A plan by New Mexico's largest electric provider to raise rates has been rejected by a state hearing examiner.
The finding came Friday after environmentalists and others accused Public Service Co. of New Mexico of failing to provide state regulators with enough information to justify a proposed 12 percent rate increase.
The groups, in recent filings with the state Public Regulation Commission, had said PNM's application was incomplete and offered no explanation for some of the expenses the utility expects in future years.
It will be up to the commission to make a final decision on the recommendation outlined by hearing examiner Carolyn Glick.
PNM asked regulators to approve an increase to help cover the costs of new solar-power generating stations, federally mandated pollution controls at the coal-fired San Juan Generating Station and other infrastructure.
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