Courtesy/LAC

Update: This public hearing will be conducted in person in Council Chambers and remotely via Zoom at 6 p.m. (not 5:30 p.m.) Sept. 26. Members of the public who wish to attend via Zoom may access the meeting by using the following link.

COUNTY News:

The Department of Public Utilities (DPU) is proposing electric rate adjustments to be effective Oct. 1, 2023 and July 1, 2024, with the remainder of two public hearings scheduled for later this month.

The Board of Public Utilities approved the proposed rate ordinance at the first public hearing Aug. 16. A second hearing will occur Sept. 26 at the Los Alamos County Council meeting. The rates must be adopted by the County Council before they can be put into place.

The proposed adjustments cover increases in DPU’s cost to provide electric service in the county and to maintain and update the electric distribution infrastructure. Rate increases will allow the DPU to generate revenues needed for current operations and to build cash reserves necessary for future infrastructure needs. 

A residential customer who uses 500 kwh of electricity per month would see an increase of $6.50/month if the ordinance is approved by the County Council. A second increase of $7.15/month would occur July 1, 2024.

The public hearing will be conducted in person in Council Chambers and remotely via Zoom at 6 p.m. Sept. 26. Members of the public who wish to attend via Zoom may access the meeting by using the following link.

For DPU customers who are on fixed incomes, DPU has a Utility Assistance Program for qualifying customers. Information can be found here or by calling the Customer Care Center at 505.662.8333. Other organizations offering utility assistance programs in Los Alamos are: LA Cares (505.661.8105), Self Help, Inc. (505.662.4666) and the State of New Mexico with its Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) (505.753.2271). 

More information on the rate adjustments can be found here under the folder Proposed Rate Changes.

Courtesy/LAC