Los Alamos County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Los Alamos County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Extended Day-Ahead Market participation
UAMPS leaders warned that Los Alamos will be pulled into the Energy Day-Ahead Market when PNM joins in October 2027, and that members without dispatchable capacity saw bills jump 36-70%. They urged the county to get involved in PNM's tariff comment process now and model its portfolio.
Electric distribution undergrounding
August's outage review showed mysterious short underground faults in White Rock, aging 1970s cable nearing failure, and concerns that SAIDI will hover around the 60-minute target until old cable is replaced.
Residential energy-efficiency loan program
The county is exploring letting homeowners pay for heat pumps, insulation, and electrical panel upgrades through a line on their utility bill instead of a personal loan. It could help households that can't front $15,000-$20,000 for electrification, but board members flagged serious questions: liens on homes, collections, contractor participation, and whether the Climate Investment Center is the right partner.
Gas Service Rates Amendment
Gas bills rise about 16-17% on average starting September 1: the per-therm charge jumps 41% and the service charge 9%, driven by a projected $760,000 gas fund loss after a warm year with low usage.
Time-of-use billing transition problems
Since the new time-of-use rates launched July 1, bill production has been rocky — delayed cycles and corrected bills — though staff expect September to improve and credit the customer care team for absorbing the pain.
Integrated Resource Plan implementation
The IRP is the utility's long-term plan for meeting the community's power needs. This update showed where implementation stands — it shapes future rates, reliability, and energy choices.
Atomic Fiber broadband buildout begins
A road grader cut the county's single Lumen fiber line in September, cutting cell and internet service for about 20 hours. The county's second fiber line via San Ildefonso Pueblo is built but not yet connected pending an MOU, and no internet providers have committed to redundancy yet. Residents who lost connectivity couldn't call 911 or reach family.
Comcast Cable Franchise
The new cable franchise with Comcast goes back before council June 9. Comcast has kept operating and paying franchise fees under its expired agreement while the new one is negotiated.
Denver Steels Waterline Replacement and Easement Vacations
After severely corroded service lines were found, the county replaced water lines for about 126 Denver Steels homes using a state loan, moving meters to the property line. The easement vacation formally shifts future maintenance responsibility — and cost — from the county to homeowners.
Hexavalent chromium groundwater plume
A state Environment Department update reported the chromium plume is not contained within LANL property, state and LANL disagree on whether injections should continue, and the pump-and-treat system needs improvements and is at a standstill.
Abiquiu and El Vado hydro condition assessment
A tariff fee on steel fabricated in Mexico added about $87,000 to the draft tube replacement project, which the board recommended funding from electric production reserves.
Water Service Rate Schedule Changes
Water rates go up 8% in each of the next two fiscal years if the Council adopts the ordinance, with a 10% peak-season bump on heavy single-family summer use and a new higher bulk rate for the Lab. The utility is trying to rebuild cash reserves that have fallen below policy targets.
Proposed rooftop solar connection charge
Stromberg wants the board to revisit charging rooftop solar customers a connection fee — roughly $40 a month by an old estimate — to cover infrastructure costs, though not until rate fatigue settles.
Utility billing system transition issues
Bills are still being corrected after the July time-of-use and demand rate switch, with solar customers set to receive credits for miscalculated demand and prorated water charges for long billing cycles.
Wastewater Treatment Plant UV Disinfection System
New Mexico is proposing pollution limits for the Upper Rio Grande watershed covering aluminum, E. coli, PCBs and more, which will mean more monitoring and discharge requirements when the county's wastewater permits renew in 2027.
Winter power supply purchase
The board recommended staff apply for state capital development grant funding to help pay for replacing the aging EA-4 electric line.
Foxtail Flats excess solar power strategy
The new solar and battery project will produce more power than the county needs in spring, summer, and fall — about $2.1 million worth a year. Staff laid out five options: sell it to the regional market, sign a contract with a buyer, add more batteries, use as much as possible locally, or a mix. The board stressed reliability over pure economics until the plant proves itself.
2026 Electric Coordination Agreement with DOE
The new 10+10-year, $424 million contract governing how the county and the lab share and pay for electric power hit a snag: a termination clause capping DOE's liability at $6 million. The Board asked for a one-month extension to fix it before recommending approval.
40-Year Water Plan update and proposed Overlook Park well
The county's highest-producing well is shut down over chromium contamination, and the state requires an updated 40-year water plan to keep water rights and stay eligible for grants. A $224,000 consultant contract will update the plan and prepare a permit for a possible new well at Overlook Park.
Plug-in solar policy
Cheap plug-in solar panels are coming whether the utility likes it or not. Staff recommends no interconnection agreement, no export credits, and heavy public education, treating it as buyer-beware while watching UL 3700 certification and possible state legislation (SB 157).
Wastewater systems condition and capital plan
Sewer backups keep occurring at a steady rate, driven by old clay pipe at the bottoms of neighborhoods, root intrusion, and cheap flapper-style backwater valves that fail 40-50% of the time. Staff plan a fall RIP-loan program to replace problem lines and a public education campaign.
Regional partnerships and federal funding outlook
The county's quarterly regional update covered millions in regional investments (nursing home, Española parks), a possible tri-community landfill, and a new water well that made it into the House version of the Water Resources Development Act authorization.
LANL–White Rock tie line completion
The new tie line between LANL and the White Rock hub is essentially built — only recloser programming remains. Combined with backup generators, it could carry all of White Rock's load if the substation ever failed.
Public power initiative
The board continued tracking the public power effort, including a possible site visit and follow-up discussions. The topic affects long-term questions about who supplies the county's electricity.
Board of Public Utilities Appointment
Matt Heavner was reappointed to the utility board over Richard Nebel on a 6-1 vote; Councilor Reagor argued the BPU needs a change in direction, pointing to the climate action plan.
Potable Water Storage Tank Inspection and Maintenance
The county is spending about $149,000 to inspect and maintain its drinking water storage tanks, with the related budget revision headed to Council for final approval.
White Rock Substation Transformer Project
The transformer at the White Rock substation is getting work done through a nearly $300,000 task order with Sanbros Corp. This equipment is central to keeping power reliable for White Rock residents.