TXNM ENERGY INC (TXNM) FY 2023 MD&A
This page reproduces the company's own Item 7 MD&A text from the linked SEC filing. It is filer text, not grepcent analysis, scoring, or investment advice.
ITEM 7.MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for PNMR is presented on a combined basis, including certain information applicable to PNM and TNMP. This report uses the term “Company” when discussing matters of common applicability to PNMR, PNM, and TNMP. The MD&A for PNM and TNMP is presented as permitted by Form 10-K General Instruction I (2) as amended by the FAST Act. For additional information related to the earliest of the two years presented please refer to the Company’s 2022 Annual Report on Form 10-K. A reference to a “Note” in this Item 7 refers to the accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8, unless otherwise specified. Certain of the tables below may not appear visually accurate due to rounding.
MD&A FOR PNMR
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Overview and Strategy
PNMR is a holding company with two regulated utilities serving approximately 824,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers and end-users of electricity in New Mexico and Texas. PNMR’s electric utilities are PNM and TNMP. PNMR strives to create a clean and bright energy future for customers, communities, and shareholders. PNMR’s strategy and decision-making are focused on safely providing reliable, affordable, and environmentally responsible power built on a foundation of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles.
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Recent Developments
Merger
On October 20, 2020, PNMR, Avangrid and Merger Sub entered into the Merger Agreement pursuant to which Merger Sub would have merged with and into PNMR, with PNMR surviving the Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Avangrid. The Merger Agreement provided that it may be terminated by each of PNMR and Avangrid if the Effective Time shall not have occurred by December 31, 2023 End Date. On December 31, 2023, Avangrid informed PNMR that it was terminating the Merger Agreement effective as of December 31, 2023.
2024 Rate Change
In December 2022, PNM filed the 2024 Rate Change with the NMPRC. The application proposed an increase of $63.8 million in base non-fuel revenues. The requested increase was based on a calendar year 2024 FTY and reflected an ROE of 10.25%, investments in transmission and distribution infrastructure, largely offset by cost reductions resulting from PNM’s transition to lower-cost, clean generation resources including the retirement of the SJGS and expiration of leased capacity from PVNGS. The request also included updated depreciation rates for natural gas plants to align with the Company’s 2040 carbon-free portfolio goal.
On December 8, 2023, the hearing examiners in the case issued a RD. The RD proposed an increase in non-fuel revenues of $6.1 million compared to the $63.8 million increase requested by PNM. Major components of the difference in the increase in non-fuel revenues proposed in the RD, included:
•A ROE of 9.26% compared to the 10.25% requested by PNM
•Finding of prudency regarding PNM’s decision to remain in Four Corners and a remedy for the prudency to be a disallowance to PNM’s total Four Corners net book value by $84.8 million
•Approval of $51.3 million of PNM’s requested $96.3 million regulatory asset for PVNGS undepreciated investments, but disallowance of a return on the remaining $45.0 million or any CWIP associated with it
•Recommended capital structure of 49.61% equity, 50.10% debt, and 0.29% preferred stock
On January 3, 2024, the NMPRC issued a final order largely adopting the RD. The most notable difference in the final order is with regards to PVNGS. The final order requires that the regulatory liability associated with leased capacity at PVNGS after the Unit 1 lease expired on January 15, 2023, be returned to ratepayers over two years through a rate rider. In addition, the NMPRC had modifications that included approval of accelerated depreciation for specific gas plants, approval of PNM’s TOD pilot program, and ordered PNM to update the remedy associated with Four Corners. See Note 17.
Grid Modernization Application
On October 3, 2022, in compliance with New Mexico Grid Modernization Statute, PNM filed its Grid Modernization Application with the NMPRC. The projects included in the Grid Modernization Application improve customers’ ability to customize their use of energy and ensure that customers, including low-income customers, are a top priority and will benefit from the electricity grid consistent with the Grid Modernization Statute. PNM’s proposal to modernize its electricity grid through infrastructure and technology improvements also increases the efficiency, reliability, resilience, and security of PNM’s electric system. PNM’s application seeks approval of grid modernization investments of approximately $344 million for the first six years of a broader 11-year strategy. The proposed Grid Modernization Rider would recover capital costs, operating expenses, and taxes associated with the investments included in the Grid Modernization Application. See Note 17.
Texas Legislation
In the 2023 Texas Legislative session, several bills were passed to support utility reliability and resiliency by encouraging and protecting utility infrastructure investments. The bill with the largest near-term financial impact to TNMP is the DCRF legislation that adds a second filing per year and shortens the regulatory timeframe for the proceedings. Other bills include system resiliency and temporary mobile generation, which provide opportunities for added investment in TNMP’s service territory and reduce uncertainty around rate recovery. Another bill directs ERCOT to develop reliability plans for the Permian Basin which could result in the need for additional investments in the West Texas service territory. Additionally, the Damaging Critical Infrastructure Bill helps protect TNMP’s investments in response to criminal offenses damaging critical infrastructure facilities. These pieces of legislation demonstrate that Texas continues to encourage utility investment and prioritizes timely rate recovery. TNMP will look to prioritize investments aligned with these measures that improve the quality of service for current and future customers.
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Financial and Business Objectives
PNMR is focused on achieving three key financial objectives:
•Earning authorized returns on regulated businesses
•Delivering at or above industry-average earnings and dividend growth
•Maintaining investment grade credit ratings
In conjunction with these objectives, PNM and TNMP are dedicated to:
•Maintaining strong employee safety, plant performance, and system reliability
•Delivering a superior customer experience
•Demonstrating environmental stewardship in business operations, including transitioning to an emissions-free generating portfolio by 2040
•Supporting the communities in their service territories
Earning Authorized Returns on Regulated Businesses
PNMR’s success in accomplishing its financial objectives is highly dependent on two key factors: fair and timely regulatory treatment for its utilities and the utilities’ strong operating performance. The Company has multiple strategies to achieve favorable regulatory treatment, all of which have as their foundation a focus on the basics: safety, operational excellence, and customer satisfaction, while engaging stakeholders to build productive relationships. Both PNM and TNMP seek cost recovery for their investments through general rate cases, periodic cost of service filings, and various rate riders. The rates PNM and TNMP charge customers are subject to traditional rate regulation by the NMPRC, FERC, and the PUCT. Additional information about rate filings is provided in Note 17.
Fair and timely rate treatment from regulators is crucial to PNM and TNMP in earning their allowed returns and critical for PNMR to achieve its financial objectives. PNMR believes that earning allowed returns is viewed positively by credit rating agencies and that improvements in the Company’s ratings could lower costs to utility customers.
The Energy Transition Act (“ETA”)
The ETA requires utilities operating in New Mexico to have renewable portfolios equal to 40% by 2025, 50% by 2030, 80% by 2040, and 100% zero-carbon energy by 2045. The ETA also allows for the recovery of undepreciated investments and decommissioning costs related to qualifying EGUs that the NMPRC has required be removed from retail jurisdictional rates, provided replacement resources to be included in retail rates have lower or zero-carbon emissions. The ETA provides for a transition from fossil-fueled generating resources to renewable and other carbon-free resources by allowing utilities to issue Securitized Bonds, or “energy transition bonds,” related to the retirement of certain coal-fired generating facilities to qualified investors. See additional discussion of the ETA in Note 16 and the issuance of Securitized Bonds in Note 7.
The ETA has and will have a significant impact on PNM’s future generation portfolio, including PNM’s retirement of SJGS in 2022 and the exit of Four Corners. PNM cannot predict the full impact of the ETA on potential future generating resource abandonment and replacement filings with the NMPRC.
State Regulation
SJGS Abandonment Application – In July 2019, PNM filed the SJGS Abandonment Application with the NMPRC. The application included several replacement resource scenarios including PNM’s recommended replacement scenario, which is consistent with PNM’s goal of having a 100% emissions-free generating portfolio by 2040 and would have provided cost savings to customers while preserving system reliability.
In 2020, the NMPRC issued an order which authorized PNM to abandon SJGS by June 30, 2022, to issue Securitized Bonds of up to $361 million, and to establish the Energy Transition Charge upon issuance of the Securitized Bonds. The NMPRC’s order required an interim rate rider adjustment upon the start date of the Energy Transition Charge to provide immediate credits to customers for the full value of PNM’s revenue requirement related to SJGS until those reductions are reflected in base rates. In addition, PNM was granted authority to establish regulatory assets to recover costs that PNM will pay prior to the issuance of the Securitized Bonds, including costs associated with the bond issuances as well as for severances, job training, and economic development funds. Later that year, the NMPRC issued an order approving replacement resource selection criteria identified in the ETA.
On February 28, 2022, WRA and CCAE filed a joint motion for order to show cause and enforce financing order and supporting brief, which requested that the NMPRC order PNM to show cause why its rates should not be reduced at the time SJGS is abandoned even if the issuance of Securitized Bonds occurs at a later date. On June 17, 2022, the hearing examiners issued a recommended decision requesting the NMPRC issue an order requiring PNM to, among other things revise its rates to remove all of the costs of SJGS and issue rate refunds to customers at the time of the abandonment. On June 29, 2022, the
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NMPRC issued its final order adopting and approving the recommended decision in its entirety with certain additions. SJGS Unit 1 ceased operations in July 2022 and SJGS Unit 4 ceased operations in September 2022. In September 2022, the NM Supreme Court issued a partial stay of NMPRC’s order and PNM suspended issuing rate refunds. On August 18, 2023, PNM, along with the intervening parties in the pending appeal of the matter addressing customer bill credits and resolution of the remaining steps involved in the SJGS retirement under the ETA, filed an Unopposed Joint Motion for Abeyance and Remand to Implement Settlement and Request for Expedited Order at the NM Supreme Court. In the motion, the parties asked the NM Supreme Court to hold the appeal in abeyance and remand the matter to the NMPRC to allow the NMPRC to consider and take formal action on a unanimous proposed settlement on remand. Under the terms of the unanimous settlement, PNM would provide $115.0 million in rate refunds to customers over a one-year period, resolving all disputes raised in the matter addressing customer bill credits involved in the SJGS retirement before the NMPRC, including removal of SJGS ratemaking and prudence issues in the 2024 Rate Change. On September 14, 2023, the NM Supreme Court remanded the matter to the NMPRC. On September 21, 2023, the NMPRC approved the unanimous settlement agreement. See Notes 16 and 17. On November 15, 2023, ETBC I issued $343.2 million in Securitized Bonds. See Note 7.
Four Corners Abandonment Application - In early 2021, PNM filed the Four Corners Abandonment Application, which sought NMPRC approval to exit PNM’s 13% share of Four Corners as of December 31, 2024, and issuance of approximately $300 million of Securitized Bonds as provided by the ETA. On December 15, 2021, the NMPRC issued a final order denying approval of the Four Corners Abandonment Application and the corresponding request for issuance of securitized financing. On December 22, 2021, PNM filed a notice of appeal with the NM Supreme Court of the NMPRC decision to deny the application. On July 6, 2023, the NM Supreme Court issued a decision concluding that the NMPRC reasonably and lawfully denied PNM’s application for abandonment, determining that PNM did not meet its burden in challenging the NMPRC’s final order. For additional information regarding prudency of PNM’s investments in Four Corners see 2024 Rate Change in Note 17. The Company is evaluating the facts and circumstances surrounding the exit of Four Corners and will determine next steps.
PNM enhanced its plan to exit Four Corners and emphasized its ESG strategy to reduce carbon emissions on March 12, 2021 with an announcement for additional plans allowing for seasonal operations at Four Corners beginning in the fall of 2023, subject to the necessary approvals, including PNM’s Four Corners Abandonment Application at the NMPRC. The solution for seasonal operations would ensure the plant is available to serve each owners’ customer needs during times of peak energy use while minimizing operations during periods of low demand. This approach would result in an estimated annual 20 to 25 percent reduction in carbon emissions at the plant and retains jobs and royalty payments for the Navajo Nation. In the third quarter of 2023, APS notified the other participant owners of Four Corners of their intent to resume normal operations between November 1, 2023 and May 31, 2024. See additional discussion of the ETA and PNM’s Four Corners Abandonment Application in Notes 16 and 17.
PVNGS Leased Interest Abandonment Application - On April 2, 2021, PNM filed the PVNGS Leased Interest Abandonment Application. In the application PNM requested NMPRC authorization to decertify and abandon its Leased Interest and to create regulatory assets for the associated remaining undepreciated investments with consideration of cost recovery of the undepreciated investments in a future rate case. PNM also sought NMPRC approval to sell and transfer the PNM-owned assets and nuclear fuel supply associated with the Leased Interest to SRP, which acquired the Leased Interest from the lessors upon termination of the leases.
On August 25, 2021, the NMPRC issued an order confirming PNM requires no further NMPRC authority to abandon the PVNGS Leased Interest and to sell and transfer the PNM-owned assets and nuclear fuel supply associated with the Leased Interest to SRP. On November 18, 2022, the NMPRC issued its order on Joint Motion for Accounting Order requiring PNM to establish a regulatory liability to track and account for, upon termination of the PVNGS leases, all costs currently borne by ratepayers associated with those leases during pendency of the 2024 Rate Change, subject to a determination of ratemaking treatment. In addition, PNM may establish a regulatory asset account to record undepreciated investment for improvements to the Unit 1 and Unit 2 Leased Interests upon termination of the leases, and to record cost differences in the proceeds from SRP for the sale of the PVNGS Leased Assets and the actual book value. Recovery of these items was determined in the 2024 Rate Change. In the 2024 Rate Change, PNM also addressed unresolved issues including whether PNM’s decision to renew the five leases and the repurchase of 64.1 MW in PVNGS Unit 2 capacity exposed ratepayers to additional financial liability beyond that to which they would have been exposed, and whether PNM should be denied recovery of future decommissioning expenses as a remedy for imprudence. The NMPRC has approved replacement resources for its PVNGS Leased Interest of 300 MW solar PPA combined with a 300 MW battery storage agreement. PNM anticipates these facilities will be in service in 2024 and continues to pursue additional resources to replace the PVNGS leases. For additional information on PNM’s Leased Interest and the associated abandonment application see Note 8 and Note 17, respectively.
Summer Peak Resource Adequacy - Throughout 2021, 2022 and 2023, PNM provided notices of delays and status updates to the NMPRC for the approved SJGS replacement resource projects as well as delays in replacement resources for the PVNGS leased capacity that expired in January 2023. In the second half of 2022 and the first quarter of 2023, PNM entered into agreements totaling 420 MW of firm power purchases for the summer peak in 2023 and the purchase of 40 MW of firm capacity at PVNGS for all twelve months of 2023, providing PNM with a projected system reserve margin necessary to meet customer demand. While PNM continues to experience new system peaks, PNM’s generation resources performed sufficiently
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with no challenges to resource adequacy during the 2022 and 2023 summer peak seasons. PNM anticipates that a majority of the SJGS and PVNGS leased capacity replacement resources will be available prior to the 2024 summer peak season and may also secure additional firm energy market purchases necessary to meet customer load during the 2024 summer season. See Note 17.
2020 Decoupling Petition – In 2020, PNM filed a petition for approval of a rate adjustment mechanism that would decouple the rates of its residential and small power rate classes. Decoupling is a rate design principle that severs the link between the recovery of fixed costs of the utility through volumetric charges. On April 27, 2022, the NMPRC issued an order finding that the EUEA does not mandate the NMPRC to authorize or approve a full decoupling mechanism, defining full decoupling as limited to energy efficiency and load management measures and programs. On May 24, 2022, PNM filed a notice of appeal with the NM Supreme Court. The NM Supreme Court held oral arguments on November 13, 2023. See Note 17.
The Community Solar Act - The Community Solar Act establishes a program that allows for the development of community solar facilities and provides customers of a qualifying utility with the option of accessing solar energy produced by a community solar facility in accordance with the Community Solar Act. The NMPRC is charged with administering the Community Solar Act program, establishing a total maximum capacity of 200 MW community solar facilities (applicable until November 2024) and allocating proportionally to the New Mexico electric investor-owned utilities and participating cooperatives. The Act also includes several tribal-friendly provisions that can fast track solar development on tribal lands. As required under the Community Solar Act, on March 30, 2022, the NMPRC issued an order that adopted a rule on the administration of the Community Solar Act program. See Note 17.
PNM Rate Riders and other
The NMPRC has approved PNM recovering fuel costs through the FPPAC, as well as rate riders for renewable energy, energy efficiency, and the TEP. These mechanisms allow for more timely recovery of investments. PNM’s Grid Modernization Application includes proposals for installation and deployment of advanced metering infrastructure investments and recovery under a rate rider permitted by New Mexico legislation. See Note 17.
TNMP
The regulatory framework in Texas strongly encourages investments into the grid by providing timely recovery through rate mechanisms outside of general rate cases. The PUCT has approved mechanisms that allow TNMP to recover capital invested in transmission and distribution projects without having to file a general rate case. The PUCT also approved rate riders that allow TNMP to recover amounts related to energy efficiency and third-party transmission costs. In 2024, TNMP anticipates filing its first resiliency plan under the new rules implementing the legislation passed in 2023. An independent evaluation and development of a system resiliency plan covering three years is required in the filing. Under the rules, we may choose to recover the associated capital investments under the existing TCOS and DCRF rules. The rules also allow for recovery of certain O&M costs, such as vegetation management expenditures that exceed the amount authorized for recovery in base rates. TNMP also has approximately 273,000 advanced meters across its service territory, the costs of which are being recovered through base rates.
FERC Regulation
Rates PNM charges wholesale transmission customers are subject to traditional rate regulation by FERC. Rates charged to wholesale electric transmission customers, other than customers on the Western Spirit Line, are based on a formula rate mechanism pursuant to which rates for wholesale transmission service are calculated annually in accordance with an approved formula. The formula includes updating cost of service components, including investment in plant and operating expenses, based on information contained in PNM’s annual financial report filed with FERC, as well as including projected transmission capital projects to be placed into service in the following year. The projections included are subject to true-up. Certain items, including changes to return on equity and depreciation rates, require a separate filing to be made with FERC before being included in the formula rate.
Delivering At or Above Industry-Average Earnings and Dividend Growth
PNMR’s financial objective to deliver at or above industry-average earnings and dividend growth enables investors to realize the value of their investment in the Company’s business. Earnings growth is based on ongoing earnings, which is a non-GAAP financial measure that excludes from GAAP earnings certain non-recurring, infrequent, and other items that are not indicative of fundamental changes in the earnings capacity of the Company’s operations. PNMR uses ongoing earnings to evaluate the operations of the Company and to establish goals, including those used for certain aspects of incentive compensation, for management and employees.
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PNMR targets a dividend payout ratio in the 50% to 60% range of its ongoing earnings. PNMR expects to provide at or above industry-average dividend growth in the near-term. The Board will continue to evaluate the dividend on an annual basis, considering sustainability and growth, capital planning, and industry standards.
The Board approved the following increases in the indicated annual common stock dividend:
| Approval Date | Percent Increase | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| February 2022 | 6.1 | % | |
| December 2022 | 5.8 | ||
| December 2023 | 5.4 |
Maintaining Investment Grade Credit Ratings
The Company is committed to maintaining investment grade credit ratings in order to reduce the cost of debt financing and to help ensure access to credit markets, when required. On January 15, 2024, S&P revised PNMR, PNM & TNMP’s outlook to stable from positive. See the subheading Liquidity included in the full discussion of Liquidity and Capital Resources below for the specific credit ratings for PNMR, PNM, and TNMP. All of the credit ratings issued by both Moody’s and S&P on the Company’s debt continue to be investment grade.
Business Focus
To achieve its business objectives, focus is directed in key areas: Safe, Reliable and Affordable Power; Utility Plant and Strategic Investments; Environmentally Responsible Power; and Customer, Stakeholders, and Community Engagement. The Company works closely with its stakeholders to ensure that resource plans and infrastructure investments benefit from robust public dialogue and balance the diverse needs of our communities. Equally important is the focus of PNMR’s utilities on customer satisfaction and community engagement.
Safe, Reliable, and Affordable Power
Safety is the first priority of our business and a core value of the Company. PNMR utilizes a Safety Management System to provide clear direction, objectives and targets for managing safety performance and minimizing risks and empowers employees to “Be the Reason Everyone Goes Home Safe”.
PNMR measures reliability and benchmark performance of PNM and TNMP against other utilities using industry-standard metrics, including System Average Interruption Duration Index (“SAIDI”) and System Average Interruption Frequency Index (“SAIFI”). PNM’s and TNMP’s investment plans include projects designed to support reliability and reduce the amount of time customers are without power.
PNMR and its utilities are aware of the important roles they play in enhancing economic vitality in their service territories. Management believes that maintaining strong and modern electric infrastructure is critical to ensuring reliability and supporting economic growth. When contemplating expanding or relocating their operations, businesses consider energy affordability and reliability to be important factors. PNM and TNMP strive to balance service affordability with infrastructure investment to maintain a high level of electric reliability and to deliver a safe and superior customer experience. Investing in PNM’s and TNMP’s infrastructure is critical to ensuring reliability and meeting future energy needs. Both utilities have long-established records of providing customers with safe and reliable electric service.
PNM participates in the EIM, a real-time wholesale energy trading market operated by the CAISO that enables participating electric utilities to buy and sell energy. The EIM aggregates the variability of electricity generation and load for multiple balancing authority areas and utility jurisdictions. In addition, the EIM facilitates greater integration of renewable resources through the aggregation of flexible resources by capturing diversity benefits from the expanding geographic footprint and the expanded potential uses for those resources. The NMPRC approved collection of PNM’s regulatory asset to recover the initial capital investments and implementation and ongoing costs necessary to participate in the EIM in the 2024 Rate Change final order. PNM has experienced an aggregate of $91.5 million in cost savings to customers through participation in the EIM, which includes $44.4 million occurring in the year ended December 31, 2023. PNM passes the cost savings through to customers under PNM’s FPPAC.
PNM joined the Western Resource Adequacy Program (“WRAP”) in April 2023 to bolster PNM’s preparations for times of critical need. WRAP is a first-of-its-kind program in the West that adds a region-wide coordination between power providers for assessing and addressing resource adequacy. This step helps ensure regional resource availability is visible and coordinated in the event PNM customers are critically impacted by a resource emergency. WRAP is currently in the non-binding phases of the program, which is expected to continue through the winter of 2025.
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Utility Plant and Strategic Investments
Utility Plant Investments – During the 2022 and 2023 periods, PNM and TNMP together invested $1.9 billion in utility plant, including transmission and distribution systems, substations, power plants, and nuclear fuel. Investment plans emphasize new investments in transmission and distribution infrastructure to support growing demand with grid reliability and resilience and to deliver clean energy. The Company has been improving the diversification of its rate base among regulatory jurisdictions, moving TNMP and FERC transmission rate base to over half of the consolidated rate base.
Investments at TNMP support the continued high growth across each region of its service territory. Economic growth across Texas continues to push the demands on TNMP’s system to new levels, including a new system peak in January 2024. Additionally, the Texas legislature in 2023 passed a series of bills aimed at encouraging investments to enhance grid reliability and resilience. The PUCT has developed, and continues to develop, rules associated with the new legislation. TNMP will submit filings for investments and recovery in accordance with these new rules in addition to the existing rate recovery mechanisms.
PNM has also experienced growing demand, including a new system peak recorded in 2023. PNM investments are aimed at advancing the infrastructure beyond its original architecture to a more flexible and redundant system accommodating growing amounts of intermittent and distributed generation resources and integrating evolving technologies that provide long-term customer value. New Mexico’s clean energy future depends on a reliable, resilient, secure grid to deliver an evolving mix of energy resources to customers. In addition, projects included in the Grid Modernization Application improve customers’ ability to customize their use of energy and modernize PNM’s electric grid through infrastructure and technology improvements. Under New Mexico legislation for grid modernization, any approved investments may be recovered under a rate rider.
At PNM, an increase in transmission investments also supports growing transmission demands across the system and are recovered through an annual FERC formula rate mechanism based on a usage-based system allocation.
See the subheading Capital Requirements included in the full discussion of Liquidity and Capital Resources below for additional discussion of the Company’s projected capital requirements.
Strategic Investments – In 2017, PNMR Development and AEP OnSite Partners created NMRD to pursue the acquisition, development, and ownership of renewable energy generation projects, primarily in the state of New Mexico. PNMR Development and AEP OnSite Partners each have a 50% ownership interest in NMRD. As of December 31, 2023, NMRD’s renewable energy capacity in operation was 185.1 MW, which includes 180 MW of solar-PV facilities to supply energy to the Meta data center located within PNM’s service territory, 1.9 MW to supply energy to Columbus Electric Cooperative located in southwest New Mexico, 2.0 MW to supply energy to the Central New Mexico Electric Cooperative, and 1.2 MW of solar-PV facilities to supply energy to the City of Rio Rancho, New Mexico. On January 11, 2024, the NMPRC approved PNM’s an application to service the data center for an additional 140 MW of solar PPA combined with 50 MW of battery storage expected to be operational in 2025.
On December 22, 2023, PNMR Development and AEP Onsite reached agreement for the sale of NMRD and its subsidiaries for approximately $230 million, subject to adjustment to reflect the actual amounts of certain components of working capital at closing. Closing occurred on February 27, 2024, with PNMR Development receiving $117.0 million upon settlement. As previously disclosed, PNMR expects to use the net proceeds from the sale of NMRD to reduce the future external capital needs at PNMR and support continued investments in regulated rate base at PNMR’s utilities. See Note 21.
Integrated Resource Plan
NMPRC rules require that investor-owned utilities file an IRP every three years. The IRP is required to cover a 20-year planning period and contain an action plan covering the first three years of that period. On September 14, 2022 and November 2, 2022, the NMPRC adopted revisions to the IRP Rule. The revisions revamp and modernize the planning process to accommodate increased stakeholder involvement. On December 2, 2022, PNM filed an appeal with the NM Supreme Court of the NMPRC’s final order which adopted revisions to the IRP Rule. The NM Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments for May 13, 2024. See additional discussion of the NMPRC adopted revision to the IRP Rule in Note 17.
In the second quarter of 2022, PNM initiated its 2023 IRP process which covers the 20-year planning period from 2023 through 2042. Consistent with past IRPs, PNM received public input from interested parties as part of this process. On December 15, 2023, PNM filed its 2023 IRP with a continued focus on a carbon-free energy system by 2040. The plan highlights the need for the significant sustained addition of resources over the next two decades, replacing retiring or expiring capacity, and meeting concurrent load growth, while reducing the carbon intensity of PNM’s portfolio.
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Environmentally Responsible Power
PNMR has a long-standing record of environmental stewardship. PNM’s environmental focus is in three key areas:
•Developing strategies to provide reliable and affordable power while transitioning to a 100% emissions-free generating portfolio by 2040
•Preparing PNM’s system to meet New Mexico’s increasing renewable energy requirements as cost-effectively as possible
•Increasing energy efficiency participation
PNMR’s corporate website (www.pnmresources.com) includes a dedicated section providing key environmental and other sustainability information related to PNM’s and TNMP’s operations and other information that collectively demonstrates the Company’s commitment to ESG principles. This information highlights plans for PNM to be coal-free no later than 2031 and to achieve an emissions-free generating portfolio by 2040.
In February 2022, PNM named its first Chief Sustainability Officer. The Chief Sustainability Officer is responsible for developing and implementing the Company’s business strategy and positions on environmental and sustainability policy issues and is charged with establishing organization-wide policies, strategies, goals, objectives and programs that advance sustainability and ensure compliance with regulations. The role serves as the Company’s primary contact with various regulatory and stakeholder agencies on environmental matters. In addition, the role leads environmental justice work, incorporating impacts to tribal, worker and affected communities and advancing ESG reporting.
PNM’s grid modernization plan is a major step forward to providing reliable, affordable and sustainable energy. As part of that plan, PNM will promote energy equity where technology like smart meters and distribution upgrades will be provided to low-income areas first in order to allow customers to gain insights into their energy usage in order to improve affordability and create fairer access to energy.
In 2020, PNM announced an agreement to partner with Sandia National Laboratories in research and development projects focused on energy resiliency, clean energy, and national security. The partnership demonstrates PNMR’s commitment to ESG principles and its support of projects that further its emissions-free generation goals and plans for a reliable, resilient, and secure grid to deliver New Mexico’s clean energy future. PNM also recently joined the Electric Power Research Institute (“EPRI”) Climate READi (Resilience and Adaptation) Initiative, a three-year initiative to develop a comprehensive and consistent approach to physical climate risk and facilitate the analysis and application of appropriate climate data among all stakeholders to enhance the planning, design and operation of a resilient power system. In addition, PNM’s Time-of-Day pilot approved in the 2024 Rate Change final order incentivizes customers, through price signals, to use energy during the day when renewable generation is abundant.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also commonly known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (“BIL”), was signed into law on November 15, 2021. This act represents a “once-in-a-generation” investment designed to modernize and upgrade America’s infrastructure. The BIL includes historic investments to upgrade the transmission and distribution systems to improve reliability and resilience, and to facilitate the deployment of more affordable and cleaner energy across the country. In collaboration with a coalition of both private and public entities and with the principal grantee GridBeyond Ltd, PNM applied for a BIL grant through DOE in the Advanced Reliability and Resiliency Operations for Wind and Solar (“ARROWS”) program. GridBeyond Ltd, as principal grantee, will receive $3.9 million in BIL funding and PNM will provide the in-kind, $3.9 million, local match. The project aims to boost confidence in renewable power investments using GridBeyond Ltd artificial intelligence (“AI”) -powered distributed energy resource management system (“iDERMS”) technology. The AI-powered platform will be used to forecast, optimize, and control resources such as wind, solar, and batteries on PNM’s power grid in real-time and will enable GridBeyond Ltd to collect, analyze, and quantify the overall energy savings to determine how successfully PNM is able to integrate these resources against a backdrop of variable renewable power output and storage.
PNM also recently submitted concept papers for a second round of Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnership (“GRIP”) funding through DOE for the following projects:
•$25.0 million for a total grid orchestration project to develop a means of managing the operational risk of a carbon-free grid composed of highly distributed, predominantly third party owned, generation and virtual generation assets, allowing for optimal dispatching to increase Distributed Energy Resources’ (“DER”) hosting capacity, improve service quality, provide DER value stacking, and increase equity among the communities of New Mexico;
•$15.0 million to enable Virtual Power Plant (“VPP”) control on PNM’s power grid, enhancing PNM’s control systems to integrate VPP, deploying distribution and behind-the-meter assets to enable a pilot area, and enabling a VPP program between PNM and third party VPP aggregators for five substations; and
•$25.0 million for Artificial Intelligence Management (“AIM”) for the Rockies: Wildfire Mitigation to create a smart grid and advance New Mexico’s plans to implement cutting-edge technologies for wildfire mitigation. AIM for the Rockies will implement an ignition management program, using data collection on ignitions in hazardous fire areas
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and use wildfire cameras, acoustic sensors and AI software to model an innovative approach to wildfire mitigation that will help PNM make more informed decisions on asset and operations deployment in critical situations.
On August 16, 2022, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (the “IRA”) into law. The IRA provides benefits for PNMR and its customers by extending and enhancing clean energy incentives such as the investment tax credit and production tax credit. As the Company continues its transition away from carbon emitting sources, these credits will reduce the cost of renewable investments. In addition, the IRA includes a new production tax credit for existing nuclear facilities that is expected to create an added benefit for PNM’s ownership in the carbon-free PVNGS. Other IRA provisions will encourage transportation electrification with new electric vehicle credits and added incentives for vehicle charging infrastructure. For many of the IRA provisions, additional clarification and detailed guidance from the IRS is still pending.
Electric Vehicles
PNMR is building upon its ESG goal of 100% emissions-free generation by 2040 with plans for additional emissions reductions through the electrification of its vehicle fleet. Growing the number of electric vehicles within the Company’s fleet will benefit the environment and lower fuel costs furthering the commitment to ESG principles. Under the commitment, existing fleet vehicles will be replaced as they are retired with an increasing percentage of electric vehicles. The goals call for 25% of all light duty fleet purchases to be electric by 2025 and 50% to be electric by 2030.
To demonstrate PNMR’s commitment to increase the electrification of vehicles in its service territory, PNM implemented the TEP in 2022. TEP supports customer adoption of electric vehicles by addressing barriers to adoption. PNM’s TEP program budget provides both residential and non-residential customers funding towards the purchase of chargers and/or behind-the-meter infrastructure, as well as customer education and outreach on EV specific electricity rates to encourage charging during off-peak periods. Over 25% of the program budget is dedicated to low- and moderate-income customers to plan for an equitable transition to an electrified transportation sector.
In 2021, PNM joined the National Electric Highway Coalition, which plans to build fast-charging ports along major U.S. travel corridors. The coalition, with approximately 50 investor-owned electric companies is committed to providing EV fast charging ports that will allow the public to drive EVs with confidence throughout the country’s major roadways. To support this initiative, PNM’s TEP program includes the installation of a charging network along major roadways in New Mexico.
Other Environmental Matters
Four Corners may be required to comply with environmental rules that affect coal-fired generating units, including climate, regional haze, and ozone rules and the ETA. On May 23, 2023, EPA proposed new carbon pollution standards for coal and natural gas-fired power plants under Section 111 of the CAA. PNM is currently evaluating the proposed rule, which will have an impact on Four Corners as an existing coal-fired power plant and could potentially affect PNM’s gas resources as well. On February 16, 2024, EPA proposed to impose a federal implementation plan on New Mexico to address the interstate transport of ozone and its precursors, referred to by EPA as the “good neighbor” rule, which may also impact PNM’s gas resources by requiring participation in an ozone-season NOx emission allowance trading program. See Note 16.
Renewable Energy
PNM’s renewable procurements in service as of December 31, 2023 with a total net generation capacity of 1,277 MW include utility-owned solar capacity, as well as solar, wind, geothermal, and battery storage. In addition to PNM’s owned solar facilities, PNM also has a customer distributed solar generation program that represented 281.6 MW at December 31, 2023. The NMPRC has approved plans for PNM to procure energy and RECs from additional renewable resources to serve retail customers and a data center located in PNM’s service territory, including the portfolio to replace SJGS and the PVNGS Leased Interest Abandonment Application. PNM’s approved renewable resource plans have a generation capacity of 1,692 MW and are expected in operation by 2025. In addition, PNM filed an application with the NMPRC seeking approval of 410 MW of renewable resources for the 2026 summer peak. The majority of these renewable resources are key means for PNM to meet the RPS and related regulations that require PNM to achieve prescribed levels of energy sales from renewable sources, including those set by the ETA, without exceeding cost requirements. For additional discussion of the ETA, PNM’s Abandonment Applications, and 2026 Resource Application see Notes 16 and 17.
PNM will continue to procure renewable resources while balancing the impact to customers’ electricity costs in order to meet New Mexico’s escalating RPS and carbon-free resource requirements.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency plays a significant role in helping to keep customers’ electricity costs low while meeting their energy needs and is one of the Company’s approaches to supporting environmentally responsible power. PNM’s and TNMP’s energy efficiency and load management portfolios continue to achieve robust results. In 2023, incremental energy saved as a result of
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new participation in PNM’s portfolio of energy efficiency programs is estimated to be 101 GWh. This is equivalent to the annual consumption of approximately 14,500 homes in PNM’s service territory. PNM’s load management and annual energy efficiency programs also help lower peak demand requirements. In 2023, TNMP’s incremental energy saved as a result of new participation in TNMP’s energy efficiency programs is estimated to be approximately 17 GWh. This is equivalent to the annual consumption of approximately 2,297 homes in TNMP’s service territory. TNMP’s high-performance homes residential new construction energy efficiency program has earned the Energy Star Partner of the Year award for 7 years, including 5 years receiving the Sustained Excellence Award, recognizing long-term commitment to fighting climate change and protecting public health through energy efficiency. For information on PNM’s and TNMP’s energy efficiency filing with the NMPRC and PUCT see Note 17.
Water Conservation and Solid Waste Reduction
PNM continues its efforts to reduce the amount of fresh water used to make electricity (about 45% more efficient than in 2005). Continued growth in PNM’s fleet of solar and wind energy sources, energy efficiency programs, and innovative uses of air-cooling technology have contributed to this reduction. Water usage has continued to decline as PNM has substituted less fresh-water-intensive generation resources to replace SJGS. As the Company moves forward with its mission to achieve 100% carbon‐free generation by 2040, it expects that more significant water savings will be gained. Shutting down SJGS in 2022 and Four Corners by 2031 will allow the Company to reach our goals for reduced freshwater use at 80% by 2035 and 90% by 2040 from 2005 levels. Focusing on responsible stewardship of New Mexico’s scarce water resources improves PNM’s water-resilience in the face of persistent drought and ever-increasing demands for water to spur the growth of New Mexico’s economy.
In addition to the above areas of focus, the Company is working to reduce the amount of solid waste going to landfills through increased recycling and reduction of waste. In 2023, 20 of the Company’s 21 facilities met or exceeded the solid waste diversion goal of a 65% diversion rate. The Company expects to continue to do well in this area in the future.
Customer, Stakeholder, and Community Engagement
Another key element of the Company’s commitment to ESG principles is fostering relationships with its customers, stakeholders, and communities. The Company strives to deliver a superior customer experience. Through outreach, collaboration, and various community-oriented programs, the Company has demonstrated a commitment to building productive relationships with stakeholders, including customers, community partners, regulators, intervenors, legislators, and shareholders. Local relationships and one-on-one communications remain two of the most valuable ways both PNM and TNMP connect with their stakeholders. Both companies maintain long-standing relationships with governmental representatives and key electricity consumers to ensure that these stakeholders are updated on Company investments and initiatives. Key electricity consumers also have dedicated Company contacts that support their important service needs.
The Company utilizes a number of communications channels and strategic content to serve and engage its many stakeholders. PNM’s website provides the details of major regulatory filings, including general rate requests, as well as the background on PNM’s efforts to maintain reliability, keep prices affordable, and protect the environment. The Company’s website is also a resource for information about PNM’s operations and community outreach efforts, including plans for building a sustainable energy future for New Mexico and to transition to an emissions-free generating portfolio by 2040. PNM also leverages social media in communications with customers on various topics such as education, outage alerts, safety, customer service, and PNM’s community partnerships in philanthropic projects. As discussed above, PNMR’s corporate website includes a dedicated section providing additional information regarding the Company’s commitment to ESG principles and other sustainability efforts.
In 2023, PNM implemented in-person residential and business customer advisory councils to build and improve customer relationships as well as to provide PNM with a way to enhance its understanding of customers’ needs, gauge interest levels, develop and guide programs and solutions to be highly customer centric. Additionally, PNM continues to focus its efforts to enhance the customer experience through customer service improvements, including enhanced customer service engagement options, strategic customer outreach, and improved communications. These efforts are supported by market research to understand the varying needs of customers, identifying and establishing valued services and programs, and proactively communicating and engaging with customers. In 2023, PNM and the electric utility industry as a whole, continued to experience a decline in customer satisfaction as measured by J.D. Power. However, PNM remains focused on continuously improving its customers’ experience at every touchpoint and placing greater focus on customer assistance through economic uncertainty.
With reliability being the primary role of a transmission and distribution service provider in Texas’ deregulated market, TNMP continues to focus on keeping end-users updated about interruptions and to encourage consumer preparation when severe weather is forecasted. In both 2021 and 2022, TNMP provided 30-person teams in support of other utilities that experienced significant damage to their transmission and distribution system as a result of Hurricane Ida and Hurricane Ian. TNMP has been honored by the Edison Electric Institute eight times since 2012 for its assistance to out-of-state utilities affected by hurricanes. TNMP has also been honored three times since 2008 for hurricane response in its own territory.
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PNM continues to focus on addressing energy affordability by promoting participation in utility programs among households with high energy burden to offset high bills. PNM has implemented efforts to increase participation in low income energy efficiency programs, providing additional aid through the PNM Good Neighbor Fund, the establishment of a temporary Summer High Heat Fund that provided bill assistance to low and moderate income customers, partnering with state agencies to make it easier to access funding, improving access to clean energy through expanded outreach and communication, and the implementation of low income transportation electrification programs. As a result of these communication efforts, 6,769 families in need received emergency assistance through the PNM Good Neighbor Fund during 2023. Additionally, PNM has worked closely with the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration to implement strategies ensuring customers receive rent benefits, including utility bill assistance, from the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (“ERAP”). As a result of these efforts, the ERAP has paid over $8.8 million in customer arrears since the launch of the program in March 2021.
During the three years ended December 31, 2023, corporate giving contributed $12.5 million to civic, educational, environmental, low income, and economic development organizations. During 2023, corporate giving has maintained a strategic focus on these pillars and continues to highlight corporate citizenship through active involvement with sponsorships demonstrating PNM’s commitment to the community. In 2023, this corporate giving included $1.0 million to support New Mexico high school students and their ability to participate in electric trade programs. In the third quarter of 2023, PNM shareholders donated $0.6 million to a newly created PNM Summer Heat Bill Help Fund which delivered crucial relief to low and moderate income customers struggling to pay their electric bills during the record-breaking 2023 summer heatwave and $0.5 million was given to the PNM Good Neighbor Fund.
Another demonstration of the Company’s commitment to ESG principles is the Company’s tradition of supporting the communities it serves in New Mexico and Texas. This support extends beyond corporate giving and financial donations from the PNM Resources Foundation to also include collaborations on community projects, low-income customer assistance programs, and employee volunteerism.
PNMR recognizes its responsibility to support programs and organizations that enrich the quality of life across its service territories and seeks opportunities to further demonstrate its commitment in these areas as needs arise. In response to community needs, PNMR partners with other corporate funders to support nonprofits and small businesses. While its service territory does not include the Navajo Nation, PNM’s operations include generating facilities and employees in this region. The PNM Navajo Nation Workforce Training Scholarship Program provides support for Navajo tribal members and encourages the pursuit of education and training in existing and emerging jobs in the communities in which they live. PNM has invested in paid summer college engineering internship programs for American Indian students available in the greater Albuquerque area, established the PNM Pueblo Education Scholarship Endowment to invest in higher education for Native American Indian students, and supported the development of an entrepreneur complex located in Albuquerque and operated by the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, owned by the 19 pueblo nations of New Mexico. PNM also continues to partner with the Navajo Nation in the Light up Navajo project, piloted in 2019 and modeled as a mutual aid project with over 25 utilities nationwide participating to connect Navajo homes without electricity to the power grid. PNM has partnered with New Mexico universities to enhance intern programs and developed a business coalition model to drive economic development through intern partnerships. PNM has also partnered with key nonprofit organizations to initiate funding and action for programs focused on diversity, equity and inclusion.
Employee volunteers are the lifeblood of a healthy corporate culture. Community giving through volunteers’ time and effort is at the heart of employee engagement. Throughout 2023, the Company held large-scale volunteer events, working alongside nonprofits, schools, and vulnerable communities throughout New Mexico and Texas. More than 500 employees in both states participated in the “Day of Service”, a workday event encouraging employee volunteerism. Throughout the year, employees volunteer their time generously through independent volunteer activities and board participation. Employees strengthen community resilience by giving at least 9,000 volunteer hours each year to support the health, safety, and well-being of diverse communities.
In addition to the extensive engagement both PNM and TNMP have with nonprofit organizations in their communities, the PNM Resources Foundation provides an annual average of nearly $1.4 million in grant funding over the past three years across New Mexico and Texas. These grants help nonprofits innovate or sustain programs to grow and develop their mission, develop and implement environmental programs, and provide educational opportunities. The PNM Resources Foundation continued to expand its matching and volunteer grant programs and the annual amount of matching donations available to each of its employees was increased. The PNM Resources Foundation also approved an increase to the amount awarded to employees, through the employee crisis management fund, who have been affected by the wildfires. Throughout 2023, the Foundation celebrated its 40th year of serving community needs highlighting education, inclusion, the environment and community vitality and awarded $0.7 million to 44 organizations in New Mexico and Texas.
Economic Factors
PNM – In 2023, PNM experienced a decrease in weather normalized residential load of 1.0%, slightly offset by an increase in weather normalized commercial load of 0.2% compared to 2022. In addition, PNM experienced a decrease in industrial load of 4.6% compared to 2022.
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TNMP – In 2023, TNMP’s volumetric weather normalized retail load was flat when compared to 2022. Weather normalized demand-based load, excluding retail transmission consumers, increased 14.1% in 2023 compared to 2022.
The Company is closely monitoring the impacts on the capital markets of other macroeconomic conditions, including actions by the Federal Reserve to address inflationary concerns or other market conditions, and geopolitical activity. The Company has not experienced, nor does it expect significant negative impacts to customer usage at PNM and TNMP resulting from these economic impacts. However, if current economic conditions worsen, the Company may be required to implement additional measures such as reducing or delaying operating and maintenance expenses and planned capital expenditures.
Results of Operations
Net earnings attributable to PNMR were $87.8 million, or $1.02 per diluted share in the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to $169.5 million, or $1.97 per diluted share in 2022. Among other things, earnings in the year ended December 31, 2023 benefited from higher transmission margin at PNM and TNMP, warmer weather at PNM, higher distribution rates at TNMP, higher demand-based load at TNMP, increased performance on PNM’s NDT, coal mine reclamation and SJGS decommissioning investment securities, and decreased operational and maintenance expense and depreciation expense at PNM primarily due to the retirement of SJGS and the disposition of the PVNGS Unit 1 Leased Interest. These increases were more than offset by regulatory disallowances resulting from the NMPRC final order in the 2024 Rate Change, the SJGS abandonment settlement agreement, higher employee related, outside services and vegetation management expenses at PNM and TNMP, increased depreciation and property taxes at TNMP due to increased plant in service, new capacity arrangements at PNM, lower weather normalized retail load at PNM, milder weather at TNMP, and higher interest charges at PNM, TNMP and Corporate and Other. Additional information on factors impacting results of operations for each segment is discussed below under Results of Operations.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
PNMR, PNM, and TNMP have revolving credit facilities with capacities of $300.0 million, $440.0 million, and $100.0 million. Total availability for PNMR on a consolidated basis was $459.4 million at February 16, 2024. The Company utilizes these credit facilities and cash flows from operations to provide funds for both construction and operational expenditures. PNMR also has intercompany loan agreements with each of its subsidiaries. For additional details regarding the Company’s revolving credit facilities, see Note 7.
PNMR projects that its consolidated capital requirements, consisting of construction expenditures and dividends, will total $6.8 billion for 2024-2028. These construction expenditures include TNMP’s investments to support continued high growth in system demand across TNMP’s service territories and growing encouragement for infrastructure investments from the Texas legislature to support grid reliability and resilience. PNM’s capital initiatives for investments in transmission and distribution infrastructure to deliver clean energy, enhance customer satisfaction, and increase grid resilience. Construction expenditures also include investments proposed in PNM’s Grid Modernization Application.
As discussed in Note 7, in November 2022, PNMR entered into a distribution agreement, pursuant to which the Company may sell, from time to time, up to an aggregate sales price of $200.0 million of its common stock, no par value, through sales agents under the PNMR 2022 ATM Program. During 2023, PNMR entered into forward sales agreements with third-party forward purchasers relating to the sale of 4.4 million shares of common stock, under the PNMR 2022 ATM Program, which is now concluded. On December 15, 2023, PNMR physically settled all shares under the PNMR 2022 ATM Program by issuing 4.4 million shares to the forward purchasers and receiving net proceeds of $198.2 million. Following this settlement, no shares of PNMR’s common stock remain subject to future settlement under the PNMR 2022 ATM Program. See Note 7.
To fund capital spending requirements to meet growth that balances earnings goals, credit metrics and liquidity needs, the Company has entered into a number of other financing arrangements. For further discussion on these financing arrangements see Liquidity and Capital Resources discussion below as well as Note 7.
After considering the effects of these financings and the Company’s short-term liquidity position as of February 16, 2024, the Company has consolidated maturities of long-term and short-term debt aggregating $658.0 million in the period from January 1, 2024 through February 28, 2025. In addition to internal cash generation, the Company anticipates that it will be necessary to obtain additional long-term financing in the form of debt refinancing, new debt issuances, and/or new equity in order to fund its capital requirements during the 2024-2028 period. The Company currently believes that its internal cash generation, existing credit arrangements, and access to public and private capital markets will provide sufficient resources to meet the Company’s capital requirements for at least the next twelve months. As of December 31, 2023 and February 16, 2024, the Company was in compliance with its debt covenants.
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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto. Trends and contingencies of a material nature are discussed to the extent known. Also, refer to Disclosure Regarding Forward Looking Statements in Part I, Item 1 and to Risk Factors in Part I, Item 1A.
A summary of net earnings attributable to PNMR is as follows:
| Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | 2023/2022 | ||||||||||
| (In millions, except per share amounts) | ||||||||||||
| Net earnings attributable to PNMR | $ | 87.8 | $ | 169.5 | $ | (81.8) | ||||||
| Average diluted common and common equivalent shares | 86.4 | 86.2 | 0.2 | |||||||||
| Net earnings attributable to PNMR per diluted share | $ | 1.02 | $ | 1.97 | $ | (0.95) |
The components of the changes in net earnings attributable to PNMR by segment are:
| Change | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2023/2022 | ||
| (In millions) | ||
| PNM | $ | (67.7) |
| TNMP | 2.6 | |
| Corporate and Other | (16.7) | |
| Net change | $ | (81.8) |
Information regarding the factors impacting PNMR’s operating results by segment are set forth below.
Segment Information
The following discussion is based on the segment methodology that PNMR’s management uses for making operating decisions and assessing performance of its various business activities. See Note 2 for more information on PNMR’s operating segments.
PNM
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
PNM defines utility margin as electric operating revenues less cost of energy, which consists primarily of fuel and purchase power costs. PNM believes that utility margin provides a more meaningful basis for evaluating operations than electric operating revenues since substantially all fuel and purchase power costs are offset in revenues as those costs are passed through to customers under PNM’s FPPAC. Utility margin is not a financial measure required to be presented and is considered a non-GAAP measure. PNM does not intend for utility margin to represent any financial measure as defined by GAAP however, the calculation of utility margin, as presented, most closely compares to gross margin as defined by GAAP. Reconciliations between utility margin and gross margin are presented below.
| Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | 2023/2022 | ||||||||
| (In millions) | ||||||||||
| Gross margin | $ | 409.4 | $ | 516.4 | $ | (107.0) | ||||
| Energy production costs | 91.6 | 147.3 | (55.7) | |||||||
| Transmission and distribution costs | 61.7 | 58.3 | 3.4 | |||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 177.6 | 180.8 | (3.2) | |||||||
| Utility margin | $ | 740.3 | $ | 902.8 | $ | (162.5) |
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The following table summarizes the operating results for PNM:
| Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | 2023/2022 | ||||||||||
| (In millions) | ||||||||||||
| Electric operating revenues | $ | 1,403.9 | $ | 1,766.8 | $ | (362.9) | ||||||
| Cost of energy | 663.6 | 864.0 | (200.4) | |||||||||
| Utility margin | 740.3 | 902.8 | (162.5) | |||||||||
| Operating expenses | 479.5 | 460.5 | 19.0 | |||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 177.6 | 180.8 | (3.2) | |||||||||
| Operating income | 83.2 | 261.5 | (178.3) | |||||||||
| Other income (deductions) | 41.4 | (62.2) | 103.6 | |||||||||
| Interest charges | (86.6) | (61.1) | (25.5) | |||||||||
| Segment earnings before income taxes | 38.0 | 138.2 | (100.2) | |||||||||
| Income (taxes) | 16.8 | (19.2) | 36.0 | |||||||||
| Valencia non-controlling interest | (18.5) | (15.1) | (3.4) | |||||||||
| Preferred stock dividend requirements | (0.5) | (0.5) | — | |||||||||
| Segment earnings | $ | 35.7 | $ | 103.4 | $ | (67.7) |
The following table shows GWh sales, including the impacts of weather, by customer class and average number of customers:
| Year Ended December 31, | Percent Change | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | 2023/2022 | ||||||||
| (Gigawatt hours, except customers) | ||||||||||
| Residential | 3,390.7 | 3,368.0 | 0.7 | % | ||||||
| Commercial | 3,645.1 | 3,605.0 | 1.1 | |||||||
| Industrial (1) | 1,879.3 | 1,770.0 | 6.2 | |||||||
| Public authority | 215.5 | 219.9 | (2.0) | |||||||
| Economy service (2) | 536.5 | 554.2 | (3.2) | |||||||
| Other sales for resale (3) | 4,587.1 | 7,413.3 | (38.1) | |||||||
| 14,254.2 | 16,930.4 | (15.8) | % | |||||||
| Average retail customer (thousands) | 548.0 | 543.6 | 0.8 | % |
(1)Includes energy provided by PNM for renewable energy resources to match the energy and capacity requirements of Meta. PNM purchases renewable energy which is passed through to Meta under a rate rider. A special service rate is applied to Meta’s energy consumption in those hours of the month when their consumption exceeds the energy production from the renewable resources.
(2)PNM purchases energy for a large customer on the customer’s behalf and delivers the energy to the customer’s location through PNM’s transmission system. PNM charges the customer for the cost of the energy as a direct pass through to the customer with only a minor impact in utility margin resulting from providing ancillary services.
(3)Includes sales for resale activity resulting from PNM’s participation in the EIM.
Operating results – 2023 compared to 2022
The following table summarizes the significant changes to gross margin:
| Year Ended December 31, 2023 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Change | ||||
| Gross margin: | (In millions) | |||
| Utility margin (see below) | $ | (162.5) | ||
| Depreciation and amortization (see below) | 3.2 | |||
| Lower plant maintenance costs primarily due to the retirement of SJGS, the disposition of the PVNGS Unit 1 Leased Interest, and lower costs at gas fired plants partially offset by higher costs at Four Corners and the remaining interests in PVNGS | 57.3 | |||
| Higher employee related, outside services, and vegetation management expenses, excluding administrative costs | (4.6) | |||
| Other | (0.4) | |||
| Net Change | $ | (107.0) |
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The following table summarizes the significant changes to utility margin:
| Year Ended December 31, 2023 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Change | ||||
| Utility margin: | (In millions) | |||
| Retail customer usage/load – Weather normalized retail KWh sales decreased 1.0% for residential customers and 4.6% for industrial customers, which was partially offset by increased sales to commercial customers of 0.2% | $ | (0.9) | ||
| Weather – Primarily due to hotter weather in the third quarter of 2023 | 8.8 | |||
| Transmission – Increase in revenues primarily due to higher market prices and higher volumes partially offset by the FERC Order 864 Settlement (Note 17) | 4.7 | |||
| Unregulated margin – Decreases due to the retirement of SJGS Unit 4 in 2022 | (10.3) | |||
| Capacity arrangements – New agreements in 2023, including battery storage | (11.8) | |||
| Rate refunds – SJGS abandonment settlement agreement partially offset by NMPRC ordered rate refunds in 2022 (Note 17) | (127.5) | |||
| 2024 Rate Change – PVNGS Unit 1 Leased Interest regulatory liability (Note 17) | (38.4) | |||
| FERC ordered time-value refunds in 2022 (Note 17) | 8.1 | |||
| Rate riders and other – Includes renewable energy, FPPAC, energy efficiency, energy transition charge, and transportation electrification riders | 4.8 | |||
| Net Change | $ | (162.5) |
The following tables summarize the primary drivers for operating expenses, depreciation and amortization, other income (deductions), interest charges, and income taxes:
| Year Ended December 31, 2023 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Change | ||||
| Operating expenses: | (In millions) | |||
| Lower plant maintenance and administrative costs primarily due to the retirement of SJGS, the disposition of the PVNGS Unit 1 Leased Interest, and lower costs at Four Corners and gas fired plants partially offset by higher costs related to the remaining interests in PVNGS | $ | (58.5) | ||
| Higher employee related, outside services, and vegetation management expenses | 6.3 | |||
| Higher regulatory disallowances and restructuring costs, primarily resulting from the 2024 Rate Change (Note 17) | 69.9 | |||
| Other | 1.3 | |||
| Net Change | $ | 19.0 |
| Depreciation and amortization: | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Increased utility plant in service | $ | 6.8 | ||
| Lower depreciation due to the retirement of SJGS | (8.0) | |||
| Lower depreciation due to the disposition of the PVNGS Unit 1 Leased Interest | (3.0) | |||
| Other | 1.0 | |||
| Net Change | $ | (3.2) |
| Other income (deductions): | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Increased performance on investment securities in the NDT and coal mine reclamation trusts | $ | 97.6 | ||
| Higher interest income and lower trust expenses related to investment securities in the NDT, coal mine reclamation and SJGS decommissioning trusts | 4.8 | |||
| Other | 1.2 | |||
| Net Change | $ | 103.6 |
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| Year Ended December 31, 2023 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Change | ||||
| Interest charges: | (In millions) | |||
| Higher interest on term loan | $ | (7.4) | ||
| Higher interest on short-term borrowings | (8.3) | |||
| Issuance of SUNs in April 2023 | (7.6) | |||
| Higher interest on transmission interconnections and other customer deposit arrangements | (4.3) | |||
| Interest related to ETBC I issuance of Securitized Bonds in November 2023 | (2.5) | |||
| Higher debt AFUDC | 5.8 | |||
| Other | (1.2) | |||
| Net Change | $ | (25.5) |
| Income (taxes): | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lower segment earnings before income taxes | $ | 26.3 | ||
| Higher tax credits in 2023 | 5.4 | |||
| Lower amortization of federal excess deferred income taxes (Note 18) | (0.2) | |||
| Impacts of the closure of SJGS in 2022 | 3.5 | |||
| Lower uncertain tax positions | 1.1 | |||
| Other | (0.1) | |||
| Net Change | $ | 36.0 |
TNMP
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
TNMP defines utility margin as electric operating revenues less cost of energy, which consists of costs charged by third-party transmission providers. TNMP believes that utility margin provides a more meaningful basis for evaluating operations than electric operating revenues since all third-party transmission costs are passed on to consumers through a transmission cost recovery factor. Utility margin is not a financial measure required to be presented and is considered a non-GAAP measure. TNMP does not intend for utility margin to represent any financial measure as defined by GAAP however, the calculation of utility margin, as presented, most closely compares to gross margin as defined by GAAP. Reconciliations between utility margin and gross margin are presented below.
| Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | 2023/2022 | ||||||||
| (In millions) | ||||||||||
| Gross margin | $ | 246.5 | $ | 224.1 | $ | 22.4 | ||||
| Transmission and distribution costs | 37.0 | 36.4 | 0.6 | |||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 113.1 | 98.3 | 14.8 | |||||||
| Utility margin | $ | 396.6 | $ | 358.8 | $ | 37.8 |
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The following table summarizes the operating results for TNMP:
| Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | 2023/2022 | ||||||||||
| (In millions) | ||||||||||||
| Electric operating revenues | $ | 535.3 | $ | 482.7 | $ | 52.6 | ||||||
| Cost of energy | 138.6 | 123.9 | 14.7 | |||||||||
| Utility margin | 396.6 | 358.8 | 37.8 | |||||||||
| Operating expenses | 133.4 | 124.5 | 8.9 | |||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 113.1 | 98.3 | 14.8 | |||||||||
| Operating income | 150.0 | 136.0 | 14.0 | |||||||||
| Other income (deductions) | 8.4 | 8.7 | (0.3) | |||||||||
| Interest charges | (46.2) | (37.2) | (9.0) | |||||||||
| Segment earnings before income taxes | 112.2 | 107.4 | 4.8 | |||||||||
| Income (taxes) | (17.3) | (15.2) | (2.1) | |||||||||
| Segment earnings | $ | 94.9 | $ | 92.3 | $ | 2.6 |
The following table shows total GWh sales, including the impacts of weather, by retail tariff consumer class and average number of consumers:
| Year Ended December 31, | Percentage Change | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | 2023/2022 | ||||||||
| Volumetric load (1) (GWh) | ||||||||||
| Residential | 3,248.4 | 3,309.3 | (1.8) | % | ||||||
| Commercial and other | 48.9 | 49.1 | (0.4) | |||||||
| Total volumetric load | 3,297.3 | 3,358.4 | (1.8) | % | ||||||
| Demand-based load (2) (MW) | 30,668.6 | 24,543.1 | 25.0 | % | ||||||
| Average retail consumers (thousands) (3) | 272.1 | 267.9 | 1.6 | % |
(1)Volumetric load consumers are billed on KWh usage.
(2)Demand-based load includes consumers billed on a monthly KW peak and retail transmission customers that are primarily billed under rate riders.
(3)TNMP provides transmission and distribution services to REPs that provide electric service to customers in TNMP’s service territories. The number of consumers above represents the customers of these REPs. Under TECA, consumers in Texas have the ability to choose any REP to provide energy.
Operating results – 2023 compared to 2022
The following table summarizes the significant changes to gross margin:
| Year Ended December 31, 2023 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Change | ||||
| Gross margin: | (In millions) | |||
| Utility Margin (see below) | $ | 37.8 | ||
| Depreciation and amortization (see below) | (14.8) | |||
| Higher employee related, outside services, and vegetation management expenses, excluding administrative costs | (0.7) | |||
| Other | 0.1 | |||
| Net Change | $ | 22.4 |
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The following table summarizes the significant changes to utility margin:
| Year Ended December 31, 2023 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Change | ||||
| Utility margin: | (In millions) | |||
| Transmission rate relief/load – Transmission cost of service rate increases in March 2022, September 2022, May 2023, and September 2023 | $ | 22.1 | ||
| Distribution rate relief – Distribution cost of service rate increases in September 2022 and September 2023 | 10.9 | |||
| Volumetric-based consumer usage/load – Weather normalized KWh sales were flat; the average number of volumetric consumers increased 1.5% | 0.6 | |||
| Demand based consumer usage/load – Weather normalized demand-based MW sales for large commercial and industrial consumers excluding retail transmission customers increased 14.1% | 8.4 | |||
| Weather – Milder winter weather was partially offset by warmer summer weather in 2023 | (2.3) | |||
| Rate riders and other – Impacts of rate riders, including the transmission cost recovery factor, energy efficiency rider, and rate case expense rider which are partially offset in operating expense and depreciation and amortization | (1.9) | |||
| Net Change | $ | 37.8 |
The following tables summarize the primary drivers for operating expenses, depreciation and amortization, other income (deductions), interest charges, and income taxes:
| Year Ended December 31, 2023 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Change | ||||
| Operating expenses: | (In millions) | |||
| Higher employee related, outside services, and vegetation management expenses | $ | 3.8 | ||
| Higher property tax due to increased utility plant in service | 2.4 | |||
| Higher allocated depreciation and amortization expense from Corporate and Other | 1.6 | |||
| Regulatory disallowance related to notice of violation settlement (Note 17) | 1.2 | |||
| Other | (0.1) | |||
| Net Change | $ | 8.9 |
| Depreciation and amortization: | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Increased utility plant in service | $ | 14.6 | ||
| Other | 0.2 | |||
| Net Change | $ | 14.8 |
| Other income (deductions): | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMS Reconciliation carrying charges | $ | (1.0) | ||
| Higher equity AFUDC | 0.7 | |||
| Net Change | $ | (0.3) |
| Interest charges: | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Issuance of first mortgage bonds in 2023 | $ | (5.7) | ||
| Issuance of first mortgage bonds in 2022 | (3.2) | |||
| Other | (0.1) | |||
| Net Change | $ | (9.0) |
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| Year Ended December 31, 2023 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Change | ||||
| Income (taxes): | (In millions) | |||
| Higher segment earnings before income taxes | $ | (1.0) | ||
| Lower amortization of excess deferred income taxes | (0.6) | |||
| Other | (0.5) | |||
| Net Change | $ | (2.1) |
Corporate and Other
The table below summarizes the operating results for Corporate and Other:
| Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | 2023/2022 | ||||||||||
| (In millions) | ||||||||||||
| Total revenues | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||
| Cost of energy | — | — | — | |||||||||
| Utility margin | — | — | — | |||||||||
| Operating expenses | (26.9) | (22.0) | (4.9) | |||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 28.7 | 25.7 | 3.0 | |||||||||
| Operating income (loss) | (1.9) | (3.7) | 1.8 | |||||||||
| Other income (deductions) | (0.2) | (1.0) | 0.8 | |||||||||
| Interest charges | (57.6) | (29.6) | (28.0) | |||||||||
| Segment earnings (loss) before income taxes | (59.7) | (34.3) | (25.4) | |||||||||
| Income (taxes) benefit | 16.9 | 8.2 | 8.7 | |||||||||
| Segment earnings (loss) | $ | (42.8) | $ | (26.1) | $ | (16.7) |
Corporate and Other operating expenses shown above are net of amounts allocated to PNM and TNMP under shared services agreements. The amounts allocated include certain expenses shown as depreciation and amortization and other income (deductions) in the table above. The change in operating expenses includes a decrease of $0.8 million in costs related to the Merger that were not allocated to PNM or TNMP. Substantially all depreciation and amortization expense are offset in operating expenses as a result of allocation of these costs to other business segments.
Operating results – 2023 compared to 2022
The following tables summarize the primary drivers for other income (deductions), interest charges, and income taxes:
| Year Ended December 31, 2023 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Change | ||||
| Other income (deductions): | (In millions) | |||
| Higher equity method investment income from NMRD | $ | 1.3 | ||
| Other | (0.5) | |||
| Net Change | $ | 0.8 |
| Interest charges: | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Higher interest on short-term borrowings | $ | (7.3) | ||
| Higher interest on term loans | (21.0) | |||
| Other | 0.3 | |||
| Net Change | $ | (28.0) |
| Income (taxes) benefits: | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Higher segment loss before income taxes | $ | 6.4 | ||
| Income tax impact of non-deductible merger related costs | 2.3 | |||
| Net Change | $ | 8.7 |
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LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Statements of Cash Flows
The information concerning PNMR’s cash flows is summarized as follows:
| Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | 2023/2022 | ||||||||||
| Net cash flows from: | (In millions) | |||||||||||
| Operating activities | $ | 551.2 | $ | 567.3 | $ | (16.1) | ||||||
| Investing activities | (1,088.4) | (950.3) | (138.1) | |||||||||
| Financing activities | 537.1 | 386.0 | 151.1 | |||||||||
| Net change in cash and cash equivalents | $ | (0.1) | $ | 3.0 | $ | (3.1) |
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Changes in PNMR’s cash flow from operating activities result from net earnings, adjusted for items impacting earnings that do not provide or use cash. See Results of Operations above. Certain changes in assets and liabilities resulting from normal operations, including the effects of the seasonal nature of the Company’s operations, also impact operating cash flows.
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
The changes in PNMR’s cash flows from investing activities relate primarily to changes in utility plant additions. Cash flows from investing activities include purchases and sales of investment securities in the NDT, SJGS decommissioning trust, and coal mine reclamation trusts as well as activity related to NMRD. Major components of PNMR’s cash inflows and (outflows) from investing activities are shown below:
| Year Ended December 31, | Change | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2022 | 2023/2022 | ||||||||||
| Cash (Outflows) for Utility Plant Additions | (In millions) | |||||||||||
| PNM: | ||||||||||||
| Generation | $ | (63.8) | $ | (62.8) | $ | (1.0) | ||||||
| Transmission and distribution | (485.0) | (349.4) | (135.6) | |||||||||
| Nuclear fuel | (16.3) | (21.3) | 5.0 | |||||||||
| (565.1) | (433.5) | (131.6) | ||||||||||
| TNMP: | ||||||||||||
| Transmission | (124.4) | (188.2) | 63.8 | |||||||||
| Distribution | (340.0) | (261.3) | (78.7) | |||||||||
| (464.4) | (449.5) | (14.9) | ||||||||||
| Corporate and Other: | ||||||||||||
| Computer hardware and software | (30.6) | (27.5) | (3.1) | |||||||||
| General services, building, and other | (15.7) | (2.1) | (13.6) | |||||||||
| $ | (1,075.8) | $ | (912.6) | $ | (163.2) | |||||||
| Other Cash Flows from Investing Activities | ||||||||||||
| Proceeds from sale of plant assets (Note 8) | $ | 32.7 | $ | — | $ | 32.7 | ||||||
| Proceeds from sales of investment securities | 574.2 | 526.4 | 47.8 | |||||||||
| Purchases of investment securities | (593.2) | (564.9) | (28.3) | |||||||||
| Investments in NMRD | (26.3) | — | (26.3) | |||||||||
| Other, net | — | 0.8 | (0.8) | |||||||||
| $ | (12.6) | $ | (37.7) | $ | 25.1 | |||||||
| Net cash flows from investing activities | $ | (1,088.4) | $ | (950.3) | $ | (138.1) |
Cash Flow from Financing Activities
The changes in PNMR’s cash flows from financing activities include:
•Short-term borrowings increased $29.9 million in 2023 compared to an increase of $169.3 million in 2022, resulting in a net decrease in cash flows from financing activities of $139.4 million in 2023
•In 2023, PNMR borrowed $500.0 million under the PNMR 2023 Term Loan and used the proceeds to repay borrowings under the PNMR 2021 Delayed Draw Term Loan
•In 2023, PNMR physically settled forward sales of common stock under the PNMR 2022 ATM Program and received $198.2 million in net proceeds that were used to repay amounts borrowed under the PNMR Revolving Credit Facility and for other corporate purposes
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•In 2023, PNM issued $200.0 million aggregate principal amount of the PNM 2023 SUNs and used the proceeds to repay borrowings under the PNM Revolving Credit Facility and the PNM New Mexico Credit Facility, to fund capital expenditures, and for other corporate purposes
•In 2023, PNM remarketed $130.0 million of outstanding PCRBs to new investors
•In 2023, PNM repaid $55.0 million of 3.15% SUNs that were due in May 2023
•In 2023, PNM received proceeds from the sale of energy transition property to ETBC I and used those proceeds to repay the $225.0 million PNM 2022 Delayed Draw Term Loan and borrowings under the PNM Revolving Credit Facility
•In 2023, ETBC I issued $343.2 million in Securitized Bonds and used the proceeds to purchase energy transition property from PNM
•In 2023, TNMP issued $185.0 million aggregate principal amount of TNMP 2023 Bonds and used the proceeds to repay borrowings under the TNMP Revolving Credit Facility, to fund capital expenditures, and for other corporate purposes
Financing Activities
See Note 7 for additional information concerning the Company’s financing activities. PNM must obtain NMPRC approval for any financing transaction having a maturity of more than 18 months. In addition, PNM files its annual informational financing filing and short-term financing plan with the NMPRC. The Company’s ability to access the credit and capital markets at a reasonable cost is largely dependent upon its:
•Ability to earn a fair return on equity
•Results of operations
•Ability to obtain required regulatory approvals
•Conditions in the financial markets
•Credit ratings
The Company is closely monitoring the impacts on the capital markets of other macroeconomic conditions, including actions by the Federal Reserve to address inflationary concerns or other market conditions, and geopolitical activity. The Company currently believes it has adequate liquidity but cannot predict the effects of any of these macroeconomic conditions on the global, national, or local economy, including the Company’s ability to access capital in the financial markets, or on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.
Each of the Company’s revolving credit facilities and term loans contain a single financial covenant that requires the maintenance of a debt-to-capitalization ratio. For the PNMR agreements, this ratio must be maintained at less than or equal to 70%, and for the PNM and TNMP agreements, this ratio must be maintained at less than or equal to 65%. The Company’s revolving credit facilities, term loans, and other debt agreements generally also contain customary covenants, events of default, cross-default provisions, and change-of-control provisions. The Company is in compliance with its debt covenants.
On April 28, 2023, PNM entered into an agreement (the “PNM 2023 Note Purchase Agreement”) for the sale and issuance of $200.0 million aggregate principal amount of two series of SUNs. PNM issued $150.0 million of the PNM 2023 SUNs at 5.51%, due April 28, 2035, and another $50.0 million at 5.92%, due April 28, 2053. Proceeds from the PNM 2023 SUNs were used to repay borrowings under the PNM Revolving Credit Facility and the PNM New Mexico Credit Facility, for funding of capital expenditures, and for general corporate purposes.
On April 28, 2023, TNMP entered into an agreement (the “TNMP 2023 Bond Purchase Agreement”) for the sale of $185.0 million aggregate principal amount of two series of TNMP first mortgage bonds. TNMP issued the first series of $130.0 million on April 28, 2023, at a 5.01% interest rate, due April 28, 2033. The second series of $55.0 million was issued on July 28, 2023, at a 5.47% interest rate, due July 28, 2053. The proceeds were used to repay borrowings under the TNMP Revolving Credit Facility, for funding of capital expenditures, and for other corporate purposes.
At December 31, 2022, PNM had $55.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 3.15% SUNs outstanding due May 2023. On May 15, 2023, PNM repaid the $55.0 million 3.15% SUNs.
At December 31, 2022, PNM had $130.0 million of 1.10% PCRBs outstanding with a mandatory remarketing date of June 1, 2023. On June 1, 2023, PNM remarketed the $130.0 million to new investors at 3.90% with a mandatory tender date of June 1, 2028.
On June 30, 2023, PNMR entered into the $500.0 million PNMR 2023 Term Loan. The PNMR 2023 Term Loan matures on June 30, 2026 and bears interest at a variable rate, which was 6.83% at December 31, 2023. The proceeds were used to prepay an equal amount of the PNMR 2021 Delayed Draw Term Loan, without penalty.
On November 15, 2023, ETBC I issued $343.2 million aggregate principal amount of its senior secured energy transition bonds, Series A (“Securitized Bonds”) in two tranches. The first tranche of $175.0 million aggregate principal amount was
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issued at an interest rate of 5.64% with an expected final payment due in August 2040. The second tranche of $168.2 million aggregate principal amount was issued at an interest rate of 6.03% with an expected final payment due in August 2048.
At December 31, 2022, PNM had $225.0 million outstanding under its PNM 2022 Delayed-Draw Term Loan that was set to mature in February 2024. On November 15, 2023, upon receipt of funds from the sale of energy transition property to ETBC I discussed in Note 7, PNM prepaid the $225.0 million outstanding under the PNM 2022 Delayed-Draw Term Loan, without penalty, and repaid borrowings under the PNM Revolving Credit Facility.
As discussed in Note 7, in November 2022, PNMR entered into a distribution agreement (the “PNMR 2022 ATM Program”). During 2023, PNMR entered into forward sales agreements with third-party forward purchasers relating to the sale of 4.4 million shares of common stock, under the PNMR 2022 ATM Program. The average initial forward sale prices were subject to adjustments based on a net interest rate factor and by future dividends paid on PNMR common stock. PNMR did not initially receive any proceeds upon the execution of these agreements and, except in certain specified circumstances, had the option to elect physical, cash, or net share settlement of the forward sale agreements on or before a date that is 12 months from the agreement effective dates. Refer to Note 7 for information regarding the average initial forward sales prices, the Company’s settlement options and related accounting treatment. On December 15, 2023, PNMR physically settled the forward purchases under the PNMR 2022 ATM Program and received $198.2 million in net cash proceeds that were used to repay borrowings under the PNMR Revolving Credit Facility and for other corporate purposes.
PNMR has entered into multiple hedging arrangements, with maturity dates ranging from September 2023 through December 2025. See Note 7 for the related effective dates and terms of each arrangement. All of these hedging agreements establish a fixed rate for the indicated amount of variable rate debt, above which a customary spread is applied, which is subject to change if there is a change in PNMR’s credit rating. These hedge agreements have been accounted for as cash flow hedges.
Capital Requirements
PNMR’s total capital requirements consist of construction expenditures, cash dividend requirements for PNMR common stock and PNM preferred stock. Key activities in PNMR’s current construction program include:
•Investments in transmission and distribution infrastructure
•Upgrading generation resources and delivering clean energy
•Purchasing nuclear fuel
Projected capital requirements for 2024-2028 are:
| 2024 | 2025-2028 | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (In millions) | ||||||||||
| Construction expenditures | $ | 1,176.3 | $ | 4,876.9 | $ | 6,053.2 | ||||
| Dividends on PNMR common stock | 139.8 | 559.3 | 699.1 | |||||||
| Dividends on PNM preferred stock | 0.5 | 2.1 | 2.6 | |||||||
| Total capital requirements | $ | 1,316.6 | $ | 5,438.3 | $ | 6,754.9 |
The construction expenditure estimates are under continuing review and subject to ongoing adjustment, as well as to Board review and approval. The construction expenditures above include TNMP’s investments to support continued high growth in system demand across TNMP’s service territories and growing encouragement for infrastructure investments from the Texas legislature to support grid reliability and resilience. PNM’s capital initiative that includes investments in transmission and distribution infrastructure to deliver clean energy, enhance customer satisfaction, and increase grid resilience. Construction expenditures also include investments proposed in PNM’s Grid Modernization Application. These investments provide for a more resilient, reliable, efficient, and decarbonized electric system. Not included in the table above are incremental expenditures for new customer growth in New Mexico and Texas, and other transmission and renewable energy expansion in New Mexico. The ability of PNMR to pay dividends on its common stock is dependent upon the ability of PNM and TNMP to pay dividends to PNMR. See Note 6 for a discussion of regulatory and contractual restrictions on the payment of dividends by PNM and TNMP.
During the year ended December 31, 2023, PNMR met its capital requirements and construction expenditures through cash generated from operations, as well as its liquidity arrangements and the borrowings discussed in Financing Activities above.
In addition to the capital requirements for construction expenditures and dividends, the Company has long-term debt and term loans that must be paid or refinanced at maturity. PNM has $198.0 million of PCRBs with a mandatory remarketing date in June 2024 and TNMP has $80.0 million of its 4.03% first mortgage bonds due in July 2024. ETBC I also has $2.5 million of scheduled payments due August 2024 for the Securitized Bonds which are funded by the energy transition charge billed to customers (Note 16). See Note 7 for additional information about the Company’s long-term debt and equity arrangements. The Company may also enter into new arrangements similar to the existing agreements, borrow under the
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revolving credit facilities, issue new long-term debt or equity in the public or private capital markets, or a combination of these sources. The Company has from time to time refinanced or repurchased portions of its outstanding debt before scheduled maturity. Depending on market conditions, the Company may refinance other debt issuances or make additional debt repurchases in the future.
Other Material Cash Requirements
In addition to the cash requirements for construction requirements and long-term debt discussed above, the Company has other material cash requirements related to long-term contractual obligations including minimum lease payments (Note 8), coal contracts, coal mine reclamation, nuclear decommissioning, SJGS plant decommissioning (Note 16), and pension and retiree medical contributions (Note 11).
Interest on long-term debt, excluding Securitized Bonds
Interest accrues on long-term debt agreements, at fixed rates, with the passage of time, and is typically paid semi-annually in accordance with the terms of the debt agreement. Provided that these long-term debt agreements are not prepaid or refinanced before their expected maturities, payments of interest are expected to total $113.4 million in 2024, $200.2 million in 2025 and 2026, $177.0 million in 2027 and 2028, and $818.4 million in 2029 and thereafter.
Scheduled payments on Securitized Bonds
Securitized Bonds are subject to fixed, scheduled, principal and interest payment arrangements that are paid semi-annually in accordance with the terms of the agreement and are funded by the energy transition charge billed to customers. See Note 16. Principal payments are expected to total $2.5 million for 2024, $14.2 million for 2025 and 2026, $15.9 million for 2027 and 2028, and $310.6 million for 2029 and thereafter. Interest payments are expected to total $15.0 million for 2024, $39.2 million for 2025 and 2026, $37.5 million for 2027 and 2028, and $223.0 million for 2029 and thereafter.
Transmission service arrangements
PNM owns transmission lines that are interconnected with other utilities in Arizona and Texas. PNM has executed long-term contracts with these other utilities to receive service for the transmission of energy owned by PNM utilizing the third-party transmission facilities. PNM generally receives transmission services, which are regulated by FERC, from a third-party through the other utilities’ OATT or a specific contract. PNM has reserved firm capacity on a long-term basis and is committed under the terms of the contracts. These contracted obligations total $16.0 million in 2024, $28.2 million in 2025 and 2026, $23.7 million in 2027 and 2028, and none in 2029 and thereafter.
Technology outsourcing
The Company has other technology services under long-term contracts. The obligations under these contracts total $7.1 million for 2024 and $8.9 million for 2025 and 2026.
Liquidity
PNMR’s liquidity arrangements include the $300.0 million PNMR Revolving Credit Facility, the $400.0 million PNM Revolving Credit Facility, and the $100.0 million TNMP Revolving Credit Facility. Both PNMR and PNM have exercised the available extension option on their respective credit facilities extending maturity through October 2026. Effective November 1, 2024, the amount of the PNMR Revolving Credit Facility will adjust to $285.0 million and the amount of the PNM Revolving Credit Facility will adjust to $380.0 million because one lender in each facility failed to agree to the extensions. PNM also has the $40.0 million PNM New Mexico Credit Facility with a maturity of May 20, 2026. TNMP has exercised the available extension options on its $100.0 million credit facility, extending the maturity to September 23, 2026. Variable interest rates under the PNMR, PNM, and TNMP revolving credit facilities are based on SOFR. The Company believes the terms and conditions of these facilities are consistent with those of other investment grade revolving credit facilities in the utility industry. The Company expects that it will be able to extend or replace these credit facilities under similar terms and conditions prior to their expirations.
The revolving credit facilities and the PNM New Mexico Credit Facility provide short-term borrowing capacity. The revolving credit facilities also allow letters of credit to be issued. Letters of credit reduce the available capacity under the facilities. The Company utilizes these credit facilities and cash flows from operations to provide funds for both construction and operational expenditures. The Company’s business is seasonal with more revenues and cash flows from operations being generated in the summer months. In general, the Company relies on the credit facilities to be the initial funding source for construction expenditures. Accordingly, borrowings under the facilities may increase over time. Depending on market and other conditions, the Company will periodically sell long-term debt and use the proceeds to reduce the borrowings under the credit facilities.
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Information regarding the range of borrowings for each facility is as follows:
| Three Months Ended | Year Ended December 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2023 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Range of Borrowings | Low | High | Low | High | Low | High | |||||||||||||||||
| (In millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| PNM: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| PNM Revolving Credit Facility | $ | 40.0 | $ | 156.5 | $ | 16.7 | $ | 200.8 | $ | — | $ | 145.9 | |||||||||||
| PNM New Mexico Credit Facility | 30.0 | 40.0 | 5.0 | 40.0 | — | 40.0 | |||||||||||||||||
| TNMP Revolving Credit Facility | 36.1 | 71.4 | 9.8 | 100.0 | — | 100.0 | |||||||||||||||||
| PNMR Revolving Credit Facility | 60.0 | 247.4 | 9.4 | 247.4 | — | 100.2 |
At December 31, 2023, the weighted average interest rates were 6.69% for the PNM Revolving Credit Facility, 6.71% for the PNM New Mexico Credit Facility, 6.32% for the TNMP Revolving Credit Facility, and 6.96% for the PNMR Revolving Credit Facility.
The Company currently believes that its capital requirements for at least the next twelve months can be met through internal cash generation, existing, extended, or new credit arrangements, and access to public and private capital markets as discussed above and in Note 7. The Company anticipates that it will be necessary to obtain additional long-term financing to fund its capital requirements and to balance its capital structure during the 2024 – 2028 period. This could include new debt and/or equity issuances. To cover the difference in the amounts and timing of internal cash generation and cash requirements, the Company intends to use short-term borrowings under its current and future liquidity arrangements or other short-term loans. Market conditions, such as rising interest rates, may raise the cost of borrowing under the Company’s current and future liquidity arrangements or other variable debt. In addition, if market conditions worsen, the Company may not be able to access the capital markets or renew credit facilities when they expire. Should that occur, the Company would seek to improve cash flows by reducing capital expenditures and exploring other available alternatives.
Currently, all of the credit ratings issued by both Moody’s and S&P on the Company’s debt are investment grade. As of December 31, 2023, Moody’s outlook is stable for all entities and S&P outlook is positive for all entities. On January 15, 2024, S&P revised PNMR, PNM & TNMP’s outlook to stable from positive. Investors are cautioned that a security rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold securities, that each rating is subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the rating organization, and that each rating should be evaluated independently of any other rating.
As of February 16, 2024, ratings on the Company’s securities were as follows:
| PNMR | PNM | TNMP | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S&P | |||||
| Issuer rating | BBB | BBB | BBB+ | ||
| Senior secured debt | * | * | A | ||
| Senior unsecured debt | BBB- | BBB | * | ||
| Preferred stock | * | BB+ | * | ||
| Moody’s | |||||
| Issuer rating | Baa3 | Baa2 | Baa1 | ||
| Senior secured debt | * | * | A2 | ||
| Senior unsecured debt | Baa3 | Baa2 | * | ||
| * Not applicable |
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A summary of liquidity arrangements as of February 16, 2024, is as follows:
| PNM | TNMP | PNMR Separate | PNMR Consolidated | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (In millions) | ||||||||||||||||
| Financing capacity: | ||||||||||||||||
| Revolving Credit Facility | $ | 400.0 | $ | 100.0 | $ | 300.0 | $ | 800.0 | ||||||||
| PNM New Mexico Credit Facility | 40.0 | — | — | 40.0 | ||||||||||||
| Total financing capacity | $ | 440.0 | $ | 100.0 | $ | 300.0 | $ | 840.0 | ||||||||
| Amounts outstanding as of February 16, 2024: | ||||||||||||||||
| Revolving Credit Facility | $ | 121.3 | $ | 100.0 | $ | 126.2 | $ | 347.5 | ||||||||
| PNM New Mexico Credit Facility | 30.0 | — | — | 30.0 | ||||||||||||
| Letters of credit | — | — | 3.1 | 3.1 | ||||||||||||
| Total short-term debt and letters of credit | 151.3 | 100.0 | 129.3 | 380.6 | ||||||||||||
| Remaining availability as of February 16, 2024 | $ | 288.7 | $ | — | $ | 170.7 | $ | 459.4 | ||||||||
| Invested cash as of February 16, 2024 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 0.9 | $ | 0.9 |
In addition to the above, PNMR has $30.3 million of letters of credit outstanding under the WFB LOC Facility. The above table excludes intercompany debt. As of February 16, 2024, PNM and TNMP had zero and $3.8 million of intercompany borrowings from PNMR. PNMR Development had $14.3 million of intercompany borrowings from PNMR and PNMR had no intercompany borrowing from PNMR Development. The remaining availability under the revolving credit facilities at any point in time varies based on a number of factors, including the timing of collections of accounts receivables and payments for construction and operating expenditures.
PNMR has an automatic shelf registration that provides for the issuance of various types of debt and equity securities that expires in March 2025. PNM has a shelf registration statement for up to $650.0 million of SUNs that expires in May 2026.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
PNMR has no off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on its financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that are material to investors.
Contingent Provisions of Certain Obligations
PNMR, PNM, and TNMP have a number of debt obligations and other contractual commitments that contain contingent provisions. Some of these, if triggered, could affect the liquidity of the Company. In the unlikely event that the contingent requirements were to be triggered, PNMR, PNM, or TNMP could be required to provide security, immediately pay outstanding obligations, or be prevented from drawing on unused capacity under certain credit agreements. The most significant consequences resulting from these contingent requirements are detailed in the discussion below.
The PNMR Revolving Credit Facility, PNM Revolving Credit Facility, PNM New Mexico Credit Facility, and the TNMP Revolving Credit Facility contain “ratings triggers,” for pricing purposes only. If PNMR, PNM, or TNMP is downgraded or upgraded by the ratings agencies, the result would be an increase or decrease in interest cost. The PNMR facility requires that PNMR is to maintain a debt-to-capitalization ratio of less than or equal to 70%. The debt-to-capitalization ratio requirement remains at less than or equal to 65% for the PNM and TNMP facilities. If these ratios were exceeded, the entity could be required to repay all borrowings under its facility, be prevented from borrowing on the unused capacity under the facility, and be required to provide collateral for all outstanding letters of credit issued under the facility.
PNM’s standard purchase agreement for the procurement of natural gas for its fuel needs contains a contingent requirement that could require PNM to provide collateral for its gas purchase obligations if the seller were to reasonably believe that PNM was unable to fulfill its payment obligations under the agreement.
The master agreement for the sale of electricity in the WSPP contains a contingent requirement that could require PNM to provide collateral if the credit ratings on its debt falls below investment grade. The WSPP agreement also contains a contingent requirement, commonly called a “material adverse change” provision, which could require PNM to provide collateral if a material adverse change in its financial condition or operations were to occur. Additionally, PNM utilizes standard derivative contracts to financially hedge and trade energy. These agreements contain contingent requirements that require PNM to provide security if the credit rating on its debt falls below investment grade. The Company believes its financing arrangements are sufficient to meet the requirements of the contingent provisions. No conditions have occurred that would result in any of the above contingent provisions being implemented.
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Capital Structure
The capitalization tables below include the current maturities of long-term debt, but do not include short-term debt and do not include operating lease obligations as debt.
| December 31, | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PNMR | 2023 | 2022 | |||
| PNMR common equity | 34.1 | % | 34.9 | % | |
| Preferred stock of subsidiary | 0.2 | 0.2 | |||
| Long-term debt | 65.7 | 64.9 | |||
| Total capitalization | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | |
| PNM | |||||
| PNM common equity | 46.2 | % | 48.7 | % | |
| Preferred stock | 0.3 | 0.3 | |||
| Long-term debt | 53.5 | 51.0 | |||
| Total capitalization | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | |
| TNMP | |||||
| Common equity | 49.5 | % | 50.6 | % | |
| Long-term debt | 50.5 | 49.4 | |||
| Total capitalization | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % |
OTHER ISSUES FACING THE COMPANY
Climate Change Issues
Background
For the past several years, management has identified multiple risks and opportunities related to climate change, including potential environmental regulation, technological innovation, and availability of fuel and water for operations, as among the most significant risks facing the Company. Accordingly, these risks are overseen by the Board in order to facilitate more integrated risk and strategy oversight and planning. Board oversight includes understanding the various challenges and opportunities presented by these risks, including the financial consequences that might result from enacted and potential federal and/or state regulation of GHG; plans to mitigate these risks; and the impacts these risks may have on the Company’s strategy. In addition, the Board approves certain procurements of grid modernization technologies, and replacement resources.
Management is also responsible for assessing significant risks, developing and executing appropriate responses, and reporting to the Board on the status of risk activities. For example, management periodically updates the Board on the implementation of corporate environmental policy, and the Company’s environmental management systems, including the promotion of energy efficiency programs, and the use of renewable resources. The Board is also informed of the Company’s practices and procedures to assess the impacts of operations on the environment. The Board considers issues associated with climate change, the Company’s GHG exposures, and the financial consequences that might result from enacted and potential federal and/or state regulation of GHG. Management has published, with Board oversight, a Climate Change Report available at http://www.pnmresources.com/about-us/sustainability-portal.aspx, that details the Company’s efforts to transition to an emissions-free generating portfolio by 2040.
As part of management’s continuing effort to monitor climate-related risks and assess opportunities, the Company has advanced its understanding of climate change by participating in the “2 Degree Scenario” planning by participating in the Electric Power Research Institute (“EPRI”) Understanding Climate Scenarios & Goal Setting Activities program. The program focused on characterizing and analyzing the relationship of individual electric utility company’s carbon emissions and global temperature goals. Activities include analyzing the scientific understanding of global emissions pathways that are consistent with limiting global warming and providing insight to assist companies in developing approaches to climate scenario planning. As PNM expands its sustainability efforts, EPRI’s environmental and climate analysis programs have also been useful in gaining a better understanding of energy and environmental policy and regulations, advanced clean energy technologies, decarbonization trends and climate impacts. In 2022, PNM joined EPRI’s Climate READi program which is a strategic initiative convening a global collaborative of electric utilities, thought leaders, scientific researchers and other key stakeholders to strengthen the power sector’s collective approach to managing climate risk to the power system. The program is a three-year initiative, through work across three concurrent workstreams, and PNM will benefit from the development of a first-of-its-kind comprehensive framework for managing physical climate risk and investment prioritization.
The Company cannot anticipate or predict the potential long-term effects of climate change or climate change related regulation on its results of operations, financial position, or cash flows.
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Greenhouse Gas Emissions Exposures
In 2022, GHG emissions associated with PNM’s interests in its fossil-fueled generating plants included approximately 4.8 million metric tons of CO2, which comprises the vast majority of PNM’s GHG emissions.
As of December 31, 2023, approximately 43% of PNM’s generating capacity, including resources owned, leased, under PPAs or battery storage agreements, all of which is located within the U.S., consisted of coal or gas-fired generation that produces GHG emissions and reflects the retirement of SJGS. As PNM shifts its generation to cleaner energy resources, the Company’s output of GHG emissions continues to decrease. Many factors affect the amount of GHG emitted, including total electricity sales, plant performance, economic dispatch, and the availability of renewable resources. For example, wind generation performance from PNM’s largest single renewable energy resource, New Mexico Wind, varies each year as a result of highly seasonal wind patterns and annual wind resource variability. Similarly, if PVNGS experienced prolonged outages or if PNM’s entitlement from PVNGS were reduced, PNM might be required to utilize other power supply resources such as gas-fired generation, which could increase GHG emissions.
PNM has several programs underway to reduce or offset GHG emissions from its generation resource portfolio, thereby reducing its exposure to climate change regulation. PNM shutdown SJGS Units 2 and 3 as part of its strategy to address the regional haze requirements of the CAA. The shutdown of SJGS Units 2 and 3 resulted in a reduction of GHG emissions for the entire station of approximately 54% for 2018, reflecting a reduction of 32% of GHG emissions from the Company’s owned interests in SJGS, below 2005 levels. PNM shut down the remaining SJGS Units 1 and 4 on June 30, 2022 and September 30, 2022, respectively, resulting in additional reductions in GHG emissions. In addition, PNM filed the Four Corners Abandonment Application with the NMPRC for approval to sell its ownership interest in Four Corners by the end of 2024. The NMPRC denied PNM’s application in 2021 and the NM Supreme Court upheld the NMPRC decision in July 2023. The Company is still determining next steps. See additional discussion of the SJGS and Four Corners Abandonment in Note 17. Retiring PNM’s share of SJGS in 2022 resulted in a GHG emissions reduction from 2021 levels of 67% and exiting participation in Four Corners would result in a total reduction of approximately 88% of PNM’s GHG emissions based upon 2021 GHG emissions from generation.
PNM’s renewable procurements in service as of December 31, 2023 with a total net generation capacity of 1,277 MW include utility-owned solar capacity, as well as solar, wind, geothermal, and battery storage. The NMPRC has approved plans for PNM to procure energy and RECs from additional renewable resources to serve retail customers and a data center located in PNM’s service territory, including the portfolio to replace SJGS and the PVNGS Leased Interest Abandonment Application. PNM’s approved renewable resource plans have a generation capacity of 1,692 MW and are expected in operation by 2025. In addition, PNM filed an application with the NMPRC seeking approval of 410 MW of renewable resources for the 2026 summer peak. The majority of these renewable resources are key means for PNM to meet the RPS and related regulations that require PNM to achieve prescribed levels of energy sales from renewable sources, including those set by the ETA, without exceeding cost requirements. Approval of these renewable energy and battery resources supports PNM’s transition to a carbon-free portfolio by 2040. These estimates are subject to change due to underlying variables, including changes in PNM’s generation portfolio, supplier’s ability to meet contractual in-service dates and complex relationships between several factors. See additional discussion of these resources in Notes 16 and 17.
PNM also has a customer distributed solar generation program that represented 281.6 MW at December 31, 2023. PNM’s distributed solar programs will generate an estimated 563.2 GWh of emission-free solar energy available this year to offset PNM’s annual production from fossil-fueled electricity generation. Under the Community Solar Act, PNM will receive 125 MW of capacity to provide customers the option of accessing solar energy. PNM has offered its customers a comprehensive portfolio of energy efficiency and load management programs since 2007. PNM’s cumulative savings from these programs was approximately 7,462 GWh of electricity through 2023. Over the next 20 years, PNM projects energy efficiency and load management programs will provide the equivalent of approximately 12,900 GWh of electricity savings, which will avoid approximately 220,000 tons of CO2 based upon projected emissions from PNM’s portfolio of resources. These estimates are subject to change because of the uncertainty of many of the underlying variables, including changes in PNM’s generation portfolio, demand for electricity, energy efficiency, and complex relationships between those variables.
Because of PNM’s dependence on fossil-fueled generation, legislation or regulation that imposes a limit or cost on GHG could impact the cost at which electricity is produced. While PNM expects to recover any such costs through rates, the timing and outcome of proceedings for cost recovery are uncertain. In addition, to the extent that any additional costs are recovered through rates, customers may reduce their usage, relocate facilities to other areas with lower energy costs, or take other actions that ultimately could adversely impact PNM.
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Other Climate Change Risks
PNM’s generating stations are located in the arid southwest. Access to water for cooling for some of these facilities is critical to continued operations. Forecasts for the impacts of climate change on water supply in the southwest range from reduced precipitation to changes in the timing of precipitation. In either case, PNM’s generating facilities requiring water for cooling will need to mitigate the impacts of climate change through adaptive measures. Current measures employed by PNM generating stations include the use of sustainable, less variable groundwater supplies and investments in technologies such as air cooling and cooling water recycling. These types of actions will continue to be important to sustain operations.
PNM’s service areas occasionally experience periodic high winds and severe thunderstorms. TNMP has operations in the Gulf Coast area of Texas, which experiences periodic hurricanes and other extreme weather conditions. In addition to potentially causing physical damage to Company-owned facilities, which disrupts the ability to transmit and/or distribute energy, weather and other events of nature can temporarily reduce customers’ usage and demand for energy. In addition, other events influenced by climate change, such as wildfires, could disrupt Company operations or result in third-party claims against the Company. PNM has enhanced its wildfire prevention efforts and maintains a wildfire mitigation plan; however, PNM remains at risk for wildfires outside of its control and the resulting damages in its service areas.
EPA Regulation
In 2007, the US Supreme Court held that EPA has the authority to regulate GHG emissions under the CAA, and in 2009, EPA released its endangerment finding for GHG from new motor vehicles, stating that the atmospheric concentrations of six key greenhouse gases (CO2, methane, nitrous oxides, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride) endanger the public health and welfare. These actions triggered new GHG permitting requirements for stationary sources, including the energy industry, under the Prevention of Significant Deterioration (“PSD”) and Title V programs, although the US Supreme Court held the CAA does not authorize EPA to require a source to obtain a PSD permit solely on the basis of its potential GHG emissions.
EPA also determined that its finding of endangerment requires it to issue performance standards under Section 111 of the CAA to regulate GHG emissions from new and existing stationary sources, including fossil fuel fired electric generating units. Accordingly, in 2015, EPA issued Carbon Pollution Standards for new, modified, and reconstructed power plants (under Section 111(b)) and the Clean Power Plan for existing power plants (under Section 111(d)).
EPA’s Carbon Pollution Standards for new sources (those constructed after January 8, 2014) established separate standards for gas and coal-fired units deemed achievable through the application of what EPA determined to be the BSER demonstrated for each type of unit efficient natural gas combined cycle technology for gas units, and partial carbon capture and sequestration for coal units. The Clean Power Plan established numeric “emission standards” for existing electric generating units based on emission reduction opportunities that EPA deemed achievable using technical assumptions for three “building blocks”: efficiency improvements at coal-fired EGUs, displacement of affected EGUs with renewable energy, and displacement of coal-fired generation with natural gas-fired generation. EPA used those “emission standards” to set state emission reduction goals that formed the basis of a trading program that relied on “generation shifting” to reduce emissions from the power sector as a whole.
Multiple states, utilities, and trade groups challenged both the Carbon Pollution Standards for new sources and the Clean Power Plan for existing sources in separate cases, and the challengers successfully petitioned the US Supreme Court for a stay of the Clean Power Plan. However, before the DC Circuit could issue an opinion regarding either the Carbon Pollution Standards or the Clean Power Plan, President Trump took office and his administration asked the court to hold both cases in abeyance while the rules were re-evaluated, which the court granted.
In 2019, EPA repealed the Clean Power Plan, promulgated the ACE Rule, and revised the implementing regulations for all emission guidelines issued under CAA Section 111(d). EPA set the BSER for existing coal-fired power plants as heat rate efficiency improvements based on a range of “candidate technologies” to be applied inside the fence-line of an individual facility. The ACE Rule was also challenged and, on January 19, 2021, the DC Circuit issued an opinion in American Lung Association and American Public Health Association v. EPA, et al. vacating the ACE Rule. While the D.C. Circuit rejected the ACE Rule, it did not reinstate the Clean Power Plan. Rather, the DC Circuit granted an EPA motion asking the court to withhold issuance of the mandate with respect to the repeal of the Clean Power Plan until EPA responds to the court’s remand in a new rulemaking action.
Numerous parties sought review by the US Supreme Court and on June 30, 2022, the Court held that the “generation shifting” approach in the Clean Power Plan exceeded the powers granted to EPA by Congress, though the Court did not address the related issue of whether Section 111 of the CAA only authorizes EPA to require measures that can be implemented entirely within the fence line at an individual source. Of broader significance in administrative law, the Court’s opinion expressly invoked the major question doctrine, which requires rules involving issues of “vast economic or political significance” to be supported by clear statutory authorization. In cases where there is no clear statement of authority, courts need not defer to the
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agency’s statutory interpretation on “major questions.” The decision sets legal precedent for future rulemakings by EPA and other federal regulatory agencies whereby the agency’s authority may be limited based upon similar reasoning.
The litigation over the Carbon Pollution Standards remains held in abeyance but could be reactivated by the parties upon a determination by the court that reconsideration of the rule has concluded.
On May 23, 2023, EPA published in the Federal Register proposed regulatory actions under CAA sections 111(b) and (d) to replace the Clean Power Plan and the ACE rule. The proposed regulations cover: (1) New natural gas-based EGUs under section 111(b); (2) Existing large and frequently operated natural gas-based EGUs under section 111(d); and (3) Existing coal-based EGUs under section 111(d). Standards of performance for existing coal EGUs will be based on two technologies depending on retirement date: CCS or co-firing gas in lieu of coal. For gas-based EGUs, the standards will be based on CCS or the use of green hydrogen in lieu of natural gas. States will be required to develop SIPs to EPA that provide for the establishment, implementation and enforcement of these standards as they apply to existing sources. States may take into account remaining useful life and other factors when establishing the standards. EPA is proposing that existing coal units must start complying with their gas co-firing or CCS based standards of performance on January 1, 2030, unless they commit to retirement before 2032 (or retirement by 2035 if they also commit to a 20% annual operating limit). Existing combustion turbine units must start complying with their hydrogen or CCS based standards of performance on January 1, 2032, or January 1, 2035, depending on their subcategory, which is based on the control technology selected. The package also includes a proposed repeal of the ACE rule and revisions to the standard for modified and reconstructed units, along with a notice of public rulemaking seeking data and information about setting standards for existing smaller natural gas-based generators. Comments on the rule were due to EPA by August 8, 2023. PNM filed company-specific comments and continues to review the proposed rule and its potential impacts on the Company’s fossil-fueled generation resources. EPA has indicated it plans to promulgate a final rule by Spring 2024.
In 2021, President Biden signed an executive order “Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis,” which instructs agency heads to review all Trump Administration actions for inconsistency with the Biden Administration’s policy “to listen to the science; to improve public health and protect our environment; to ensure access to clean air and water; to limit exposure to dangerous chemicals and pesticides; to hold polluters accountable, including those who disproportionately harm communities of color and low-income communities; to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; to bolster resilience to the impacts of climate change; to restore and expand our national treasures and monuments; and to prioritize both environmental justice and the creation of the well-paying union jobs necessary to deliver on these goals.” Agency heads were directed to consider suspending, revising or rescinding any action that is inconsistent with the stated policy. Within 30 days of the executive order, agency heads submitted to the United States Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) a preliminary list of those actions being considered for suspension, revision or rescission that would be completed by December 31, 2021, and would be subject to OMB review. Within 90 days of the executive order, agency heads submitted to OMB an updated list of such actions that would be completed by December 31, 2025.
Federal Legislation
President Biden has indicated that climate change is a top priority for his administration. On April 22, 2021, at the Earth Day Summit, as part of the U.S.’s re-entry into the Paris Agreement, President Biden unveiled the goal to cut U.S. emissions by 50% - 52% from 2005 levels by 2030, nearly double the GHG emissions reduction target set by the Obama Administration. The 2030 goal joins President Biden’s other climate goals which include a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035 and a net-zero emissions economy by no later than 2050.
In 2022, President Biden signed the IRA providing nearly $370 billion in climate action over the next decade. The legislation is aimed at reducing carbon emissions by investing in a variety of efforts, including tax credits for renewables, battery storage, carbon capture, and electric vehicle sales.
State and Regional Activity
Pursuant to New Mexico law, each utility must submit an IRP to the NMPRC every three years to evaluate renewable energy, energy efficiency, load management, distributed generation, and conventional supply-side resources on a consistent and comparable basis. The IRP is required to take into consideration risk and uncertainty of fuel supply, price volatility, and costs of anticipated environmental regulations when evaluating resource options to meet supply needs of the utility’s customers. The NMPRC requires that New Mexico utilities factor a standardized cost of carbon emissions into their IRPs using prices ranging between $8 and $40 per metric ton of CO2 emitted and escalating these costs by 2.5% per year. Under the NMPRC order, each utility must analyze these standardized prices as projected operating costs. Reflecting the evolving nature of this issue, the NMPRC order states that these prices may be changed in the future to account for additional information or changed circumstances. Although these prices may not reflect the costs that ultimately will be incurred, PNM is required to use these prices for purposes of its IRP. In its 2020 filing for Four Corners Abandonment, PNM analyzed resource portfolios under scenarios that assumed Four Corners would operate through 2031 and that PNM would exit Four Corners at the end of 2024. See Note 17.
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The ETA was signed into New Mexico state law and became effective in 2019. The ETA, among other things, requires that investor-owned utilities obtain specified percentages of their energy from renewable and carbon-free resources. The ETA requires utilities operating in New Mexico to have renewable portfolios equal to 40% by 2025, 50% by 2030, 80% by 2040, and 100% zero-carbon energy by 2045. Under the ETA provisions, PNM will also be required to meet a generation emission standard of no more than 400 lbs. of CO2 per MWh beginning in 2023 and not more than 200 lbs. per MWh beginning in 2032. PNM takes this requirement into account in its resource planning, and it is expected that the standards will be met with the approved resource retirements and replacements. The ETA provides for a transition from fossil-fuel generating resources to renewable and other carbon-free resources by allowing investor-owned utilities to issue securitized bonds, or “energy transition bonds,” related to the retirement of coal-fired generating facilities to qualified investors. Proceeds provided by energy transition bonds must be used only for purposes related to providing utility service to customers and to pay energy transition costs (as defined by the ETA). These costs may include plant decommissioning and coal mine reclamation costs, and other costs that have not yet been charged to customers or disallowed by the NMPRC or by a court order. Proceeds from energy transition bonds may also be used to fund severances for employees of the retired facility and related coal mine and to promote economic development, education and job training in areas impacted by the retirement of coal-fired facilities. Energy transition bonds must be issued under a NMPRC approved financing order, are secured by “energy transition property”, are non-recourse to the issuing utility, and are repaid by a non-bypassable charge paid by all customers of the issuing utility. See additional discussion of the ETA in Note 16.
The ETA has a significant impact on PNM’s future generation portfolio. In compliance with the ETA, on June 15, 2022, the NMED announced a new rulemaking, Carbon Dioxide Emission Standards for Electric Generating Facilities, to develop carbon emission standards for new and existing electric coal-fired generating facilities. An informal comment period for the draft proposal ran from June 15, 2022 through June 29, 2022. On July 1, 2022, NMED requested the Environmental Improvement Board to docket the matter and set a schedule for pre-filed technical testimony which was filed on September 14, 2022, pre-filed rebuttal testimony which was filed on October 12, 2022, and a public hearing that was held on October 26 and 27, 2022. On October 28, 2022, the rule was passed which adopts new carbon emission standards for new and existing coal-fired power plants.
In 2020, the hearing examiners assigned to the SJGS abandonment and financing proceedings issued recommended decisions recommending approval of PNM’s abandonment application and for the issuance of Securitized Bonds consistent with the requirements of the ETA. On April 1, 2020, the NMPRC approved the hearing examiners’ recommendation to approve PNM’s application to retire its share of SJGS in 2022 and for the issuance of Securitized Bonds. PNM has also requested approval of energy transition bonds for the Four Corners Abandonment costs of that transition away from coal-fired generation. On December 15, 2021, the NMPRC denied approval of the Four Corners Abandonment Application and the corresponding request for issuance of securitized financing. PNM cannot predict the full impact of the ETA or the NM Supreme Court decision with respect to the abandonment of Four Corners. See additional discussion of PNM’s SJGS and Four Corners Abandonment Applications in Note 17.
International Accords
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (“UNFCCC”) is an international environmental treaty that was negotiated at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (informally known as the Earth Summit) and entered into force in March 1994. The objective of the treaty is to “stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.” Parties to the UNFCCC, including the U.S., have been meeting annually in Conferences of the Parties (“COP”) to assess progress in meeting the objectives of the UNFCCC.
In 2015, the Paris Agreement was finalized during the 2015 COP. The aim of the Paris Agreement is to limit global temperature rise to two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The agreement, which was agreed to by approximately 200 parties, requires that countries submit INDCs. INDCs reflect national targets and actions that arise out of national policies and elements relating to oversight, guidance and coordination of actions to reduce emissions by all countries. In November 2014, then President Obama announced the United States’ commitment to reduce GHG, on an economy-wide basis, by 26%-28% from 2005 levels by the year 2025. The U.S. INDC was part of an overall effort by the former administration to have the U.S. achieve economy-wide reductions of around 80% by 2050. The former administration’s GHG reduction target for the electric utility industry was a key element of its INDC and was based on EPA’s GHG regulations for new, existing, and modified and reconstructed sources at that time. Thresholds for the number of countries necessary to ratify or accede to the Paris Agreement and total global GHG percentage were achieved on October 5, 2016 and the Paris Agreement entered into force on November 4, 2016. On June 1, 2017, President Trump announced that the U.S. would withdraw from the Paris Agreement. As a result of the President’s notice to the United Nations, the U.S. officially withdrew from the Paris Agreement on November 4, 2020. On January 20, 2021, President Biden signed an instrument that will allow the United States to rejoin the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. The instrument was deposited with the United Nations on January 21, 2021, and the United States officially became a party to the Agreement on February 19, 2021.
PNM has calculated GHG reductions that would result from scenarios that assume PNM’s retirement of its share of the SJGS in 2022 and exiting Four Corners by 2031 and PNM has set a goal to have a 100% emissions-free generating portfolio by 2040. While the Company has not conducted an independent 2 Degree Scenario analysis, our commitment to becoming 100%
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emissions-free by 2040 produces a carbon emissions reduction pathway that tracks within the ranges of climate scenario pathways that are consistent with limiting the global warming average to less than 2 degrees Celsius. In addition, as an investor-owned utility operating in the state of New Mexico, PNM is required to comply with the ETA, which requires utilities’ generating portfolio be 100% carbon-free by 2045. The requirements of the ETA and the Company’s goal compare favorably to the U.S. INDC of 50% to 52% carbon emissions reduction by 2030 and the Biden Administration’s goal of net-zero carbon emissions economy-wide by 2050. On April 1, 2020, the NMPRC approved PNM’s application to retire its share of SJGS in 2022. PNM filed for abandonment of Four Corners on January 8, 2021. See Note 17.
PNM will continue to monitor the United States’ participation in the Paris Agreement and other parties’ involvement in these types of international accords, but the potential impact that such accords may have on the Company cannot be determined at this time.
Assessment of Legislative/Regulatory Impacts
The Company has assessed, and continues to assess, the impacts of climate change legislation and regulation on its business. This assessment is ongoing and future changes arising out of the legislative or regulatory process could impact the assessment significantly. PNM’s assessment includes assumptions regarding specific GHG limits; the timing of implementation of these limits; the possibility of a market-based trading program, including the associated costs and the availability of emission credits or allowances; the development of emission reduction and/or renewable energy technologies; and provisions for cost containment. Moreover, the assessment assumes various market reactions such as the price of coal and gas and regional plant economics. These assumptions are, at best, preliminary and speculative. However, based upon these assumptions, the enactment of climate change legislation or regulation could, among other things, result in significant compliance costs, including large capital expenditures by PNM, and could jeopardize the Company’s reputation as well as the economic viability of certain generating facilities. See Notes 16 and 17. The ultimate consequences of increased stakeholder scrutiny related to climate change and environmental regulation could lead to increased costs to customers and affect results of operations, cash flows, and financial condition if the incurred costs are not fully recovered through regulated rates. Higher rates could also contribute to reduced usage of electricity. PNM’s assessment process is evolving and is too speculative at this time for a meaningful prediction of the long-term financial impact.
Transmission Issues
At any given time, FERC has various notices of inquiry and rulemaking dockets related to transmission issues pending. Such actions may lead to changes in FERC administrative rules or ratemaking policy but have no time frame in which action must be taken or a docket closed with no further action. Further, such notices and rulemaking dockets do not apply strictly to PNM but will have industry-wide effects in that they will apply to all FERC-regulated entities. PNM monitors and often submits comments taking a position in such notices and rulemaking dockets or may join in larger group responses. PNM often cannot determine the full impact of a proposed rule and policy change until the final determination is made by FERC and PNM is unable to predict the outcome of these matters.
Other Matters
See Notes 16 and 17 for a discussion of commitments and contingencies and rate and regulatory matters.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to apply accounting policies and to make estimates and judgments that best provide the framework to report the results of operations and financial position for PNMR, PNM, and TNMP. As a result, there exists the likelihood that materially different amounts would be reported under different conditions or using different assumptions. Management has identified the following accounting policies that it deems critical to the portrayal of the financial condition and results of operations and that involve significant subjectivity. The following discussion provides information on the processes utilized by management in making judgments and assumptions as they apply to its critical accounting policies.
Regulatory Accounting
The Company is subject to the provisions of GAAP for rate-regulated enterprises and records assets and liabilities resulting from the effects of the ratemaking process, which would not be recorded under GAAP for non-regulated entities. Additional information concerning regulatory assets and liabilities is contained in Note 13.
The Company continually evaluates the probability that regulatory assets and liabilities will impact future rates and makes various assumptions in those analyses. The expectations of future rate impacts are generally based on orders issued by regulatory commissions or historical experience, as well as discussions with applicable regulatory authorities. If future recovery or refund ceases to be probable, the Company would be required to write-off the portion that is not recoverable or refundable in current period earnings.
The Company has made adjustments to regulatory assets and liabilities that affected its results of operations in the past due to changes in various factors and conditions impacting future cost recovery. Based on its current evaluation, the Company believes that future recovery of its regulatory assets is probable.
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Impairments
Tangible long-lived assets are evaluated for impairment when events and circumstances indicate that the assets might be impaired. These potential impairment indicators include management’s assessment of fluctuating market conditions as a result of planned and scheduled customer purchase commitments; future market penetration; changing environmental requirements; fluctuating market prices resulting from factors including changing fuel costs and other economic conditions; long-term weather patterns; and other market trends. The amount of impairment recognized, if any, is the difference between the fair value of the asset and the carrying value of the asset and would reduce both the asset and current period earnings. Variations in the assessment of potential impairment or in the assumptions used to calculate an impairment could result in different outcomes, which could lead to significant effects on the Consolidated Financial Statements. See Notes 16 and 17.
Goodwill is evaluated for impairment at least annually, or more frequently if events and circumstances indicate that the goodwill might be impaired. Impairment testing may be performed based on either a qualitative analysis or quantitative analysis. Note 19 contains information on the impairment testing performed by the Company on goodwill. For 2023, the Company utilized a qualitative analysis for both the PNM and TNMP reporting units. No impairments were indicated in the Company’s annual goodwill testing, which was performed as of April 1, 2023. Since the annual evaluation, there have been no indications that the fair values of the reporting units with recorded goodwill have decreased below the carrying values. The annual testing was based on certain critical estimates and assumptions. Changes in the estimates or the use of different assumptions could affect the determination of fair value and the conclusion of impairment for each reporting unit.
Application of the qualitative goodwill impairment test requires evaluating various events and circumstances to determine whether it is not more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. As a part of the Company’s goodwill qualitative testing process for a reporting unit, various factors that are specific to that reporting unit as well as industry and macroeconomic factors are evaluated in order to determine whether these factors are reasonably likely to have a material impact on the fair value of the reporting unit. Examples of the factors that were considered in the qualitative testing of the goodwill include the results of the most recent quantitative impairment test, current and long-term forecasted financial results, regulatory environment, credit rating, changes in the interest rate environment, and operating strategy for the reporting unit.
Based on the analysis performed for the PNM and TNMP reporting units in 2023, the Company concluded that there were no changes that were reasonably likely to cause the fair value of the reporting units to be less than their carrying value and determined that there was no impairment of goodwill. Although the Company believes all relevant factors were considered in the qualitative impairment analysis to reach the conclusion that goodwill is not impaired, significant changes in any one of the assumptions could produce a significantly different result potentially leading to the recording of an impairment that could have significant impacts on the results of operations and financial position of the Company.
Decommissioning and Reclamation Costs
PNM is only required to recognize and measure decommissioning liabilities for tangible long-lived assets for which a legal obligation exists. Accounting for decommissioning costs for nuclear and fossil-fuel generation involves significant estimates related to costs to be incurred many years in the future after plant closure. Decommissioning costs are based on site-specific estimates, which are updated periodically and involve numerous judgments and assumptions, including estimates of future decommissioning costs at current price levels, inflation rates, and discount rates. Changes in these estimates could significantly impact PNMR’s and PNM’s financial position, results of operations, and cash flows. Nuclear decommissioning costs are based on estimates of the costs for removing all radioactive and other structures at PVNGS. AROs, including nuclear decommissioning costs, are discussed in Note 15. Nuclear decommissioning costs represent approximately 72% of PNM’s ARO liability. A 10% increase in the estimates of future decommissioning costs at current price levels would have increased the ARO liability by $15.0 million at December 31, 2023. PNM recognizes an expense and a corresponding liability for ultimate decommissioning of PVNGS. See Note 17 for information concerning NMPRC’s order to address the recovery of decommissioning costs in a future proceeding.
In connection with both the SJGS coal agreement and the Four Corners fuel agreement, the owners and former owners are required to reimburse the mining companies for the cost of contemporaneous reclamation, as well as the costs for final reclamation of the coal mines. The reclamation costs are based on periodic site-specific studies that estimate the costs to be incurred in the future and are dependent upon numerous assumptions, including estimates of future reclamation costs at current price levels, inflation rates, and discount rates. A 10% increase in the estimates of future reclamation costs at current price levels would have increased the mine reclamation liability by $14.5 million at December 31, 2023. PNM considers the contemporaneous reclamation costs part of the cost of its delivered coal costs. The NMPRC has capped the amount that can be collected from ratepayers for final reclamation of the surface mines. If future estimates increase the liability for surface mine reclamation, the excess would be expensed at that time. See Note 16 for discussion of reclamation costs.
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Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits
The Company maintains qualified defined benefit pension plans, postretirement benefit plans providing medical and dental benefits, and executive retirement programs. The net periodic benefit cost or income and the calculation of the projected benefit obligations are recognized in the Company’s financial statements and depend on expected investment performance, the level of contributions made to the plans, and employee demographics. These calculations require the use of a number of actuarial assumptions and estimates. The most critical of the actuarial assumptions are the expected long-term rate of return, the discount rate, and projected health care cost trend rates. The Company reviews and evaluates its actuarial assumptions annually and adjusts them as necessary. Changes in the pension and OPEB assets and liabilities associated with these factors are not immediately recognized as net periodic benefit cost or income in results of operations, but are recognized in future years, generally, over the remaining life of the plan. However, these factors could have a significant impact on the financial position of the Company. Note 11 contains additional information about pension and OPEB obligations, including assumptions utilized in the calculations and impacts of changes in certain of those assumptions.
Accounting for Contingencies
The financial results of the Company may be affected by judgments and estimates related to loss contingencies. Contingencies related to litigation and claims, as well as environmental and regulatory matters, also require the use of significant judgment and estimation. The Company attempts to take into account all known factors regarding the future outcome of contingent events and records an accrual for any contingent loss events that are both probable of occurring and can be reasonably estimated based upon current available information. However, the actual outcomes can vary from any amounts accrued which could have a material effect on the results of operations and financial position of the Company. See Note 16 and Note 17.
Income Taxes
The Company’s income tax expense and related balance sheet amounts involve significant judgment and use of estimates. Amounts of deferred income tax assets and liabilities, current and noncurrent accruals, and determination of uncertain tax positions involve judgment and estimates related to timing and probability of the recognition of income and deductions by taxing authorities. In addition, some temporary differences are accorded flow-through treatment by the Company’s regulators and impact the Company’s effective tax rate. In assessing the likelihood of the realization of deferred tax assets, management considers the estimated amount and character of future taxable income. Significant changes in these judgments and estimates could have a material impact on the results of operations and financial position of the Company. Actual income taxes could vary from estimated amounts due to the future impacts of various items, including changes in income tax laws, the Company’s forecasted financial condition and results of operations in future periods, and the final review from taxing authorities. See Note 18.
MD&A FOR PNM
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
PNM operates in only one reportable segment, as presented above in Results of Operations for PNMR.
MD&A FOR TNMP
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
TNMP operates in only one reportable segment, as presented above in Results of Operations for PNMR.