Deadline Extended for Low-Income Subscriptions Enrollment in Community Solar
In response to a petition filed by the Coalition for Community Solar Access Prosperity Works, the Renewable Energy Industries Association, New Energy Economy, and Vote Solar, The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission granted a variance from the August 1, 2024 deadline for community solar projects to achieve the minimum thirty percent level of low-income subscriptions. The new deadline is 12 months from the signing of a valid interconnection agreement with the utility, or by the commercial operation date of the project, whichever is earlier. The Subscriber Organization must provide the valid interconnection agreement to the Program Administrator within 14 days of signing. This should be done by emailing the agreement to the Program Administrator at [email protected]. In the email, please indicate the bid ID for the relevant project.
In the same order, the Commission denied the request to waive the requirement for a subscriber to provide supporting documentation after self-attesting to low-income status. As a result, a subscriber who self-attests to low-income status must still provide substantiating documentation within 90 days after self-attestation. Please refer to this announcement for more information.
The Commission’s order is available here in its entirety.
AMI-Based Low-Income Criteria
The Community Solar Act defines a low-income customer as “a residential customer of a qualifying utility with an annual household income at or below eighty percent of area median income [AMI], as published by the United States department of housing and urban development, or that is enrolled in a low-income program facilitated by the state, or a low-income energy program led by the qualifying utility or as determined by the commission.”
The US Department of Housing and Urban Development website reports AMI at both the state level and the county/metro area level.
The PRC has determined that for purposes of the New Mexico Community Solar Program, county/metro area AMI will be used.
Please reach out to the Program Administrator at [email protected] or 877-794-0109 with any questions.
