N.M. Stat. § 62-3-4.1
Certain persons not public utility.
A. Notwithstanding anything in the Public Utility Act [Chapter 62, Articles 1 to 6 and
8 to 13 NMSA 1978] to the contrary, no person not otherwise a public utility shall be
deemed to be a public utility subject to the jurisdiction, control or regulation of the
commission and the provisions of the Public Utility Act solely because such person
owns or controls all or any part of any plant, property or facility described in Paragraph
(1) of Subsection G of Section 62-3-3 NMSA 1978:
(1)
which is leased or held for lease or sale to any public utility or other
lessee; or
(2)
the operation and use of which is vested by lease or other contract in a
public utility or other lessee; or
(3)
for a period of not more than ninety days after termination of any lease or
contract described in Paragraph (1) or (2) of this subsection or after such person gains
possession of such property following a breach of such lease or contract.
B. The commission may upon application by a public utility issue its order approving
the terms of any lease or contract described in Paragraph (1) or (2) of Subsection A of
this section for the purpose of qualifying any party thereto for an exemption by the
United States securities and exchange commission from the federal Public Utility
Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended (Chapter 2C of Title 15 of the United States
Code).
C. A public utility leasing all or any part of any plant, property or facility described in
Paragraph (1) of Subsection G of Section 62-3-3 NMSA 1978 which is subject to any
lease or contract described in this section shall comply with Section 62-9-1 NMSA 1978
with respect to such plant, property or facility.
D. Nothing in this section shall alter or modify the authority of the commission to
regulate the rates and services of a person that is a public utility subject to the
provisions of the Public Utility Act.