News Release

March 26, 2002

PNM Finalist for National Award

PNM NEWS News releases Financial news Contact PNM

NEWS MEDIA CONTACT Susan Sponar Telephone: (505) 241-2768

Albuquerque: PNM is one of four electric companies nationwide nominated as finalists by the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) for the industry’s highest honor - the Edison Award. PNM was nominated based on its environmental management system at the San Juan Generating Station in Waterflow.

The award finalists have been selected for their unique solutions to management and environmental challenges. The other companies are: Central Vermont Public Service Corporation, Rutland, Vt.; Entergy Corporation, New Orleans, La.; and Puget Sound Energy, Bellevue, Wash. 

"These companies reflect the same pioneering spirit on which the electricity industry was founded," said Thomas R. Kuhn, president of the Edison Electric Institute. "Their dedication and commitment to exceeding shareholder and customer expectations puts them ahead of the curve in this increasingly competitive market."

PNM, which operates San Juan Generating Station on behalf of itself and eight other owners, was nominated for its demonstration of strong leadership in its implementation of an environmental management system at the 25-year-old generating station. San Juan is the seventh largest coal-fired generator in the West. 

The plant has achieved ISO 14001 certification, indicating that the plant's environmental performance management systems meet the rigorous standards set by the International Organization for Standardization of Switzerland. Under that program, the plant extensively documents all the station's environmental and operating procedures. It also performed internal and external audits for compliance. Regular external audits are routinely performed to maintain the certification.

In addition, San Juan Generating Station was recognized by the Edison Electric Institute for its membership in the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Performance Track program. A charter member since the program began in 2000, San Juan was one of only two coal-fired generating stations to initially participate in the program. The EPA Performance Track partners commit to go beyond compliance to attain superior environmental performance. 

The three other finalists are: Central Vermont Public Service for its support for education on the state’s endangered ospreys. Entergy Corporation created a new regional subsidiary – Entergy Nuclear Northeast – that commits the company to reducing emissions and driving down costs; and Puget Sound Energy was nominated for outsourcing all construction and maintenance work to specialized service providers rather than multiple short-term contracts. 

The Edison Electric Institute gives the Edison Award annually to the shareholder-owned company making the most outstanding contribution to the advancement of the industry in the past year. A review committee of national industry trade journal editors chooses the finalists for award. A judging panel composed of former EEI chairmen and academicians will select the winner. 

The award will be presented to the winner at EEI’s 70th annual convention and expo in Boston, Mass., June 2-4. The conference, "Power America Can Count On," will gather North America’s energy supply, delivery and retail energy service executives.

PNM is a combined electric and gas utility serving approximately 1.3 million people in New Mexico. The company, a wholly owned subsidiary of PNM Resources, also sells power on the wholesale market in the Western U.S. PNM Resources stock is traded primarily on the NYSE under the symbol PNM. For more information, see the company's web site at www.pnm.com.

Edison Electric Institute (EEI) is the association of United States investor-owned electric utilities and industry affiliates and associates worldwide. Its domestic members generate approximately three-quarters of all the electricity generated by electric utilities in the country and serve about 70 percent of all ultimate customers in the nation.