PNM hosts open house sessions on northern ABQ substation proposal

To address a “dire reliability need” for energy in a Northeast Heights neighborhood in Albuquerque, the Public Service Company of New Mexico wants to set up a new power substation.

The company is inviting the public to open house sessions it’s hosting this weekend and next week to answer questions and get feedback on the project.

Dubbed the North Albuquerque Acres Substation Project, PNM has proposed placing a new substation near Paseo del Norte Boulevard, between Ventura Street and Tramway Boulevard.

The Northeast Heights is seeing an increased demand for energy amid additional housing construction in the area, said Laurie Williams, vice president of integrated planning at PNM. The substation, which acts as a service point for customer demand, would increase power reliability in the area as well as meet additional energy needs.

PNM is still in the planning phase of the project. The company hopes to start the permitting process later this year, needing approval from Bernalillo County officials, and then start construction in late 2025. The tentative goal is to bring the substation online in 2026.

There are 10 different sites the utility is considering south of Paseo del Norte, Williams said, and PNM will take public feedback on the site locations at the open house meetings.

The site would take up about two acres and be surrounded by solid, 12-foot walls, though design is also something PNM is accepting public feedback on.

The substation and its internal equipment will cost around $30 million, and a future rate review request before the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission would split those costs among PNM’s entire customer base, according to Williams.

The first open house session is Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Holiday Park Community Center, 11710 Comanche NE. The second session is Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Central New Mexico Community College Workforce Training Center, 5600 Eagle Rock NE.