As has been reflected in the media during the 2020 legislative session, the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission took a beating.
Fortunately for the Commission, there were three Commissioners who stood up for the well-being and benefit of the Commission and its staff. It should come as no surprise to anyone that one of those commissioners is Valerie Espinoza. The veteran commissioner has spent her professional and political life advocating for the rights of the everyday working people of New Mexico, especially the people of Northern New Mexico.
This became abundantly clear during this year’s legislative session. She was at the forefront fighting for the Commission and against the dismantling of the Commission by the legislature, because she was concerned about the staff and the uncertainty of their continued employment as well as the Commission’s ability to perform its duties in the most conscientious and economical manner possible.
She has spent much of her time at the Commission taking on both large and small utility companies to guarantee that ratepayers were given fair and equitable rates and that the most vulnerable citizens were provided assistance.
New Mexico has been blessed to have Valerie Espinoza working for its citizens and now that her term is coming to an end, the citizens of New Mexico will lose the privilege of having Valerie Espinoza fighting for them.
Dennis Seguera
Santa Fe