Committee endorses measure to require RUCO to intervene in very large residential rate increases, members press for funding

Rep. (S5) introduced House Bill 2113, which directs the director of the Residential Utility Consumer Office (RUCO) to intervene in a public service corporation rate case if a proposed rate increase for residential customers is 100% or more. Sponsor Rep. Teresa Martinez (S15) told the committee she had constituents in small, rural communities whose rates rose by more than 180–200 percent and said RUCO had declined to intervene in some small-company cases because of resource constraints.

Cynthia Zwick (S16) of RUCO said the office has saved roughly $300 million for residential ratepayers over recent years and currently has about 10 staff. She told the committee the bill could add roughly 16 cases to RUCO's workload and would likely require about 13 additional staff (lawyers, analysts and paralegals) to participate effectively in every qualifying rate case. "We simply don't have the funds to be able to support the request," she said, and RUCO is working with JLBC on fiscal estimates.

Several committee members expressed support for RUCO's consumer-protection role but emphasized the need to attach an appropriation if the mandate is to be funded; sponsor Martinez said she plans to seek an amendment to provide money if the bill proceeds. After discussion the committee recorded a due-pass recommendation for HB2113 (reported as 6 ayes, 2 noes, 0 not voting).