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Regulatory and Rate Matters | 6 Months Ended
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Jun. 30, 2021
Regulated Operations [Abstract] |
Regulatory and Rate Matters | Regulatory and Rate Matters The Company is involved in various regulatory matters, some of which contain contingencies that are subject to the same uncertainties as those described in Note 11. Additional information concerning regulatory and rate matters is contained in Note 17 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the 2020 Annual Reports on Form 10-K. PNM Renewable Portfolio Standard The REA provides for streamlined proceedings for approval of utilities’ renewable energy procurement plans, assures that utilities recover costs incurred consistent with approved procurement plans, and requires the NMPRC to establish a RCT for the procurement of renewable resources to prevent excessive costs being added to rates. The ETA sets a RCT of $60 per MWh using an average annual levelized resource cost basis. PNM makes renewable procurements consistent with the NMPRC approved plans and recovers certain renewable procurement costs from customers through a rate rider. See Renewable Energy Rider below. Included in PNM’s approved procurement plans are the following renewable energy resources: •158 MW of PNM-owned solar-PV facilities •A PPA through 2044 for the output of New Mexico Wind, having a current aggregate capacity of 200 MW, and a PPA through 2035 for the output of Red Mesa Wind, having an aggregate capacity of 102 MW •A PPA through 2040 for 140 MW of output from La Joya Wind II •A PPA through 2042 for the output of the Lightning Dock Geothermal facility with a current capacity of 11 MW •Solar distributed generation, aggregating 180.2 MW at June 30, 2021, owned by customers or third parties from whom PNM purchases any net excess output and RECs Renewable Energy Rider The NMPRC has authorized PNM to recover certain renewable procurement costs through a rate rider billed on a per KWh basis. In its 2020 renewable energy procurement plan, which became effective on January 1, 2021, PNM proposed to collect $67.8 million for the year. The NMPRC approved recovery of $65.5 million through the rider, reflecting the rejection of PNM's request to recover the $2.3 million Sky Blue regulatory asset in 2021. PNM recorded revenues from the rider of $15.5 million and $31.4 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, and $15.2 million and $30.3 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2020. On June 1, 2021 PNM filed its renewable energy procurement plan for 2022 which proposes to collect $66.9 million for the year. PNM is not proposing any new procurements in the plan but is proposing to retire a small number of RECs in 2022 from resources that have not been previously approved as part of the RPS plan. The NMPRC assigned this matter to a hearing examiner who scheduled a hearing to begin on September 30, 2021. Under the renewable rider, if PNM’s earned rate of return on jurisdictional equity in a calendar year, adjusted for items not representative of normal operations, exceeds the NMPRC-approved rate by 0.5%, PNM is required to refund the excess to customers during May through December of the following year. PNM did not exceed such limitation in 2020. Energy Efficiency and Load Management Program Costs and Incentives/Disincentives The New Mexico Efficient Use of Energy Act (“EUEA”) requires public utilities to achieve specified levels of energy savings and to obtain NMPRC approval to implement energy efficiency and load management programs. The EUEA requires the NMPRC to remove utility disincentives to implementing energy efficiency and load management programs and to provide incentives for such programs. The NMPRC has adopted a rule to implement this act. PNM’s costs to implement approved programs and incentives are recovered through a rate rider. During the 2019 New Mexico legislative session, the EUEA was amended to, among other things, include a decoupling mechanism for disincentives, preclude a reduction to a utility’s ROE based on approval of disincentive or incentive mechanisms, establish energy savings targets for the period 2021 through 2025, and require that annual program funding be 3% to 5% of an electric utility's annual customer bills excluding gross receipt taxes, franchise and right-of-way access fees, provided that a customer's annual cost not exceed seventy-five thousand dollars. In 2019, PNM submitted a filing to address incentives to be earned in 2020. PNM’s proposed incentive mechanism was similar to that approved for 2018 and 2019 with minor modifications to reflect input from interested parties. The proposed incentive mechanism includes a base incentive of 7.1% of program costs, or approximately $1.8 million, based on savings of 59 GWh in 2020 with a sliding scale that provides for additional incentive if savings exceed 68 GWh. No hearings were considered necessary and PNM’s 2020 energy efficiency rider reflecting the 2020 incentive became effective beginning December 30, 2019. On April 15, 2021 PNM filed its 2020 Energy Efficiency Annual Report which reconciles the actual 2020 profit incentive collections with the profit incentive authorized by the NMPRC resulting in an additional $0.8 million incentive to be collected during the remainder of 2021. The additional incentive was authorized for 2020 because annual energy savings for the year exceeded 87 GWh, and was the maximum level of profit incentive allowed under the approved mechanism. PNM began collecting the additional incentive effective May 27, 2021. On April 15, 2020, PNM filed an application for energy efficiency and load management programs to be offered in 2021, 2022, and 2023. The proposed program portfolio consists of twelve programs with a total annual budget of $31.4 million in 2021, $31.0 million in 2022, and $29.6 million in 2023. The application also sought approval of an annual base incentive of 7.1% of the portfolio budget if PNM were to achieve energy savings of at least 80 GWh in a year. The proposed incentive would increase if PNM is able to achieve savings greater than 80 GWh in a year. The application also proposed an advanced metering infrastructure (“AMI”) pilot program, which included the installation of 5,000 AMI meters at a cost of $2.9 million. PNM proposed the pilot program to comply with an NMPRC order denying PNM’s February 2016 application to replace its existing customer metering equipment with AMI. PNM did not recommend the AMI pilot program due to the limited benefits that are cost-effective under a pilot structure. On September 17, 2020, the hearing examiner in the case issued a recommended decision recommending that PNM's proposed energy efficiency and load management program be approved, with the exception of the proposed AMI pilot program. On October 28, 2020, the NMPRC issued an order adopting the recommended decision in its entirety. 2020 Decoupling Petition As discussed above, the legislature amended the EUEA to, among other things, include a decoupling mechanism for disincentives. On May 28, 2020, PNM filed a petition for approval of a rate adjustment mechanism that would decouple the rates of its residential and small power rate classes. Decoupling is a rate design principle that severs the link between the recovery of fixed costs of the utility through volumetric charges. PNM proposed to record the difference between the annual revenue per customer derived from the cost of service approved in the NM 2015 Rate Case and the annual revenue per customer actually recovered from the rate classes beginning on January 1, 2021. If approved, on January 1, 2022, PNM would begin to collect the difference from customers if the revenue per customer from the NM 2015 Rate Case exceeds the actual revenue recovered in 2021, or return the difference to customers if the actual revenue per customer recovered in 2021 exceeds the revenue per customer from the NM 2015 Rate Case. On July 13, 2020, NEE, ABCWUA, the City of Albuquerque, and Bernalillo County filed motions to dismiss the petition on the grounds that approving PNM’s proposed rate adjustment mechanism outside of a general rate case would result in retroactive ratemaking and piecemeal ratemaking. The motions to dismiss also allege that PNM’s proposed rate adjustment mechanism is inconsistent with the EUEA. Responses to the motions to dismiss were filed on August 7, 2020. On September 16, 2020, ABCWUA, Bernalillo County, CCAE, the City of Albuquerque, NEE, NMAG, NMPRC Staff ("Staff") and WRA filed testimony. CCAE and WRA support PNM's petition, but recommend that the rate adjustment mechanism not take effect until new rates are approved in PNM's next general rate case. The other parties filing testimony oppose PNM's petition. On October 2, 2020, PNM requested an order to vacate the public hearing, scheduled to begin October 13, 2020, and staying the proceeding until the NMPRC decides whether to entertain a petition to issue a declaratory order resolving the issues raised in the motions to dismiss. On October 7, 2020, the hearing examiner approved PNM's request to stay the proceeding and vacate the public hearing and required PNM to file a petition for declaratory order by October 30, 2020. On October 30, 2020, PNM filed a petition for declaratory order asking the NMPRC to issue an order finding that full revenue decoupling is authorized by the EUEA. On November 4, 2020, ABCWUA and Bernalillo County jointly filed a competing petition asking the NMPRC to issue a declaratory order on the EUEA’s requirements related to disincentives. On November 24, 2020, the NMAG requested that the NMPRC deny both petitions for declaratory orders and instead address disincentives under the EUEA in a rulemaking. On March 17, 2021, the NMPRC issued an order granting the petitions for declaratory order, commencing a declaratory order proceeding to address the petitions, denying the NMAG’s request to initiate a rulemaking, and appointing a hearing examiner to preside over the declaratory order proceeding. Initial briefs were filed on June 7, 2021 and response briefs were filed on June 28, 2021. Oral arguments were made on July 15, 2021. PNM cannot predict the outcome of this matter. Integrated Resource Plans NMPRC rules require that investor-owned utilities file an IRP every three years. The IRP is required to cover a 20-year planning period and contain an action plan covering the first four years of that period. 2020 IRP NMPRC rules required PNM to file its 2020 IRP in July 2020. On March 16, 2020, PNM filed a motion to extend the deadline to file its 2020 IRP to six months after the NMPRC issues a final order approving a replacement resource portfolio and closes the docket in the bifurcated SJGS Abandonment Application and replacement resource proceedings. On April 8, 2020, the NMPRC approved PNM's motion to extend the deadline to file its 2020 IRP as requested. On January 29, 2021, PNM filed its 2020 IRP addressing the 20-year planning period from 2020 through 2040. The plan focuses on a carbon-free electricity portfolio by 2040 that would eliminate coal at the end of 2024. This includes replacing the power from San Juan with a mix of approved carbon-free resources and the plan to exit Four Corners at the end of 2024. The plan highlights the need for additional investments in a diverse set of resources, including renewables to supply carbon-free power, energy storage to balance supply and demand, and efficiency and other demand-side resources to mitigate load growth. On May 24, 2021, the hearing examiner issued a procedural schedule and required PNM, upon request, to provide modeling data and assumptions to parties within two weeks. Additionally, PNM is required upon request, to run modeling or provide reasonable access to PNM virtual machines at PNM's expense. The order set an alternative modeling deadline of August 30, 2021 and Staff's recommendation on November 1, 2021. Abandonment Applications made under the ETA As discussed in Note 11, the ETA sets a statewide standard that requires investor-owned electric utilities to have specified percentages of their electric-generating portfolios be from renewable and zero-carbon generating resources. The ETA also provides for a transition from fossil-fuel generation resources to renewable and other carbon-free resources through certain provisions relating to the abandonment of coal-fired generating facilities. These provisions include the use of energy transition bonds, which are designed to be highly rated bonds that can be issued to finance certain costs of abandoning coal-fired facilities that are retired prior to January 1, 2023, for facilities operated by a “qualifying utility,” or prior to January 1, 2032, for facilities that are not operated by the qualifying utility. SJGS Abandonment Application On July 1, 2019, PNM filed a Consolidated Application for the Abandonment and Replacement of SJGS and Related Securitized Financing Pursuant to the ETA (the “SJGS Abandonment Application”). The SJGS Abandonment Application sought NMPRC approval to retire PNM’s share of SJGS after the existing coal supply and participation agreements end in June 2022, for approval of replacement resources, and for the issuance of approximately $361 million of energy transition bonds (the “Securitized Bonds”). PNM’s request for the issuance of Securitized Bonds included approximately $283 million of forecasted undepreciated investments in SJGS at June 30, 2022, an estimated $28.6 million for plant decommissioning and coal mine reclamation costs, approximately $9.6 million in upfront financing costs, and approximately $20.0 million for job training and severance costs for affected employees. Proceeds from the Securitization Bonds would also be used to fund approximately $19.8 million for economic development in the four corners area. On July 10, 2019, the NMPRC issued an order requiring the SJGS Abandonment Application be considered in two proceedings: one addressing SJGS abandonment and related financing and the other addressing replacement resources. After multiple filings, proceedings, requests for clarification and legal challenges, on January 29, 2020, the NM Supreme Court issued a ruling requiring the NMPRC to apply the ETA to all aspects of PNM’s SJGS Abandonment Application, indicating any previous NMPRC orders inconsistent with the ruling should be vacated, and denying parties’ request for stay. The NM Supreme Court issued a subsequent opinion, on July 23, 2020, more fully explaining the legal rationale for the January 29, 2020 ruling. Hearings on the abandonment and securitized financing proceedings were held in December 2019 and hearings on replacement resources were held in January 2020. On February 21, 2020, the hearing examiners issued two recommended decisions recommending approval of PNM’s proposed abandonment of SJGS, subject to approval of replacement resources, and approval of PNM’s proposed financing order to issue Securitized Bonds. The hearing examiners recommended that PNM be authorized to abandon SJGS by June 30, 2022, and to record regulatory assets for certain other abandonment costs that are not specifically addressed under the provisions of the ETA to preserve its ability to recover the costs in a future general rate case. The hearing examiner recommended that this authority only extend to the deferral of the costs and it not be an approval of any ratemaking treatment. The hearing examiners also recommended PNM be authorized to issue Securitized Bonds of up to $361 million and establish an Energy Transition Charge. The hearing examiners recommended an interim rate rider adjustment upon the start date of the Energy Transition Charge to provide immediate credits to customers for the full value of PNM’s revenue requirement related to SJGS until those reductions are reflected in base rates. In addition, the hearing examiners recommended PNM be granted authority to establish regulatory assets to recover costs that PNM will pay prior to the issuance of the Securitized Bonds, including costs associated with the bond issuances as well as for severances, job training, economic development, and workforce training. On April 1, 2020, the NMPRC unanimously approved the hearing examiners' recommended decisions regarding the abandonment of SJGS and the related securitized financing under the ETA. On April 10, 2020, CFRE and NEE filed a notice of appeal with the NM Supreme Court of the NMPRC's approval of PNM's request to issue securitized financing under the ETA. The NM Supreme Court granted motions to intervene filed by PNM, WRA, CCAE, and the Sierra Club. On May 8, 2020, CFRE and NEE filed a joint statement of issues with the NM Supreme Court which asserts that the NMPRC improperly applied the ETA and that the ETA violates the New Mexico Constitution. On June 19, 2020, WRA filed a motion to dismiss CFRE and NEE’s constitutional challenges to the ETA on the ground that the New Mexico Constitution provides that only New Mexico district courts have original jurisdiction over the claims. On July 24, 2020, the NM Supreme Court issued an order denying WRA’s motion to dismiss. On August 17, 2020, the appellants filed a Brief in Chief and on October 5, 2020, PNM, WRA, CCAE and Sierra Club filed Answer Briefs. PNM cannot predict the outcome of this matter. PNM evaluated the consequences of the NMPRC's April 1, 2020 orders approving the abandonment of SJGS and the related issuance of Securitized Bonds. This evaluation indicated that it is probable that PNM will be required to fund severances for PNM employees at the facility upon its retirement in 2022 and for PNMR shared services employees providing administrative and other support services to SJGS. In addition, the evaluation indicated that it is probable PNM will be obligated to fund severances and other costs for the WSJ LLC employees and to fund certain state agencies for economic development and workforce training upon the issuance of the Securitized Bonds. As a result, in March 2020, PNMR and PNM recorded obligations of $9.4 million and $8.1 million for estimated severances, $8.9 million for obligations to fund severances and other costs of WSJ LLC employees, and to fund $19.8 million to state agencies for economic development and workforce training upon the issuance of the Securitized Bonds. The total amount recorded for these estimates of $38.1 million and $36.8 million is reflected in other deferred credits and as a corresponding deferred regulatory asset on PNMR's and PNM's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2020. These estimates may be adjusted in future periods as the Company refines its expectations. In addition, as discussed above these costs may be challenged by parties pursuant to the notices of appeal filed with the NM Supreme Court on April 10, 2020. On June 24, 2020, the hearing examiners issued a recommended decision on PNM's request for approval of replacement resources that addressed the entire portfolio of replacement resources, which superseded a previous partial recommended decision issued on March 27, 2020. The hearing examiners concluded that the ultimate selection of a portfolio of replacement resources involves policy considerations that are the province of the NMPRC and stated that they did not intend to make that decision for the NMPRC. On July 29, 2020, the NMPRC issued an order approving resource selection criteria identified in the ETA and would include PPAs for 650 MW of solar and 300 MW of battery storage. The order also granted in part PNM’s request for an extension of time for PNM to file the application to implement the replacement resource portfolio. PNM had 60 days from the date of the order to file an application in a separate docket seeking approval of the proposed final, executed contracts, for any replacement resources that are not currently in evidence that have been approved by the NMPRC. On September 28, 2020, PNM filed its application for approval of the final executed contracts for the replacement resources. In addition, PNM provided updated costs estimates of $8.1 million for the SJGS replacement resources, based on the NMPRC authorization to create regulatory assets granted in the abandonment order, which it plans to seek recovery of in a future general rate case. On November 13, 2020, the hearing examiner issued a recommended decision recommending approval of a 200 MW solar PPA combined with a 100 MW battery storage agreement and the 100 MW solar PPA combined with a 30 MW battery storage agreement. On December 2, 2020, the NMPRC issued an order adopting the recommended decision in its entirety. On May 24, 2021, PNM filed a notice that informed the NMPRC that a solar PPA for 100 MW with battery storage of 30 MW, which was approved as a replacement resources for SJGS, will not be completed in time to serve PNM’s load during the 2022 summer peak season. On July 22, 2021, PNM filed notice to the NMPRC that as a result of supply chain delays, two additional approved replacement resource projects will not be fully completed in time to serve load during the 2022 summer peak season. Specifically, a 200 MW solar PPA with battery storage of 100 MW will have only 50 MW of available capacity in June 2022 and then ramp up through the summer and fall, and a 300 MW solar PPA with battery storage of 150 MW will initially have only 150 MW of solar and 150 MW of battery storage available in June 2022 and is planned to ramp up to full capacity in September 2022. PNM's existing resources, including available reserves, may be insufficient for 2022 summer peak load reliability considering these delays. PNM is currently evaluating alternative sources of power to ensure customer demand during the 2022 summer peak load period is met. Additional information concerning the SJGS Abandonment Application is contained in Note 17 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the 2020 Annual Reports on Form 10-K. Four Corners Abandonment Application On November 1, 2020, PNM entered into the Four Corners Purchase and Sale Agreement with NTEC, pursuant to which PNM agreed to sell its 13% ownership interest (other than certain transmission assets) in Four Corners to NTEC. The sale is contingent upon NMPRC approval and expected to close by the end of 2024. In connection with the sale, PNM would make payments of $75.0 million to NTEC for relief from its obligations under the coal supply agreement for Four Corners after December 31, 2024. Pursuant to the Four Corners Purchase and Sale Agreement, PNM will retain its current plant decommissioning and coal mine reclamation obligations, subject to the final mine reclamation study and payment at the end of 2024. PNM will have no obligation for reclamation after 2024. PNM made an initial payment to NTEC of $15.0 million in November 2020, subject to refund with interest upon termination of the Four Corners Purchase and Sale Agreement prior to closing. Under the terms of the Four Corners Purchase and Sale Agreement, upon receipt of the NMPRC approval, PNM would make a final payment of $60.0 million. The initial $15.0 million payment was recorded in other current assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2020. On January 8, 2021, PNM filed the Four Corners Abandonment Application, which seeks NMPRC approval to exit PNM’s share of Four Corners as of December 31, 2024, and to issue approximately $300 million of energy transition bonds as provided by the ETA. PNM’s request for the issuance of Securitized Bonds included approximately $272 million of forecasted undepreciated investments in Four Corners at December 31, 2024, an estimated $4.6 million for plant decommissioning costs, estimated $7.3 million in upfront financing costs, and estimated $16.5 million in economic development. PNM intends to submit a separate application for NMPRC approval of a replacement resource portfolio following NMPRC action on this application. This deferral is authorized by the ETA and will provide for adequate time to complete a competitive bid process to develop and finalize a replacement resource portfolio from feasible replacement resources for NMPRC consideration. On January 26, 2021, Sierra Club filed a motion in the Four Corners Abandonment Application requesting that the NMPRC order PNM to file supplemental testimony addressing the prudence of Four Corners investments or alternatively that the NMPRC dismiss the Four Corners Abandonment Application and permit PNM to refile after the prudence issue is resolved. In addition, on January 28, 2021, NEE and CFRE filed a motion requesting that the NMPRC dismiss the application, stating that approval of the abandonment would be contrary to the provision of the REA that prevents the sale of carbon dioxide emitting electricity-generating resources as a means of complying with the RPS, and that the Four Corners Abandonment Application does not demonstrate that the sale of 200 MW to NTEC will not result in a net detriment to public interest. On February 26, 2021, the hearing examiner issued an order on the sufficiency of the Four Corners Application finding that the application was deficient on its face and failed to adequately support whether or not the sale and transfer of PNM’s interest in Four Corners to NTEC is in the public interest. However, given the NMPRC’s preference to address Four Corners issues in the case, as well as PNM’s concession on filing an amended application, the hearing examiner did not recommend that the case be dismissed. The order required PNM to file an amended application by March 15, 2021; established that the nine-month period for review of the amended application shall start on the date of PNM’s filing of the amended application and run through December 15, 2021; required PNM to file supplemental testimony addressing the prudence of its investment in Four Corners; required PNM to more explicitly address the statutory standards for approval of the proposed transfer to NTEC; and required PNM to file a motion to withdraw the January 8, 2021 Four Corners Application. On March 15, 2021, PNM filed an amended application and supplemental testimony for the approval of the abandonment and transfer of Four Corners and issuance of a financing order pursuant to the ETA and a motion to withdraw the January 8, 2021 Four Corners Application. The amended application and supplemental testimony provided additional information to support PNM's request to abandon its interest in Four Corners and transfer that interest to NTEC, and also provided additional detail explaining how the proposed sale and abandonment provides a net public benefit. On March 19, 2021, the hearing examiner issued a procedural order requiring Staff and intervenors to file testimony on or before July 12, 2021, requiring any rebuttal testimony be filed on or before August 2, 2021, and scheduling a hearing to begin on August 31, 2021. On May 17, 2021 NEE and CFRE ("Joint Movants") again filed motions to dismiss the case, providing reasons which include; PNM's failure to disclose the reason for the divestiture in the plant is the Merger; the application is deficient because PNM has failed to produce the seasonal operation agreement with the other Four Corners owners; and reiterated their prior view that PNM's amended application is contrary to the REA. Also on May 17, 2021, CCAE filed a motion to dismiss the case stating that PNM's application is devoid of any discussion of the assumption of liabilities by NTEC pertaining to PNM's share of Four Corners. On May 18, 2021, San Juan Citizens Alliance/Dine Care and the Native American Voters Alliance Education Project ("NAVAEP") filed a joinder supporting CCAE's motion. On June 1, 2021, PNM filed responses to the Joint Movants' and CCAE motions to dismiss and filed a motion to strike portions of the Joint Movants' and CCAE's motions to dismiss. PNM's motion states that the Joint Movants and CCAE rely upon materials beyond the pleadings in the case and within the record in other proceedings to support their motions. On October 30, 2020, NEE filed a formal complaint with the NMPRC seeking an investigation into the reasonableness and lawfulness of PNM’s continued reliance on “climate-altering and uneconomic coal” at Four Corners. NEE explained that they withdrew their Supreme Court appeal of the NM 2016 Rate Case under the notion that PNM would be filing a rate case in 2019 and they would be able to challenge the Four Corners expenditures in that case. NEE explained that because PNM has delayed its rate case several times, Four Corners has remained “imprudently” in rates. NEE asked that PNM be required to demonstrate that PNM’s investment in Four Corners was prudent. NEE stated if the NMPRC deems PNM’s investment as imprudent, ratepayers will be held harmless and all costs including carrying charges, effective October 30, 2020, and going forward, be denied. On February 10, 2021, the NMPRC denied NEE’s complaint and stated that issues related to Four Corners prudence should be addressed in the Four Corners Abandonment Application. On February 22, 2021, NEE filed a Motion for Reconsideration of the NMPRC’s February 10, 2021 order, which was denied on March 10, 2021. On April 9, 2021, NEE filed a Notice of Appeal with the NM Supreme Court regarding their formal complaint on Four Corners. On July 6, 2021, NEE filed a motion to withdraw its Notice of Appeal with the NM Supreme Court. The financial impact of an early exit of Four Corners and the NMPRC approval process are influenced by many factors outside of PNM’s control, including the overall political and economic conditions of New Mexico. See additional discussion of the ETA in Note 11. PNM cannot predict the outcome of these matters. PVNGS Leased Interest Abandonment Application On April 2, 2021, PNM filed an application with the NMPRC requesting approval for the decertification and abandonment of 114 MW of leased PVNGS capacity, sale and transfer of related assets, and approval to procure new resources ("PVNGS Leased Interest Abandonment Application"). As discussed in Note 13, PNM currently controls leased capacity in PVNGS Unit 1 and Unit 2 under five separate leases ("Leased Interest") that were approved and certificated by the predecessor agency to the NMPRC in the 1980s. Four of the five leases for 104 MW of Leased Interest terminate on January 15, 2023, while the remaining lease for 10 MW of Leased Interest terminates on January 15, 2024. Associated with the Leased Interest are certain PNM-owned assets and nuclear fuel that are necessary for the ongoing operation and maintenance of the Leased Interest and integration of the Leased Interest generation to the transmission network. PNM has determined that there will be net benefits to its customers to return the Leased Interest to the lessors in conformity with the leases, sell and transfer the related PNM-owned assets, and to replace these Leased Interest with new resources. In the application PNM is requesting NMPRC authorization to decertify and abandon its Leased Interest and to create regulatory assets for the associated remaining undepreciated investments with consideration of cost recovery of the undepreciated investments in a future rate case. PNM is also seeking NMPRC approval to sell and transfer the PNM-owned assets and nuclear fuel supply associated with the Leased Interest to SRP, which will be acquiring the Leased Interest from the lessors upon termination of the existing leases. In addition, PNM is seeking NMPRC approval for a 150 MW solar PPA combined with a 40 MW battery storage agreement, and a stand-alone 100 MW battery storage agreement to replace the Leased Interest. To ensure system reliability and load needs are met in 2023, when a majority of the leases expire, PNM is also requesting NMPRC approval for a 300 MW solar PPA combined with a 150 MW battery storage agreement. PNM's application sought a six-month regulatory time frame. On April 21, 2021, the NMPRC issued an order assigning a hearing examiner and stated PNM's request to abandon the Leased Interest does not have any statutory or rule time limitation and the six-month limit in which the NMPRC must issue an order regarding the request for approvals of the solar PPAs and battery storage agreements does not begin until after the NMPRC acts on the abandonment request. On June 14, 2021 and June 25, 2021 PNM filed supplemental testimony responding to questions provided by the hearing examiner. On June 28, 2021, NEE and CCAE jointly filed a motion to dismiss a portion of the application claiming that since PNM's request to abandon the Leased Interest was filed after PNM had already provided irrevocable notice it would not acquire the Leased Interest, abandonment is no longer required. On July 28, 2021, the hearing examiner issued a recommended decision on NEE's and CCAE's joint motion to dismiss, recommending dismissal of PNM's requests for approval to abandon and decertify the Leased Interest; dismissal of PNM's request for approval to sell and transfer the related assets; and dismissal of PNM's request to create regulatory assets for the associated remaining undepreciated investments, but does not preclude PNM seeking recovery of the costs in a general rate case in which the test year period includes the time period in which PNM incurs such costs. The hearing examiner's recommended decision further provides that PNM's request for replacement and system reliability resources should remain within the scope of this case. The hearings examiner's recommended decision is pending NMPRC approval. In addition to approval by the NMPRC, PNM and SRP require NRC approval for the transfer of the associated possessory licenses at the end of the term of each of the respective leases. PNM cannot predict the outcome of this matter. Facebook, Inc. Data Center Project PNM has a special service contract to provide service to Facebook, Inc. for a data center being constructed in PNM’s service area. Facebook’s service requirements include the acquisition by PNM of a sufficient amount of new renewable energy resources and RECs to match the energy and capacity requirements of the data center. The cost of renewable energy procured is passed through to Facebook under a rate rider. A special service rate is applied to Facebook’s energy consumption in those hours of the month when their consumption exceeds the energy production from the renewable resources. As of June 30, 2021, PNM is procuring energy from 130 MW of solar-PV capacity from NMRD, a 50% equity method investee of PNMR Development. See additional discussion of NMRD in Note 16. PNM has NMPRC approval for several PPAs to purchase renewable energy and RECs to supply renewable energy to the data center. Details related to these PPAs can be found in Note 17 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the 2020 Annual Reports on Form 10-K. On February 8, 2021, PNM filed an application with the NMPRC for approval to service the data center for an additional 190 MW of solar PPA combined with 100 MW of battery storage and a 50 MW solar PPA expected to be operational in 2023. In its application, PNM filed a Motion for Expedited Consideration seeking an expedited schedule for this proceeding that would provide a Final Order by June 1, 2021, in order to facilitate timely completion of the renewable resources to meet the expected completion date of the data center expansion. On February 17, 2021, the NMPRC approved an order with a schedule targeting a final order by June 1, 2021. On April 14, 2021, Staff filed testimony recommending that the NMPRC either extend the targeted date for issuance of a final order to provide more time to review PNM’s application or, in the alternative, issue an order approving the two proposed PPAs and denying the 100 MW of battery storage. PNM filed rebuttal to Staff’s testimony on April 21, 2021. On April 28, 2021, the NMPRC issued an order finding that it requires additional time to review and that a hearing will be held with a hearing examiner presiding. On June 16, 2021 a hearing was held by the NMPRC with closing statements filed on June 21, 2021. On June 23, 2021, the NMPRC issued an Order for Continuance, stating concerns with the proposed addendum to the special service contract and its methodology for calculating a credit to Facebook for the capacity supplied by the 100 MW battery storage agreement. To address these concerns the Order required PNM and Facebook to renegotiate the addendum to the special service contract and the battery storage agreement. Additionally, the NMPRC designated a mediator to the facilitate the negotiations. PNM was ordered to file a renegotiated modification to its application by July 14, 2021 with responses from other parties due July 21, 2021. On July 6, 2021, PNM filed a Motion for Rehearing stating that the NMPRC's June 23, 2021 Order for Continuance contains substantive issues including misstatement of facts presented during the hearing on PNM’s application, which must be amended or withdrawn on rehearing. PNM’s motion also points out procedural issues with the order, including requiring mediation with Facebook who is not a party to the case while not including Staff, who is the only party to disagree with PNM’s application; and requiring PNM and Facebook to agree to modifications of the special service contract with which they are not in agreement, are not part of the application and has not been vetted at hearing. On July 7, 2021 the NMPRC designated mediator issued a report cancelling the schedule mediation because PNM and Facebook are not willing to participate. On July 14, 2021, the NMPRC issued an order granting PNM's Motion for Rehearing and scheduling a further public hearing for July 23, 2021. The NMPRC vacated the public hearing in response to Facebook’s inability to provide a witness to testify at the hearing. On July 28, 2021, the NMPRC issued a final order reversing the order granting a rehearing; approved the solar PPAs for 190 MW and 50 MW; approved only 50 MW of the requested 100 MW battery storage; and rejecting the proposed addendum to the special service contract and its methodology for calculating a credit to Facebook for the capacity supplied by the battery storage. The order allows PNM to reapply for the 50 MW of battery storage. PNM cannot predict the outcome of this matter. COVID-19 Regulatory Matters In March 2020, PNM and other utilities voluntarily implemented a temporary suspension of disconnections and late payment fees for non-payment of utility bills in response to the impacts of the novel coronavirus global pandemic (“COVID-19”). On March 18, 2020, the NMPRC conducted an emergency open meeting for the purpose of adopting emergency amendments to its rules governing service to residential customers. The NMPRC’s emergency order is applicable during the duration of the Governor of New Mexico's emergency executive order and allows for the closure of payment centers, prohibits the discontinuance of a residential customer’s service for non-payment, and suspends the expiration of medical certificates for certain customers. On April 27, 2020, PNM, El Paso Electric Company, New Mexico Gas Company, and Southwestern Public Service Company filed a joint motion with the NMPRC requesting authorization to track costs resulting from each utility's response to the COVID-19 outbreak. The utilities propose these incremental costs and uncollected customer accounts receivable resulting from COVID-19 during the period March 11, 2020 through December 31, 2020, be recorded as a regulatory asset. On June 24, 2020, the NMPRC issued an order authorizing all public utilities regulated by the NMPRC to create a regulatory asset to defer incremental costs related to COVID-19, including increases to bad debt expense incurred during the period beginning March 11, 2020 through the termination of the Governor of New Mexico’s emergency executive order. The NMPRC order requires public utilities creating regulatory assets to pursue all federal, state, or other subsidies available, to record a regulatory liability for all offsetting cost savings resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, and allows PNM to request recovery in future ratemaking proceedings. As a result, PNM had deferred incremental costs related to COVID-19 of $12.2 million and $8.8 million in regulatory assets on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020. In addition, PNM had costs savings related to COVID-19 of $0.9 million in regulatory liabilities on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020. The NMPRC’s order also imposed additional quarterly reporting requirements on public utilities creating regulatory assets that include changes in customer usage and increased costs and savings recorded to regulatory assets and liabilities. On February 3, 2021, the NMPRC issued an order finding that the temporary mandatory moratorium on disconnections of residential utility customers shall be in effect from the date of the order for 100 days, which ended May 14, 2021. At the end of the moratorium, the 90-day transition period began, which continued the temporary moratorium on disconnections to provide the utilities additional time to assist residential customers with arrearages to enter into installment agreements. On July 14, 2021, the NMPRC issued an order clarifying previous orders that the mandatory requirements of the NMPRC's previous order prohibiting residential disconnects should be voluntarily complied with by investor-owned utilities until August 12, 2021. All investor-owned utilities may begin disconnections at the end of the transition period. Transportation Electrification Program On December 18, 2020, in compliance with New Mexico Statute, PNM filed its PNM 2022-2023 Transportation Electrification Program (“TEP”) for approval with the NMPRC. PNM’s requested TEP includes a budget of approximately $8.4 million with flexibility of 25%. As proposed, up to 25% of the program budget will be dedicated to low and moderate income customers and is based on a model with no company ownership of charging facilities. PNM’s proposed TEP provides incentives through rebates to both residential and non-residential customers towards the purchase of chargers and/or behind-the-meter infrastructure. PNM’s TEP includes a request for a modified rate to add an electric vehicle pilot with a time-of-use option, a new non-residential electric vehicle time-of-use rate pilot without demand charges and implementation of a new rider to collect the actual costs of the TEP. PNM’s application requested NMPRC approval by the end of August 2021 and authority to file a new TEP by the end of June 2023. Response and rebuttal testimonies were filed on May 3, 2021 and May 13, 2021, respectively, and hearings were held the week of May 24, 2021. Post-hearing briefs were filed on June 21, 2021, and response briefs were filed June 28, 2021. PNM cannot predict the outcome of this matter. Unexecuted Transmission Service Agreements (TSAs) with Leeward Renewable Energy On March 12, 2021, PNM filed four unexecuted TSAs with FERC totaling 145 MW with Leeward Energy. The unexecuted TSAs provide long-term firm, point-to-point transmission service on PNM’s transmission system. The unexecuted TSAs are based on the pro-forma transmission service agreements with certain non-conforming provisions under Attachment A of PNM’s OATT and include PNM’s OATT rate. PNM is filing the unexecuted TSAs at the request of Leeward because the parties have been unable to reach an agreement on the terms and conditions for transmission service. In particular, Leeward believes the rate under the unexecuted TSAs should be an incremental rate while PNM believes the appropriate rate is its OATT rate. On April 2, 2021, Leeward Energy and Pattern Energy separately protested PNM’s March 12, 2021 filing of four unexecuted TSAs with Leeward Energy. The parties are requesting that FERC direct PNM to apply the same rate to the unexecuted TSAs as the incremental rate assessed to the Western Spirit transmission facilities, inclusive of Leeward’s network upgrades and requested service, or, in the alternative, initiate hearing and settlement judge procedures to address the unjust and unreasonable application of the FERC’s “higher of” policy. On April 19, 2021, PNM filed a motion for leave to answer and contested the arguments made by Leeward Energy and Pattern Energy. In its response, PNM stated that it disagrees with the parties' pricing scheme because doing so would not recognize all the transmission facilities necessary to provide Leeward service, does not hold PNM's other transmission customers harmless, and is inconsistent with FERC pricing policy and precedent. PNM further explains that the proposal to include its FERC approved embedded rate in the unexecuted TSAs is just and reasonable and should be accepted by FERC. On May 11, 2021, FERC issued an order accepting PNM's four unexecuted TSAs. In the order, FERC stated that it agreed with PNM's pricing scheme and agreed that PNM's proposal to use the OATT rate will ensure that the benefit of Leeward's addition to the system will be spread among other existing system users, rather than simply transferred to Pattern. On June 10, 2021, Pattern and Leeward both filed a request for rehearing of the FERC Order. PNM cannot predict the outcome of this matter. The Community Solar Act On June 18, 2021, Senate Bill 84, known as the Community Solar Act, became effective. The Community Solar Act establishes a program that allows for the development of community solar facilities and provides customers of a qualifying utility with the option of accessing solar energy produced by a community solar facility in accordance with the Community Solar Act. The NMPRC is charged with administering the Community Solar Act program, establishing a total maximum capacity of 200 MW community solar (applicable until November 2024) facilities and allocating proportionally to the New Mexico electric investor-owned utilities and participating cooperatives. As required under the Community Solar Act, the NMPRC opened a docket on May 12, 2021 to adopt rules to establish a community solar program no later than April 1, 2022. On June 15, 2021, the NMPRC issued an order which required utilities provide a notice to all future applicants and to any likely applicants that, until the effective date of the NMPRC's rules in this area the NMPRC's existing interconnection rules and manual remain in place until amended or replaced by the NMPRC, and further, that a place in a utility's applicant queue for interconnection does not and will not provide any advantage for selection as a community solar project. PNM has provided the required notices. PNM cannot predict the full impact of the Community Solar Act or the outcome of the NMPRC's rulemaking. San Juan Generating Station Unit 1 Outage On June 30, 2021, a cooling tower used for SJGS Unit 1 failed resulting in a unit outage. SJGS Unit 1 was brought back online on July 25, 2021. PNM anticipates the damages to the facility will be reimbursed under an existing property insurance policy that covers SJGS, subject to a deductible of $2.0 million. PNM’s exposure to the cost of repairs is $1.0 million, reflecting PNM’s 50% ownership interest in SJGS Unit 1. On July 14, 2021, the NMPRC issued an order opening a formal docket and inquiry into the cooling tower incident. TNMP Recovery of TNMP Rate Case Costs Recovery of the cost of TNMP’s rate case was moved into a separate proceeding to begin after the conclusion of the TNMP 2018 Rate Case discussed in the 2020 Annual Reports on Form 10-K. TNMP sought recovery of costs incurred through August 2019 in the amount of $3.8 million and proposed these costs be collected from customers over a three-year period. In October 2019, TNMP and other parties to the proceedings filed an unopposed settlement stipulation that reduced TNMP’s cost recovery to $3.3 million and provide for recovery over a period not to exceed three-years beginning on March 1, 2020. On January 16, 2020, the PUCT approved the settlement. As a result of the PUCT's order, TNMP recorded a pre-tax write-off of $0.5 million in December 2019. Transmission Cost of Service Rates TNMP can update its transmission cost of service (“TCOS”) rates twice per year to reflect changes in its invested capital although updates are not allowed while a general rate case is in process. Updated rates reflect the addition and retirement of transmission facilities, including appropriate depreciation, federal income tax and other associated taxes, and the approved rate of return on such facilities. The following sets forth TNMP’s recent interim transmission cost rate increases:
Effective Date |  | Approved Increase in Rate Base |  | Annual Increase in Revenue
|  | (In millions)
March 27, 2020 |  | $ | 59.2 |  |  | $ | 7.8 |
October 7, 2020 |  | 10.8 |  |  | 2.0 |
March 12, 2021 |  | 112.6 |  |  | 14.1 |
On July 23, 2021 TNMP filed an application to further update its transmission rates to reflect an increase in total rate base of $41.2 million, which would increase revenues by $6.3 million annually. The application is pending before the PUCT. Periodic Distribution Rate Adjustment PUCT rules permit interim rate adjustments to reflect changes in investments in distribution assets. Distribution utilities may file for a periodic rate adjustment between April 1 and April 8 of each year as long as the electric utility is not earning more than its authorized rate of return using weather-normalized data. On April 6, 2020, TNMP filed its 2020 DCOS that requested an increase in TNMP's annual distribution revenue requirement of $14.7 million based on net incremental capital distribution investments of $149.2 million. On June 26, 2020, the parties filed a unanimous settlement for a $14.3 million annual distribution revenue requirement with rates effective September 1, 2020. On August 13, 2020, the PUCT approved the unanimous settlement. On April 5, 2021, TNMP filed its 2021 DCOS that requests an increase in TNMP annual distribution revenue requirement of $14.0 million based on an increase in rate base of $104.5 million. On July 1, 2021, TNMP reached a unanimous settlement agreement with parties that would authorize TNMP to collect an increase in annual distribution revenues of $13.5 million beginning in September 2021. Subsequently, the ALJ issued an order on July 9, 2021 approving interim rates effective September 1, 2021, and remanded the case to the PUCT for approval. The case is pending review by the PUCT. Energy Efficiency TNMP recovers the costs of its energy efficiency programs through an energy efficiency cost recovery factor (“EECRF”), which includes projected program costs, under and over collected costs from prior years, rate case expenses, and performance bonuses (if programs exceed mandated savings goals). TNMP’s 2019 EECRF filing requested recovery of $5.9 million, including a performance bonus of $0.8 million, and became effective on March 1, 2020. TNMP’s 2020 EECRF filing requested recovery of $5.9 million, including a performance bonus of $1.0 million, and became effective on March 1, 2021. On May 27, 2021, TNMP filed its request to adjust the EECRF to reflect changes in costs for 2022. The total amount requested was $7.2 million, which includes a performance bonus of $2.3 million based on TNMP's energy efficiency achievements in the 2020 plan year. On July 28, 2021, a unanimous stipulation and settlement was filed with the PUCT to recover its requested costs in 2022, including the performance bonus of $2.3 million. The stipulation and settlement is pending PUCT approval. COVID-19 Electricity Relief Program On March 26, 2020, the PUCT issued an order establishing an electricity relief program for electric utilities, REPs, and customers impacted by COVID-19. The program allowed providers to implement a rider to collect unpaid residential retail customer bills and to ensure these customers continued to have electric service. In addition, the program provided transmission and distribution providers access to zero-interest loans from ERCOT. Collectively, ERCOT’s loans could not exceed $15 million. The program had a term of six months unless extended by the PUCT. In a separate order, the PUCT authorized electric utilities to establish a regulatory asset for costs related to COVID-19. These costs included but were not limited to costs related to unpaid accounts. TNMP filed its rider on March 30, 2020. The rider was effective immediately and established a charge of $0.33 per MWh in accordance with the PUCT's order. Final collections under the rider exceeded unpaid residential retail customer bills and were presented net as a regulatory liability of $0.1 million on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2020. Other COVID-19 related costs of $0.8 million and $0.7 million were also recorded as a regulatory asset on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020. On April 14, 2020, TNMP executed an interest-free loan agreement to borrow $0.5 million from ERCOT and on October 30, 2020, the balance of the loan was repaid. On August 27, 2020, the PUCT issued an order determining that new enrollments in the program should end on August 31, 2020, and benefits under the program should end on September 30, 2020, to allow eligible customers a minimum of one month of benefits from the program. All requests for reimbursement were made by November 30, 2020. On December 4, 2020, TNMP filed to end collections under the tariff. Final collections under the rider were made on December 11, 2020. On January 14, 2021, TNMP made a final compliance filing for the electricity relief program. Advanced Meter System Deployment TNMP was notified by its largest AMS service provider that its existing communication platform would be decommissioned in February 2022. TNMP evaluated technological alternatives for its AMS and on October 2, 2020, filed an application with the PUCT for authorization to implement necessary upgrades of approximately $46 million by November 2022. On January 14, 2021, the PUCT approved TNMP's application, TNMP will seek recovery of the investment associated with the upgrade in a future general rate proceeding or distribution cost recovery factor filing. AMS Reconciliation On July 14, 2021, TNMP filed a request with the PUCT to consider and approve its final reconciliation of the costs spent on the deployment of AMS from April 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018 and approve appropriate carrying charges until full collection.

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