State Commissions
Jefferson Byrd is a Commissioner for the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission.
The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission is busy, tasked by the state legislature with implementation of the Energy Transition Act, calling for a phased transition to clean energy with goals of fifty percent renewables by 2030, eighty percent by 2040, and net zero for IOUs by 2045 and for co-ops by 2050. The five-member elected Commission will change to a three-member appointed one at the end of 2022. The Commissioners said they want to leave it all better. Here, they tell you in their words about the coming changes and the status and future of the energy and utilities industry in the beautiful State of New Mexico.
PUF's Lori Burkhart: How did your background lead to the Commission?
Commissioner Jefferson Byrd: Within the State of New Mexico is a soft requirement — because nobody would enforce it — that Commissioners have a minimum of ten years' experience in an area regulated by the Commission or energy and including a scope of work such as engineering or law. I have both of those.
I'm also friends, neighbors with the previous Commissioner and he thought that I would be a good fit, given that I understand what we're dealing with. I've worked in power, utility companies, fire plants, pipeline companies, and transportation companies.