The
Rational Argumentator
Get Ready to Be Outraged
New Mexicans are rallying to fight a rate increase proposed by PNM -- the largest
electrical system in the state. It would be the third major increase in
recent years. Previous increases raised rates for some customers by as
much as 24%. A PNM representative told business leaders that this one would be "big." It is: 21.2%.
New Mexico, a poor state by all indicators, will have to pay almost double
in 2011 for its electricity than they did in 2007. We all accept a gradual
cost increase for most everything in life, but double in less than five
years? David King, chairman of the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (PRC) calls the rate increase a "hot potato", saying that he has received "a flood of calls from ratepayers."
How can this be? In a state like New Mexico, this will leave people freezing
in the dark!
While PNM is the easy target, its actions are, at least in part, the
result of the people we voted into office -- both on the state and the national
levels.
In 2009 and the New Mexico State Legislature unanimously passed a bill that increased the percentage of electricity generated by renewables by 2011 from the current mandate of 6% to 10% with 15% by 2015 and 20% by 2020 -- and renewables cost more. On my current PNM bill I am paying between $.07-.10 per kilowatt-hour (kwh). Yet, if I have solar panels on my roof and produce more solar than I can use, PNM will pay me $.13-.15. So if PNM is paying more for solar power than it is charging me for electricity -- it is in trouble.
The PRC is also considering a plan from PNM that would add 80 megawatts of solar power to its system to help it meet state-mandated renewable energy standards -- for which PNM says it will "defer the costs associated with the renewable resources as regulatory assets on its balance sheet." So that increase will come at a later time, meaning additional increases!
Third-District Congressman Ben Ray Lujan was chairman of the PRC when he, along with Commissioner Jason Marks, pushed hard to get the legislature to increase the percentage of energy that comes from renewables. They really shoulder responsibility for the increases.
If you are unhappy with a nearly 50% rate increase, get ready to be
outraged! More is coming. This time at the hand of New Mexico's Senator Jeff Bingaman.
As Chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, New Mexico's beloved Senator Domenici was always front and center of the energy debate -- pushing for energy. Sadly, he retired, and Jeff Bingaman became the Chairman. He has a totally different view and style.
Senator Bingaman has not been getting a lot of face time in the 24-hour news
cycle, but he has been quietly working behind the scenes to make energy more expensive. He has a bill that has already passed the Natural Resources
Committee markup that would increase renewable electricity and is now
writing a power-plant-only carbon cap bill.
Following the Tuesday energy meeting at the White House, President Obama and Senator Kerry indicated that it wasn't really about CO2, as they are willing to shelve their carbon trading scheme, but as Obama said, he wants a bill that will "raise the cost of burning oil and coal." Senator Kerry suggested limiting carbon emission on electric utilities -- which will require expensive carbon sequestration equipment and/or more renewables. As we have seen first-hand in New Mexico, these increased costs will be passed on to the ratepayer.
It hasn't worked out well here in this poor state, but our "energy" Senator
is working to put the entire country through the same thing. He has drafted
legislation to limit emissions from the electric power sector. Unless
Americans want to be freezing in the dark, each and every person had better
make his or her voice heard. Wake up and learn a lesson from New Mexico. Do not let our Senator double your energy bills!
There is never a good time to intentionally raise the cost of the single
item that is central to everything that makes America uniquely American -- and now, with an economy teetering on the brink of disaster, is the worst
possible time. Any Senator, any Congressman, any state legislator, who votes to raise energy costs is simply un-American. He or she doesn't deserve our vote.
I'm outraged. Are you?
much as 24%. A PNM representative told business leaders that this one would be "big." It is: 21.2%.
New Mexico, a poor state by all indicators, will have to pay almost double
in 2011 for its electricity than they did in 2007. We all accept a gradual
cost increase for most everything in life, but double in less than five
years? David King, chairman of the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (PRC) calls the rate increase a "hot potato", saying that he has received "a flood of calls from ratepayers."
How can this be? In a state like New Mexico, this will leave people freezing
in the dark!
While PNM is the easy target, its actions are, at least in part, the
result of the people we voted into office -- both on the state and the national
levels.
In 2009 and the New Mexico State Legislature unanimously passed a bill that increased the percentage of electricity generated by renewables by 2011 from the current mandate of 6% to 10% with 15% by 2015 and 20% by 2020 -- and renewables cost more. On my current PNM bill I am paying between $.07-.10 per kilowatt-hour (kwh). Yet, if I have solar panels on my roof and produce more solar than I can use, PNM will pay me $.13-.15. So if PNM is paying more for solar power than it is charging me for electricity -- it is in trouble.
The PRC is also considering a plan from PNM that would add 80 megawatts of solar power to its system to help it meet state-mandated renewable energy standards -- for which PNM says it will "defer the costs associated with the renewable resources as regulatory assets on its balance sheet." So that increase will come at a later time, meaning additional increases!
Third-District Congressman Ben Ray Lujan was chairman of the PRC when he, along with Commissioner Jason Marks, pushed hard to get the legislature to increase the percentage of energy that comes from renewables. They really shoulder responsibility for the increases.
If you are unhappy with a nearly 50% rate increase, get ready to be
outraged! More is coming. This time at the hand of New Mexico's Senator Jeff Bingaman.
As Chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, New Mexico's beloved Senator Domenici was always front and center of the energy debate -- pushing for energy. Sadly, he retired, and Jeff Bingaman became the Chairman. He has a totally different view and style.
Senator Bingaman has not been getting a lot of face time in the 24-hour news
cycle, but he has been quietly working behind the scenes to make energy more expensive. He has a bill that has already passed the Natural Resources
Committee markup that would increase renewable electricity and is now
writing a power-plant-only carbon cap bill.
Following the Tuesday energy meeting at the White House, President Obama and Senator Kerry indicated that it wasn't really about CO2, as they are willing to shelve their carbon trading scheme, but as Obama said, he wants a bill that will "raise the cost of burning oil and coal." Senator Kerry suggested limiting carbon emission on electric utilities -- which will require expensive carbon sequestration equipment and/or more renewables. As we have seen first-hand in New Mexico, these increased costs will be passed on to the ratepayer.
It hasn't worked out well here in this poor state, but our "energy" Senator
is working to put the entire country through the same thing. He has drafted
legislation to limit emissions from the electric power sector. Unless
Americans want to be freezing in the dark, each and every person had better
make his or her voice heard. Wake up and learn a lesson from New Mexico. Do not let our Senator double your energy bills!
There is never a good time to intentionally raise the cost of the single
item that is central to everything that makes America uniquely American -- and now, with an economy teetering on the brink of disaster, is the worst
possible time. Any Senator, any Congressman, any state legislator, who votes to raise energy costs is simply un-American. He or she doesn't deserve our vote.
I'm outraged. Are you?
Click here to return to TRA's Issue CCLIV Index.
Learn about Mr. Stolyarov's novel, Eden against the Colossus, here.Read Mr. Stolyarov's comprehensive treatise, A Rational Cosmology, explicating such terms as the universe, matter, space, time, sound, light, life, consciousness, and volition, here.