The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission or PRC is an independent agency created by the New Mexico Constitution. It is charged with regulating "...electric, natural gas, and water utilities, as well as telecommunications and motor carriers, to ensure fair and reasonable rates, and to assure reasonable and adequate services to the public."[1] [2]
The PRC historically regulated the insurance industry through its Division of Insurance, appointing an Insurance Superintendent who was a PRC employee with statutory powers. On July 1, 2013, the Insurance Division separated from the Public Regulation Commission and became an independent agency, the Office of the Superintendent of Insurance.[3] The PRC was also once responsible for investigating arsons and training local fire departments through its Office of the State Fire Marshal. That office is now a division of the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.[4]
Prior to January 1, 2023, the PRC consisted of five commissioners elected by district for staggered four-year terms.[5] [6] Following approval by the voters of a 2020 constitutional amendment however, the PRC became a three member body appointed by the governor with Senate advice and consent for staggered six-year terms.[7] Thus, the current duly appointed public regulation commissioners along with their technical advisors are as follows:[8]
| Commissioner | Appointment | Term Expires | Technical Advisor | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gabriel Aguilera | 2023 | 2027 | Cynthia Enriquez | |
| James Ellison | 2023 | 2025 | Judith Amer | |
| Patrick O'Connell | 2023 | 2029 | Mclee Kerolle |
| Years | Districts | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District 1 | District 2 | District 3 | District 4 | District 5 | ||||||
| 1999 | rowspan=7 | Herb H. Hughes (R) | rowspan=3 | Bill Pope (R)[9] | rowspan=7 | Jerome D. Block Sr. (D) | rowspan=9 | Lynda M. Lovejoy (D) | rowspan=5 | Tony Schaefer (R/D)[10] |
| 2000 | ||||||||||
| 2001 | ||||||||||
| rowspan=2 | Rory McMinn (R)[11] | |||||||||
| 2002 | ||||||||||
| 2003 | rowspan=9 | David W. King (R) | rowspan=4 | E. Shirley Baca (D) | ||||||
| 2004 | ||||||||||
| 2005 | rowspan=10 | Jason A. Marks (D) | rowspan=4 | Ben R. Luján (D) | ||||||
| 2006 | ||||||||||
| 2007 | rowspan=4 | Carol K. Sloan (D)[12] | rowspan=5 | Sandy R. Jones (D) | ||||||
| 2008 | ||||||||||
| 2009 | rowspan=4 | Jerome D. Block Jr. (D)[13] | ||||||||
| 2010 | ||||||||||
| rowspan=6 | Theresa Becenti-Aguilar (D)[14] | |||||||||
| 2011 | rowspan=9 | Patrick H. Lyons (R) | rowspan=5 | Ben L. Hall (R) | ||||||
| rowspan=2 | Doug Howe (I)[15] | |||||||||
| 2012 | ||||||||||
| 2013 | rowspan=4 | Karen Montoya (D) | rowspan=8 | Valerie Espinoza (D) | ||||||
| 2014 | ||||||||||
| 2015 | rowspan=4 | Lynda M. Lovejoy (D) | rowspan=4 | Sandy R. Jones (D) | ||||||
| 2016 | ||||||||||
| 2017 | rowspan=6 | Cynthia B. Hall (D) | ||||||||
| 2018 | ||||||||||
| 2019 | rowspan=4 | Jefferson L. Byrd (R) | rowspan=4 | Theresa Becenti-Aguilar (D) | rowspan=4 | Stephen H. Fischmann (D) | ||||
| 2020 | ||||||||||
| 2021 | rowspan=2 | Joseph Maestas (D) | ||||||||
| 2022 | ||||||||||
| Source: | ||||||||||
| 2023 | Gabriel Aguilera (D) | James Ellison (I) | Patrick O'Connell (D) | Michelle Lujan Grisham[16] | |
| 2024 | Gabriel Aguilera (D) | James Ellison (I) | Patrick O'Connell (D) | Michelle Lujan Grisham |