Socorro NM, April 23, 2024

 

            In a recent survey, Socorro Electric Cooperative Inc.’s (SEC) Members are overwhelmingly against the City of Socorro’s plans to build a municipal electric company. These results were announced at SEC’s annual meeting on Saturday, April 20, 2024, in the New Institute of Mining and Technology campus’ Macey Center.
 

Following multiple failed attempts to move forward with a franchise agreement with the City, SEC recently wanted to get a better pulse on how the membership felt about the situation with the City of Socorro and Mayor Bhasker. On April 3, 2024, SEC sent out an email to 5,684 with a survey link asking three questions:

 

1. The Socorro Electric Cooperative, Inc. aims to make electric energy available to its members at the lowest cost, consistent with sound economy and effective management. Does SEC accomplish its mission?
2. Given The Mayor's proposal to take over electric service to Socorro, do you feel this action would be unnecessary and could potentially harm member interests?
3. How concerned are you that unnecessary alterations to SEC’s current operations might lead to increased costs and less reliable service for members?

 

Each question was given a scale of Strongly Agree, Agree, Neither Agree nor Disagree, Disagree, or Strongly Disagree. The survey also allowed members to provide specific feedback on anything SEC could do to improve services or operations. The survey also allowed people to remain anonymous or provide their name, email, and SEC account number.

 

            On the first day of the survey being released, SEC received 386 responses, with the majority of those responses in favor of the co-op. In fact, 79% of the 740 total responses, which was the final tally of responses, favored the cooperative. An overwhelming 85% of the 740 responses are concerned that the city’s initiatives will lead to increased costs and less reliable service for current members.

 

            Comments received from the survey were also overwhelmingly in SEC’s favor. Some commentators wrote, “Leave the co-op just the way it is.” There were a few bits of constructive criticism, such as members asking for better customer service when they call in.

 

 

 

“We are thankful for the feedback. Member concerns are being addressed, and we commit to improving customer service,” said Joseph Herrera, CEO of SEC. “People in the SEC service territory are very concerned with the potential of a city electric municipality. Mayor Bhasker has stated that he is not concerned for the people outside of the city limits. He's only concerned about the City of Socorro and the businesses within the city limits.”

 

            In 2017, the City of Socorro’s Mayor and City Council members passed a resolution to create an electric municipality, initiated by Mayor Bhasker. Mayor Bhasker referenced rate increases and SEC’s relationship with its power provider, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, as being the reason for the resolution.

 

            Currently, the SEC is trying to work with the City of Socorro to extend the SEC’s franchise agreement for the short term to safeguard SEC’s members. The Mayor refuses to discuss a franchise agreement until a list of questions he submitted to SEC are answered to his satisfaction. However, Mayor Bhasker agreed in the most recent city council meeting on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, that the answers were only acceptable contingent on “subjective interpretation.” SEC is left wondering whose subjective interpretation will allow the City to move forward in considering a new franchise agreement? Does this mean that Mayor Bhasker will not accept the answers submitted by the cooperative unless they fit a certain interpretation?
 

            During this struggle with the City of Socorro’s City Council and Mayor Bhasker, SEC has tried to open a line of communication with the City Council and Mayor Bhasker. On July 5, 2023, SEC General Manager and CEO Joseph Herrera, President of SEC’s Board Leroy Anaya, and Director of Communications Jerrid Williams attended the City Council meeting to discuss the possibility of a new franchise ordinance. At this meeting, the City Council and the Mayor were invited to sit down and talk with the cooperative about everything involved with the utility issues. None of the City Councilors nor the Mayor ever followed up with the Cooperative to set up any time to meet or discuss the franchise agreement.

 

           

 

Socorro Electric Cooperative Inc. recently celebrated its 79th anniversary in Socorro, NM. SEC has served 11,000 square miles and seven counties since its inception.