Interconnection Benefits

New Mexico Interconnection Rule

The state of New Mexico has executed Rule 17.9.568 (PDF), otherwise known as Rule 568. The purpose of this rule is to set forth common interconnection requirements and a common interconnection process based on a common screening process for utilities and interconnection customers to expeditiously interconnect generating facilities.

Net Metering Benefits (all PV customers)

The state of New Mexico has executed Rule 17.9.570 (PDF), otherwise known as Rule 570, which provides guidelines for metering qualifying facilities. When your solar system is producing electricity, your billing meter will slow down or may actually spin backwards. (A digital meter will show an arrow blinking left.) At the end of the month, PNM will take a reading and compare it to last months reading. If your solar system produced less than what you used, PNM will bill you for the NET difference. If you produced more than what you used, the NET overproduction will be credited to you in one of two ways:

• SMALL PV PROGRAM (Inverter capacity of 10kW-AC or less): PNM will credit you the NET overproduction as a Cumulative Renewable Energy Credit (in kWh) on the next month¿s bill. These credits never expire and, if your system is large enough, can build up during the year and be used later to reduce PNM bills that are high due to things like summer air conditioning. When you close your account, PNM will pay you for any credits remaining on the account at Rate 12, which your can find on pnm.com/rates.
• LARGE PV PROGRAM (More than 10kW-AC of inverter capacity): PNM will pay for that NET overproduction based on Rate 12 and the payment will be applied on the same bill. NET overproduction is paid each month unlike the cumulative credit in the Small PV Program. You can find Rate 12 on pnm.com/rates.
• Interconnecting Non-Qualifying Facilities PNM will interconnect with facilities that generate power using less than 75 percent renewable fuels, referred to as "non-qualifying facilities," as long as those facilities comply with both New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (NMPRC) Rule 17.9.568 or 17.9.569 and PNM Interconnection and Safety Standards for Non-Qualifying Facilities (PDF). PNM is not required, however, to purchase energy from a non-qualifying facility. Energy purchase from a non-qualifying facility would be at PNM's discretion with terms and conditions, including metering options, negotiated case by case.

PNM Interconnection Queue Position

Per NMAC Rule 17.9.568, PNM shall maintain and publicly post a single queue of projects sortable by geographic region and shall update the list one time per month. The list shall be utilized to determine the cost responsibility for upgrades necessary to accommodate interconnection. Click one of the buttons below to view or download the list.

Please note, while not subject to NMAC Rule 17.9.568, additional applications to Interconnect are received by PNM. These projects are also placed in the PNM single queue for studies and cost determination. To view the projects in the SGIP queue, please visit the PNM public Oasis site, click Generation Interconnection-Transmission Delivery folder and Status of System Impact Studies sub-folder on the left hand side of the screen. These projects are added to the queue based on the date in the column "Appl Perfected".