Rep. Jim Townsend and former Vice President Mike Pence | Facebook
Rep. Jim Townsend and former Vice President Mike Pence | Facebook
New Mexico Republicans claim that Democrats, by tabling HB176, support utility rate increases.
The “Renewable Energy Standards and Rate Increases” bill which suggests that “compliance with renewable portfolio standards shall not result in an increase in rates to customers of more than a certain percentage” was not supported by the Democrats according to Rep. Jim Townsend.
He said that consumers should note the reason for their utility rate increase.
“Voting to not protect your constituents says a lot,” Townsend wrote on Twitter. “Republicans voted to control the ability of a electrical provider to raise your electrical rates thus protecting the most vulnerable. The Democrats did not. When your rates go up remember this important point.”
The New Mexico Republican caucus said that the bill would have protected New Mexicans against out-of-control utility rate increases but the Democrats “just decided that what you pay in utilities will not be protected in Energy Committee. This means that New Mexicans can expect out-of-control rate increases as Santa Fe politicians move forward with their Green New Deal.”
The bill was introduced by Rep. Rod Montoya (Farmington), Rep. James R.J. Strickler (Farmington), Rep. T. Ryan Lane (Aztec), and Rep. Joshua N. Hernandez (Rio Rancho), and Rep. William "Bill" R. Rehm (Albuquerque).
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