[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6530349,"mediaKeyId","3667291-a84ba399d8e4ed85d69510e4aa1804ac","parentId",3667291,"title","Board hears annual review of utility-assistance program; donations steady and programers outline eligibility","audioSeconds",1066,"startMs",6180000,"endMs",7246000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3667291-a84ba399d8e4ed85d69510e4aa1804ac&start=6180&end=7246","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3667291-a84ba399d8e4ed85d69510e4aa1804ac/thumbnail_6180000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6530349/New-Mexico/Board-hears-annual-review-of-utility-assistance-program-donations-steady-and-programers-outline-eligibility","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6530349-70d6e483352560795ec409ca8ae1add6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770550296&Signature=bDQGaRYf3nnmZbtyd9s~fbvPpw~uwD9u2v4lXOSQKuIap-XdHZNGKtbe5TTQxa1W-Mg9a36bhYmIwY7a5JPTn6sbXuSwv4VchBZTH~XCjtHmzefDU-A6OxqN9F2h33tzD7ukpL3tLeWDTmsVC3~nDuqDqZAcfnVe--SL23b9ONIe1eefyuOKTAKgE78zQeAzU1PaM7q8OZTRXS6bZmYcgmW2w4Qbj-c671avedz-Xoym7fgMTYZ0dMAr2iuKiHQwNE4fZ-m8P24P2yrk5H7x-9DByG0ZIVG7LWLAzCSaXkMJxC-yPRuGA7CXm4iCjO64hgpqAX4KuzCtNkDokOOROg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Los Alamos County","date","2025-06-04T00:00:00Z","article","Joanne (Customer Care) presented the annual review of Los Alamos County’s Utility Assistance Program (UAP) to the Board of Public Utilities on June 4, describing program structure, eligibility thresholds and recent usage and donations.

Program basics: UAP is funded entirely through customer donations and provides three types of help: a winter-assistance program (October–March) with monthly assistance between $17 and $138; year-round assistance tied to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) eligibility; and a one-time hardship payment up to $350 once every 12 months for qualifying customers. To qualify for winter assistance under the current threshold, household income must be at or below 50% of the county’s median household income; staff noted an updated median (Census CDP) figure will change the threshold slightly in October.

Recent data: since July 2024 the utility fund disbursed $24,178 in aid to 81 customers. Staff reported LAHEAP provided $5,810 in assistance to local customers in that period and LA Cares provided $26,119. The UAP fund balance rose from $19,670 on July 1, 2024, to $23,352 as of April 2025.

Donations and payment options: customers can donate via a monthly amount added to their utility bill, a one-time remittance slip amount, by in-person drop-off or by purchases of branded items where proceeds go to UAP. The board discussed re-enabling an online donation option through the utility’s credit-card processor (Paymentus). Staff said the portal had been disabled previously after fraudulent attempts exploited a donation field; staff said they will investigate secure reactivation options but cautioned the enterprise’s payment system is primarily for utility-transactions and has constraints.

Board members asked whether donations to UAP are tax-deductible; staff said donations to UAP are not tax-deductible but charitable donations to organizations such as LA Cares (a separate 501(c)(3)) may be.

Staff noted LA Cares and county social services are important referral partners and that the UAP program aims to coordinate with those resources when larger assistance is required. A board member suggested exploring whether combining administrative paths for county- and nonprofit-run assistance programs could simplify access for customers; staff said they will look into feasibility but raised system and legal constraints.

Ending: Board members praised staff outreach and customer service. Chair Gibson and members asked staff to research secure online donation options and to return with any feasible changes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Los Alamos County - Board of Public Utilities Work Session on 2025-06-04 5:30 PM - Jun 04, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The board received a status update on the county’s Utility Assistance Program, which is funded by customer donations and provided winter, year-round and one-time assistance; staff reported 81 customers were assisted since July 2024 with roughly $24,178 in payments and discussed donation mechanisms.","taxTitle","Los Alamos, New Mexico","taxId",51137,"location","New Mexico","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6530354,"Board previews annual utilities report to County Council, asks for electric-reports detail",1086,5085000,6171000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3667291-a84ba399d8e4ed85d69510e4aa1804ac&start=5085&end=6171","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3667291-a84ba399d8e4ed85d69510e4aa1804ac/thumbnail_5085000.jpg","/articles/6530354/New-Mexico/Board-previews-annual-utilities-report-to-County-Council-asks-for-electric-reports-detail","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6530354-305edb0447b10c1ed7f3db6013c6f905/orig.mp4?Expires=1770550296&Signature=RTLy9dqSEMNimTv0LjqqSv6Fv9Ygr3ZEIdSc-HJYginy8tbrCB43bavIHjIWxmbeIrRMaJynl4syMbfO6Q~G8zGazArpu~3X4hqXmzpVZIPIrECqYsTA3QYulZfgtZZD-I7IEKAsbc1S4OsOXQyH9RhTnACLuR6Drf7lKx7QHosvPYcEPZX0COqqVFiThPsfR8f6~dIsEIj44RB3K-JtnyerS6cVLWtW8Wo4dHpsM7VESIzZnzBt6zInBCa50FrTC4ZSXZmmXZTv68HtqvuV~-6XJyatCtugxWaLZeUyYal~IxhMoUrnHrSt59~TiLBcagPvFNhNZEuxsKLPBIrrPQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Los Alamos Board of Public Utilities reviewed a draft annual utilities report intended for County Council on June 4 and directed staff to emphasize near-term decision points, particularly around electrification planning and asset-replacement needs.

Chair Gibson said the draft should spend less time on past accomplishments and more on current issues and upcoming council decisions. Several board members urged staff to include clearer timelines and specific figures where possible. \"If we could get anything we could get by next meeting it would probably be helpful,\" one board member said, pressing for earlier access to draft chapters on the electrification study so board members could do a data-driven review.

Board discussion touched on personnel and asset issues: staff noted upcoming retirements and proposed temporary FTE overfill to maintain continuity. Members proposed clarifying replacement-asset funding estimates alongside depreciation schedules. The draft lists major ongoing projects (water-main replacements; Foxtail Flats and Elk Ridge developments; and other service-area projects) and three studies the county is conducting: the electrification study, an EV infrastructure study, and a county natural-gas-usage study.

Board members suggested including a short slide on electrification study outcomes (preliminary findings) in the annual report and to explain how the natural-gas-usage study will track current household gas uses (hot water, cooking, space heating) so councilors understand the planning implications for any future gas‑reduction goals.

On water issues, staff proposed adding specific references to projected laboratory cooling demand, the Chromium plume monitoring and a new White Rock well and clarified that a granted San Juan surface-water right does not guarantee an annual water volume without further approvals.

The board set a schedule to complete the County Council presentation July 15 and to do a final review at the board’s next meeting in three weeks. Members asked staff to incorporate targeted changes and to circulate updated draft chapters ahead of July meetings.","Board members reviewed a draft of the utilities’ annual report to County Council and requested additional detail on near-term issues including electrification, asset replacement, staffing and water projects before the presentation in mid‑July.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6530359,"Consultants tell Los Alamos board electrification could add up to 44 MW by 2055; substations flagged as pinch point",3566,330000,3896000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3667291-a84ba399d8e4ed85d69510e4aa1804ac&start=330&end=3896","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3667291-a84ba399d8e4ed85d69510e4aa1804ac/thumbnail_330000.jpg","/articles/6530359/New-Mexico/Consultants-tell-Los-Alamos-board-electrification-could-add-up-to-44-MW-by-2055-substations-flagged-as-pinch-point","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6530359-dfc084a1cae45359b6090340f00e47cd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770550296&Signature=HfhWVkE~kEZNhrJKEtd5WkHPoEpi73f8D-eWe9pil2AgOWixkTKzDlO-CsNBK3DERxV53-95v7o9QFvpMf1EIlXYu9B2oo8reKhCr-uhWVgVqROPgViA7dQ1H-aMtts06nkFtE8PHxohZnSHHtLCogExb7F1cemdSKleDf74VQD3EwM-FQjZhB9sm8NmgdqxxqOZ2UTc4Lw1zt4EEzbsvBNifjUZDkeRgqgL-oiaSx5a07tyTAZ05C1jr34fu38Zk-c4clGqLlBMZQrg4DNXahrJVsaIENfya42vnUxFhdfGhWFv-27VnQy77PGi8yyTP2w9HPzlKZe~m3dR~Z~77Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jacob Wells, a consultant with 1898 & Company, and Elliot Popel of Burns & McDonnell presented an interim electrification study to the Los Alamos Board of Public Utilities on June 4, saying utility planning should start for a large rise in electric demand over the next 30 years.

The consultants outlined three scenarios that model residential and commercial electrification, vehicle electrification, rooftop solar and home battery adoption. \"You've all signed up for a really ambitious climate action plan,\" Popel told the board, adding the study examines what the grid would need to accommodate widespread electric vehicle (EV) adoption and building electrification.

The study’s high scenario — the one closest to the county’s climate-action goals — projects about 44.0 megawatts of additional peak load by 2055. The mid scenario estimates about 28 megawatts of growth, and a low “natural behavior” scenario projects about 13.5 megawatts. In the high scenario, consultants attributed roughly 22.4 MW to EV charging and about 33.3 MW to building electrification; peaks do not sum exactly because the EV and heating peaks occur at different hours.

Why it matters: the consultants said distribution feeders generally have remaining capacity, but substation capacity and the transformers and service conductors that serve small groups of homes are the likely pinch points. Jacob Wells told the board that, when modeled, the existing system shows distribution feeders are “relatively lightly loaded,” but adding the electrification forecasts can create low-voltage violations and conductor overloads unless capacity is added or the system is reconfigured.

The report identified near-term constraints and examples: the study uses a 20 MVA figure for remaining TA3 substation capacity in town-site contingency configurations and noted the White Rock substation has two transformers rated roughly 7,500 kVA and 5,000 kVA respectively; the consultants said the smaller 5,000-kVA transformer leaves less spare backup capacity if a transformer must carry the entire White Rock load.

The consultants described other key assumptions and inputs: a 30% diversity factor for EV charging, an assumption that 80% of EV charging occurs at home, and three EV charging behavior groups (30% plug-in-on-arrival, 40% deferred/scheduled charging, remainder relying mainly on slow Level 1 charging). For building efficiency the report clarifies the scenario means a +20% reduction in building energy use under the high case (scenario 1), +10% for scenario 2 and 0% for the natural-behavior scenario.

The presentation also covered hosting-capacity mapping for distributed solar, noting that protection settings and two-way power flow (reverse power) are likely to limit rooftop solar growth at some locations unless protection and relay schemes are upgraded. The consultants said hosting-capacity maps will be produced for every distribution feeder to show the line-section limits under minimum-load conditions.

Board members and staff discussed policy interactions. Popel and Wells warned time-of-use (TOU) rates often produce sharp shifts in charging behavior (a late-evening “cliff” once a TOU on-peak window closes), and Steven Mares and others noted the county is considering a TOU/demand residential rate to begin no sooner than July 1 next year. The consultants said their baseline scenarios do not assume a specific TOU implementation but include behavior that some customers would schedule charging overnight.

Next steps and schedule: the consultants said they plan to deliver a full draft report on July 9, appear in person July 16 for discussion, and provide a near-final draft by July 30. They said the final study will include more detailed assumptions (vehicle counts and commute distances), estimates for the number of service-transformer upgrades likely required over time, hosting-capacity maps, and a financial and staffing analysis for the utility.

The board asked for earlier chapters to be distributed before the July meeting to allow more time for a data-driven review. \"If we could get anything we could get by next meeting it would probably be helpful,\" a board member said during the session.

Ending: The consultants emphasized the uncertainty of exact outcomes but said needed system improvements are similar across a broad range of scenarios, with substation capacity and aggregate asset replacement—and planning for service-transformer upgrades—appearing in every modeled outcome.","Consultants for an interim electrification study told the Los Alamos Board of Public Utilities the county could see between about 13.5 megawatts and 44 megawatts of additional peak load by 2055 under three scenarios and recommended planning upgrades focused on substation capacity and service transformers.","actionData","errors"]

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Board hears annual review of utility-assistance program; donations steady and programers outline eligibility

Board previews annual utilities report to County Council, asks for electric-reports detail

Consultants tell Los Alamos board electrification could add up to 44 MW by 2055; substations flagged as pinch point