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Regulatory and Rate Matters | 3 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2024
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 2023 Annual Reports on Form 10-K. PNM New Mexico General Rate Case 2024 Rate Change On December 5, 2022, PNM filed an application with the NMPRC for a general increase in retail electric rates including recovery on total rate base of $2.7 billion based on a calendar year 2024 FTY, an increase of $63.8 million in retail non-fuel revenues, and an ROE 10.25%. The application also proposed ratemaking treatment of PVNGS Leased Interest and testimony supporting the prudence of PNM’s decisions to renew the five leases and repurchase 64.1 MW of PVNGS Unit 2 capacity. On January 3, 2024, the NMPRC issued a final order authorizing PNM to implement an increase in non-fuel base rates of $15.3 million, effective for service beginning January 15, 2024. Major components of the difference compared to PNM’s application include: •A ROE of 9.26%. •A capital structure of 49.61% equity, 50.10% debt, and 0.29% preferred stock. •Finding of imprudence regarding PNM’s decision to remain in Four Corners and a remedy for the imprudence resulting in a disallowance of $81.0 million to PNM’s total Four Corners net book value. •Approval of $51.3 million of PNM’s requested $96.3 million regulatory asset for PVNGS undepreciated investments, but disallowance of a return on the remaining $45.0 million or any CWIP associated with it. •Requiring that the $38.4 million regulatory liability associated with leased capacity at PVNGS after the Unit 1 lease expired on January 15, 2023, be returned to ratepayers over two years through a separate rate rider. •The approval of new depreciation rates, reflecting shorter useful lives, of PNM’s gas plants with service lives and depreciable lives extending beyond January 1, 2045, which would include PNM’s La Luz and Luna generating stations. •The approval of PNM’s TOD pilot program, with a requirement to make annual compliance filings and to adjust certain rate schedules. For additional details related to the initial application, see Note 17 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the 2023 Annual Reports on Form 10-K. In the year ended December 31, 2023, PNM evaluated the outcome of the NMPRC final order in the 2024 Rate Change and recorded a regulatory disallowance of $55.5 million on the Consolidated Statement of Earnings and a corresponding reduction to Utility Plant, after accounting for previous impairments, to reflect the remedy adopted in the Final Order for Four Corners. In addition, PNM recorded a reduction to electric operating revenues of $38.4 million with a corresponding current regulatory liability of $19.2 million and a deferred regulatory liability of $19.2 million for the PVNGS rate refunds that will be returned to customers over a two-year period. PNM also recorded a regulatory disallowance of $8.2 million on the Consolidated Statement of Earnings and a corresponding reduction to Utility Plant for the disallowance of CWIP from PVNGS. In March 2024, notice of appeals were separately filed with the NM Supreme Court by NEE and PNM, and a joint notice of appeal was filed by the NM Department of Justice, Bernalillo County, and ABCWUA. Statements of issues from appellants are due June 5, 2024. 2025 Rate Change As previously indicated, PNM anticipates filing a general rate case during 2024 with rates requested to be implemented during 2025. On March 18, 2024, PNM filed a motion for variance with the NMPRC, requesting a 16-day variance which would allow for the filing of its next general rate case to be on or before June 14, 2024. The proposed rate case will include a FTY beginning on July 1, 2025 and a base period ending December 31, 2023. On April 18, 2024, the motion for variance was granted. Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard As discussed in Note 11, the ETA amends the REA including removal of diversity requirements and certain customer caps and exemptions relating to the application of the RPS under the REA. 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 Reasonable Cost Threshold (“RCT”) for the procurement of renewable resources to prevent excessive costs being added to rates. The ETA sets a RCT of $60 per MWh, adjusted for inflation, 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 the renewable energy rider billed on a KWh basis. 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 capacity of 11 MW •Solar distributed generation, aggregating 289.3 MW at March 31, 2024, owned by customers or third parties from whom PNM purchases any net excess output and RECs The NMPRC has authorized PNM to recover certain renewable procurement costs through a rate rider billed on a per KWh basis. In its 2024 renewable energy procurement plan, which became effective on January 1, 2024, PNM proposed to collect $59.0 million for the year. PNM recorded revenues from the rider of $15.3 million and $18.6 million in the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023. 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 2023. 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 does not exceed seventy-five thousand dollars. On April 17, 2023, PNM filed an application for energy efficiency and load management programs to be offered in 2024, 2025, and 2026 (the “2024 Plan”). The 2024 Plan proposed to continue ten existing energy efficiency programs with modification and a total annual budget of $34.5 million in 2024, $35.4 million in 2025, and $36.5 million in 2026. The application also sought approval of an annual base incentive of 7.1% of the portfolio budget and a sliding scale that provides additional incentive for additional energy saved as a percentage of program cost, up to the maximum allowed by the energy efficiency rule which for PNM is 8.82%. On January 26, 2024, the hearing examiners in the case issued a RD. The RD largely approved PNM’s 2024 Plan but with modifications that include the pursuit of demand response resources, additional analysis in future filings, adjustments to certain energy efficiency programs, and modification of the incentive sliding scale cap to reflect a new maximum. On March 7, 2024, the NMPRC approved the RD 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. 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 alleged that PNM’s proposed rate adjustment mechanism is inconsistent with the EUEA. 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 March 17, 2021, the NMPRC issued an order granting the petitions for declaratory order, commencing a declaratory order proceeding to address the petitions and appointing a hearing examiner to preside over the declaratory order proceeding. On January 14, 2022, the hearing examiner issued a RD recommending the NMPRC find that the EUEA does not mandate the NMPRC to authorize or approve a full decoupling mechanism, defining full decoupling as limited to energy efficiency and load management measures and programs. The RD also states that a utility may request approval of a rate adjustment mechanism to remove regulatory disincentives to energy efficiency and load management measures and programs through a stand-alone petition, as part of the utility’s triennial energy efficiency application or a general rate case and that PNM is not otherwise precluded from petitioning for a rate adjustment mechanism prior to its next general rate case. Finally, the RD stated that the EUEA does not permit the NMPRC to reduce a utility’s ROE based on approval of a disincentive removal mechanism founded on removing regulatory disincentives to energy efficiency and load management measures and programs. The RD does not specifically prohibit a downward adjustment to a utility’s capital structure, based on approval of a disincentive removal mechanism. On April 27, 2022, the NMPRC issued an order adopting the RD in its entirety. On May 24, 2022, PNM filed a notice of appeal with the NM Supreme Court. The NM Supreme Court held oral arguments on November 13, 2023. 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 three years of that period. On September 14, 2022, the NMPRC adopted revisions to the IRP Rule. The new rule revamps and modernizes the planning process to accommodate increased stakeholder involvement. The IRP Rule establishes a collaborative facilitated process for a utility and stakeholders to agree on a statement of need for potential new or additional resources, as well as an action plan to guide procurement or development of resources to meet the stated need. A most-cost-effective portfolio of resources shall be derived from the statement of need analysis. The statement of need and action plan must be accepted before the utility begins the resource solicitation process pursuant to the IRP Rule. Following acceptance of the statement of need and action plan, a utility will provide the NMPRC and intervenors drafts of the request for proposals (“RFP”) and a timeline for issuing, receiving, evaluating, and ranking bids. The NMPRC will then appoint an Independent Monitor (“IM”) to oversee the RFP process, which allows for parties and the IM to comment on the RFP consistency with the IRP, after which the utility issues the RFP. Within 120 days of receiving bids the utility shall provide the IM with results including pricing and non-price evaluation criteria, ranking of bids, chosen portfolio and alternatives that also meet the needs; the IM then rules on the fairness of the RFP execution. Acceptance of the statement of need and action plan will not constitute a finding of prudency or pre-approval of costs associated with the additional resources. Following the RFP and IM processes, the utility may apply for approvals, and any costs incurred to implement the action plan will be considered in a general rate case and/or resource acquisition proceeding. On October 14, 2022, PNM and other investor-owned utilities filed motions for rehearing with the NMPRC. On October 26, 2022, the NMPRC issued an order partially granting and partially denying certain aspects of PNM’s and the other investor-owned utilities’ motions for rehearing. On November 2, 2022, the NMPRC adopted an amended IRP Rule. On December 2, 2022, PNM filed an appeal with the NM Supreme Court. Two other investor-owned utilities also separately filed appeals at the NM Supreme Court. On January 3, 2023, PNM and the two other investor-owned utilities filed statements of issues with the NM Supreme Court. Among other things, the investor-owned utilities question whether the IRP Rule exceeds the NMPRC authority by imposing unauthorized requirements on utilities and extending NMPRC jurisdiction through over-broad interpretation of the statutes and state that the IRP Rule is contrary to law in its provisions for NMPRC regulation of a utility’s resource procurement decision-making. On June 5, 2023, PNM and the other two investor-owned utilities filed their Joint Brief in Chief and request for oral arguments at the NM Supreme Court. On November 22, 2023, the NM Supreme Court scheduled oral arguments for May 13, 2024. PNM cannot predict the outcome of this matter. 2023 IRP On December 15, 2023, PNM filed its 2023 IRP with a continued focus on a carbon-free energy system by 2040. The plan highlights the need for the significant sustained addition of resources over the next two decades, replacing retiring or expiring capacity, meeting concurrent load growth, while reducing the carbon intensity of PNM’s portfolio. On April 4, 2024, the NMPRC accepted PNM’s 2023 IRP. On May 2, 2024, the NMPRC issued an order appointing an independent monitor who will report the results of PNM’s 2023 IRP. Four Corners Abandonment Application In 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, contingent upon NMPRC approval. 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. 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 was expected to make a final payment of $60.0 million. On January 8, 2021, PNM filed the Four Corners Abandonment Application, which sought NMPRC approval to exit PNM’s share of Four Corners as of December 31, 2024, and issuance of approximately $300 million of Securitized Bonds as provided by the ETA. On December 15, 2021, the NMPRC issued a final order denying approval of the Four Corners Abandonment Application and the corresponding request for issuance of securitized financing. On December 22, 2021, PNM filed a Notice of Appeal with the NM Supreme Court of the NMPRC decision to deny the application and on July 6, 2023, the NM Supreme Court affirmed the NMPRC decision concluding that the NMPRC reasonably and lawfully denied PNM’s application for abandonment. On April 23, 2024, PNM filed an interim notice informing the NMPRC that PNM’s updated analysis indicates it is in the interest of customers for PNM to remain as a participant in Four Corners until the expiration of the current coal supply agreement in 2031. PNM continues to work with the other Four Corners owners to update the necessary project agreements to reflect this continued participation. Summer Peak Resource Adequacy Beginning in 2021 PNM began providing notices of delays, as received from developers, and status updates to the NMPRC for the approved SJGS replacement resource projects as well as delays in replacement resources for the PVNGS leased capacity that expired in January 2023 and January 2024. While PNM continues to experience new system peaks, PNM’s generation resources performed sufficiently with no challenges to resource adequacy during the 2023 summer peak season. While some of the replacement resources have come online, other replacement resources have experienced additional developer delays and PNM has entered into additional firm energy market purchases necessary to meet customer load during the 2024 summer season. See Note 7. 2026 Resource Application On October 25, 2023, PNM filed an application with the NMPRC seeking approval of resources to be available for the 2026 summer peak. The application includes approval of a 100 MW solar PPA and three battery storage agreements of 100 MW, 100 MW, and 50 MW. In addition, PNM is seeking approval of a CCN for a 60 MW battery storage system to be owned by PNM. The resources are necessary for PNM to safely and reliably meet its projected system load. A hearing was held on March 20 and 21, 2024. PNM is unable to predict the outcome of this matter. Grid Modernization Application On October 3, 2022, in compliance with New Mexico Grid Modernization Statute, PNM filed its Grid Modernization Application with the NMPRC. The projects included in the Grid Modernization Application improve customers’ ability to customize their use of energy and ensure that customers, including low-income customers, are a top priority and will benefit consistent with the Grid Modernization Statute. PNM’s proposal to modernize its electricity grid through infrastructure and technology improvements also increases the efficiency, reliability, resilience, and security of PNM’s electric system. PNM’s application seeks approval of grid modernization investments of approximately $344 million for the first six years of a broader 11-year strategy. The proposed Grid Modernization Rider would recover capital costs, operating expenses, and taxes associated with the investments included in the Grid Modernization Application. PNM also requested authorization to create related regulatory assets and liabilities, permitting PNM to record costs incurred for the development and implementation of PNM’s plan between the requested approval of the application on July 1, 2023, and the implementation of the Grid Modernization Rider by September 1, 2023; undepreciated investments associated with legacy meters being replaced with AMI meters; and over- or under-collection of costs through the Grid Modernization Rider. In addition, PNM requested approval of the proposed format of an Opt-Out Consent Form and methodology to determine PNM’s proposed cost-based opt-out fees, which includes a one-time fee and a monthly fee. Following a hearing and subsequent briefs, on May 31, 2023, the NMPRC issued an order requiring the hearing examiner to direct PNM to file a cost benefit analysis as a supplement to the application. On November 22, 2023, PNM filed the required cost benefit analysis supporting PNM’s proposed Grid Modernization plan. A hearing began on April 23, 2024. PNM is unable to predict the outcome of this matter. The Community Solar Act In 2021, the Community Solar Act established a program that allows for the development of community solar facilities and provides customers of a qualifying utility with the option of subscribing to community solar facilities, and in exchange would receive a bill credit from their utility, while the utility received energy from the community solar facility. 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. On March 30, 2022, the NMPRC issued an order that adopted a rule on the administration of the Community Solar Act program. The rule required utilities to file proposed community solar tariffs with the NMPRC within 60 days from the publication of the rule. A number of motions for rehearing and requests for clarification were filed between April 7 and May 2, 2022. On May 18, 2022, the NMPRC issued an order partially granting motions for rehearing, reconsideration and clarification and staying implementation pending further rulemaking. On June 16, 2022, PNM requested clarification related to the existing interconnection queue, which would not delay implementation of the Community Solar Act program. On July 12, 2022, the NMPRC provided notice of publication of its final rule in the New Mexico Register, starting the 60-day clock for utilities to file their proposed community solar tariffs, forms, and other relevant agreements. On September 14, 2022, PNM filed Community Solar tariffs. On October 12, 2022, the NMPRC issued an order to suspend PNM’s and two other investor-owned utilities tariffs and required the utilities to file information NMPRC Staff has identified as necessary for a complete evaluation of the tariffs but did not appoint a hearing examiner or schedule a public hearing. Another investor-owned utility has filed an appeal with the NM Supreme Court seeking review of the NMPRC’s decisions, to which PNM has intervened. The NM Supreme Court held oral arguments on March 11, 2024 and issued an order upholding the Community Solar Rule and affirming without further delay the implementation of the Community Solar Act program. On November 16, 2022, PNM filed its Community Solar tariff which establishes the Community Solar bill credit to be applied to an eligible retail customer of PNM who is a subscriber to a community solar facility. On December 23, 2022, PNM filed an updated Community Solar tariff under protest and filed a motion for clarification, suspension, and timely hearing on PNM’s Community Solar tariff. On January 18, 2023, the NMPRC suspended PNM’s Community Solar tariff. On March 1, 2023, the NMPRC issued an Order Opening a New Docket for Two-Phase Proceedings. The first phase addressed issues concerning the proposed subscriber organization agreements and the proposed customer data forms. The second phase will address all issues concerning proposed tariffs, agreements and forms that are not addressed in the first phase. On May 31, 2023, the utilities filed a Consolidated Reply Brief to the NMPRC and the Joint Intervenors-Appellee filed Answer Briefs in the NM Supreme Court proceeding. On September 21, 2023, the NMPRC issued an order approving an uncontested stipulation on the first phase and on October 30, 2023, PNM’s advice notice conforming to the stipulation became effective. A hearing for the second phase was held from January 17 through January 19, 2024. PNM cannot predict the outcome of the pending matters. Transportation and Electrification Program (TEP) On June 1, 2023, PNM filed its 2024-2026 TEP with the NMPRC, requesting approval of a $37.1 million total three-year budget and continuation of the current TEP Rider. Approximately 22% of the budget, $8.0 million, will be dedicated to low-income customers. A hearing was held on December 13, 2023. On February 2, 2024, the hearing examiners in the case issued a RD largely approving PNM’s 2024 Plan but with modifications to certain TEP programs. On February 23, 2024, the NMPRC approved the RD with additional modifications that reduced the three-year budget by $4.0 million, for a total revised budget of $32.9 million. TNMP Transmission Cost of Service Rates TNMP can update its 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)
May 12, 2023 |  | $ | 150.5 |  |  | $ | 19.4 |
September 6, 2023 |  | 21.4 |  |  | 4.2 |
March 15, 2024 |  | 97.4 |  |  | 13.1 |
Periodic Distribution Rate Adjustment PUCT rules permit interim rate adjustments to reflect changes in investments in distribution assets. Historically, distribution utilities have been restricted to a single, annual periodic rate adjustment through a DCRF submitted between April 1 and April 8 of each year as long as the electric utility was not earning more than its authorized rate of return using weather-normalized data. However, the recent passage of Senate Bill 1015 now permits DCRF proceedings to be filed twice per year with a 60-day administrative deadline that can be extended for 15 days on good cause. Additionally, a DCRF may be filed during a pending rate case proceeding as long as that DCRF request is not filed until the 185th day after the rate case proceeding was initiated. The following sets forth TNMP’s recent interim distribution rate increases:
Effective Date |  | Approved Increase in Rate Base |  | Annual Increase in Revenue
|  | (In millions)
September 1, 2022 |  | $ | 95.7 |  |  | $ | 6.8 |
September 1, 2023 |  | 157.0 |  |  | 14.5 |
On April 1, 2024, TNMP filed its 2024 DCRF that requested an increase in TNMP annual distribution revenue requirement of $15.9 million based on an increase in rate base of $207.4 million. 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 2022 EECRF filing requested recovery of $7.3 million, including a performance bonus of $1.9 million, and became effective March 1, 2023. On May 26, 2023, TNMP filed its request to adjust the EECRF to reflect changes in costs for 2024. On September 28, 2023, the PUCT approved a unanimous stipulation, authorizing recovery of $6.6 million, including a performance bonus of $1.2 million based on TNMP’s energy efficiency achievements in the 2022 plan year.

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