BPU Meeting Highlights: ECA Discussion, Gas Rate Ordinance, July 22, 2026
Board of Public Utilities Meeting - July 22, 2026
The Board of Public Utilities (BPU) convened on July 22, 2026, at 5:30 PM MDT. The meeting included a detailed discussion of the 2026 Electric Coordination Agreement (ECA) with the Department of Energy, a recommendation to approve a gas rate ordinance, and several administrative actions. The meeting lasted approximately 3.5 hours.
Consent Calendar
- Approved meeting minutes for June 3 and June 17, 2026.
- Approved changes to the Utilities Assistance Program (DPU Rule GR-18).
- Awarded bid for Los Alamos Switching Station (LASS) cured in place piping to AUI, Inc. for $849,570 plus tax.
- Awarded Task Order No. 10 for relay settings for new transformer in White Rock Substation to Transmission & Distribution Services, LLC for $157,262 plus tax.
- Approved Task Order No. 4 (Amendment #2) with Wilson & Company for $164,306.18 for Jemez Mountain Regional Fire Protection System engineering services.
- Approved a seven-year tree trimming services agreement with Southwest Fire Defense, LLC for $1,000,000 plus tax.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Joni Aaron from Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety attended via Zoom to listen to the ECA presentation but did not offer comments on electricity or water rates. She later asked a clarifying question about the presentation slide numbering.
Discussion Items
- 2026 Electric Coordination Agreement (ECA): Staff presented the ECA, which replaces the 1985 agreement and is structured as a 10-year fixed-price contract with a unilateral 10-year option for DOE. Key issues included: a termination-for-convenience clause limiting government liability to $6 million (sliding scale), which staff deemed insufficient; the 30-day notice period for the renewal option, which Chair Gibson called “absurd”; and the need for better cost- and risk-sharing for long-term investments. The board expressed concerns about DOE’s unilateral control and the lack of a true partnership. An alternative motion was adopted to request a one-month extension of the current ECA through August 31, 2026, to allow more time for negotiation and review, rather than approving the new ECA outright.
- Power Purchase Agreement (August–September 2026): Staff requested approval of up to $9,195,750 to purchase power for the Los Alamos Power Pool. The board approved the amount with a definite purchase for August and a contingent purchase for September, contingent on ECA approval.
- Gas Service Rates Ordinance (No. 02-385): Following council’s rejection of a multi-year rate increase in June, staff proposed a single rate adjustment to address a projected $760,000 loss in the gas fund. The plan increases the per-therm rate by 41% (from $0.34 to $0.48) and the service charge by 9%, resulting in an average 16–17% increase for residential customers. Staff noted that rates have barely changed since 2006 in nominal dollars and that the fund lacks reserves to cover a warm winter. The board recommended council adopt the ordinance.
Key Outcomes
- Voted 4-0 to approve the statement regarding the June 17 closed session.
- Voted 4-0 to approve the agenda as amended (removing water rate hearing).
- Voted 4-0 to approve the consent agenda.
- Voted 4-0 to approve the alternative motion on the ECA: request a one-month extension and bring the revised ECA back for further action.
- Voted 3-0 to approve the power purchase agreement (up to $9,195,750) with contingencies.
- Voted 3-0 to recommend Council adopt Ordinance No. 02-385 for gas rate increases effective September 1, 2026.
- Voted 3-0 to approve participation in the Los Alamos Nuclear Forum (expenses up to $500 per member) and the UAMPS Annual Member Conference (expenses up to $3,500 per member).
- Postponed the wastewater systems annual update and status reports to the August work session.
Next Steps
- Staff will continue negotiations with DOE on the termination clause and renewal language for the ECA, aiming to bring a revised agreement to the board for approval at the August regular meeting.
- The gas rate ordinance goes to Council for introduction on August 4 and for approval on August 25.
- The next BPU regular meeting is scheduled for July 31, 2026 (delayed one week).
Meeting Transcript
Thank you. Good evening, folks. I call to order this July 22nd 2026 meeting at the Board of Public Utilities. Thank everyone for being here. We have two board members voting board members here in uh in the room, and we have two more online. Let's verify we can hear they can hear us and we can hear them. Jennifer and Matt, can you hear us okay still? Yes, sounds good. Yes, I can hear you. Great. But thank you much for being here at this rather ridiculous hour for uh for you folks. Um I don't see anyone that it's time for public comment. I don't see anyone here in chambers for public comment. Do you have anybody online for public comment? There is one person online. I'm not sure if they want public comment, but we will ask. Thank you, Chair Gibson. For members of the public who are joining us tonight on Zoom, when Chair Gibson calls for public comment, please use the raise hand function. If you're participating by phone, please press star nine to raise your hand. You wish to make a public comment at this time, raise your hand on Zoom. No comments. Okay. Um for clarity. Uh ask if they if they want to make any comment on either of the rate hearings, because those are going to be later this evening than they might want to stay, just to make sure. Okay. If the caller who is the phone um would like to make any comment regarding the rate hearings, it is going to be a little bit later than anticipated. They did raise their hand. Okay. Uh we can we're willing to take public comment on the rate issues now, so they don't have to wait all evening. And we're going to uh not hear the water rate hearing tonight. That's going to be postponed for probably a month. But we'll take public comment on that also if so people don't have to come back. Sounds good. Let me get the timer up real quick. All right. Caller, you have been asked to unmute, and you can make your comment. You have three minutes. Stay right. State. Oh, please state your name. It's not letting me get them unmuted. Uh I I've asked them, so I think it's on their end. Uh let's see. Star six is to unmute yourself, Colin. Good evening. Yes, we hear you. Good evening. Can you be seen? Oh, great. My name is Joni Aaron, and I'm with concerned citizens for nuclear safety.
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