By KRWG News
New Mexico – The state Supreme Court has upheld a $34 million electric rate increase for New Mexico's largest utility.
The Public Regulation Commission granted the increase for Public Service Company of New Mexico last year, but the utility appealed the order.
The utility requested a $77 million rate increase and objected that regulators had rejected costs for reclamation of coal mine sites near power plants.
The court ruled Tuesday the rate decision was reasonable.
Electric rates for all customers increased an average of slightly more than 6 percent. The actual increase varied for different types of customers, such as residential or large businesses.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.