Energy (Transmission)

This Senate Memorial (SM 26) requests the New Mexico Senate formally support utilities participating in **voluntary energy markets** as a step toward regional grid coordination. It directly affects New Mexico's electricity utilities and their customers by encouraging participation in regional energy markets to improve grid reliability and potentially lower costs. The key mechanism is the Senate’s endorsement of this approach under Public Regulation Commission oversight, aiming to advance state energy transition goals while maintaining transparency and accountability. (Note: This is a non-binding memorial, not a bill.)

SB 157 allows New Mexico residents and businesses to use portable solar devices (under 1,920 watts) that connect to standard home outlets without utility approval or fees. It exempts owners from interconnection rules and net-metering requirements, and specifies that any electricity fed back to the grid during normal use isn’t compensated. The bill also voids property restrictions that block these devices and requires them to include safety features preventing backfeeding during power outages. This directly affects individuals installing small-scale portable solar systems for personal on-site energy use.