News Release

Oct. 3, 2003

PNM's Top Attorney Makes '100 Most Influential Hispanics' List

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

Albuquerque: PNM's Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary Patrick Ortiz has been named one of the 100 Most Influential Hispanics by Hispanic Business magazine.

Ortiz joins Gov. Bill Richardson, University of New Mexico President Louis Caldera, and Secretary of State Rebecca Vigil-Giron as one of four New Mexicans named to this year's list.

Ortiz is responsible for overseeing legal services to all areas of PNM and for corporate governance matters.

Hispanic Business' list of the 100 Most Influential Hispanics "recognizes (Hispanics) who have had recent, national impact," according to an article in the October 2003 issue of the magazine.

"I congratulate Pat for earning this national distinction," said PNM's Chairman, President & CEO Jeff Sterba. "He is highly regarded at PNM for not only his legal acumen, but for his integrity, his character, and his commitment to the community."

Oritz came to PNM in 1991 after serving as Chief Counsel for US West Communications in New Mexico. He has also worked for the New Mexico Public Service Commission, the New Mexico Attorney General's Office, and the New Mexico State Corporation Commission. Ortiz was appointed by Governor Toney Anaya to serve as a commissioner on the New Mexico Public Service Commission – a precursor to the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission. He earned his law degree from Georgetown University and his bachelor's degree from the College of Santa Fe. He attended high school at St. Michael's in Santa Fe.

In addition to his job-related activities, Ortiz also serves as a board member for the PNM Foundation, the National Hispanic Cultural Center Foundation, and the Archdiocese of Santa Fe Catholic Foundation. Ortiz also volunteers his legal expertise to Challenge New Mexico as the organization's pro bono legal counsel.

Last year, Hispanic Business named PNM Vice President Sarita Parra Loehr as one of 80 elite Hispanic women in the United States.

PNM is the principal subsidiary of PNM Resources, an energy holding company based in Albuquerque. PNM provides natural gas service to 441,000 gas customers and electric utility service to 378,000 customers in New Mexico. The company 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.