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Alamogordo N.M. - In what could be the most significant consumer protection crisis facing Alamogordo families in recent memory, Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) continues to impose unexplained billing increases of $100 to $300 per month on residents already struggling with the rising cost of living.
What makes the situation worse: some residents report bills showing usage three times higher than normal—a discrepancy PNM blames on short-staffed meter readers and estimated billing rather than actual usage readings.
Only one local political leader has publicly challenged these practices: Mayor Sharon McDonald, who directly contacted PNM leadership to express municipal concerns about the billing abuse.
Estimated Billing: The Hidden Problem
Dozens of Alamogordo residents report the same troubling pattern: their PNM electricity bills have skyrocketed due to estimated billing rather than actual meter readings.
"I'm an elderly woman on a fixed income," one affected resident shared. "My PNM bill jumped $280 one month. I didn't add any new appliances. I didn't change my usage. When I called PNM to ask why, they couldn't give me a straight answer other than that they're short-staffed in meter readers and may have estimated my usage."
This is the core of the problem: PNM is charging residents based on estimated usage rather than actual meter readings, and when residents call to verify the charges, they receive vague explanations about staffing shortages instead of concrete explanations or corrections.
Families are forced to choose between paying utility bills and purchasing groceries. Elderly residents on fixed incomes face the choice between staying cool in Alamogordo's summer heat and maintaining other basic necessities.
Mayor McDonald Takes Action
Alamogordo Mayor Sharon McDonald has contacted PNM leadership directly to express the city's concerns regarding the systematic billing problems affecting residents. She made clear that these are not isolated customer service complaints—they represent a widespread pattern demanding corporate accountability.
"This is exactly what we should expect from elected leadership," consumer advocate and District 51 candidate Grace Nagamine said. "Mayor McDonald recognized that Alamogordo's families needed someone with a voice loud enough to reach corporate headquarters. She answered that call.
The question now is: where are the others?"
Nagamine Provides Action Plan for Residents
District 51 NM State Representative candidate Grace Nagamine has issued a comprehensive action plan providing Alamogordo residents with direct pathways to hold PNM accountable through official regulatory channels.
"This isn't about social media posts," Nagamine emphasized. "This is about making noise where it actually counts—with regulators and corporate leadership who have legal obligations to respond."
Residents can take action immediately:
FILE A COMPLAINT with the Public Regulation Commission at:
https://www.prc.nm.gov/consumer-relations/file-a-complaint/
Phone: (505) 827-4500
SUBMIT A COMPLAINT to the New Mexico Attorney General at:
https://nmdoj.gov/get-help/submit-a-complaint/
Phone: (505) 827-6000 | Email: consumer@nmag.gov
SEND A CERTIFIED LETTER to PNM Corporate Headquarters:
One First Financial Center, Albuquerque, NM 87158
CALL PNM PUBLIC RELATIONS to formally document your complaint:
(505) 241-2700 (Business Hours, Monday-Friday)
The Silence from Other Political Leaders
As families face $100-$300 monthly billing increases from estimated usage, most of Alamogordo's political establishment has remained silent. City commissioners, county commissioners, and state representatives have offered no public statements, contacted no PNM leadership, and requested no regulatory investigations to date via any public statements.
This is not a complex issue requiring expert analysis. Alamogordo families are being overcharged based on estimated usage. They cannot get explanations. They are suffering financial hardship.
Why Official Complaints Matter
The power to demand accountability rests with citizens, not political figures. Formal complaints to the Public Regulation Commission carry legal weight. Complaints to the Attorney General create an official record. Certified letters to corporate headquarters require documented response.
Social media posts change nothing. Official complaints to regulatory agencies change everything.
If enough residents file formal complaints, the Public Regulation Commission will be forced to investigate. If systematic overbilling is confirmed, PNM will face enforcement actions, penalties, and demands for customer remediation.
ACT NOW
Document your bills and usage patterns
File a complaint with the PRC online or by phone
Submit a complaint to the Attorney General's office
Send a certified letter to PNM Corporate demanding explanation
Call PNM Public Relations to formally document your complaint
Do not accept vague explanations. Do not allow PNM to hide behind customer service scripts. Make noise where it counts.
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