[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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",[32,76,88,100],{"_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",6503488,"mediaKeyId","5558995-c353990f396b6c1249cdacf02f7081ba","parentId",5558995,"title","Board reviews minor updates to BPU procedural rules; discusses precedence, emergency meetings and public‑comment scope","audioSeconds",1054,"startMs",7230000,"endMs",8284000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5558995-c353990f396b6c1249cdacf02f7081ba&start=7230&end=8284","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5558995-c353990f396b6c1249cdacf02f7081ba/thumbnail_7230000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6503488/New-Mexico/Board-reviews-minor-updates-to-BPU-procedural-rules-discusses-precedence-emergency-meetings-and-publiccomment-scope","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6503488-d47da0caf520be8ff7ea3ce23dcb28df/orig.mp4?Expires=1770632364&Signature=nbFbP9wrN5y1FuFRcQSWREtusRrpGZ6yBaOCKJxgC5dAEBPlk0z5TaCSDrhUlb0RxnQD8xB1FKrJoTFL6I~HiEGGH7yzmjWfpGlCFVF5fykS-HjdygXg-bSiNR--uhk26WMyf58PFRSw6woNyA5bi2SyAs28Aru5-3aZ08-ybF3QNOY-QRnUg7gCV0764BpFKSfpD0A8Awnlyj0-u-H5a230TzXkss4kbuhN32N~ZIklPOljTm4qB5bkqYcOixTlHWkddbg3wJaEWceAsDt6TJE4jKLoJyPtJosB7SogcQSMHn4tKfrEQeeQwb-dsSPn9SgGg7f4V27k4YcVPLXGHg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Los Alamos County","date","2025-08-11T00:00:00Z","article","The Board of Public Utilities on Aug. 6 reviewed proposed minor edits to its procedural rules and discussed several cleanup items and clarifications, including precedence of board rules over broader boards‑and‑commissions guidance, emergency‑meeting authority and the scope of public comment.

Tom (staff member) led the review and said the proposed changes are mostly minor wording updates and a clarifying sentence that the BPU procedural rules control if they conflict with the county's broader boards and commissions procedures. He and board members suggested a few additional edits and next steps.

Major points from the discussion
- Precedence and charter citation: Board members suggested adding the charter provision that requires the board to adopt procedural rules to the purpose section so readers understand the legal basis for the rules. Tom agreed to add the charter text.
- Emergency and special meetings: staff flagged a discrepancy between the BPU rules and a council resolution about who may call special or emergency meetings. Several members suggested allowing the utilities manager to call an emergency meeting in narrowly defined circumstances if the chair is unavailable, and asked staff to align the language with the council resolution.
- Public comment scope and written comments: the board discussed whether to limit public comment to utility items. Legal counsel advised against restricting content because content‑based limits can be unconstitutional; the board opted to keep the language broad while retaining time/place/manner provisions. The board also confirmed that written public comments submitted by email are included in the meeting record and should be reflected in the minutes.
- Meeting template and timing: the board confirmed it will keep the revised meeting template that moves items thought to have greater public interest earlier in the agenda and keeps reports later, and agreed to shift its annual self‑evaluation earlier in the calendar (October–November) rather than December.
- Financial reporting and appendices: staff noted an outdated reference to a separate audit process; Joanne (finance staff) said utility financials are audited as part of the county audit and staff will update the language. Staff also will fix a broken appendix link referenced in the rules.

Next steps
Tom and staff will revise the draft to: add the charter citation in the purpose section; align special and emergency meeting language with the council resolution while explicitly allowing the utilities manager to call rare emergency meetings; keep public comment wording broad consistent with legal advice; update audit language to reflect current county audit practice; fix the broken appendix link; and adjust the self‑evaluation timing as discussed.

Ending
The board will review the revised draft at a future meeting and staff will coordinate any changes requiring council filing or adoption.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Los Alamos County - Board of Public Utilities on 2025-08-06 5:30 PM","oneSentenceSummary","Tom (staff member) presented minor edits to the Board of Public Utilities' procedural rules on Aug. 6 and the board identified a short list of clarifications and fixes, including adding a charter citation, aligning emergency meeting authority with the council resolution, and keeping public comment broad on legal advice.","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},6503498,"Board hears preliminary electrification financial outlook; staff flags negative FY26 cash and bond timing options",698,3064000,3762000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5558995-c353990f396b6c1249cdacf02f7081ba&start=3064&end=3762","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5558995-c353990f396b6c1249cdacf02f7081ba/thumbnail_3064000.jpg","/articles/6503498/New-Mexico/Board-hears-preliminary-electrification-financial-outlook-staff-flags-negative-FY26-cash-and-bond-timing-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6503498-e622ef442c35451da78d6377f8473c43/orig.mp4?Expires=1770632364&Signature=UankqP3WUY8w3mrLq8zNd-uMeD2pxXKhf6QpTJVvVqJGesrsY3jb0-aWXrKc~0BxfZZHoIpulkYjMTa-oa7eKMr~IrXrM0mGiM2kQCJqUGpMvJjC117fERN-qOMfe7by3nW2xvzm5wpIjUR4h8XBkDwf34O5se3MQjLh-A3DENiM02ApwFjhsmUEmHsLCweIWw35n971o-P-3X8fuIt3-ycE~VUnSCmtyj~eaHVNQld2yCdZk3ddUv4zzo0MxIGoQK4j2ff5EQY4kv7QspLdK9xfJEtTcUd1zJWnlxiGewV6diKpd-l1EbBZxHZLikxs2Ivzb6q2noj9QpDJXZrvbg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Joanne (staff member) presented a preliminary, draft financial outlook for the county's electrification action plan and the electric distribution fund at the Board of Public Utilities on Aug. 6, saying the department starts fiscal year 2026 with negative cash and that a 10‑year capital improvement plan (CIP) of about $48.8 million is the working assumption.

Joanne told the board staff prepared two scenarios. Scenario 1 used the existing sales forecast and the budgeted bond and rate assumptions from the fiscal‑year materials; scenario 2 shifted some projects and proposed delaying bond issuances so the county could use existing capital funds earlier and issue two larger bonds later (for example, waiting to bond until 2030 and 2032). Scenario 2 also modeled higher ongoing rate increases in later years (moving multiple out‑year increases from 2 percent to 5 percent) to strengthen cash position before bond issuance.

Why it matters: the plan and the bond timing affect customer rates, reserve policy and the county's ability to pay for substation and feeder upgrades tied to electrification and growth. Board members probed assumptions about timing, Uniper settlement funds, rate paths and project prioritization.

Uniper settlement and revenue transfers
Joanne and other staff said part of the financing picture is transfers from interest on an Uniper settlement reserve. Staff identified a planned annual transfer of $2 million from those funds into electric distribution in the model (presented as transfers in through about 2033 in the 10‑year view). Staff said the full Uniper settlement and interest treatments are split between electric production and distribution and that some Uniper funds continue to cover production reserves.

Bond timing, rates and projects
Staff presented the CIP list and the prioritization that emerges from the electrification study and internal assessments. Key projects discussed included Eastgate substation design (moved up for earlier design work), SCADA upgrades and modeling, the EA‑4 line reconstruction and other feeder and relay projects. Staff said some distribution projects will be necessary regardless of electrification because of asset age and reliability concerns.

Staff and board discussed the recommended rate path. The model shown in the packet used the board‑approved 2026 increases (9% in 2026, 8% in 2027) and then multiple years of 5% increases in scenario 2; staff said the scenario assumptions were illustrative and that time‑of‑use and demand modeling — planned for the next budget cycle — could materially affect revenue forecasts.

Staffing and project management
Joanne and other staff asked the board to consider creating or reclassifying an electric distribution superintendent/engineering project manager position to carry the increased workload of electrification projects and ongoing repairs. Several board members and managers said a superintendent or engineering project manager would assist in design, procurement and coordination, and staff said the position would be routed to council for formal action if the board indicated support.

Board feedback and priorities
Board members pressed staff on several points: the need for a technical project plan that sequences substations, feeders and other investments; whether the electrification consultant's assumptions about equipment life and load growth had been reviewed internally; and whether the county could defer or mothball some plant investments if generation remains limited. Staff responded that they have reviewed the consultant report, are aligning project priority with identified system limits (for example, the 20 MVA limit at LANL‑fed substation), and are preparing additional load‑forecast and scenario work for the FY27 budget cycle.

Data and modeling needs
Multiple members requested more granular metering and billing data — and quicker SCADA and billing improvements — to understand peak demand by feeder and by community (Townsite vs. White Rock) before committing to major bond work. Staff said the billing and SCADA upgrades are in the CIP and that better data will inform project timing and the council presentation staff plan to deliver.

Next steps
Staff said they will refine the financial model for the FY27 budget cycle, incorporate time‑of‑use/demand forecasts once metering data is available, and bring a refined staffing proposal and a council presentation showing a clearer, prioritized project plan. Several board members urged staff to present a concise council package that separates baseline asset replacement (work the system would require anyway) from incremental electrification‑driven expenses.

Ending
The board did not act on the staffing reclassification at the meeting; staff said they will return with formal proposals, supporting job descriptions and the revised financial model in coming months ahead of the FY27 budget cycle.","Joanne (staff member) told the Board of Public Utilities on Aug. 6 that the electric distribution fund begins fiscal year 2026 with negative cash and that staff are modeling a roughly $48.8 million, 10‑year capital improvement plan tied to electrification work and asset replacement.",{"_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},6503502,"Los Alamos utilities staff report drought, El Vado dam repairs could limit hydroelectric output for years",2932,107000,3039000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5558995-c353990f396b6c1249cdacf02f7081ba&start=107&end=3039","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5558995-c353990f396b6c1249cdacf02f7081ba/thumbnail_107000.jpg","/articles/6503502/New-Mexico/Los-Alamos-utilities-staff-report-drought-El-Vado-dam-repairs-could-limit-hydroelectric-output-for-years","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6503502-337d874a7f765368c45d6d90ecc37ddd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770632364&Signature=o64C0Hw5UbNwbx6jr9B6dzfLg~dK5uxpjl0hPVmS4~7GVBRvTshFioknqwIdFSTwxB46qqxOvqUSuP0tF6tNyOTiaHKdC6q5mT2DVO9F5Y9XbDfua3-1S4iZCP-zL4I4HULwnpB9V6xPkAkxkHxqcFFBMG5pdwSU0KjzSKocX09pKevQ7000S-djwqbkpY42lLxf-z2sPDp6bq5lfccshFezvMC8ba8gc38nevfE-tvre-w1GfkZ31oen3Jg7H9zUGHhbY~-XzoXQKF1X5ga-~5gQ1eM8lEKwzq6C1nQQtWjE4KjV6OVnKJLkG4WrGoB0oVFAdqhkx~iSvN~Ysnj2Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Don Wickers, hydro plant supervisor for Los Alamos County Department of Public Utilities, told the Board of Public Utilities on Aug. 6 that drought and federal dam repair plans are constraining generation at the county's two hydroelectric plants and will shape near‑term operations and capital needs.

Wickers said Abiquiu and El Vado are run‑of‑river facilities on the Rio Chama that together account for the county's local hydropower production. He reported lower production in 2024–2025 tied to reduced snowpack and limited Army Corps and Bureau of Reclamation releases, and outlined several plant maintenance and capital projects to protect reliability.

The condition of federal dams that control lake levels at the county's intakes — and drought‑driven low runoff — are the main determinants of how much the plants can run, Wickers said. He told the board the United States Bureau of Reclamation and the Army Corps of Engineers are reevaluating repairs at El Vado; that planning work could take roughly 3–6 years, and when construction moves into drawdown phases the county's ability to generate power at El Vado will be constrained for about a three‑year work period. \"They went back to the drawing board,\" Wickers said of the dam engineers, and while the lake will be held at a higher level for now, the Corps will draw down the reservoir after spring runoff during the repair phase, reducing available head for generation.

Why it matters: hydropower output affects the county's electric production, availability of low‑cost local energy and planning for upgrades and maintenance. Board members used the update to press staff on condition assessments, cost estimates and contingency plans for limited generation.

Key plant details and condition
- Abiquiu: three Francis units (two earlier units and a 2010 Andritz unit). Wickers described Abiquiu as a three‑unit facility with combined capacity he described as roughly 17 megawatts. Two older vertical units were imported (described in the presentation as \"Chinese units\") and a newer horizontal Andritz unit was added in 2011 under permit 7396.
- El Vado: a single Kaplan unit, described as roughly 9 megawatts, commissioned in 1987 and operating under FERC permit 5226; unit head and operating ranges were provided in the staff slides.

Wickers and staff walked the board through maintenance and reliability issues: a leaking seal at El Vado that staff are addressing with the manufacturer; cracking visible on some Abiquiu turbine blades that has not recently propagated; and aging auxiliaries such as air compressors installed at commissioning that are being replaced. He said the county staffs the plants with three full‑time employees who handle operations, maintenance and facility housekeeping; the group also provides community tours and outreach.

Capital projects and costs
Wickers presented a 10‑year capital plan and listed recent and planned improvements: SCADA upgrades, an insurance‑required firewall upgrade, replacement of underground fuel tanks, transformer replacements, new air compressors, a draft‑tube replacement for Unit 3, stop‑log replacements and runner work. He said one of the largest outstanding items is Army Corps work on the Abiquiu bell chamber/vent shaft and said he has a rough estimate of about $2,000,000 for that item but that the Corps has not provided final numbers and the project is on hold.

SCADA and operations
Staff reported that SCADA communications previously moved off county control and are now routed through Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). Wickers and board members said that transfer limited the county's operational control and that the county is investing in fiber and other communications to regain direct SCADA control and to put in cellular and internet backups. \"SCADA is very important for us. That plant's running and SCADA goes down, we have to shut down because nobody has eyes on it,\" Wickers said.

Water, drought and generation
Wickers showed NOAA and regional snowpack metrics and said the Rio Chama watershed experienced well‑below‑average snowpack in 2025. He said the Army Corps has been passing much smaller flows than in past years (examples: passing 60 cubic feet per second, occasionally 110 CFS, compared with prior operations that pushed hundreds to more than 1,000 CFS), and that low runoff cut generation. Staff reported fiscal year‑to‑date production numbers through June (presenter‑provided figures) of about 18,000 megawatt‑hours at Abiquiu and roughly 1,400 megawatt‑hours at El Vado (fiscal year‑to‑date), and said those totals are down from typical years because of limited water.

Planning and next steps
Board members pressed Wickers and staff on timeframes and contingency planning. Wickers and other staff said they are pursuing condition assessments, working with manufacturers on repairs, seeking contractors for on‑call assessments and planning SCADA and asset management upgrades. Staff emphasized the need for a condition assessment to better scope repairs and costs — \"once we do a condition assessment, then we'll understand the impact and the details as to what we're gonna require to fix Abiquiu or bring Abiquiu, make sure it's good,\" Wickers said.

The board requested that staff continue to refine cost estimates, pursue SCADA control improvements, provide updates on the federal dam repair schedule and complete the plant condition assessments that will inform the 10‑year capital plan and budget work.

Ending
Staff said they will continue work with the Army Corps and Bureau of Reclamation on dam repair schedules and will report back to the board with condition‑assessment results, manufacturer responses on the leaking seal, and refined cost estimates for major repairs and capital projects.
","Don Wickers, hydro plant supervisor for Los Alamos County Department of Public Utilities, told the Board of Public Utilities on Aug. 6 that drought and federal dam repair plans are constraining generation at the county's two run‑of‑river hydroelectric plants and will shape near‑term operations and capital needs.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6503493,"Customer‑service survey shows staffing strain and more callers requesting payment arrangements, staff says",334,6736000,7070000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5558995-c353990f396b6c1249cdacf02f7081ba&start=6736&end=7070","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5558995-c353990f396b6c1249cdacf02f7081ba/thumbnail_6736000.jpg","/articles/6503493/New-Mexico/Customerservice-survey-shows-staffing-strain-and-more-callers-requesting-payment-arrangements-staff-says","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6503493-79eefd66dda65698a4d00f4b3372d8a4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770632364&Signature=gGhNA6RpjXd4kUKP7lMziX-xptPb7CawEhHO-X7kCo0q8Q0ZSoCim6NWYJSxjukrXsJqmuG5x95k9KT3jWUl9W2KHXIFzDbL7VbxWSzKzWJt1nT81rv76VxwHVGGnAWPqjAiY5cPF57Dz7EOJm40HoAR0VwH-coOWqzE2JX0o912s4x5261bdLNNrbOhmE7~JdMFWCu5CLJYpyA9Y2p0L6iMOjzBJD2SX5ne7GIRqv1DAI3tOAyDwrtv4KxcQrvH60q301F2XnzTsYIMyWm0Ev3QOdbcmtBCAO2xEosod0onp4412iEj~NSmg5Q5RfZlyTKQWGC4F7GfVFrzqWLd~Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kathy (staff member) briefed the board Aug. 6 on the Department of Public Utilities' transactional survey covering January through June. She said the survey continues to skew toward long‑term residents: 55 percent of respondents reported living in county homes more than 20 years, and most respondents are owners rather than renters.

Kathy said about 77 percent of the recorded interactions during the period were with customer‑care staff (the department sends survey requests by text to customers who contact customer care), and that the top reason for calls — and survey submissions — shifted toward payment arrangements. She said payment‑arrangement requests were about double the rate seen in the comparable first‑half period in 2024.

Staff cautioned that the survey has a roughly 7.7 percent margin of error. Kathy said customer‑care staffing has been thin since March, at one of five positions in the front counter for a period, and that two long‑tenured employees recently left. She said existing staff are carrying higher workloads and that interviews are ongoing for replacements. Kathy said a candidate had accepted in one round but later declined; another candidate is scheduled to start soon (staff reported a tentative start on Aug. 18). The department is also planning interviews for its vacant business operations manager role.

Why it matters: an elevated number of calls about payment arrangements and a thin customer‑care bench can affect turnaround times and customer satisfaction. The board asked staff to continue reporting hiring progress and to ensure written public comments and customer feedback are captured in the meeting record.

Ending
Kathy said the department will continue recruiting for customer‑care vacancies and expects to have a clearer picture of staffing in the coming weeks. She also noted staff will continue to track and report payment‑arrangement trends and other transactional metrics to the board.","Department of Public Utilities staff summarized results of the Jan.–June transactional survey, reporting that long‑term residents make up most respondents, a rise in payment arrangements calls and ongoing staffing vacancies in customer care; staff said a new representative is scheduled to start soon.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board reviews minor updates to BPU procedural rules; discusses precedence, emergency meetings and public‑comment scope

Board hears preliminary electrification financial outlook; staff flags negative FY26 cash and bond timing options

Los Alamos utilities staff report drought, El Vado dam repairs could limit hydroelectric output for years

Customer‑service survey shows staffing strain and more callers requesting payment arrangements, staff says