SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — An environmental group is accusing a New Mexico utility regulator of misconduct for asking the state's largest electric provider to make a political donation to a Democrat running for the state treasurer's office.
New Energy Economy filed the complaint against Public Regulation Commissioner Karen Montoya with the Secretary of State's Office on Thursday.
The Santa Fe-based group had called out Montoya last year and questioned her relationship with Public Service Co. of New Mexico.
The group argued that Montoya was not impartial toward the utility and should have recused herself from a major case that involved the future of PNM's coal-fired power plant in northwestern New Mexico.
Montoya previously dismissed the criticisms. She did not immediately return messages seeking comment Thursday about the new complaint