Clown Car No More; Majority of PRC Finds Their Voice And Fights The PNM/Avangrid Merger; Our Commentary On Why They Are Right, Plus; MLG Starts Buttering The Election Bread

Because of the personal antics of various commissioners it was once the most infamous clown car in the state but today a majority of the five member Public Regulation Commission is showing real moxy. Three of them continue to oppose the controversial $4.3 billion merger between PNM and foreign-controlled Avangrid. 

That opposition is in the face of a $1 million plus advertising blitz, the complete capitulation of the state's political class and string-pulling by radical enviros here and out of state who are unconcerned about anything but allegedly saving the planet no matter the cost to the working people of the state. 

At a public meeting Wednesday these commissioners again cited the checkered ethical record of Avangrid/Iberdrola and the difficulty in regulating and controlling the many tentacles of the company which is owned by Spain-based Iberdrola. 

The PRC's chief hearing officer for the case has recommended against the merger. That takes a set of brass balls given the backing of the flawed deal by  the media, the aforementioned extreme enviros, the PNM executives who will reap millions if the deal succeeds, various business groups enamored with anyone who has more money than them and assorted labor unions looking for a quick paycheck instead of at their families' futures. 

Talk about unholy alliances. 

We are continually told via the over-the-top Avangrid/PNM propaganda campaign that "everyone" (or everyone except Mariel Nanasi of New Energy Economy who they attack in their ads) supports this merger. Everyone!

So what do the PRC hearing officer and the three brave commissioners--Fischmann, Becenti-Aguilar and Hall--know that "everyone" doesn't? You needn't look long at a Google search to eyeball the facts that are prompting these commissioners to face off with a multi-billion dollar entity. 

A little state like ours with barely 2 million souls is simply not in need of shouldering the burdens of this merger. We have done reasonably well with PNM for over a century and will continue to do so if the merger is rejected. 

Yes, that means continuing to pursue climate change solutions but ones that also protect our people and not have them run over by billionaire-funded environmentalists who command that we "sign here" and then pay the bill. And not by a foreign corporation of which we would be a pimple on an elephant's back. 

The clown car is no more at the PRC and the elites pushing this deal saw it coming as they persuaded the Legislature (and hoodwinked voters) to abolish the elected PRC and replace it with one in the future that will be appointed by the Governor who can then be better controlled by campaign contributions. 

That and the already failing Energy Transition Act foisted on the public by a PNM led Roundhouse stunk up this deal from the beginning. The profound misgivings voiced by consumers and others in Maine where Avangrid operates was icing on the cake. Add in the Iberdrola bribery charges and what you have is trouble coming faster than the traffic on I-25 to Santa Fe. 

Then there is the semi-pathetic reasoning of PNM for the merger. "We don't have enough money to buy new technologies to get at renewable resources." Say what? Haven't they heard of the bond market? Or record low interest rates? For Heaven's sake, PNM, you're listed on the NYSE. Start acting like it.  Good luck to the commissioners in opposition. If they falter and approve this deal they ought to have clowns at the signing. Yes, send in the clowns. There ought to be clowns. 

BUTTER THE BREAD

MLG is starting to prepare the buttered bread for Election '22 and the first group to get a slice is New Mexico teachers who the Guv says deserve a 7 percent pay raise. She will push for that at the January legislative session. If approved, the raises would be seen next fall just in time for you know what. 

The pay hikes would cost the state $280 million in annual revenue but that's piddling in the face of a projected surplus that is headed toward $1.5 billion and probably more, not to mention the billions in federal aid soon to flow. MLG has a whole loaf of bread to hand out and the line is forming behind those teachers. 

THE BOTTOM LINES

There is only one independent in the state House. Freshman ABQ Dem Rep. Brittney Barreras started out as an indy but has since joined the Dems. Both Wikipedia and Ballotpedia still identity one Dem leaning indy and one R leaning indy in the state House. We blogged that info in a first draft Wednesday. The R leaning indy is Rep. Phelps Andersen of Roswell. The current House breakdown is 45-24 Dem and independent Anderson.

Reader Doug Crandall writes of a blog misspelling:

I think you meant the cavalry and not Calvary, although it could be a reference to Representative Herrell’s religious base. Anyway, as a long time New Mexican living in Arizona, I enjoy keeping up with your blogs.

And we enjoy doing those blogs for you. Thanks to all for tuning in. 

Reporting from Albuquerque, I'm Joe Monahan.

This is the home of New Mexico politics. 

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2021