Work Plan

Community Action New Mexico Energy Project
Work Plan April 2007 – March 2008

Legislative Strategies

Goal

• Long-term systemic/structural solutions to low income energy efficiency, protection and reliability.
• Pass progressive legislation that will improve energy affordability for low-income utility customers.
• Defeat legislation that restricts consumer protection afforded to low-income utility customers. (defend consumer protections)
• Support related legislation (i.e., CCAE bills, LIHEAP, affordable housing, what else?)
• Pass increased weatherization funding.
• Position CANM as THE voice of low income households on home energy issues.

Objective

• Clean up 2007 bill and re-introduce legislation in 2008 session.
• Build network of community groups and individuals who support and will work for passage of home-energy related legislation.
• Identify legislative possibilities beyond undoing of Mountain states. (i.e., distinguish what can be accomplished through regulatory process from what can be accomplished through the legislature.)

Activities

• Identify key legislators to support the bill.
• Work with utility companies to gain support for the bill.
• Identify media strategy to support this bill.
• Build relations with legislators in Community Action Agency districts.
• identify and cultivate allies or potential allies within utility company’s

Long-term

• Identify potential for city and county resolutions. (i.e., Building codes)
• Identify federal resolutions.
• adjustment to SUA

Regulatory Strategies

Goals

• Hold utilities in New Mexico accountable to the public as a quasi-monopoly provider of a service that is essential to human health, safety and well-being.
• Ensure equity for low-income customers in energy efficiency programs.
• Protect low-income customers from unfair rate design.
• Position CANM as THE voice of low income households on home energy issues.
• Identify community groups that will participate/support CANM’s position in regulatory proceedings and/or work in collaboration

Objectives

• Secure legal counsel for intervention in regulatory proceedings.
• Educate commissioners on the reality of high home energy burden for LIHH and array of solutions adopted across the country.
• Influence CCAE’s policy position on affordability/efficiency for low-income customers – explore possibility of joint intervention in regulatory proceedings.
• Clarify winter shutoff moratorium
• Understand how to support weatherizers in the state and how they can help advocate for CANM’s policy positions.
• Achieve status for intervenors – if you influence the case you get paid/reimbursed.

Activities

• PNM gas rate case
• PNM energy efficiency electric programs case.
• PNM electric rate case
• Propose workshop participants/agenda for workshop on low income issues.
• Continual education on best practices: share with commission staff, commissioners and utility companies.
• Identify people across the state who might also intervene in proceedings.

Community Strategies

Goals

• Raise visibility and shared commitment to CANM’s policy agenda.
• Promote deeper understanding and communication with allies that root the work in individual experience and position CANM as regulatory/policy resource. (i.e., Establish a low income energy network)
• Raise public awareness of energy poverty and solutions that could be implemented in New Mexico. (shift the frame on this community problem – raise awareness of what’s working elsewhere and the cost of doing nothing new in New mexico).
• Develop partnership with weatherizers.
• Identify shared agendas (i.e., housing affordability and energy affordability)

Objectives

• Produce and distribute materials that help advocates, service providers and consumers engage in the issues.
• Develop mechanism for communication with allies about issues faced by low-income customers.
• Raise awareness of utility rights and utilization of the PRC/AG to resolve complaints
• Change the frame of debate in the media
• Understand the opportunities, challenges, and resources needed by weatherizers in the state.

Activities

• Identify allies and determine best method for outreach.
• Develop CANM Energy Project marketing materials
• Distribute Know Your Rights
• Develop a media strategy.
• Set up meetings with weatherizers.

Secure funds for CANM’s Energy Project