Senate confirms Greg Nibert's appointment to PRC

It’s official: Greg Nibert has been confirmed as the newest Public Regulation commissioner.

The Senate on Wednesday unanimously confirmed his appointment by the governor, which Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced earlier this month. Nibert will serve on the PRC until 2031 making an annual salary of $190,000.

The Roundhouse confirmation was a familiar environment for Nibert, who served in the Legislature from 2017 to 2024. His former colleagues on both sides of the aisle sang his praises and gave him a standing ovation upon his confirmation.

Nibert, who’s an attorney, lost his primary election race last year. As someone who served in both the House and the Senate, Nibert will better communications between the PRC and the Legislature as well as the Governor’s Office, said Senate President Pro Tem Mimi Stewart, D-Albuquerque, on the floor.

She added that the PRC really needed an attorney.

“I do believe this is one of our governor’s best appointments,” Stewart said.

She also joked that Nibert has a new nickname: “slash” — because legislators didn’t know whether to call him representative or senator, and ended up calling him representative-slash-senator.

Many other senators noted that Nibert has a balanced and even-tempered demeanor that will serve the PRC well.

Sen. George Muñoz, D-Gallup, said the PRC was “in trouble for a long time,” often embroiled in scandals, but a recent overhaul of the agency helped turn that around.

“I’m here to help you succeed. I’m here to help the PRC succeed,” Muñoz told Nibert at his confirmation hearing on the floor. “We need the best in New Mexico. You are one of the best.”

In a Senate Rules Committee meeting held earlier in the day, Chair Katy Duhigg, D-Albuquerque, brought up Nibert’s former work as a partner with the Hinkle Law Firm. He sometimes represented energy clients, something some environmental advocates have been concerned could cause conflicts of interest at the PRC.

In response, Nibert said nobody from the law firm’s Roswell office — where he worked — in the last 40 years has appeared before the PRC. He added that a former partner did occasionally appear before the PRC, though, and he doesn’t have a personal relationship with that lawyer.

“I’d have to look at each case individually and separately, and make that assessment,” he said.

Duhigg said she has no concerns about Nibert in the position, where he would be doing the same analysis legislators would ask of anyone in a rule-enforcing position.

“I’m prepared to do that analysis if those things come up, and I’ll have to make judgements on a case-by-case basis,” Nibert said.

The conversation was somewhat similar to that of the PRC confirmations in 2023, to ensure the regulators don’t have unethical business interests. Nibert will serve alongside Commissioners Pat O’Connell and Gabriel Aguilera.