Aug 1 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Michael Hartranft Albuquerque Journal, N.M.


A New Mexico electric coop, which says the House approved cap and trade climate-change bill could nearly double customer bills, delivered 500 letters this week to U.S. Sens. Jeff Bingaman and Rep. Tom Udall seeking significant changes.

The Continental Divide Electric Cooperative Inc. says the adopted House Bill 2454 could cost its 19,000 customers as much as $54 more a month. A Senate bill has yet to go to the floor.

The current average residential electric bill is about $62 and the co-op already has a big delinquency problem, said Mac Juarez, Continental member services representative. "We have a demographic here that is on the very low side of household income," he said.

Co-op general manager Richard Shirley called on the senators "to come up with a more sensible plan."

Continental serves Cibola County and parts of McKinley, Valencia, Bernalillo and Sandoval counties including Laguna and Acoma pueblos and part of the Navajo Nation.

Continental has joined a nation co-op campaign called "Our Energy, Our Future."

Keven Groenewold, executive vice president of the NM Rural Electric Cooperative Association, which represents 16 co-ops, said his organization shares Continental's concerns.

Bingaman, D-N.M., in a statement said: "I believe we must pay close attention to the needs of consumers -- including those who rely on co-ops -- and do everything possible to contain costs."

Udall, D-N.M., in a statement said, "We understand that there are efficiency credits that can be helpful." The House-approved measure would establish caps on greenhouse-gas emissions and require regulated entities, such as power companies, to acquire credits to cover all emissions. A trading system would allow companies that could inexpensively cut emissions to sell emissions credits.

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