The Rural Electric Cooperative Wildfire Liability Act establishes a framework for electric cooperatives in New Mexico to create and implement wildfire mitigation plans. These plans must include detailed assessments of wildfire risks, vegetation management procedures, and emergency response protocols, among other requirements. The plans will be reviewed by the Forestry Division and must be approved by the Public Regulation Commission, with updates required every five years. Electric cooperatives are also mandated to publicly post annual reports detailing their compliance with the plans.

The Act limits liability for electric cooperatives in the event of a wildfire, provided they have an approved mitigation plan and adhere to its requirements. Claims against cooperatives for wildfire-related losses must be filed within two years of the fire's ignition, and total damages awarded cannot exceed $2 million per wildfire incident. Additionally, the Act amends existing laws to clarify the liability of electric cooperatives and establishes that they are presumed to have acted reasonably if they follow the approved plans. The provisions of this Act will take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 30-32-4, 37-1-4