. The 2015 financial and operating performance goals are described beginning on page 48. The Company and individual NEOs achieved their 2015 performance goals near maximum level for the Incentive EPS performance goal (weighted 60%) and below threshold level for both the safety performance goal (weighted 20%) and the customer satisfaction goal (weighted 20%).
No incentive award is paid for achieving performance that is below the Incentive EPS threshold level and annual incentive awards are capped at the maximum opportunity, 200% of target. The Compensation Committee does not have the discretion to increase AIP awards for NEOs who are covered employees under Section 162(m) of the Tax Code. For 2015, the Compensation Committee did not exercise its negative discretion to decrease awards to any NEO. Straight-line interpolation determines the bonus payout for performance that falls between threshold and target or between target and maximum levels. Performance results and related annual incentive awards for the 2015 performance period were reviewed and approved by the Compensation Committee, and by the independent members of the Board for the CEO, at its meeting in February 2016. More detail can be found in the NEO Incentive Goals and Results section of Summary of 2015 NEO Compensation.

2015 NEO ANNUAL INCENTIVE AWARD OPPORTUNITIES
Position | Threshold Opportunity* | Target Opportunity* | Maximum Opportunity*
CEO | 50% | 100% | 200%
EVP | 35% | 70% | 140%
SVP | 27.5% | 55% | 110%
*As a percentage of base salary

Equity Compensation
Long-Term Incentive Awards
The long-term incentive award opportunities under the LTIPs provide equity incentives tied to 3-year performance measures designed to support long-term goals. The NEOs earned long-term incentive awards as of the end of 2015 under the 2013 LTIP for the 2013-2015 performance period. As described in the 2014 proxy statement, the 2013 LTIP award mix was comprised of
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70% performance shares and 30% time-vested restricted stock right awards. The performance share awards under the 2013 LTIP were based on two performance measures: relative TSR, weighted at 60% (based on Company performance compared to the S&P 400 MidCap Utilities Index) and FFO/Debt Ratio, weighted at 40% (targets are determined by the Board based on the Company’s long-range operating plan). For the 2013 LTIP (2013-2015 performance period), the Company and the NEOs achieved below target level aggregate performance based on achieving the relative TSR performance goal above target and FFO/Debt performance goal at the threshold level. The time-vested restricted stock right awards (that vest equally over a 3-year period) were awarded in March 2016, following the end of the performance period, in amounts based on each NEO’s position and base salary. Detailed information regarding our NEO’s respective award opportunities under the 2013 LTIP was disclosed in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company on March 6, 2013. Performance results and related performance shares and restricted stock right awards received by the NEOs in March 2016 under the 2013 LTIP were reviewed and approved by the Compensation Committee and the independent members of the Board for the CEO at its meeting in February 2016. More detail can be found in the Long-Term Incentive Awards section of Summary of 2015 NEO Compensation.
In February 2015, the Compensation Committee approved the 2015 LTIP for the 3-year performance period of 2015-2017; incentives, if earned, will be awarded in 2018. The 2015 LTIP award mix is comprised of 70% performance shares and 30% time-vested restricted stock right awards. The time-vested restricted stock right awards, which may be awarded following the end of the 2015-2017 performance period, will vest equally over a 3-year period. The time-vested restricted stock right awards will be granted, if at all, in amounts that will depend upon the Officer’s position and base salary. The performance share award opportunities under the 2015 LTIP are based on three performance measures: relative TSR, weighted at 40% (based on Company performance compared to the S&P 400 MidCap Utilities Index), FFO/Debt Ratio, weighted at 35% (targets are determined by the Board based on the Company’s long-range operating plan), and Earnings Growth, weighted at 25% (targets are determined by the Board based on the Company’s long-range operating plan). The new Earnings Growth measure is an adjusted diluted earnings per share measure calculated in a similar manner as the Incentive EPS is calculated under the AIP, except that the Earnings Growth for the 2015 LTIP will be measured over a 3-year period. Together, these three performance measures under the 2015 LTIP are designed to align our NEOs and other Officers’ interests with the long-term interests of the Company and its shareholders by tying incentives to stock performance, credit metric objectives and Earnings Growth. The performance share and restricted stock right awards opportunities, including the threshold, target and maximum levels determined by the Compensation Committee for relative TSR, FFO/Debt and Earnings Growth under the 2015 LTIP, are set forth under the Long-Term Incentive Awards section of Summary of 2015 NEO Compensation. The Compensation Committee does not have the discretion to increase actual LTIP awards for NEOs who are covered employees under Section 162(m) of the Tax Code.
The Company has not used newly issued shares or treasury shares to satisfy any equity awards granted under the PEP. Because the Company’s past and current practice is to only use shares acquired on the open market to satisfy awards of earned performance shares and vested restricted stock rights, the satisfaction of these awards does not increase the number of shares outstanding and does not have a dilutive impact on our shareholders. However, the awards are considered to be dilutive securities in the computation of earnings per share during the period from granting of the award until the satisfaction of the awards following being earned or becoming vested. The dilutive impact of these awards on earnings per share has not been significant.
Long-Term Incentives - Special Performance-Based Awards, Retention Grants
The Compensation Committee has selectively used special awards to provide additional incentive to certain executive officers. The special awards, described below, are all tied to performance metrics to ensure that the specified executive officer is accountable for corporate performance.
▪2012 CEO Performance-Based Retention Grant
As described in the Company’s 2012 proxy statement, the Compensation Committee recommended and the independent directors approved, a special performance-based retention grant (the “2012 CEO Retention Grant”) to the Company’s Chairman, President and CEO, Ms. Collawn. The 2012 CEO Retention Grant was intended to reward Ms. Collawn for the Company’s performance (based on the Company’s subsequent improvement in TSR) and further incentivize her to remain in her current position for an extended period of time. Given Ms. Collawn’s performance and contributions to the Company, the 2012 CEO Retention Grant was provided to partially close the gap between her TDC and the median TDC for her peer CEOs, as reported in the benchmark data considered by the Compensation Committee at the time of the 2012 CEO Retention Grant. Pursuant to the 2012 CEO Retention Grant, Ms. Collawn was eligible to be awarded 135,000 performance shares of the Company’s common stock at the end of the 2012-2016 performance period. A portion of the 2012 CEO Retention Grant, namely 35,000 of the 135,000 performance shares, was subject to accelerated vesting in 2015 if the Company achieved an annualized, compounded 5% increase in TSR through December 31, 2014 (as measured by comparing the Company’s stock price on the last 20 trading days in 2011 to the price on the last 20 trading days in 2014). In February 2015, the Compensation Committee and the independent members of the Board determined that the Company achieved the relevant performance level
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of TSR for the accelerated vesting and approved the award of the 35,000 performance shares to Ms. Collawn. If the Company achieves an annualized, compounded 5% increase in TSR through 2016 (as measured by comparing the Company’s stock price on the last 20 trading days in 2011 to the price on the last 20 trading days in 2016), the remaining portion of the 2012 CEO Retention Grant (namely 100,000 performance shares) will vest and be awarded in 2017. All performance shares earned under the 2012 CEO Retention Grant are issued under the PEP and, with certain exceptions, Ms. Collawn must remain employed by the Company, as of the applicable vesting dates, to receive the grants described above. In the event that Ms. Collawn’s employment ends prior to the retention date, depending on the circumstances of her departure, Ms. Collawn may be entitled to receive a pro rata performance share award in accordance with the terms and conditions of the 2012 CEO Retention Grant.
▪2015 CEO Performance-Based Retention Grant
In March 2015, as described in the Company’s 2015 proxy statement, the Company entered into a special performance-based retention grant (the “2015 CEO Retention Grant”) with Ms. Collawn, based on the Compensation Committee’s recommendation and the independent directors’ approval. Given Ms. Collawn’s continued performance and contributions to the Company, the 2015 CEO Retention Grant is intended to incentivize Ms. Collawn to meet certain performance measures and to remain in her current position for an extended period of time. Pursuant to the 2015 CEO Retention Grant, Ms. Collawn will be eligible to be awarded 53,859 performance shares if she, among other things, (1) meets the specified performance measure of achieving a 3% or more compounded annual rate of Earnings Growth during the performance period beginning on January 1, 2015 and ending on December 31, 2019 and (2) remains employed by the Company through the applicable retention dates. A portion of the 2015 CEO Retention Grant, namely 17,953 performance shares, is subject to accelerated vesting if the Company achieves a 3% or more compounded annual rate of Earnings Growth by December 31, 2017. Such performance shares may vest and be awarded in 2018. If the Company achieves a 3% or more compounded annual rate of Earnings Growth by the end of the performance period, December 31, 2019, then 53,859 performance shares (less any performance shares that vested on an accelerated basis) may vest and be awarded in 2020. Any shares earned under the 2015 CEO Retention Grant will be issued under the PEP and, with certain exceptions, Ms. Collawn must remain employed by the Company, as of the applicable vesting dates, to receive the grants described above.
Ms. Collawn’s eligibility to receive the foregoing amounts is subject to certain conditions, including the Compensation Committee’s determination of whether the applicable performance measures have been satisfied and the Board’s certification and approval of the award. In the event that Ms. Collawn’s employment ends prior to a retention date, depending on the circumstances of her departure, Ms. Collawn may be entitled to receive a pro rata performance share award in accordance with the terms and conditions of the 2015 CEO Retention Grant. Any shares earned under the 2015 CEO Retention Grant will be issued under the PEP.
▪2015 CFO Performance-Based Retention Grant
Also, as previously described in the Company’s 2015 proxy statement, the Compensation Committee recommended, and the independent directors approved, a special performance-based retention grant (the “2015 CFO Retention Grant”) to the Company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Eldred, in 2014. The 2015 CFO Retention Grant was intended to incentivize Mr. Eldred to remain in his current position for a period of time to allow for the retirement of the then current PNM Resources Vice President, Controller and the Vice President, Treasurer and a successful transition to the current Vice President, Controller and Vice President, Treasurer and is intended to reward him for the Company’s performance during that period based on the Company’s Earnings Growth. The 2015 CFO Retention Grant became effective on January 1, 2015 for the performance period January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2017. Pursuant to the 2015 CFO Retention Grant, for the performance period January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2016, Mr. Eldred will be entitled to a retention bonus equal to $175,000, credited to his account under the ESP II and a restricted stock right award equal to $100,000 divided by the fair market value of one share of the Company’s stock, as of the grant date, if he remains employed until December 31, 2016 and satisfies the specified performance measure. The specified performance measure for the performance period, January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2016, is to achieve a 6% rate of Earnings Growth. The grant date shall be the date on which the Compensation Committee makes the final determination that the specified performance measures have been satisfied. For the performance period, January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2017, Mr. Eldred will be entitled to a retention bonus equal to $200,000, credited to his account under the ESP II, and a restricted stock right award equal to $275,000 divided by the fair market value of one share of the Company’s stock as of the grant date, if he remains employed until December 31, 2017 and satisfies the specified performance measure as of December 31, 2017. The specified performance measure for the performance period, January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2017 is to achieve a 9% rate of Earnings Growth.
Mr. Eldred’s eligibility to receive the foregoing amounts is subject to certain conditions, including the Compensation Committee’s determination of whether the applicable performance measures have been satisfied. If Mr. Eldred does not satisfy the applicable performance measures as of the first retention date but satisfies the applicable performance measures as of the
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second retention date, Mr. Eldred will be entitled to receive all amounts described above. If Mr. Eldred does not satisfy the performance measures as of either retention date, the Compensation Committee will have the discretion to award him a retention bonus and/or a restricted stock rights award in such amount as it deems appropriate, although the Compensation Committee will be under no obligation to do so. In the event that Mr. Eldred’s employment ends prior to a retention date, depending on the circumstances of his departure, Mr. Eldred may be entitled to receive a pro rata retention bonus and restricted stock rights award in accordance with the terms and conditions of the 2015 CFO Retention Agreement. Any such shares payable pursuant to the 2015 CFO Retention Grant will be issued under the PEP.
Deferred Compensation
Deferred Compensation and Retirement Benefits
Our NEOs participate in the Company’s RSP (a broad-based 401(k) plan) and a non-qualified supplemental deferred compensation plan (the ESP II – which runs side-by-side with the RSP). Prior to January 1, 2014, our NEOs could elect to participate in either the ESP II or an alternative After-Tax Plan. The After-Tax Plan was terminated effective as of June 30, 2015. Certain changes to the ESP II were effective in 2015, as previously described under 2015 Changes. These programs are described in more detail beginning on page 55.
Supplemental Benefits
Supplemental Benefits and Perquisites
In order to attract and retain key executive talent in an increasingly competitive marketplace, the Company provides its NEOs reasonable supplemental benefits that make up a small component of their overall compensation and benefits. The 2015 supplemental benefits include: company-paid premiums for life insurance, long-term disability insurance, executive physicals (NEOs only) and the ESA (e.g., reimbursement for personal financial management and estate planning services). For Ms. Collawn, the Company also provides home security. The 2015 supplemental benefits are set forth in footnote 5 of the SCT on page 47.
Post Termination Compensation
Potential Severance Benefits
The Company offers severance benefits to the NEOs to mitigate the possible difficulty they may have finding comparable employment, within a reasonable period of time, following a separation from service. Under our Severance Plan, benefits are only payable if the NEO’s position is eliminated through no fault of his or her own. The Severance Plan and related benefits are described in more detail on page 58.
Potential Change in Control Benefits
The Company also recognizes, as is the case with many publicly-held companies, the possibility of a change in control. A change in control, combined with the uncertainty and the questions that it may raise, may potentially result in the departure or distraction of key management to the detriment of the Company and our shareholders. This could also impact the Company’s ability to continue to provide efficient and reliable utility services to our customers. The Company and the Compensation Committee have determined that appropriate steps should be taken to reinforce and encourage the continued attention and dedication of the Company’s key management to their assigned duties and to facilitate recruitment of future employees without distraction in the face of potentially challenging circumstances arising from the possibility of a change in control of the Company. The Company and the Compensation Committee have also concluded that it is appropriate to provide competitive and fair compensation and benefits to employees terminated under these circumstances through our Retention Plan.
The Retention Plan provides the NEOs with benefits if their employment is terminated, under certain circumstances, within 24 months following a change in control of the Company. The purpose of our Retention Plan is to better align the NEOs’ interests with the interests of our shareholders and to provide the NEOs with reasonable protection from loss of employment resulting from a change in control. The provision of benefits pursuant to the Retention Plan also facilitates our recruitment and retention of talented NEOs by providing reasonable and expected protections. Our Retention Plan and change in control benefits are described in more detail beginning on page 58.
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ADMINISTRATION AND RESOURCES
Roles of the Compensation Committee, Board of Directors and Executive Officers
Pursuant to its role as assigned by the Board, the Compensation Committee is primarily responsible for the design and administration of our executive compensation program. Additionally, our Board, our executive officers and an independent compensation consultant play important roles. The Compensation Committee establishes and periodically reviews all elements of our executive compensation program. The ultimate responsibility for determining the level of compensation paid to each of the NEOs, other than the CEO, resides with the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee makes a recommendation to our independent directors of the Board (a group that includes, but is not limited to, the members of the Compensation Committee) regarding the level of the CEO’s compensation and the final decision is made by the independent directors. The Board, based on the recommendations of the Compensation Committee, approves all equity compensation plans and equity awards for Officers. In setting (or recommending in the case of the CEO) specific compensation levels, the Compensation Committee considers the CEO’s evaluation of the other NEOs and the self-evaluation prepared by the CEO. The independent members of the Board take into consideration their evaluation of the CEO’s performance when approving or setting the CEO specific compensation levels. The CEO recommends corporate-level performance goals to the Compensation Committee for approval. The CEO provides regular input to the Compensation Committee with respect to the overall structure of the executive compensation program, including how the program can be effectively aligned with the Company’s financial and strategic objectives. However, the final decision related to the executive compensation program rests with the Compensation Committee, with approval of the independent members of the Board, for all Officer equity plans, Officer equity awards and CEO compensation.
Role of the Independent Compensation Consultant
Pursuant to its charter, the Compensation Committee selects and retains an independent compensation consultant (at the Company’s expense) whose services include: providing peer group and market compensation data, providing information on trends and regulatory issues affecting executive pay, performing competitive market analysis, recommending compensation program and plan changes and recommending Officer compensation structure and levels. In May 2013, the Compensation Committee selected Pay Governance to be its independent compensation consultant pursuant to the Compensation Committee’s Policy Governing Fees and Services for Executive Compensation Consultants. Prior to engaging Pay Governance, and then on an annual basis, most recently at its December 2015 meeting, the Compensation Committee evaluated Pay Governance’s independence as its compensation consultant by considering each of the independence factors specified by the NYSE and the SEC. Based on the evaluation, the Compensation Committee determined that no conflict of interest exists that would prevent Pay Governance from independently advising the Compensation Committee. On occasion, the independent compensation consultant provides information to the members of management, but all its services are provided and performed at the request of and pursuant to instructions provided by the Compensation Committee or the Nominating Committee. None of the NEOs are present during the Compensation Committee’s discussions with the independent consultant regarding his or her individual compensation. During 2015, no services were provided to the Company by Pay Governance, other than the services that are described in this proxy statement.
The Compensation Committee strives to provide target compensation opportunities that are at the median TDC of the appropriate benchmark group of companies, which reflect the market within which PNMR competes for executive talent. Information referenced in 2014 to assist in setting 2015 compensation levels was obtained and analyzed as follows:

• | Management engaged Willis Towers Watson to perform a competitive assessment of the Company’s executive compensation program, including compensation opportunity levels for the CEO and other NEOs (the “Towers Watson study”). Pay Governance reviewed the approach and the findings of the Towers Watson study.

• | The Towers Watson study compared our NEO compensation to (1) market data for the PNMR Peer Group described below and (2) market data from the companies (listed in Appendix A) comprising the Towers Watson 2014 U.S. CDB General Industry Executive Database of similarly sized companies (companies with revenue of $1 billion - $3 billion).

• | For corporate-function roles, such as those of our NEOs, talent may be recruited by or lost to companies that are similar in size to the Company, which may or may not be in the utility/energy sector. Therefore, to determine overall market compensation levels, the benchmark analysis used these two market databases, weighted respectively at 75% for the PNMR Peer Group and 25% for the Towers Watson 2014 U.S. CDB General Industry Executive Database of similarly sized companies (collectively, the 2015 Benchmark Data). The Towers Watson 2014 U.S. CDB General Industry Executive Database data was not included in the weighted average for one position, SVP, COO, as the benchmark survey sample size was too small. The SVP, COO position was benchmarked based entirely on the median of the PNMR Peer Group.

• | The median compensation levels of the 2015 Benchmark Data were the primary reference points used by the Compensation Committee to evaluate executive compensation. The Compensation Committee used these figures to benchmark TCC and TDC paid to the NEOs (both individually and as a group) to similar types and elements of compensation paid to executives holding comparable positions in the marketplace.

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• | The 2015 Benchmark Data for TDC showed that the compensation levels for each of our NEOs were approximately at median or below.

PNMR Peer Group
Prior to setting compensation levels for 2015, the Compensation Committee reviewed the PNMR Peer Group and confirmed that it continued to be an appropriate peer group, based on the following criteria:

1. | Ownership structure (publicly-traded),
2. | Business focus (electric utility and multi-utility companies),
3. | Size (between one-third and three times the Company’s size in terms of revenues),
4. | Organizational complexity,
5. | Operational characteristics (such as nuclear generation ownership, multi-state regulated utilities), and
6. | Likely competition for executive talent.

The following table lists the companies that comprised the PNMR Peer Group, as discussed above, referenced in late 2014, for purposes of setting 2015 pay levels.

PNMR PEER GROUP
ALLETE, Inc. | NorthWestern Corporation
Alliant Energy Corporation | OGE Energy Corporation
Avista Corporation | Pinnacle West Capital Corporation
Black Hills Corporation | Portland General Electrical Company
Cleco Corporation | TECO Energy, Inc.
El Paso Electric Company | UNS Energy Corporation*
Great Plains Energy, Inc. | Vectren Corporation
Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. | Westar Energy, Inc.
IDACORP, Inc. |
*On August 15, 2014, UNS Energy Corporation was acquired by Fortis, Inc.

2016 COMPENSATION ACTIONS
In February 2016, the Compensation Committee approved the 2016 AIP and the 2016 LTIP. The Compensation Committee also approved increases in the base salaries payable to the NEOs. The base salary increases were based on corporate and individual performance and on the current median base salaries for the corresponding executive position in the 2016 Benchmark Data. The 2016 base salaries increases are as follows: Ms. Collawn from $770,000 to $800,000; Mr. Eldred from $436,800 to $458,640; Mr. Talbot from $378,525 to $389,881; Mr. Apodaca from $330,939 to $337,558; and Mr. Darnell from $252,144 to $257,187. The Compensation Committee approved an increase to the 2016 AIP CEO target opportunity from 100% to 110%. The 2016 Benchmark Data and performance measures for 2016 compensation levels will be described in the 2017 proxy statement.
The 2016 AIP includes similar performance goals as the 2015 AIP, including a financial goal of Incentive EPS (weighted 60%) and two operational goals, customer satisfaction (weighted 20%) and safety (weighted 20%). No incentive award will be paid for achieving performance that is below the Incentive EPS threshold level and incentive awards will be capped at the maximum opportunity. Straight-line interpolation will determine the bonus payout for performance that falls between threshold and target or target and maximum levels.
The Compensation Committee also approved the 2016 LTIP for the 3-year performance period of 2016-2018 to align with industry trends and market practices. The 2016 LTIP is based on three performance measures: relative TSR (based on Company performance compared to the S&P 400 MidCap Utilities Index), FFO/Debt Ratio (targets are determined by the Board based on the Company’s
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long-range operating plan) and an Earnings Growth measure (targets are determined by the Board based on the Company’s long-range operating plan), weighted 40%, 30% and 30%, respectively. The threshold, target and maximum levels have been approved by the Compensation Committee for relative TSR, FFO/Debt Ratio and Earnings Growth performance measures for the 2016 LTIP. The 2016 LTIP award mix is comprised of 70% performance shares and 30% time-vested restricted stock right awards. Any time-vested restricted stock rights that are actually awarded pursuant to the 2016 LTIP will be awarded in 2019 following the end of the performance period and will vest over three years.
Detailed information regarding the 2016 AIP and 2016 LTIP, including the performance goals and our NEO’s respective award opportunities thereunder, was disclosed in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company on March 1, 2016.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Corporate Governance
The Company and the Compensation Committee continue to monitor corporate governance best practices and give consideration to incorporating them into our compensation processes and policies, as appropriate.
Clawbacks
All PEP awards, including AIP and LTIP awards, are subject to potential forfeiture or recovery to the fullest extent called for by any clawback policy that may be adopted by the Company. The clawback provisions may be applicable to all PEP awards, including the AIP and the LTIPs. As examples only, the awards subject to the clawback provision would include annual incentive awards, performance cash awards, performance shares and restricted stock right awards. The Company currently complies with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as it relates to clawbacks. The Company also plans to implement an executive compensation recoupment policy that will, at a minimum, fully comply with the final rules to be issued by the SEC and NYSE pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act.
Insider Trading Policy; No Hedging or Pledging of Company Stock
As discussed on page 12 of this proxy statement, the Company’s Insider Trading Policy prohibits all directors, Officers and employees from engaging in hedging or monetization transactions that allow a person to lock in much of the value of his or her Company securities, such as zero-cost collars and forward sales contracts. Further, our Insider Trading Policy prohibits all directors and executive officers, including the NEOs, from pledging Company securities as collateral for a loan.
Double Trigger Vesting Following a Change in Control
The PEP includes, as a general rule, double trigger vesting following a change in control. Double trigger vesting results only if an NEO is terminated without cause or is constructively terminated following a change in control. See Payments Made Upon a Change in Control beginning on page 58.
CEO Succession Planning
The Board, including the members of the Compensation Committee, reviews the CEO succession planning process on an annual basis. The succession planning process is designed to ensure that internal candidates are identified and developed well before the position may need to be filled. The succession planning process addresses both short- and long-term succession potential needs.
Equity Ownership Holding Guidelines
To maintain alignment between our NEOs and shareholders, the Company continues to provide equity-based compensation, as well as maintain ownership holding guidelines. Ownership holding guidelines provide that each NEO should own PNMR equity having a value equal to a specified multiple of the NEO’s base salary. The multiples range from three (3) to five (5) times base salary, depending upon the position of the NEO. The ownership holding guidelines also require that each NEO retain 100% of any equity he or she receives under our PEP (after withholding to satisfy tax obligations) until he or she has achieved the applicable guideline multiple.
The Compensation Committee believes these guidelines further align the interests of NEOs with the interests of shareholders by ensuring that the NEOs maintain a significant long-term stake in the Company and are subject to the risks of equity ownership. All equity that the Officer either holds directly or indirectly, in addition to any unvested restricted stock rights and any earned
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performance shares, count towards compliance with the ownership holding guidelines. The Compensation Committee reviews compliance with the ownership holding requirements on an annual basis for all NEOs and did so most recently at its December 9, 2015 meeting. As of December 31, 2015, NEO equity ownership holdings were as noted below:

2015 EQUITY OWNERSHIP HOLDINGS
NEO | Holding Requirement* | Percent of Holding Requirement**
P. K. Collawn | 5X | 308%
C. N. Eldred | 3X | 271%
R. E. Talbot | 3X | 125%
P. V. Apodaca | 3X | 203%
R. N. Darnell | 3X | 140%
*As a multiple of base salary
**Based on 12/31/2015 closing price on the NYSE of $30.57

As of December 31, 2015, all of the NEOs exceeded the applicable ownership holding requirements. The current holdings of each NEO are shown on page 20.
Impact of Tax and Accounting Requirements
The Compensation Committee evaluates costs, cash flow implications and the deductibility of compensation to maximize financial efficiencies. Furthermore, in the context of our “covered employees” (as defined in Section 162(m) of the Tax Code), the Compensation Committee considers the objective of having the incentive-based compensation components qualify for the performance-based compensation exception to the limits on the deductibility of compensation imposed by Section 162(m).
Section 162(m) generally limits the Company’s income tax deduction for compensation paid to each covered employee to $1 million. Compensation that qualifies for the performance-based compensation exception is not subject to this limitation. Generally, in order to qualify for the performance-based compensation exception, the payment of the compensation must be contingent on the achievement of certain objective performance goals. The Compensation Committee has endeavored to qualify certain components of our executive compensation program for the performance-based compensation exception. However, the Compensation Committee has chosen to forgo the deduction in other situations or with respect to certain awards (e.g., time-vested restricted stock right awards), if it determines such action to be in the best business interest of the Company to recognize and motivate Officers as circumstances warrant. In 2015, we incurred compensation for our NEOs of approximately $130,157 that may not be deductible for tax purposes. In addition, when determining whether to offer a particular form of equity compensation to Officers, the Compensation Committee takes into consideration the accounting implications associated with that form of compensation. Traditionally, accounting-related considerations have not had a significant impact on the Compensation Committee’s decisions about the total compensation of the NEOs or the structure of our executive compensation program. Likewise, although the Compensation Committee considers the personal tax implications for the NEOs of different forms of compensation in designing our executive compensation program (and individual plans), such considerations have not materially impacted the Compensation Committee’s ultimate decisions about executive compensation.
Adjustments for Certain Items
Consistent with past practice and based on criteria determined at the beginning of the performance period, the Compensation Committee may, subject to compliance with an applicable plan or award agreement(s) as well as applicable law or regulations, adjust the performance measures underlying certain incentive compensation awards to eliminate the effects of certain items. The adjustments are intended to ensure that award payments are based on the underlying performance of the Company’s core business and are not artificially inflated or deflated due to such effects in the award year. The adjustments made for 2015 award calculations for Incentive EPS and FFO/Debt Ratio are reflected in the definitions of Incentive EPS and FFO/Debt Ratio set forth in the Glossary beginning on page ii. These defined terms are used solely for measuring performance for compensation purposes and should not be considered earnings guidance by the Company.
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COMPENSATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE REPORT
ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis with the Company’s management and, based on such review and discussion, recommended to the Board its inclusion into the 2016 proxy statement.
The Compensation Committee is pleased to submit this report to the Company’s shareholders.
Members of the Compensation Committee:
Alan J. Fohrer, Chair
E. Renae Conley
Sidney M. Gutierrez
Robert R. Nordhaus
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SUMMARY OF 2015 NEO COMPENSATION
ANALYSIS OF 2015 NEO COMPENSATION
Base Salary
The following 2015 base salaries for the NEOs were approved in February of 2015 and as discussed on page 32 were frozen at 2014 levels per management’s recommendation (except for Mr. Apodaca, who received an increase of 5%).

NEO BASE SALARY
NEO | 2015 Base Salary
Patricia K. Collawn | $770,000
Chairman, President and CEO |
Charles N. Eldred | $436,800
EVP and CFO |
Ronald E. Talbot | $378,525
SVP and COO |
Patrick V. Apodaca | $330,939
SVP, General Counsel and Secretary |
Ronald N. Darnell | $252,144
SVP, Public Policy |

SUMMARY OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The table following summarizes the total compensation paid to or earned by the NEOs for the years ending December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013.
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SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
(a) | (b) | (c) | (d) | (e) | (f) | (g) | (h) | (i) | (j)
Name and Principal Position | Year | Salary ($) | Bonus ($) | Stock Awards ($) | Option Awards ($) | Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($) | Change in Pension Value and Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Earnings ($) | All Other Compensation ($) | Total ($)
|  | (1) |  | (2) |  | (3) | (4) | (5) |
Patricia K. Collawn, Chairman, President and CEO | 2015 | 770,000 |  | — |  | 3,004,064 |  | — |  | 870,100 |  | — |  | 600,057 |  | 5,244,221 |
2014 | 763,269 |  | — |  | 1,504,799 |  | — |  | 530,813 |  | — |  | 554,750 |  | 3,353,631 |
2013 | 719,423 |  | — |  | 1,169,469 |  | — |  | 583,200 |  | — |  | 418,668 |  | 2,890,760 |
Charles N. Eldred, EVP and CFO | 2015 | 436,800 |  | — |  | 805,301 |  | — |  | 345,509 |  | — |  | 444,720 |  | 2,032,330 |
2014 | 432,277 |  | — |  | 457,043 |  | — |  | 220,500 |  | — |  | 424,666 |  | 1,534,486 |
2013 | 420,000 |  | — |  | 423,322 |  | — |  | 267,060 |  | — |  | 405,930 |  | 1,516,312 |
Ronald E. Talbot, SVP and COO | 2015 | 378,525 |  | — |  | 308,386 |  | — |  | 235,253 |  | — |  | 163,330 |  | 1,085,494 |
2014 | 373,672 |  | — |  | 324,141 |  | — |  | 148,706 |  | — |  | 160,616 |  | 1,007,135 |
2013 | 357,673 |  | — |  | 280,253 |  | — |  | 179,317 |  | — |  | 195,191 |  | 1,012,434 |
Patrick V. Apodaca, SVP, General Counsel and Secretary | 2015 | 326,696 |  | — |  | 246,602 |  | — |  | 195,884 |  | — |  | 233,583 |  | 1,002,765 |
2014 | 312,709 |  | — |  | 263,832 |  | — |  | 126,225 |  | — |  | 226,428 |  | 929,194 |
2013 | 304,385 |  | — |  | 240,207 |  | — |  | 160,260 |  | — |  | 174,112 |  | 878,964 |
Ronald N. Darnell, SVP, Public Policy | 2015 | 252,144 |  | — |  | 174,093 |  | — |  | 156,707 |  | — |  | 124,066 |  | 707,010 |
2014 | 250,813 |  | — |  | 194,880 |  | — |  | 92,700 |  | — |  | 128,084 |  | 666,477 |
2013 | 245,262 |  | — |  | 176,330 |  | — |  | 103,507 |  | — |  | 140,801 |  | 665,900 |

(1) 2015 salary amounts include cash compensation earned by each NEO during 2015, as well as any amounts earned in 2015, but contributed into the RSP, the ESP II or the After-Tax Plan (as applicable).
(2) Represents the grant date fair value of all stock awards calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. For 2015, the amount indicated is the aggregate grant date fair value of all grants of (A) time-vested restricted stock rights granted on March 4, 2015 (shown as RSA in the GPBA Table), (B) performance share awards (shown as PS in the GPBA Table), based on target performance, which the Company considered the probable outcome on the grant date and (C) the 2015 CEO Retention Grant for Ms. Collawn and the 2015 CFO Retention Grant for Mr. Eldred discussed on page 38 (shown as RET in the GPBA table.) The assumptions used in determining the grant date fair value of stock awards are set forth in Note 13 of the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. The actual cash value that the NEO may realize on the vesting of the restricted stock rights or performance shares will depend on the number of shares that ultimately vest, the market price of our common stock at the date of vesting and ultimately, the value received by the employee on the sale of the stock. Time-vested restricted stock rights awards vest over a three-year period beginning on the grant date. The following table shows the grant date fair value of all 2015 stock awards assuming maximum performance of the 2015 LTIP performance share awards (shown as PS in the GPBA table) and the actual RSA awards shown in the GPBA Table. As discussed above, column (e) of the SCT assumes target performance of PS awards. Both column (e) of the SCT and the following table also include the grant date fair value of the actual RSA awards and also assume achievement of the performance measures for Ms. Collawn’s and Mr. Eldred’s respective equity retention awards, pursuant to their respective retention agreements.
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Grant Date Fair Value Assuming Maximum
Name | Grant Date Fair Value of Actual RSA, Maximum PS Awards, and RET ($)
P. K. Collawn | 4,122,238 |
C. N. Eldred | 1,115,414 |
R. E. Talbot | 528,267 |
P. V. Apodaca | 419,518 |
R. N. Darnell | 296,140 |

(3) Column (g) of the SCT for 2015 reflects the actual amount of annual incentive cash awards earned in 2015 under the 2015 AIP (shown as AIP awards in the GPBA Table).
(4) There are no above-market or preferential rate earnings to report for the ESP II.
(5) The following table reflects the types and dollar amounts of perquisites, additional compensation and other personal benefits provided to the NEOs during 2015. For purposes of computing the dollar amounts of the items listed below, we used the actual out-of-pocket costs to the Company of providing the perquisite or other personal benefit to the NEOs. The NEOs paid any taxes associated with these benefits without reimbursement from the Company.

All Other Compensation Table
Name | Payment of Officer & Management Life Premium ($) | Payment of Long- Term Disability Premium ($) | ESA Amounts ($) | RSP Company Contri- butions ($) | ESP II Company Contri- butions ($) | Executive Physicals ($) | Security ($) | All Other Compensation (Total) ($)
|  |  | (a) |  | (b) | (c) |  | (d)
P. K. Collawn | 7,553 |  | 1,485 |  | 23,000 |  | 35,139 |  | 528,393 |  | — |  | 4,487 |  | 600,057 |
C. N. Eldred | 14,435 |  | 1,485 |  | 18,000 |  | 35,000 |  | 370,284 |  | 5,516 |  | — |  | 444,720 |
R. E. Talbot | 192 |  | 1,485 |  | 18,000 |  | 33,125 |  | 110,378 |  | — |  | — |  | 163,330 |
P. V. Apodaca | 29,350 |  | 1,485 |  | 18,000 |  | 35,000 |  | 149,748 |  | — |  | — |  | 233,583 |
R. N. Darnell | 6,203 |  | 1,387 |  | 18,000 |  | 31,199 |  | 67,277 |  | — |  | — |  | 124,066 |

(a) Reflects the amounts received by the NEOs under the ESA (described in the Glossary).
(b) Amounts are reflected in column (c) of the 2015 Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation table on page 57.
(c) The Company paid for an executive physical as part of the Annual Executive Physical Program.
(d) Total also reflects the value of a $150 gift card Mr. Talbot received for a wellness promotion.
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Annual Incentive Awards
The objective of the 2015 AIP was to motivate the NEOs to achieve certain performance goals tied to the Company’s financial and operational results. In order to ensure that awards were funded by the Company’s earnings, no awards were to be made under the 2015 AIP unless the Company achieved Incentive EPS of at least $1.50. Maximum awards were to be made at Incentive EPS levels of $1.65 or higher. In 2015, the Company’s Incentive EPS for the NEOs was $1.64 resulting in achievement of near maximum level. The Company did not achieve threshold performance levels for the safety or customer satisfaction goals. See the performance results noted on the Corporate Scorecard below.
The 2015 AIP plan goals were established for all NEOs in order to achieve alignment with the corporate strategy of the Company. A more detailed description of each listed NEO’s award opportunities and performance goals under the 2015 AIP, as well as the actual awards approved in February 2016, are set forth below.
NEO Incentive Goals and Results

CORPORATE SCORECARD
Goal | Weight | Threshold 50% | Target 100% | Maximum 200% | 2015 Results | Weighted Results
PNMR Incentive EPS | 60% of Scorecard | ≥$1.50/share | ≥$1.56/share | ≥$1.65/share | $1.64/share (189% of target award level)1 | 113%
Customer Satisfaction (measured by J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction) (percentile) | 10% of Scorecard | >39.7 percentile | >45.6 percentile | >54.4 percentile | 33 rd percentile (0% of target award level) | 0%
Customer Satisfaction (measured by Research and Polling Survey) (weighted average score) | 10% of Scorecard | 7.40 | 7.54 | 7.73 | 7.10 (0% of target award level) | 0%
Safety (PNMR OSHA Recordable Incident Rate) | 20% of Scorecard | ≤2.14 | ≤1.70 | ≤1.15 | 3.15 (0% of target award level) | 0%
Aggregate Performance Results |  |  |  | 113%

1 Based on linear interpolation, the $1.64/share performance results in a 189% multiplier for the Incentive EPS goal. When the 60% weighting is applied, this results in a 113% weighted score.
Under the 2015 AIP, Ms. Collawn was eligible to receive a target level award of 100% of her base salary as of January 1, 2015. Based on Ms. Collawn’s aggregate performance results, she received an award equal to 113% of her base salary.
Under the 2015 AIP, Mr. Eldred was eligible to receive a target level award of 70% of his base salary as of January 1, 2015. Based on Mr. Eldred’s aggregate performance results, he received an award equal to 79% of his base salary.
Under the 2015 AIP, Mr. Talbot, Mr. Apodaca and Mr. Darnell were eligible to receive a target level award of 55% of each of their base salaries as of January 1, 2015. Based on the aggregate performance results, each received an award equal to 62% of his base salary.
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Long-Term Incentive Awards
2015 LTIP Award Opportunities for the Performance Period 2015-2017
Consistent with our pay for performance philosophy, 70% of the NEO’s total 2015 long-term incentive compensation opportunities are dependent upon the Company’s achievement of three performance goals (relative TSR, FFO/Debt Ratio and Earnings Growth) over the 2015-2017 performance period. No performance shares (shown as PS in the GPBA Table) will be earned by or paid to our NEOs if actual performance over the 2015-2017 performance period is below the threshold levels set forth in the following table. The remaining 30% of the total 2015 long-term incentive compensation for NEOs is comprised of time-vested restricted stock rights awarded at the end of the performance period that vest over a three-year period. A prorated award will not be paid to an Officer who separates from service in the first half of the performance period for any reason other than a qualifying change in control termination. After the first half of the performance period, a prorated award will be paid to an Officer who separates from service due to death, disability, retirement or impaction, which will be calculated based on actual performance and the number of full months of service completed by the Officer during the performance period. In the case of a qualifying change in control termination, the performance shares vest pro rata at the end of the performance period subject to the attainment of the performance goals.

2015 LTIP PERFORMANCE GOAL TABLE
Corporate Goal | Weight | Threshold | Target | Maximum
Relative TSR | 40% | >35 th percentile | >50 th percentile | >95 th percentile
FFO/Debt Ratio | 35% | ≥16.0% | ≥18.0% | ≥19.0%
Earnings Growth | 25% | ≥3.0% | ≥5.0% | ≥11.0%

2015 NEO LONG TERM INCENTIVE AWARD OPPORTUNITIES
Position | Threshold Opportunity* | Target Opportunity* | Maximum Opportunity*
CEO | 146.25% | 225% | 382.50%
EVP | 71.50% | 110% | 187%
SVP, COO | 58.50% | 90% | 153%
SVP | 55.25% | 85% | 144.50%
SVP for Public Policy | 48.75% | 75% | 127.50%
*As a percentage of base salary

49

LTIP Awards Earned for the Performance Period 2013-2015
In 2013, the Compensation Committee approved the 2013 LTIP for the 3-year performance period of 2013-2015. Information regarding the threshold, target and maximum performance targets for the 2013-2015 performance period under the 2013 LTIP for TSR (relative to the S&P 400 MidCap Utilities Index), FFO/Debt Ratio and actual 2013-2015 performance are set forth in the table following.

TSR AND FFO/DEBT RATIO ACHIEVEMENT AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2015
Corporate Goal | Weight | Threshold | Target | Maximum | 2013-2015 Actual Results | Weighted Results
Relative TSR | 60% | >35 th percentile | >50 th percentile | >95 th percentile | 56 th percentile (113% of target award level) | 68%
FFO/Debt Ratio | 40% | ≥17.3% | ≥17.8% | ≥19.8% | 17.3% | 20%

The amount of performance share awards payable at threshold, target and maximum performance was set forth in the GPBA Table in the 2014 proxy statement. In February 2016, the performance share awards for the 2013-2015 performance period were determined to be earned at below target level (88% of target) based on the above actual aggregate performance results for the 2013-2015 performance period.

2013 NEO LONG TERM INCENTIVE AWARD OPPORTUNITIES
Position | Threshold Opportunity* | Target Opportunity* | Maximum Opportunity*
CEO | 130% | 200% | 340%
EVP | 71.50% | 110% | 187%
SVP (other than SVP for Public Policy) | 55.25% | 85% | 144.50%
SVP for Public Policy | 48.75% | 75% | 127.50%
*As a percentage of base salary. Amounts include the following time-vested restricted stock rights award opportunities for each NEO (also expressed as a percentage of base salary): Ms. Collawn, 60%; Mr. Eldred, 33%; Mr. Talbot 25.5%; Mr. Apodaca, 25.5% and Mr. Darnell, 22.5%. Such award opportunities were determined based on the NEOs' respective positions and base salaries.

Actual performance shares received by the NEOs under the 2013 LTIP are shown on the Outstanding Equity Award Table on page 52 and actual RSAs granted are shown under the 2012 LTIP on the GBPA table on page 51.
Grants of Plan Based Awards in 2015
The following table discloses the 2015 grants of awards to our NEOs, all of which were made under the PEP: (1) annual incentive plan award levels under the 2015 AIP (shown below as AIP); (2) the following equity awards made under the LTIP: (a) time-vested restricted stock rights awards (RSA) awarded under the 2012 LTIP at the end of the 3-year performance period, (b) performance share award opportunity (PS) based on relative TSR, FFO/Debt Ratio and earnings growth performance measures over the 2015-2017 performance period of the 2015 LTIP and (c) Ms. Collawn’s 2015 CEO Retention Grant and the restricted stock rights awards and retention bonuses payable under Mr. Eldred’s 2015 CFO Retention Grant (RET) as well as the grant date fair value of all such equity awards. Time-vested restricted stock rights awards vest in three equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date.
50

GRANTS OF PLAN BASED AWARDS IN 2015
|  | Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards | Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards | All Other Stock Awards: Number of Shares of Stock or Units(#) | All Other Option Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Options (#) | Exercise or Base Price of Option Awards ($/Sh) | Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and Option Awards ($)
Name | Grant Date | Thresh- old ($) | Target ($) | Maxi- mum ($) | Thresh- old (#) | Target (#) | Maxi- mum (#)
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (1)
P. K. Collawn | AIP 2/26/15 | 385,000 |  | 770,000 |  | 1,540,000 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |
PS 2/26/15 | — |  | — |  | — |  | 21,772 |  | 43,545 |  | 87,091 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 1,118,149 |
RSA 3/4/15 | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 16,588 |  | — |  | — |  | 423,823 |
RET 2/26/15 | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 53,859 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 1,462,092 |
C. N. Eldred | AIP 2/26/15 | 152,880 |  | 305,760 |  | 611,520 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |
PS 2/26/15 | — |  | — |  | — |  | 6,038 |  | 12,076 |  | 24,153 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 310,088 |
RSA 3/4/15 | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 4,705 |  | — |  | — |  | 120,213 |
RET 1/1/15 | — |  | 175,000 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |
RET 1/1/15 | — |  | 200,000 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |
RET (2) 1/1/15 | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (2 | ) | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 100,000 |
RET (2) 1/1/15 | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (2 | ) | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 275,000 |
R. E. Talbot | AIP 2/26/15 | 104,094 |  | 208,189 |  | 416,378 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |
PS 2/26/2015 | — |  | — |  | — |  | 4,281 |  | 8,562 |  | 17,125 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 219,855 |
RSA 3/4/15 | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 3,465 |  | — |  |  | 88,531 |
P. V. Apodaca | AIP 2/26/15 | 86,675 |  | 173,349 |  | 346,698 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |
PS 2/26/15 | — |  | — |  | — |  | 3,366 |  | 6,733 |  | 13,467 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 172,890 |
RSA 3/4/15 | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 2,885 |  | — |  | — |  | 73,712 |
R. N. Darnell | AIP 2/26/15 | 69,340 |  | 138,679 |  | 277,358 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |
PS 2/26/15 | — |  | — |  | — |  | 2,376 |  | 4,753 |  | 9,506 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 122,048 |
RSA 3/4/15 | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 2,037 |  | — |  | — |  | 52,045 |
(1) Represents the grant date fair value of the equity awards, based on target performance for PS awards and actual amount of RSA awards, determined in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. The assumptions used in determining the grant date fair value of stock awards are set forth in Note 13 of the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. For information about the grant date fair value assuming maximum performance of PS awards, see footnote 2 to the SCT. Page 38 of this proxy statement contains information about the terms and conditions of the 2015 retention awards granted to Ms. Collawn and Mr. Eldred. (2) Represents restricted stock rights awards that may be granted to Mr. Eldred in the future, subject to the terms and conditions of the 2015 CFO Retention Grant. Although such restricted stock rights awards are disclosed in the above table in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, they have not been, and will not be, “granted” for purposes of the 2015 CFO Retention Grant or the PEP unless and until the relevant performance measures have been achieved. The number of shares issuable to Mr. Eldred in respect of such restricted stock rights awards (if any) will be determined on the applicable grant dates. For more information, refer to page 38 of this proxy statement.

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Outstanding Equity Awards
The following table includes certain information about the following outstanding equity awards (as of December 31, 2015) made under the PEP to the NEOs: (1) stock options, (2) time-vested restricted stock rights that vest equally over three years from the grant date, (3) performance share awards granted on February 28, 2013 under the 2013 LTIP reflecting the amount of actual below target performance achieved for the 2013-2015 performance period, (4) performance share award opportunities granted on February 27, 2014 under the 2014 LTIP, assuming target performance is achieved for the 2014-2016 performance period, (5) performance share award opportunities granted on February 26, 2015 under the 2015 LTIP (shown as PS in the GPBA Table above), assuming maximum performance is achieved for the 2015-2017 performance period, (6) the special 2012 CEO Retention Grant awarded to Ms. Collawn on February 28, 2012, assuming achievement of the performance measure for the remaining 100,000 shares (35,000 shares of this grant were earned as of December 31, 2014 and are no longer reflected in this table) and (7) the 2015 CEO Retention Grant awarded to Ms. Collawn and the 2015 CFO Retention Grant awarded to Mr. Eldred assuming the achievement of the relevant performance measures.

OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT 2015 YEAR-END
(a) |  | (b) | (c) | (d) | (e) | (f) | (g) | (h) | (i) | (j)
|  | Option Awards | Stock Awards
Name | Grant Date | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable | Number of Securities Underlying Unexer-cised Options (#) Unexer-cisable | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Unearned Options (#) | Option Exercise Price ($) | Option Expiration Date | Number of Shares or Units of Stock that Have Not Vested (#) | Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested ($) | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (#) | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested ($)
|  | (1) |  | (2) |  |  | (3) | (4) | (5) | (4)
P. K. Collawn | 8/17/2007 | 4,000 |  | — |  | — |  | 23.90 |  | 8/17/2017 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |
2/19/2008 | 24,000 |  | — |  | — |  | 13.17 |  | 2/19/2018 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |
8/14/2008 | 4,000 |  | — |  | — |  | 10.56 |  | 8/14/2018 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |
2/17/2009 | 90,000 |  | — |  | — |  | 7.98 |  | 2/17/2019 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |
8/5/2009 | 4,000 |  | — |  | — |  | 12.48 |  | 8/5/2019 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |
2/26/2010 | 38,000 |  | — |  | — |  | 12.22 |  | 2/26/2020 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |
3/1/2010 | 20,000 |  | — |  | — |  | 12.40 |  | 3/1/2020 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |
2/28/2012 | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 100,000 |  | 3,057,000 |
2/28/2013 | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 34,681 |  | 1,060,198 |  | — |  | — |
3/6/2013 | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 4,795 |  | 146,583 |  | — |  | — |
2/27/2014 | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 41,783 |  | 1,277,306 |
3/5/2014 | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 9,664 |  | 295,428 |  | — |  | — |
2/26/2015 | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 87,091 |  | 2,662,372 |
3/4/2015 | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 16,588 |  | 507,095 |  | — |  | — |
2/26/2015 | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 53,859 |  | 1,646,470 |

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OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT 2015 YEAR-END
(a) |  | (b) | (c) | (d) | (e) | (f) | (g) | (h) | (i) | (j)
|  | Option Awards | Stock Awards
Name | Grant Date | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable | Number of Securities Underlying Unexer-cised Options (#) Unexer-cisable | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Unearned Options (#) | Option Exercise Price ($) | Option Expiration Date | Number of Shares or Units of Stock that Have Not Vested (#) | Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested ($) | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (#) | Equity Incentive Plan Awards Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested ($)
|  | (1) |  | (2) |  |  | (3) | (4) | (5) | (4)
C. N. Eldred | 2/16/2007 | 14,000 |  | — |  | — |  | 30.50 |  | 2/16/2017 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |
2/28/2013 | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 12,325 |  | 376,775 |  | — |  | — |
3/6/2013 | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 1,823 |  | 55,729 |  | — |  | — |
2/27/2014 | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 12,338 |  | 377,173 |
3/5/2014 | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 3,204 |  | 97,946 |  | — |  | — |
2/26/2015 | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 24,153 |  | 738,357 |
3/4/2015 | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 4,705 |  | 143,832 |  | — |  | — |
1/1/2015 (6) | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (6 | ) | 100,000 |
1/1/2015 (6) | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (6 | ) | 275,000 |
R. E. Talbot | 2/28/2013 | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 7,936 |  | 242,604 |  | — |  | — |
3/6/2013 | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 1,291 |  | 39,466 |  | — |  | — |
2/27/2014 | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 8,665 |  | 264,889 |
3/5/2014 | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 2,338 |  | 71,473 |  | — |  | — |
2/26/2015 | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 17,125 |  | 523,511 |
3/4/2015 | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 3,465 |  | 105,925 |  | — |  | — |
P. V. Apodaca | 2/26/2010 | 5,333 |  | — |  | — |  | 12.22 |  | 2/26/2020 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |
2/28/2013 | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 6,802 |  | 207,937 |  | — |  | — |
3/6/2013 | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 1,107 |  | 33,841 |  | — |  | — |
2/27/2014 | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 6,946 |  | 212,339 |
3/5/2014 | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 1,984 |  | 60,651 |  | — |  | — |
2/26/2015 | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 13,467 |  | 411,686 |
3/4/2015 | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 2,885 |  | 88,194 |  | — |  | — |
R. N. Darnell | 2/28/2013 | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 4,801 |  | 146,767 |  | — |  | — |
3/6/2013 | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 886 |  | 27,085 |  | — |  | — |
2/27/2014 | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 4,951 |  | 151,352 |
3/4/2014 | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 1,603 |  | 49,004 |  | — |  | — |
2/26/2015 | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 9,506 |  | 290,598 |
3/4/2015 | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 2,037 |  | 62,271 |  | — |  | — |

(1) The exercise price of stock options granted under the PEP is the closing market price on the NYSE on the date of the grant. Stock options awarded under the PEP vested over a three-year period.
53

(2) As of December 31, 2015, no equity incentive options have been granted under the PEP.
(3) O ne share of our common stock underlies each restricted stock right and performance share. Time-vested restricted stock rights awards vest over a three-year period beginning on the grant date. Restricted stock rights shown with a grant date of March 6, 2013 vested on March 6, 2016. One-half of the restricted stock rights shown with a grant date of March 5, 2014 vested on March 5, 2016 and the remaining one-half will vest on March 5, 2017. One-third of the restricted stock rights shown with a grant date of March 4, 2015 vested on March 4, 2016 and the remaining two-thirds will vest in equal amounts on March 4, 2017 and March 4, 2018.
(4) Based on the closing price of $30.57 for our common stock, as quoted on the NYSE on December 31, 2015, the last trading day of fiscal year 2015.
(5) Unvested and contingent performance share awards listed in column (i) for the 2014-2016 performance period granted on February 27, 2014 are reflected at the target performance level because, as of December 31, 2015, actual performance to date is above threshold and below target and (ii) for the 2015-2016 performance period granted on February 26, 2015 are reflected at the maximum performance level because, as of December 31, 2015, actual performance to date is above target and below maximum.
(6) Represents restricted stock rights awards that may be granted to Mr. Eldred in the future, subject to the terms and conditions of the 2015 CFO Retention Grant. Although such restricted stock rights awards are disclosed in the above table in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, they have not been, and will not be, “granted” for purposes of the 2015 CFO Retention Grant or the PEP unless and until the relevant performance measures have been achieved. The number of shares issuable to Mr. Eldred in respect of such restricted stock rights awards (if any) will be determined on the applicable grant dates. For more information, refer to page 38 of this proxy statement.
Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table
The following table includes certain information with respect to the NEOs’ exercise of vested stock options during 2015, as well as the vesting during 2015 of restricted stock rights held by the NEOs. Options and restricted stock rights were awarded under the PEP.

OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED DURING 2015
(a) | (b) | (c) | (d) | (e)
| Option Awards | Stock Awards
Name | Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise (#) | Value Realized on Exercise ($) | Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting (#) | Value Realized on Vesting ($)
|  | (1) |  | (2)
P. K. Collawn | — |  | — |  | 128,483 |  | 3,580,356 |
C. N. Eldred | 26,004 |  | 295,621 |  | 32,915 |  | 917,447 |
R. E. Talbot | — |  | — |  | 23,827 |  | 664,173 |
P. V. Apodaca | 10,667 |  | 170,779 |  | 18,391 |  | 512,609 |
R. N. Darnell | — |  | — |  | 13,183 |  | 367,552 |

(1) Amount indicated is the aggregate dollar value realized upon the exercise of stock options based on the number of options exercised multiplied by the difference between the market price on the exercise date and the exercise price.
(2) Amounts indicated are the aggregate dollar value realized upon the vesting of restricted stock rights awards based on the number of shares acquired on vesting multiplied by the closing price of our common stock on the vesting date, as quoted on the NYSE.
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Retirement Benefits
Tax-Qualified Retirement Plans Available to all Eligible Employees
The retirement benefits under the tax-qualified plans for NEOs are the same as those available for other eligible employees of the Company. The RSP is a 401(k) plan that allows before-tax and after-tax contributions by employees and Company-matching and age-based contributions. The age-based contributions provide for varying contribution rates, from 3% to 10%, depending on the employee’s age, with the highest contribution rate applying to those employees who are 55 or greater. Employees direct their own investments in the RSP.
The RSP includes a Roth 401(k) feature, which allows an employee to make post-tax contributions that do not reduce the employee’s current taxable income. Withdrawals and other distributions from the Roth 401(k) feature are generally tax free.
Age-based contributions are made regardless of whether the employee defers compensation into the RSP. All of the Company’s contributions to the RSP are in cash, not shares of common stock. Employees may invest in shares of our common stock by allocating up to 20% of their respective RSP account balances into a Company stock fund, which is one of 23 investment options under the RSP. All contributions made under the RSP vest immediately.
The RSP results in individual participant balances that reflect a combination of: (1) the employee deferring a portion of cash compensation; (2) annual matching contributions made on behalf of the employee; (3) the age-based contributions made on behalf of the employee in an amount ranging from 3% to 10% of eligible compensation; (4) the annual contributions and deferred amounts being invested at the direction of the employee (the same investment choices are available to all employees) and (5), as in (4), the continuing reinvestment of the investment returns until the accounts are paid out. This means that similarly situated employees, including the NEOs, may have materially different account balances because of a combination of factors including: the number of years they have participated in the RSP, the amount of money contributed, or compensation deferred, at the election of the employee from year to year and the investments chosen by the employee. The RSP does not guarantee minimum returns or above-market returns and an employee’s returns are dependent upon actual investment results.
Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation
Non-Tax Qualified Retirement Plans
The Tax Code imposes a limitation on the amount of compensation that can be considered when determining the amount of the matching contributions and age-based contributions to the RSP. The Tax Code also limits the maximum amount that can be contributed by any participant as well as employer contributions and other amounts that can be allocated to any participant’s account.
We adopted the ESP in 1998 to address these Tax Code limitations. The ESP was a non-qualified deferred compensation plan that provided Officers with an opportunity to supplement their retirement savings and to receive the full employer contributions that would be available in the absence of the limitations imposed by the Tax Code. We froze the ESP in December 2004 when the Compensation Committee recommended, and the Board adopted, the ESP II, a non-qualified supplemental deferred compensation plan. Effective as of December 17, 2008, the ESP was merged into the ESP II. The ESP II runs side-by-side with the RSP.
For plan years beginning on and after January 1, 2014, matching credits under the ESP II are limited only to a participant that has “excess compensation,” which is compensation in excess of the limit imposed by Section 401(a)(17) of the Tax Code ($265,000 in 2015) for the relevant plan year. The matching credit is in an amount equal to 75% of the participant’s supplemental deferrals, provided that the matching credit shall not exceed an amount equal to 75% of the first 6% of excess compensation. A participant shall be eligible to receive a matching credit under the ESP II only if such participant has met the service requirements necessary to receive RSP matching contributions for that plan year. Additionally, when a participant reaches the annual compensation limit under the Tax Code in the RSP, our age-based contribution continues to the ESP II Plan.
Certain participants (including the NEOs) also receive a supplemental target contribution in the ESP II. In general, these contributions have been set to achieve competitive retirement pay replacement ratios of between 40% and 60% of pre-retirement income depending on years of service and age at retirement. These contributions are individually scheduled, actuarially-calculated contributions designed to reach target replacement ratios at a retirement age of 65. Additionally, the Compensation Committee may elect to make discretionary credits or discretionary contributions to the ESP II for a participant during a plan year in any amount, and on such terms and conditions, that the Compensation Committee deems appropriate.
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Upon enrollment in the ESP II, participants make an election regarding the form of their distribution. They may elect to receive a lump sum payment, installment payments or an annuity. For distribution elections made after December 31, 2014, the ESP II Plan distribution options will no longer include an annuity and installment payments will be limited to five or ten years.
Participants become entitled to a distribution under the ESP II upon their separation from service, death, disability or upon a specified date elected by the participant, subject to the requirements of Section 409A of the Tax Code. Effective for amounts credited to participant accounts for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2015, the participant specified dates distribution option is not available. Participants also may elect to have the portion of their account that is hypothetically invested in a Company stock fund distributed in shares of our common stock in lieu of cash. ESP II amounts are subject to the same vesting and investment provisions as under the RSP, with the exception of the supplemental credit account under the ESP II, which has a two-year vesting requirement that may be accelerated. Participants’ accounts in the ESP II are unfunded obligations, including the increases and decreases based on “investment” of the balances reflected as hypothetical returns equal to the actual returns of investments designated by a participant or the Company. Unless the participant, while employed by the Company, elects to receive all or a portion of his or her accounts on a specified date, benefits payable under the ESP II will be paid, as a general rule, within 90 days of the participant’s separation from service, death or disability, subject to the requirements of Section 409A of the Tax Code. Participants hypothetically invest their deferrals and employer contributions in the ESP II in the same investment options as are available under the RSP. Participants may change their investment selections on a daily basis. The following table shows the funds available under the RSP and their annual rate of return for the calendar year ended December 31, 2015, as reported by the administrator of the RSP.

Fund Name | Rate of Return - 2015 %
Vanguard Institutional Index Fund | 1.37
Metropolitan West Total Return Bond Fund | 0.82
PNM Resources, Inc. Common Stock Fund | 6.01
Vanguard Prime Money Market Fund | 0.11
Vanguard PRIMECAP Fund | 2.64
Pzena International Expanded Value ACWI (ex U.S.) Fund | (5.15)
Vanguard Retirement Savings Trust IV | 2.00
Vanguard Target Retirement 2010 Fund | (0.20)
Vanguard Target Retirement 2015 Fund | (0.46)
Vanguard Target Retirement 2020 Fund | (0.68)
Vanguard Target Retirement 2025 Fund | (0.85)
Vanguard Target Retirement 2030 Fund | (1.03)
Vanguard Target Retirement 2035 Fund | (1.26)
Vanguard Target Retirement 2040 Fund | (1.59)
Vanguard Target Retirement 2045 Fund | (1.57)
Vanguard Target Retirement 2050 Fund | (1.58)
Vanguard Target Retirement 2055 Fund | (1.72)
Vanguard Target Retirement 2060 Fund | (1.68)
Vanguard Target Retirement Income Fund | (0.17)
Victory Integrity Small/Mid-Cap Value Fund | (1.12)
Vanguard Wellington Fund | 0.14
Wells Fargo Discovery Fund | 1.55
Vanguard Windsor II Fund | (3.14)

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From 2009 to 2014, we adopted the After-Tax Plan as an alternative non-tax qualified retirement plan. Effective January 1, 2014, the After-Tax Plan was amended to prohibit participants from electing participation in this plan and this plan was terminated effective June 30, 2015. As a result, all the NEOs participated in the ESP II in 2015.
As a general rule, supplemental contributions to the ESP II vest after two years. The unvested ESP II Company supplemental contribution is subject to accelerated vesting and payment upon certain termination events discussed below under Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control.

2015 NON-QUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION
(a) |  | (b) | (c) | (d) | (e) | (f)
Name |  | Executive Contributions in Last Year (2015) ($) | Company Contributions in Last Year (2015) ($) | Aggregate Earnings (Loss) in Last Year (2015) ($) | Aggregate Withdrawals/ Distributions ($) | Aggregate Balance at Last Year End (2015) ($)
(1) | (2) |  |  |
P. K. Collawn | ESP II | 85,749 |  | 528,393 |  | 122,253 |  | — |  | 3,396,236 |
C. N. Eldred | ESP II | 252,735 |  | 370,284 |  | (24,727 | ) | — |  | 2,466,935 |
R. E. Talbot | ESP II | 112,206 |  | 110,378 |  | 5,911 |  | — |  | 732,018 |
P. V. Apodaca | ESP II | 128,452 |  | 149,748 |  | (4,101 | ) | — |  | 868,694 |
R. N. Darnell | ESP II | 15,129 |  | 67,277 |  | (79 | ) | — |  | 82,327 |

(1) The amounts in this column are included in the “Salary” column (c) of the SCT on page 46.
(2) The amounts in this column are included as a component of “All Other Compensation” in column (i) of the SCT and consist of the following 2015 Company contributions to the ESP II:

ESP II COMPANY CONTRIBUTIONS
Name | Matching ($) | Age-Based ($) | Supplemental ($) | Total ($)
P. K. Collawn | 46,612 |  | 103,581 |  | 378,200 |  | 528,393 |
C. N. Eldred | 17,654 |  | 39,230 |  | 313,400 |  | 370,284 |
R. E. Talbot | 11,800 |  | 20,978 |  | 77,600 (y) |  | 110,378 |
P. V. Apodaca | 8,456 |  | 18,792 |  | 122,500 |  | 149,748 |
R. N. Darnell | 3,593 |  | 7,984 |  | 55,700 |  | 67,277 |
(y) Entire amount unvested as of December 31, 2015.

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control
The tables beginning on page 60 illustrate the amounts payable to each of the NEOs in the event of a termination of his or her employment, whether voluntary or involuntary. Also included are additional payments in connection with his or her retirement, death, disability or involuntary termination following a change in control. The amounts shown: (1) assume a termination effective as of December 31, 2015, (2) are based on the closing price of our common stock on December 31, 2015, as reported on the NYSE ($30.57), and (3) are estimates of the amounts that would be paid to each NEO based upon the amounts earned through the end of 2015. The precise amount actually due to any NEO upon his or her termination can only be determined at the time of the termination.
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Payments Made Upon Termination
If an NEO’s employment terminates for any reason, he or she is entitled to receive amounts earned during his or her term of employment. Such amounts include: (1) base salary through the date of termination, (2) accrued but unused paid time off, (3) amounts contributed by the NEO and vested amounts contributed by the Company under the RSP and ESP II and (4) stock options and restricted stock rights awards that have vested as of the termination date (unless the NEO is terminated for “cause,” in which case vested and unexercised stock options and any undelivered vested restricted stock rights or performance shares are forfeited).
Additional Payments Made Upon Retirement
In addition to the amounts described above, upon an NEO’s termination of employment because of retirement (upon the occurrence of a certain age and/or service conditions as defined in the relevant plan), all of his or her outstanding non-vested stock options and time vested restricted stock rights granted under the PEP will immediately vest. Further, the Officer will be eligible to receive a pro rata portion of his or her performance share awards, granted under the applicable LTIP, if the Officer separates from service in the second half of the performance period and the relevant performance goals are attained at the end of the performance period. As of December 31, 2015, Mr. Eldred and Mr. Apodaca are retirement eligible under the PEP.
Additional Payments Made Upon Death or Disability
In addition to the amounts described above, if an NEO dies or becomes disabled, he or she will receive payments under our basic and supplemental life, accidental death and dismemberment and disability programs that are generally available to all employees.
Pursuant to the 2012 CEO Retention Grant, 2015 CEO Retention Grant and 2015 CFO Retention Grant, respectively, Ms. Collawn and Mr. Eldred are also eligible to receive a pro rata portion of the performance share, restricted stock rights and retention bonus awards payable to them thereunder (as applicable) upon their death or disability. In addition, certain AIP and LTIP awards provide for payment or vesting if an NEO dies or becomes disabled during the performance period or prior to the awards vesting.
Severance Payments
In addition to the amounts described above, if we terminate the employment of an NEO because we eliminate his or her position, the table beginning on page 60 reflects the amounts payable under our Severance Plan. This plan covers all non-union employees (including the NEOs) who satisfy the Severance Plan’s service requirement and whose positions are eliminated. Members of the Officer group (which includes all NEOs) are eligible, upon signing a customary release agreement, for a lump sum severance payment equal to 14 months of base salary plus one additional week of base salary for each year of service. The severance benefit is capped so as to not exceed the lump sum severance payment at a level equal to what an Officer would receive under the Retention Plan. Members of the Officer group also are eligible to receive reimbursement for placement assistance expenses (up to 5% of base salary) and continuation of certain insurance benefits and health care benefits for up to 12 months. If an individual receives benefits under a Retention Plan as discussed below in the Payments Made Upon a Change in Control section, severance benefits are not available under the Severance Plan.
Payments Made Upon a Change in Control
In addition to the amounts described above (other than the severance pay), if an NEO’s employment is terminated within 24 months in connection with a change in control, either by us without cause, or by the NEO due to a constructive termination, the NEO will receive additional payments and benefits (including special severance benefits) under the Retention Plan, which covers all of the Officers, including the NEOs. Benefits are only payable if the Officer is not retained or immediately re-employed (“double trigger”) by the successor company following a change in control and if the termination is (1) by the Company for reasons other than cause, death or disability or (2) by the Officer due to constructive termination. The Officer must sign a customary release agreement to receive benefits. All Company Officers, including the NEOs, would receive the benefits provided under the Retention Plan as highlighted below. The benefits include:

• | A lump sum severance payment equal to two times current eligible compensation for the CEO, EVP and SVPs;

• | Eligible compensation includes base salary, any cash award paid as a merit increase in lieu of base salary and the average of the AIP awards for the three calendar years immediately preceding;

• | A pro rata award of the Officer’s annual incentive equal to the target award available under the applicable plan for the relevant performance period;

• | Health care, life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance benefits that are substantially similar to those received by the Officer immediately prior to termination of employment for a period of 24 months for the CEO, EVP and SVPs;

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• | Senior Officers (CEO, EVP and SVPs) must sign a restrictive covenant agreement not to compete in order to participate in the Retention Plan. If an Officer signs a restricted covenant agreement, the Officer will be compensated for the period of time during which the restrictions are in effect. If the Officer does not sign the agreement in a timely manner, then the Officer(s) will not be entitled to any benefits under the Retention Plan. As of December 31, 2012, all eligible NEOs had signed the required restrictive covenant agreements. As such, the period of time covered for which a Senior Officer will be compensated, in the case of a change in control, is an amount equal to the Officer’s eligible compensation paid over a 12-month period;

• | Reimbursement of reasonable legal fees and expenses incurred as a result of termination of employment; and

• | The PEP contains a double trigger vesting following a change in control. Upon a qualifying change in control termination (which requires a termination of employment by the Company for any reason other than cause, death, disability or a termination by Officer due to constructive termination), all outstanding, unvested stock option awards, all time-vested restricted stock rights awards and a pro rata portion of any performance share awards granted under the PEP will fully vest, at the end of the performance period, subject, in the case of performance awards, to the attainment of the relevant performance goals. If the Board concludes the value of an award will be materially impaired following a change in control, then the award will fully vest immediately prior to (but contingent upon) the change in control.

The Company also sponsors certain other plans in which the NEOs participate that contain provisions that are triggered by a change in control. These include, for example, the ESP II which provide that the participant will receive a pro rata amount of the annual employer contribution for the number of months of service during the year. The LTIP also provides that each NEO will receive a pro rata award for the number of months of service during the performance period prior to the change in control event, subject, in the case of performance awards, to the attainment of the relevant performance goals. Finally, subject to certain conditions, the 2012 CEO Retention Grant, 2015 CEO Retention Grant and 2015 CFO Retention Grant all provide for payment of pro rata awards to Ms. Collawn and Mr. Eldred if their employment is terminated without cause following a change in control.
Upon a qualifying change in control termination, all outstanding, unvested stock option awards and either all restricted stock rights awards with service-based restrictions or a pro rata portion of restricted stock rights awards with performance-based restrictions granted under the PEP will fully vest, subject, in the case of performance awards, to the attainment of the relevant performance goals.
A summary of the material provisions of the definition of “Change in Control” contained in the Retention Plan and related plans are as follows:

1. | Subject to certain exceptions, any person becomes the beneficial owner of 20% or more of the Company’s common stock;
2. | During any consecutive two-year period, the following individuals cease, for any reason, to constitute a majority of the Board: (i) directors who were directors at the beginning of the two-year period and (ii) any new directors whose election by the Board or nomination for election by our shareholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who either were elected at the beginning of the two-year period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, but not including any such new directors designated by a person who entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in parts 1, 3 or 4 of this definition summary;
3. | Our shareholders approve a merger or consolidation with another company, corporation or subsidiary that is not affiliated with us immediately before the change in control, unless the merger or consolidation results in the Company’s voting securities outstanding immediately before the merger or consolidation continuing to represent at least 60% of the Company’s combined voting power of such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation; or
4. | The adoption of a plan of complete liquidation of the Company or any agreement for the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets.

No change in control will be deemed to have occurred until all required regulatory approvals are obtained and the transaction that would otherwise be considered to be a change in control closes.
The following table summarizes the value of the termination payments and benefits that the NEOs would have received if he or she had terminated employment on December 31, 2015, under the circumstances shown, and based on the terms of the relevant plans as of December 31, 2015. The table excludes amounts which are generally available to all our employees, such as (1) amounts accrued through December 31, 2015, that would be paid in the normal course of continued employment, such as accrued but unpaid salary and (2) vested account balances under the RSP.
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CHANGE IN CONTROL, TERMINATION, RETIREMENT, OR IMPACTION
Benefits and Payments | Voluntary Termination by Executive ($) | Termination for Cause ($) | Disability ($) | Death ($) | Constructive or without Cause Termination due to Change in Control ($) | Retirement ($) | Impaction ($)
|  |  |  |  |  | (1) | (2)
P. K. Collawn |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
AIP (3) | — |  | — |  | 870,100 |  | 870,100 |  | 870,100 |  | — |  | 870,100 |
Restricted Stock Rights (4) | — |  | — |  | 949,107 |  | 949,107 |  | 949,107 |  | — |  | 949,107 |
2013-2015 Performance Shares (5) | 1,060,198 |  | — |  | 1,060,198 |  | 1,060,198 |  | 1,060,198 |  | — |  | 1,060,198 |
2014-2016 Performance Shares (6) | — |  | — |  | 715,277 |  | 715,277 |  | 715,277 |  | — |  | 715,277 |
2015-2017 Performance Shares (7) | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 633,094 |  | — |  | — |
2012 Retention Grant (8) | — |  | — |  | 2,445,600 |  | 2,445,600 |  | 2,445,600 |  | — |  | — |
2015 Retention Grant (8) | — |  | — |  | 329,086 |  | 329,086 |  | 329,086 |  | — |  | — |
ESP II Plan Balances | 3,396,236 |  | 3,396,236 |  | 3,396,236 |  | 3,396,236 |  | 3,396,236 |  | — |  | 3,396,236 |
Health and Welfare Benefits | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 23,779 |  | — |  | 4,337 |
Life Insurance Proceeds (13) | — |  | — |  | — |  | 1,400,000 |  | — |  | — |  | — |
Cash Severance (10) | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 3,750,038 |  | — |  | 1,025,433 |
Legal Fees (11) and Outplacement Services (12) | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 20,000 |  | — |  | 38,500 |
Total P. K. Collawn | 4,456,434 |  | 3,396,236 |  | 9,765,604 |  | 11,165,604 |  | 14,192,515 |  | — |  | 8,059,188 |
C. N. Eldred |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
AIP (3) | 345,509 |  | — |  | 345,509 |  | 345,509 |  | 345,509 |  | 345,509 |  | 345,509 |
Restricted Stock Rights (4) | 297,507 |  | — |  | 297,507 |  | 297,507 |  | 297,507 |  | 297,507 |  | 297,507 |
2013-2015 Performance Shares (5) | 376,775 |  | — |  | 376,775 |  | 376,775 |  | 376,775 |  | 376,775 |  | 376,775 |
2014-2016 Performance Shares (6) | 211,208 |  | — |  | 211,208 |  | 211,208 |  | 211,208 |  | 211,208 |  | 211,208 |
2015-2017 Performance Shares (7) | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 183,879 |  | — |  | — |
2015 Retention Grant (9) | — |  | — |  | 250,000 |  | 250,000 |  | 250,000 |  | — |  | — |
ESP II Plan Balances | 2,466,935 |  | 2,466,935 |  | 2,466,935 |  | 2,466,935 |  | 2,466,935 |  | 2,466,935 |  | 2,466,935 |
Health and Welfare Benefits | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 45,122 |  | — |  | 8,126 |
Life Insurance Proceeds (13) | — |  | — |  | — |  | 1,400,000 |  | — |  | — |  | — |
Cash Severance (10) | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 1,937,360 |  | — |  | 593,600 |
Legal Fees (11) and Outplacement Services (12) | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 20,000 |  | — |  | 21,840 |
Total C. N. Eldred | 3,697,934 |  | 2,466,935 |  | 3,947,934 |  | 5,347,934 |  | 6,134,295 |  | 3,697,934 |  | 4,321,500 |

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CHANGE IN CONTROL, TERMINATION, RETIREMENT, OR IMPACTION
Benefits and Payments | Voluntary Termination by Executive ($) | Termination for Cause ($) | Disability ($) | Death ($) | Constructive or without Cause Termination due to Change in Control ($) | Retirement ($) | Impaction ($)
|  |  |  |  |  | (1) | (2)
R. E. Talbot |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
AIP (3) | — |  | — |  | 235,253 |  | 235,253 |  | 235,253 |  | — |  | 235,253 |
Restricted Stock Rights (4) | — |  | — |  | 216,864 |  | 216,864 |  | 216,864 |  | — |  | 216,864 |
2013-2015 Performance Shares (5) | 242,604 |  | — |  | 242,604 |  | 242,604 |  | 242,604 |  | — |  | 242,604 |
2014-2016 Performance Shares (6) | — |  | — |  | 148,326 |  | 148,326 |  | 148,326 |  | — |  | 148,326 |
2015-2017 Performance Shares (7) | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 130,381 |  | — |  | — |
ESP II Plan Balances | 580,544 |  | 580,544 |  | 732,018 |  | 732,018 |  | 732,018 |  | — |  | 580,544 |
Health and Welfare Benefits | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 20,535 |  | — |  | 10,076 |
Life Insurance Proceeds (13) | — |  | — |  | — |  | 400,000 |  | — |  | — |  | — |
Cash Severance (10) | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 1,588,592 |  | — |  | 470,730 |
Legal Fees (11) and Outplacement Services (12) | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 20,000 |  | — |  | 18,926 |
Total R. E. Talbot | 823,148 |  | 580,544 |  | 1,575,065 |  | 1,975,065 |  | 3,334,573 |  | — |  | 1,923,323 |
P. V. Apodaca |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
AIP (3) | 195,884 |  | — |  | 195,884 |  | 195,884 |  | 195,884 |  | 195,884 |  | 195,884 |
Restricted Stock Rights (4) | 182,686 |  | — |  | 182,686 |  | 182,686 |  | 182,686 |  | 182,686 |  | 182,686 |
2013-2015 Performance Shares (5) | 207,937 |  | — |  | 207,937 |  | 207,937 |  | 207,937 |  | 207,937 |  | 207,937 |
2014-2016 Performance Shares (6) | 118,887 |  | — |  | 118,887 |  | 118,887 |  | 118,887 |  | 118,887 |  | 118,887 |
2015-2017 Performance Shares (7) | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 102,501 |  | — |  | — |
ESP II Plan Balances | 868,694 |  | 868,694 |  | 868,694 |  | 868,694 |  | 868,694 |  | 868,694 |  | 868,694 |
Health and Welfare Benefits | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 81,907 |  | — |  | 11,603 |
Life Insurance Proceeds (13) | — |  | — |  | — |  | 1,400,000 |  | — |  | — |  | — |
Cash Severance (10) | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 1,373,032 |  | — |  | 424,281 |
Legal Fees (11) and Outplacement Services (12) | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 20,000 |  | — |  | 16,547 |
Total P. V. Apodaca | 1,574,088 |  | 868,694 |  | 1,574,088 |  | 2,974,088 |  | 3,151,528 |  | 1,574,088 |  | 2,026,519 |

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CHANGE IN CONTROL, TERMINATION, RETIREMENT, OR IMPACTION
Benefits and Payments | Voluntary Termination by Executive ($) | Termination for Cause ($) | Disability ($) | Death ($) | Constructive or without Cause Termination due to Change in Control ($) | Retirement ($) | Impaction ($)
|  |  |  |  |  | (1) | (2)
R. N. Darnell |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
AIP (3) | — |  | — |  | 156,707 |  | 156,707 |  | 156,707 |  | — |  | 156,707 |
Restricted Stock Rights (4) | — |  | — |  | 138,360 |  | 138,360 |  | 138,360 |  | — |  | 138,360 |
2013-2015 Performance Shares (5) | 146,767 |  | — |  | 146,767 |  | 146,767 |  | 146,767 |  | — |  | 146,767 |
2014-2016 Performance Shares (6) | — |  | — |  | 84,740 |  | 84,740 |  | 84,740 |  | — |  | 84,740 |
2015-2017 Performance Shares (7) | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 72,359 |  | — |  | — |
ESP II Plan Balances | 82,327 |  | 82,327 |  | 82,327 |  | 82,327 |  | 82,327 |  | — |  | 82,327 |
Health and Welfare Benefits | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 35,687 |  | — |  | 11,640 |
Life Insurance Proceeds (13) | — |  | — |  | — |  | 900,000 |  | — |  | — |  | — |
Cash Severance (10) | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 1,014,543 |  | — |  | 331,747 |
Legal Fees (11) and Outplacement Services (12) | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 20,000 |  | — |  | 12,607 |
Total R. N. Darnell | 229,094 |  | 82,327 |  | 608,901 |  | 1,508,901 |  | 1,751,490 |  | — |  | 964,895 |

(1)Under the PEP, “Retirement” is defined as termination of employment and attainment of (a) age 45 and 20 years of service, (b) age 55 and 10 years of service, (c) age 59.5 or (d) any age and 30 years of service. As of December 31, 2015, Ms. Collawn, Mr. Talbot and Mr. Darnell had not attained Retirement eligibility under the PEP. Under the ESP II, “Normal Retirement Date” is defined as the attainment of age 62. As of December 31, 2015, Ms. Collawn, Mr. Talbot and Mr. Darnell had not attained their Normal Retirement Date under the ESP II.
(2) “Impaction” is defined under our Severance Plan, in relevant part, as the termination of employment as a result of the Company’s elimination of an executive’s position.
(3)The amount represented is the amount payable under the 2015 AIP, as set forth in column (g) of the SCT on page 46.
(4)The amount represented is the value of all restricted stock rights that would vest under the PEP on an accelerated basis under certain termination events based on the closing market price of our common stock on December 31, 2015 ($30.57).
(5)The amounts shown are the amounts payable to our NEOs under the 2013 LTIP for the actual below target aggregate performance results earned for 2013-2015 based on the applicable relative TSR and FFO/Debt Ratio performance measures. For performance shares, the number indicated assumes that the market prices upon delivery in 2016 of such performance shares, was the same as the closing price on December 31, 2015 ($30.57).
(6)The amounts shown are a pro rata portion of the amounts payable, if at all, under the 2014 LTIP assuming the current level of performance and that the market price upon delivery will be the same as the closing price on December 31, 2015 ($30.57).
(7)The amounts shown are a pro rata portion of the amounts payable, if at all, under the 2015 LTIP, upon a change in control, assuming the current level of performance and that the market price upon delivery will be the same as the closing price on December 31, 2015 ($30.57).
(8)As disclosed on page 37, in 2012, the CEO was awarded the 2012 CEO Retention Grant. Ms. Collawn must remain employed by the Company, as of the applicable vesting dates to receive the grant. She is eligible to receive a pro rata award, based
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on actual results at the end of the performance period in the event of death, disability or a qualifying change in control termination, as defined in the PEP. Under the terms of the 2012 CEO Retention Grant, if Ms. Collawn’s employment were terminated as of December 31, 2015 due to death, disability, constructive or without cause termination due to a change in control and if the Company achieved the performance goals in the 2012 CEO Retention Grant as of December 31, 2015, she would be entitled to receive a pro rata award. The remaining shares (100,000) will only be earned if the Company achieves the performance goals in the 2012 CEO Retention Grant as of December 31, 2016. Assuming that the market price upon delivery will be the same as the closing price on December 31, 2015 ($30.57), the value of the Company stock provided to Ms. Collawn would be the remaining 100,000 shares, $3,057,000 in 2017. As disclosed on page 38, in 2015, the CEO was awarded the 2015 CEO Retention Grant. Ms. Collawn must continue employment through December 31, 2019 and meet certain performance goals to receive the performance shares awarded under the 2015 CEO Retention Grant. Ms. Collawn is eligible to receive a pro rata award in the event of death, disability or a qualifying change in control termination, as defined in the PEP, provided that specified performance goals have been met as of the date of termination. The amounts shown reflect the value of the pro rata award that would have been payable to Ms. Collawn had she died, become disabled or had a qualifying change in control termination on December 31, 2015, provided that the compounded annual rate of Earnings Growth equals at least 3%.
(9)As disclosed on page 38, in 2015, the CFO was awarded the 2015 CFO Retention Grant. Mr. Eldred must continue employment through December 31, 2017 and meet certain performance goals to receive the retention bonuses and restricted stock rights awards contemplated by the 2015 CFO Retention Grant. Mr. Eldred is eligible to receive a pro rata award in the event of death, disability or a qualifying change in control termination, as defined in the PEP, provided that specified performance goals have been met as of the date of termination. The amounts shown reflect the value of the pro rata awards that would have been payable to Mr. Eldred had he died, become disabled or had a qualifying change in control termination on December 31, 2015.
(10)For constructive or without cause termination due to change in control, represents (i) a lump sum severance payment equal to two times current eligible compensation and (ii) payment for a restrictive covenant agreement equal to one times eligible compensation paid over a 12-month period.
(11)The NEOs are eligible for reimbursement of reasonable legal expenses upon termination for change in control as of December 31, 2015. The amount shown in the table is a reasonable estimate of the amount that may be reimbursable.
(12)The Company will reimburse a participant for placement assistance expenses, up to a maximum of five percent (5%) of the participant’s base salary. Reimbursements pursuant to Impaction will only be for expenses incurred within nine (9) months following the participant’s separation from service.
(13) The amounts shown for life insurance proceeds consist of Officer Life and Management Life.
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EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATON
The following table shows the total number of outstanding options and shares available for future issuances of options and all other equity awards under all of our equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2015.

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION As of December 31, 2015
| (a) | (b) | (c)
Plan Category | Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights (#) | Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights ($) | Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) (#)
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders | 1,381,800 (1) | 19.35 (1) | 11,661,685 (2)
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders (ESP II) (3) | 87,998 | (3) | 64,362
Total | 1,469,798 | (1)(3) | 11,726,047
(1) Amount includes (a) 569,342 outstanding options, 111,714 unvested restricted stock awards and 341,612 actual and contingent performance shares (assuming maximum performance) issued under the Second Amended and Restated Omnibus Performance Equity Plan, as amended (“2009 PEP”) and (b) 133,380 unvested restricted stock awards and 225,752 contingent performance shares granted under the 2014 Performance Equity Plan, which replaced the 2009 PEP on May 15, 2014. (2) The 2014 Performance Equity Plan has a fungible design that charges the authorized pool five (5) shares for each full value award. Thus, although 11,661,685 shares of the 13,500,000 authorized shares remained available for future issuance under the current PEP, as of December 31, 2015, only 2,332,337 full value awards may be issued in the future. Please note that the above figure does not include shares that may be granted to the Company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Eldred, pursuant to the 2015 CFO Retention Agreement as discussed in detail on page 38. If the potential grant were included in the above figure, it would reduce the amount of shares available for future issuance under the PEP by 61,335, based on the December 31, 2015 closing price of $30.57. (3) Under the ESP II (as referenced under the Non-Tax Qualified Retirement Plans section on page 55), a participant may choose to invest his or her accounts in one or more of several hypothetical investment funds, including the PNM Resources Stock Fund, which provides for returns based on a hypothetical investment in shares of common stock of PNM Resources. A participant who chooses to invest in the PNM Resources Stock Fund may elect to settle that portion of his or her account in either common stock or cash. As reflected above in column (a), as of December 31, 2015, a total of 87,998 phantom shares of PNM Resources’ common stock were allocated to participants in the ESP II. Phantom shares are not included in the weighted average exercise price calculations of column (b). A total of 257,500 shares of common stock have been registered to date by PNM Resources for issuance under the ESP II. Column (c) above reflects that, as of December 31, 2015, 64,362 registered shares remained available for future issuance and settlement of phantom shares under the ESP II.

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SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
PNM Resources has been notified that shareholders or their representatives intend to present the following three proposals for consideration at the 2016 Annual Meeting. We are presenting the proposals and supporting statements as they were submitted to us by the proponents. We do not necessarily agree with all of the statements contained in the proposals and the supporting statements, but we have limited our responses to the most important points and have not attempted to address all the statements with which we disagree. The name, address and share ownership of each proponent will be furnished to any shareholder upon oral or written request. We recommend a vote against each of these proposals for the reasons set forth in each opposing statement.
PROPOSAL 4: PNM TO ADOPT QUANTITATIVE GOALS FOR REDUCING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND ISSUE AN ANNUAL REPORT THEREON (PROPOSAL 4 on your Proxy Card)
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION REDUCTION-PLANNING AND REPORTING
RESOLVED: Shareholders request Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) adopt time-bound, quantitative, company-wide goals for reducing total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, taking into consideration the recommendations of the most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and issue a report by September 1, 2016, updated annually, at reasonable cost and omitting proprietary information, on its plans to achieve these goals.
Supporting Statement
The IPCC, the world’s leading scientific authority on climate change, in its 2013 report confirmed that warming of the climate is unequivocal and human influence is the dominant cause. Many investors are deeply concerned about the effect of climate change on society and business.
In May 2011, a National Academy of Sciences report emphasized that “the sooner that serious efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions proceed, the lower the risks ...and the less pressure there will be to make larger, more rapid, and potentially more expensive reductions later.”
In order to mitigate the worst impacts of climate change, the IPCC estimates that a 55% reduction in GHG emissions globally is needed by 2050 (relative to 2010 levels) entailing a US target reduction of 80%.
The costs of failing to address climate change are significant. “Dangerous Inheritance,” a report released by Environment New Mexico Research and Policy Center, found “that the warming that has occurred over the past four decades had increased the risk of severe storms, heat-related illness, floods, drought, crop failure, wildfires and infrastructure damage.” These and other effects could substantially impact PNM’s business operations.
Investor advisory groups track company performance with respect to environmental and social indicators, and a negative report can have an adverse impact on investors. MSCI Inc. (a leading US-based provider of equity market indexes and environmental, social and governance research) in its 2014 report stated that “[PNM] lags in setting aggressive targets to reduce adverse impacts on the environment, such as Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions” and that “The company’s business activities and the geographic distribution of its revenues suggest relatively high exposure to increased costs linked to carbon price or regulatory caps.”
Setting GHG emission targets is widespread among US companies and can have positive financial outcomes. A report published by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), and McKinsey and Company found that companies with GHG targets achieved an average of 9% better return on investment than companies without targets. CDP, supported by global investors with over $90 Trillion in assets under management, gathers reports from thousands of companies disclosure their carbon emission and reduction plans.
Public Service Company of New Mexico will in the near future be required to respond to new EPA guidelines for carbon emission reduction. However, we believe that the company, and its shareholders, will be best served by a comprehensive, proactive, and public plan for GHG reduction in addition to compliance with anticipated regulations.
OPPOSING STATEMENT
The Board recommends that shareholders vote AGAINST this proposal for the following reasons.
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The proposal is directed at assuring that PNM has a plan for reducing its GHG emissions and that we report such plans to our shareholders. We believe we already do both. PNM is committed to being a good environmental steward and operating its facilities in a manner that meets or exceeds the requirements in environmental laws and regulations while continuing to provide reliable and affordable electricity for its customers. PNM annually reports its GHG emissions to the EPA under 40 CFR 98- Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting for our generating stations and electrical transmission and distribution equipment. PNM has integrated programs for reducing its overall GHG emissions that are based on maintaining a diverse, reliable and affordable resource mix, investing in renewable energy projects and promoting energy conservation and efficiency efforts. Further, PNM continually reports its efforts on reducing GHG emissions and related matters on its website www.powerforprogress.com (under Environment-Greenhouse Gases) and we also include relevant information regarding aspects of PNM’s GHG emission reduction programs in our quarterly and annual reports filed with the SEC as well as on our website, www.pnmresources.com, under Community and Environment and under Investors.
PNM recently received regulatory approval to close, by the end of 2017, two of four coal-fired electric generating units at San Juan Generating Station (“SJGS”) near Farmington, New Mexico. This planned closure will effectively reduce SJGS GHG emissions by about 50% or 5 to 6 million tons annually. With the closure of the two units, PNM’s own GHG emissions will be reduced by approximately 28% at SJGS and 23% system wide, well above President Obama’s June 25, 2013 Climate Action Plan that calls for a reduction of GHG by 17% below 2005 levels by 2020. In addition, the shutdown of the two units at SJGS will provide a significant step towards the State of New Mexico’s compliance with EPA’s Clean Power Plan, if ultimately upheld.
PNM continues to reduce or offset GHG emissions from its generation portfolio by expanding its generation capacity from solar, wind and geothermal renewable resources. PNM has invested about $270 million on solar power in New Mexico and currently has more than one million solar panels at 15 utility-scale solar facilities providing approximately 107 megawatts of solar generation. As the state’s largest electric utility serving over 500,000 customers, PNM’s solar program has played a large role in New Mexico being ranked among the top 6 states in the country for solar capacity per person by the Environment America Research & Policy Center (http://environmentamerica.org/reports/amc/lighting-way-0). In addition, in 2006, PNM began its solar energy customer program, which today supports over 5,000 customers who have installed solar panels at their homes or businesses. PNM has been purchasing all the wind power produced at the largest wind farm in New Mexico since it came online in 2003. At that time, this wind farm was one of the largest wind farms in the world. PNM continues to invest in wind power, increasing its wind generation by 50% in 2015. Energy storage is the greatest barrier to fully realizing the potential of solar and wind energy. The PNM Prosperity Energy Storage Project (https:/www.pnm.com/solarstorage) uses smart grid technology and batteries to smooth output and store energy for later use, helping PNM and its partners address this challenge. This is the first solar battery storage project in the nation interconnected to the grid.
PNM is the first customer to purchase power from the first utility-scale geothermal plant in New Mexico. PNM has an agreement to purchase up to 10 MW of power from this plant. Unlike wind and solar, geothermal energy is available to serve customers around the clock.
PNM’s renewable resource power generation portfolio of solar, wind and geothermal power currently provides the equivalent amount of energy to power approximately 150,000 homes and thereby reduces GHG emissions by approximately 915,000 metric tons, or the equivalent of taking 201,000 cars off the road annually, while also reducing freshwater use at power plants by approximately 382 million gallons annually. PNM met New Mexico’s goal of providing 15% of its power from renewable resources by 2015 and is on track to meet the state’s goal of 20% by 2020.
PNM is transitioning its fleet to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and trucks. We are also providing assistance to municipalities who are moving towards converting their fleets. These efforts save money and reduce emissions of pollutants.
PNM has taken a major and leading role in supporting New Mexico’s energy efficiency legislation and has introduced a suite of electric energy efficiency programs that helped customers save 79 gigawatt hours of power in 2015. Our energy efficiency programs have prevented an estimated 905,000 metric tons of GHG emissions and reduced the need for water for power plant use by 481 million gallons since 2007.
PNM is committed to expanding engagement and proactively communicating with communities and stakeholders about its ongoing efforts to reduce its overall GHG in a manner that allows it to continue providing reliable and affordable electricity for its customers. The Board believes that the information about these comprehensive and integrated efforts that is publically available on both the www.powerforprogress.com and www.pnmresources.com websites renders the adoption of the proposed resolution by shareholders unnecessary.
Accordingly, the Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote AGAINST this shareholder proposal.
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PROPOSAL 5: ADOPT SUSTAINABILITY AS A PERFORMANCE MEASURE FOR EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION (PROPOSAL 5 on your Proxy Card)
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND SUSTAINABILITY
RESOLVED: That the shareholders of PNM request that the Board’s Compensation Committee, when setting senior executive compensation, incorporate measures of sustainability metrics, including reductions of annual greenhouse gas emissions, as one of the performance measures for senior executives under the company’s annual and/or long-term incentive plans. Sustainability is defined as how environmental, social and financial considerations are integrated into corporate strategy over the long term.
SUPPORTING STATEMENT
The long-term interest of shareholders, as well as other constituents, is best served by companies that operate their businesses in a sustainable manner focused on long-term value creation. Linking sustainability metrics to executive compensation reduces risks associated with unbridled executive pay and creates incentives for employees to meet sustainability goals.
El Paso Electric was identified by the Compensation Committee of the Board as a peer group of similar companies for the purpose of comparing executive compensation. El Paso Electric is a national leader in solar development and now has 6 percent of its energy generation coming from renewable resources. By mid-2016 El Paso Electric plans to eliminate 108 mega watts of coal generating capacity, replacing it with 100 mega watts of solar and the remainder natural gas.
The report Greening the Green 2014: Linking Executive Pay to Sustainability discusses a “mounting body of research showing that firms that operate in a more responsible manner may perform better financially.... Moreover, these companies were also more likely to tie top executive incentives to sustainability metrics.”(1) A 2011 study of 490 global companies found that including sustainability targets in remuneration package was sufficient to encourage sustainable development.(2) According to the largest study of CEOs on sustainability to date (CEO Study on Sustainability 2013 by the UN Global Compact and Accenture):

◦ | 63 percent of CEOs expect sustainability to transform their industry within five years.

◦ | 76 percent believe that embedding sustainability into core business will drive revenue growth and new opportunities.

◦ | 93 percent regard sustainability as key to success.

◦ | 86 percent believe sustainability should be integrated into compensation discussions, and 67 percent report they already do.(3)

When a company addresses major challenges for future business, they include them in their business planning and setting of business objectives. It is a logical step to ensure they are included in compensation planning as well.
__________________
(1) See www.glasslewis.com/blog/glass-lewis-publishes-greening-green-2014-linking-compensation-sustainability
(2) “Sustainability Targets in Executive Remuneration: An Analysis of the Contribution of Sustainability Targets in Executive Remuneration to Sustainable Development,” S.B.M. Rosendaal, Erasmus University, 2011.
(3) The UN Global Compact-Accenture CEO Study on Sustainability 2013: Architects of a Better World.
OPPOSING STATEMENT
The Board recommends that shareholders vote AGAINST this proposal for the following reasons.
While the Board of PNM Resources agrees that the long-term interests of its shareholders are best served by companies that operate their business in a sustainable manner focused on long-term value creation, the Board believes that adopting the proposal is unnecessary, would unduly restrict the work of its Compensation Committee, which manages its executive compensation programs, and would not be in the best interests of PNM Resources or its shareholders.
PNM Resources and its utility subsidiaries are each committed to being good environmental stewards and improving sustainability efforts, while meeting the ongoing objective to provide reliable, affordable energy for our customers. PNM has integrated programs for reducing overall GHG emissions that are based on maintaining a diverse fuel mix, investing in renewable energy projects and promoting energy conservation and efficiency efforts.
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PNM recently received regulatory approval to close, by the end of 2017, two of four coal-fired electric generating units at SJGS near Farmington, New Mexico. This planned closure will effectively reduce SJGS GHG emissions by about 50% or 5 to 6 million tons annually. With the closure of the two units, PNM’s own GHG emissions will be reduced by approximately 28% at SJGS and 23% system wide, well above President Obama’s June 25, 2013 Climate Action Plan that calls for a reduction of GHG by 17% below 2005 levels by 2020. In addition, the shutdown of the two units at SJGS will provide a significant step towards the State of New Mexico’s compliance with EPA’s Clean Power Plan, if ultimately upheld.
PNM continues to reduce or offset GHG from its generation portfolio by expanding its generation capacity from wind, solar and geothermal renewable resources. PNM’s renewable resource power generation portfolio currently provides the equivalent amount of energy to power approximately 150,000 homes and thereby reduces GHG emissions by approximately 915,000 metric tons, or the equivalent of taking 201,000 cars off the road annually, while also reducing freshwater use at power plants by approximately 382 million gallons annually. PNM met New Mexico’s goal of providing 15% of its power from renewable resources by 2015 and is on track to meet the state’s goal of 20% by 2020.
PNM has taken a major and leading role in supporting New Mexico’s energy efficiency legislation and has introduced a suite of electric energy efficiency programs that helped customers save 79 gigawatt hours of power in 2015. Our energy efficiency programs have prevented an estimated 905,000 metric tons of GHG emissions and reduced the need for water for power plant use by 481 million gallons since 2007.
The Board believes that its existing compensation program and corporate governance requirements motivate its executive officers to operate its businesses in a sustainable manner that balances the interests of our customers and other stakeholders while creating long-term value for shareholders. Requiring the Compensation Committee to include specific sustainability metrics for PNM as one of the performance measures under our incentive plans is unnecessary and unduly interferes with the Compensation Committee’s discretion to design and monitor an effective executive compensation program that is responsive to business goals and market conditions.
The Board also believes our existing executive pay program effectively addresses the proponent’s concern that the program should be designed to motivate executive officers to operate PNM’s business in a sustainable manner, focused on creating long-term value for our shareholders. Specifically, the Board believes our current compensation program, which emphasizes incentive-driven pay earned over the long-term based on PNM Resources’ stock performance and credit metric objectives, creates a strong incentive for the senior officers to operate PNM’s business in a sustainable manner. Our share price performance and financial strength are likely to be enhanced by our utility subsidiaries delivering sustainable, diverse and affordable power in ways that protect the environment and increase the use of renewable energy.
We believe that our existing executive compensation program creates a strong incentive for our executives to operate our business in a sustainable and responsible manner by establishing performance goals designed to create long-term shareholder value and does not need to incorporate specific sustainability metric measures at this time.
Accordingly, the Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote AGAINST this shareholder proposal.
PROPOSAL 6: PNM TO ISSUE AN ANNUAL SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
(PROPOSAL 6 on your Proxy Card)
SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING
RESOLVED
Shareholders request Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) issue a Sustainability Report describing the company’s present policies, performance, and improvement targets related to key environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks and opportunities. The report should be available on the company website by September 1, 2016, prepared at reasonable cost, omitting proprietary information, and updated annually.
SUPPORTING STATEMENT
We believe tracking and reporting ESG practices strengthens a company’s ability to compete in the modern business environment characterized by finite natural resources, changing legislation and regulatory risk, and heightened public expectations for
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corporate accountability. Reporting also helps companies gain strategic value from existing sustainability efforts, identify gaps and opportunities, develop company-wide communications, and recruit and retain employees.
Investors increasingly request detailed ESG performance metrics, including data on occupational safety and health, vendor and labor standards, waste, water usage, energy efficiency, workforce diversity, operations related environmental impacts, and goals by which to judge the company’s performance and management of these issues. PNM’s current website includes short descriptions of programs related to ESG issues. However, these disclosures fail to give investors enough meaningful information.
For instance, MSCI Inc., a leading US-based provider of equity market indexes and ESG research, indicated in its 2014 report of PNM that the company greatly lags a majority of its peer group on several environmental and social indicators that MSCI deems as material. MSCI’s ESG products are used by over 900 global clients including 45 of the top 50 global asset managers. In particular the report included the following findings:

• | PNM has demonstrated weak efforts to reduce carbon intensity, water stress, and toxic emissions & waste despite operating in a business that has “relatively high exposure to potential environmental costs and liabilities associated with its pollutant discharges and waste.”

• | “The company’s business activities and the geographic distribution of its revenues suggest…high exposure to profit opportunities in the renewable energy sector” yet the company has shown modest initiatives to develop renewable energy projects.

We believe disregarding the above indicators may pose significant regulatory, legal, reputational, and financial risks to the company and its shareholders.
By not reporting, PNM is missing out on an opportunity to communicate with its shareholders about its strategy managing these potentially material factors.
We recommend that the report include a company-wide review of policies, practices and metrics related to ESG performance. The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) index could be a helpful checklist for guidance. https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/Pages/default.aspx The GRI Guidelines are the most widely used reporting framework, enabling companies to focus on their most important ESG issues.
OPPOSING STATEMENT
The Board recommends that shareholders vote AGAINST this proposal for the following reasons.
Overall Commitment. In performing its oversight role, the Board monitors environmental, social and governance issues that affect the Company, including PNM’s operations. PNM devotes substantial resources to sustainability and environmental responsibility, and is committed to being a good environmental steward and employer that conducts its business and operates its facilities in a manner that meets or exceeds the requirements in applicable laws and regulations. However, the Board believes preparing and distributing the requested report on such a broad subject is unnecessary because we have more timely and established means of informing our shareholders about our sustainability programs and because it would divert key resources from the ongoing process of continuing to improve these programs.
Our Code of Ethics, Do the Right Thing, which is available on our website, outlines our commitment to honesty and integrity, protecting the health and safety of our employees and others, and to the environment and the communities we serve. We have received numerous awards and recognition for our diverse workforce and are committed to continually improving the health and workplace safety of our employees. For example, in 2014, we were again recognized as one of the top 10 “Best Company for Diversity” by Hispanic Business Inc. which ranked us 7th among 45 honorees based on board and leadership, recruitment, retention, promotion, marketing and community outreach and supplier diversity. We were also recognized in 2014 as Employer of the Year by Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.
Environmental Commitment. Our Environmental Management System has minimized and mitigated the environmental impacts of our utility work for well over a decade. When PNM employees are in the field keeping the electric system reliable, one of their top priorities is protecting New Mexico’s environmental and cultural resources. Through the Environmental Management System, every project and job conducted by PNM with potential to impact environmental resources is evaluated and appropriate requirements are put in place to protect natural resources. PNM has been recognized on several occasions for the success of its environmental programs. For example, PNM was the recipient of the 2013 Heritage Preservation Award from the City of Santa Fe for our ongoing work in the City and efforts to do the right thing to protect cultural resources.
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Each year, PNM publishes a report of environmental highlights that focuses on our progress and successes in key areas (https://www.pnm.com/enviro-highlights). Our 2014 highlights included updates on energy conservation, community engagement, transition to cleaner energy, wildlife habitat protection and waste reduction efforts.
PNM has integrated programs for reducing its overall GHG emissions that are based on maintaining a diverse resource mix, investing in renewable energy projects and promoting energy conservation and efficiency efforts. Further, PNM continually reports its efforts on reducing GHG emissions and related matters on its website www.powerforprogress.com. PNM annually reports its GHG emissions to the EPA under 40 CFR 98-Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting for our generating stations and electrical transmission and distribution equipment.
The planned closure of two of four coal-fired electric generating units at SJGS will effectively reduce SJGS GHG emissions by about 50% or 5 to 6 million tons annually, thereby reducing, PNM’s own GHG emissions by approximately 28% at SJGS and 23% system wide. This is well above President Obama’s June 25, 2013 Climate Action Plan that calls for a reduction of GHG by 17% below 2005 levels by 2020. In addition, the shutdown of the two units at SJGS will provide a significant step towards the State of New Mexico’s compliance with EPA’s Clean Power Plan, if ultimately upheld.
PNM continues to reduce or offset GHG from its generation portfolio by expanding its generation capacity from wind, solar and geothermal renewable resources. PNM’s renewable resource power generation portfolio currently provides the equivalent amount of energy to power approximately 150,000 homes. This effort reduces GHG emissions by approximately 915,000 metric tons, or the equivalent of taking 201,000 cars off the road annually. These actions also reduce freshwater use at power plants by approximately 382 million gallons annually. PNM met New Mexico’s goal of providing 15% of its power from renewable resources by 2015 and is on track to meet the state’s goal of 20% by 2020.
Energy Efficiency. PNM has taken a major and leading role in supporting New Mexico’s energy efficiency legislation and has introduced a suite of electric energy efficiency programs that helped customers save 79 gigawatt hours of power in 2015. Our energy efficiency programs have prevented an estimated 905,000 metric tons of GHG emissions and reduced the need for water for power plant use by 481 million gallons since 2007.
PNM is transitioning its fleet to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and trucks. We are also providing assistance to municipalities who are moving towards converting their fleets. These efforts save money and reduce emissions of pollutants.
Recycling. PNM has had corporate-wide solid waste reduction goals for over a decade. In New Mexico alone, PNM’s facilities recycled approximately 9,309 tons of material. The resources saved through this recycling are equivalent to conserving 4,868 households’ energy consumption, 94,207 barrels of oil or 4,378,751 gallons of gasoline. PNM was named Large Business Recycler of the Year (http://nmgreenchamber.com/nmbizrecycle/) in 2013 by the New Mexico Green Chamber of Commerce.
Conclusion. PNM is committed to expanding engagement and proactively communicating with communities and stakeholders about its ongoing efforts to develop and improve its sustainable practices while continuing to provide reliable and affordable electricity for its customers. We do not believe that preparation of the requested sustainability report would cause us to modify our commitment to doing the right thing every day, employing sustainable business practices, and complying with applicable laws and regulations. The Board also believes that the information that is publically available on the various websites maintained by the Company and PNM provide more timely information to shareholders and others about our robust environmental, social and governance practices than the requested report. The websites include www.pnmresources.com (see our SEC filings and news releases under Investors and the additional information under About Us-Community and Environment and under Corporate Governance), www.pnm.com and www.powerforprogress.com. Further, the Board believes that preparation and distribution of the requested report on such a broad subject would be unduly burdensome and expensive for PNM and our shareholders. The cost, both in dollars and employee time, of preparing the requested sustainability report would outweigh the benefits of such a report and divert significant resources that we believe could be better utilized in continuing to strengthen our business in a sustainable manner to create value for our shareholders.
Accordingly, the Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote AGAINST this shareholder proposal.
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APPENDIX A
2015 BENCHMARK DATA
The 2015 Benchmark Data is a weighted average of two comparator groups: (1) PNMR Peer Group listed on page 41 of the 2016 proxy statement, weighted at 75% and (2) the 2014 Towers Watson U.S. Compensation Data Bank (CDB) General Industry Executive Database of similarly sized companies (companies, listed below, with revenue of $1 Billion - $3 Billion), weighted at 25%.

List of Companies Comprising the 2014 Towers Watson U.S. CDB General Industry Executive Database with Revenue of $1 Billion - $3 Billion
A. O. Smith Corporation / Accelent (as of September 22, 2014, Lake Region Medical) / Aimia Inc.* / Allegion plc / American Greetings Corporation / Americas Styrenics LLC / Amsted Industries Inc. / Ansell Ltd. / Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc. / Armstrong World Industries, Inc. / Arup USA, Inc.* / BBA Aviation plc* / Beam Suntory Inc. / Bob Evans Farms, Inc. / Boise Cascade Company / Brembo S.p.A.* / Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. / Carmeuse North America B.V.* / CDI Corp. / Chemtura Corporation / Chico’s FAS, Inc. / Citrix Systems, Inc. / Clearwater Paper Corporation / Columbia Sportswear Company / Cooper-Standard Holdings Inc. / Covance Inc. / Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. / Crown Castle International Corp. / Cubic Corporation / Curtiss-Wright Corporation / Cytec Industries Inc. / Deluxe Corporation / DENTSPLY International Inc. / Donaldson Company Inc. / DST Systems, Inc. / DSW Inc. / Eastman Kodak Company / Edwards Lifesciences Corporation / Equifax Inc. / Esterline Technologies Corporation / Exterran Corporation / Follett Corporation / G&K Services, Inc. / GAF Materials Corporation / GENCO Distribution Systems, Inc. / General Atomics / P. H. Glatfelter Company / Graco Inc. / H.B. Fuller Company / Harsco Corporation / Hercules Offshore, Inc. / Herman Miller, Inc. / Hexcel Corporation / HNI Corporation / HomeServe USA* / Hubbell Incorporated / Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd* / IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. / Intercontinental Hotels Group PLC* / International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. / International Game Technology PLC / The Irvine Company / ITT Corporation / Jack in the Box Inc. / Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. / KB Home / Kennametal Inc. / Knowles Corporation / Kodak Alaris Inc. / Leprino Foods Company / Lifetouch Inc. / LinkedIn Corporation / Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P. / Makino, Inc.* / Markit Ltd.* / Meredith Corporation / MFA Oil Company / Milacron Holdings Corp. / NBTY, Inc. / NewPage (as of January 7, 2015, Verso Corporation) / Nortek, Inc. / OM Group, Inc. / Outerwall Inc. / P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, Inc. / Pall Corporation / Parsons Corporation / PHH Corporation / Plexus Worldwide / Polymer Group, Inc. / Purdue Pharma L.P. / Rackspace Inc. / Rayonier Inc. / Recreational Equipment, Inc. / Regal-Beloit Corporation / Revlon, Inc. / Rowan Companies PLC / Sage Software, Inc.* / Sanderson Farms, Inc. / SAS Institute Inc. / The Schwan Food Company / Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc. / Sensata Technologies Holding N.V. / ServiceMaster Global Holdings, Inc. / ShawCor Ltd. / Sigma-Aldrich Corporation / Snap-On Incorporated / Spirit Airlines, Inc. / Steelcase Inc. / SunCoke Energy, Inc. / TeleTech Holdings, Inc. / Teradata Corporation / The Toro Company / Tribune Publishing Company / Tronox Limited / Tupperware Brands Corporation / UBM plc* / Under Armour, Inc. / UL LLC / United Launch Alliance, LLC / Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated / VistaPrint (as of November 17, 2014, Cimpress N.V.) / Vulcan Materials Company / The Wendy’s Company / West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. / Worthington Industries, Inc. / XO Communications, LLC
* Indicates a subsidiary

A-1