Regulators to Invest in Our Future

The legislative and executive branches have done everything in their power to bankrupt our state in recent years by "investing in our future." There was the Rail Runner investment in our future, which has resulted in an increase in gross receipts taxes to support it's operations - look for more increases to come in the future. Then, there was the Spaceport America investment in our future, which has also resulted in new taxes.

Now, it looks like the regulators are eager to get into the action. The New Mexico Public Regulation Committee (PRC ) would like to invest in our future to expand rooftop solar energy programs, practically ensuring future increases in the cost of energy in New Mexico (subscription):

New Mexico regulators are considering a proposal that would expand rooftop solar energy programs at the state's largest utility.

The program, under which Public Service Company of New Mexico would pay a premium to buy electricity from rooftop arrays, is part of the state Public Regulation Commission's efforts to expand production of renewable energy in the state.

The program's backers say it will create an incentive to expand nonpolluting energy production. By putting the power systems in the middle of the city — "distributed generation" — it will also reduce the need for new transmission lines, backers say.

"We're investing in the future," said PRC member Jason Marks.

Oh yeah, nothing like working towards bankrupting us in the present by "investing in the future." Anytime anyone in New Mexico government says "we're investing in the future, " you can bet your bottom dollar that what they're really saying is "we're going to be increasing your expenses in the VERY near future."

Ben Ray Lujan Compensation Issues

Looks like Public Regulation Commissioner Ben Ray Lujan has a problem with the salaries paid to CEO's of the utility companies serving New Mexico (subscription):

The Public Regulation Commission wants to know if the pay packages of top utility executives are "reasonable and prudent."

The commission on Tuesday ordered Public Service Company of New Mexico, Zia Natural Gas Co., Raton Natural Gas Co., Southwestern Public Service/Xcel Energy and El Paso Electric to report pay packages of top executives by Jan. 11.

"Not all of the utility executives' compensation is in rates, but a portion of each executive's salary is in rates," said PRC Chairman Ben R. Lujan.

"It's important for us to understand whether the decisions made in awarding those packages are reasonable and prudent."

You've got to love the irony here. A young man without a college degree, has a powerful father who gets him paid political appointments and then works with a Governor Richardson to clear the primary field so he can get an elected position that pays over $90,000 per year.

Gov. Bill Richardson is going to bat for a handful of fellow Democrats in contested primary races this year, but other candidates are questioning the appropriateness of his actions.

Richardson has provided a statement -- a three-sentence quote -- in support of Ben R. Lujan of Santa Fe, a former worker in Richardson's congressional office and the son of House Speaker Ben Lujan. The younger Lujan is running for a seat on the Public Regulation Commission.

Oh, and did I mention that prior to all of these shenanigans the guy's previous job experience was limited to being a casino dealer? I'm sorry, but the last person that should be questioning the "reasonable and prudent" nature of anyone's compensation package is Ben Ray Lujan.

Third World Tactics

Ever wonder why most Latin American countries lag so far behind the United States when it comes to economic prosperity? Think inadequate protection of private property rights. See, it is hard to encourage growth in countries where a sudden change in the political landscape can result in the new government deciding to seize a private investment for the "public good."

Keeping that in mind, what sort of message do you think this sends (subscription) to those who would consider investing in New Mexico:

In 2004, [the newly formed public Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority] increased what it charges [the privately owned New Mexico Utilities Inc.] for sewer service by tens of thousands of dollars [in blatant violation of a 1973 contract]. The utility [which has provided services to area residents since the 1960's] sued.

The authority [created in 2003] has made no secret that it wants to condemn New Mexico Utilities and merge its operations with the city/county agency.

Think about that... a new governmental agency is formed in 2003, and one of their first orders of business is to try and seize a private company. A private company that has been operating a viable, growing and successful business for more than 40 years. This is wrong. Our elected officials need to be reminded that this is not the way that America works.