A Maine legislator recently warned New Mexico of the dangers of an Avangrid/PNM merger after that state's experience with Avangrid.  

Avangrid now aims to merge with New Mexico's PNM in a multi-billion dollar deal, in which the renewable energy powerhouse would get more than 500,000 customers along with access to transmission lines and other infrastructure, KRQE reported. 

“I can’t say enough how damaging they have been to our energy future in Maine,” Maine Rep. Seth Berry (D-Bowdoinham) said. 

Avangrid purchased a small local company in Maine 17 years ago, and what followed were outages across the country, KRQE reported. 

Berry said that Avangrid brings outages and unsatisfactory customer service, and after buying Central Maine Power, those customers were hit with a double-digit rate hike starting Sept. 1, The Portland Press Herald reported. 

“We did not receive the warning,” Berry said. “That is why I feel so committed to making sure others are aware.”

Those in favor tout the merger’s ability to create 150 high-paying technology jobs in the state. According to KRQE, Sherman McCorkle of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce believes Avangrid’s greater access to capital is a quick resolution to modernize PNM’s aging grid.

“To create renewable energy, it costs money,” McCorkle said. “You must have a deep pocket to do it on a large scale. This provides a deep pocket to create renewable energy in New Mexico.”

Attorney General Hector Balderas previously opposed the idea to merge, concerned that it wouldn’t present benefits to customers and would see energy profits funneled outside the state. He's since reversed his position, according to KRQE. 

“A greater concern to me is not customer complaints, but the fact that we have an antiquated energy system,” Balderas said.