Message from the General Manager

For more information including a complete copy of Rate No. 19 click here. amd a google map link showing all of the boundaries for the pueblos in the Espanola Valley click here.

The Public Regulation Commission (PRC) approved Rate 19, Riders 2 (Entire Customer Base) and 3 (Local Rider for Ohkay Owingeh) on August 14, 2012 after a lengthy rate case. The PRC also approved a similar rate for Continental Divide Electric Cooperative on March 20, 2013.

The following is an excerpt from Rate 19 that give an explanation of the recovery method:

Rate 19 and Riders are described as follows:

"Rate No. 19 is established to provide a mechanism for JMEC to recover costs for access to the lands of Native American Governments to operate and maintain the Cooperatives utility plant and facilities. Access costs for utility plant and facilities that are necessary for or otherwise predominantly support the Cooperatives entire system will be recovered from all its customers, while access costs for utility plant and facilities that are necessary for or otherwise predominantly support service to customers located within the outer boundaries of Native American lands will be recovered only from such local customers. Recovery will occur through Rate Riders filed in accordance with this Rate No. 19.

Rate Riders filed in accordance with this Rate No. 19 will consist of separate charges per kWh per month that are applied to either the Entire Customer Base or to Local Customers (as those terms are defined below), and will continue each month until the cost of the access is paid in full. The charge will be shown as a separate line item on the bills entitled "Rate Rider No. [XX]".

This Rate and the Rate Riders filed under this Rate are intended to collect only the costs of the access, applicable taxes, fees and charges in accordance with the Tax Adjustment clause below and certain related costs incurred and are not intended to increase or decrease the Cooperatives margins. All revenues collected from Rate Riders will be allocated to their own single accounts to offset the applicable access expenses paid and any remainder will either be debited or credited to subsequent payments to the Native American Government for rights of way or returned to the customers on a per-kWh basis, whichever may be applicable."

Renewing these easements is crucial to the power lines throughout our service territory. Here at JMEC we are committed to working with the PRC and each Native American Government. We understand the concerns our members have with this method of cost recovery. In working with the PRC, it is determined that this is the most fair and equitable way to recover these costs of operation. JMEC is committed to keeping our members informed and will continue to do so through publication in the Enchantment, our website, Facebook, Twitter, and of course answering any questions you may have. The contact person at JMEC for Rate 19 is Carmen Campbell. She may be reached at (575)289-3241 or (505) 929-2226. You can also email her at ccampbell@jemezcoop.org. I may be reached at (505)753- 2105 or you may email me at rlaw@jemezcoop.org.

Respectfully,

Rose Marie Law
General Manager