Edgar Filing: PUBLIC SERVICE CO OF NEW MEXICO

Document

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 17, 2017

Registration No. 333-

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

_____________________

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

_____________________

PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY

OF NEW MEXICO

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

_____________________



New Mexico	85-0019030

(State or other jurisdiction of	(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)	Identification Number)

414 Silver Ave. SW

Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102-3289

(505) 241-2700

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

_____________________

Patrick V. Apodaca, Esq.

Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

Public Service Company of New Mexico

414 Silver Ave. SW

Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102-3289

Telephone: (505) 241-2898

Fax: (505) 241-2368

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

_____________________

Copies to:



Leonard D. Sanchez, Esq.	Jill M. Webb, Esq.
Associate General Counsel	McGuireWoods LLP
PNM Resources, Inc.	800 East Canal Street
414 Silver Ave. SW	Richmond, Virginia 23219
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102-3289	Tel. 804-775-1180
Tel. 505-241-4941	Fax. 804-225-5342
Fax. 505-241-2338

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. £

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are being offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. x

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. £

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. £

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. £

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. £

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.



Large accelerated filer	£		Accelerated filer	£
Non-accelerated filer	x	(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)	Smaller reporting company	£
			Emerging growth company	£

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of Securities Act. £

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE



Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered	Amount to be Registered	Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit⁽¹⁾	Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price⁽¹⁾	Amount of Registration Fee
Debt Securities	$475,000,000	100%	$475,000,000⁽²⁾	$26,077.50⁽³⁾

(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee.

(2) Exclusive of accrued interest, if any.

(3) As discussed in the paragraph below, pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6) under the Securities Act of 1933 as amended (the “Securities Act”), this registration statement includes, as of the date of filing of this registration statement, $250,000,000 of unsold securities that had previously been registered and for which the registration fee had previously been paid. Accordingly, the amount of the registration fee due is for the $225,000,000 of additional securities being registered on this registration statement.

Pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6) under the Securities Act, a portion of the securities registered pursuant to this registration statement includes, as of the date of filing of this registration statement, $250,000,000 of unsold securities previously registered on the registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration Statement No. 333-195979), which we refer to as the 2014 Registration Statement. In connection with the registration of unsold securities on the 2014 Registration Statement, the registrant relied on Rule 415(a)(6) of the Securities Act to include $440,000,000 of unsold securities that had previously been registered on the registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration Statement No. 333-173530), which we refer to as the 2011 Registration Statement, in connection with which the registrant paid a registration fee of $7,728, which continues to be applied to the unsold securities. In connection with the registration of unsold securities on the 2011 Registration Statement, the registrant relied on Rule 415(a)(6) of the Securities Act to include $600,000,000 of unsold securities that had previously been registered on the registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration Statement No. 333-150024) in connection with which the registrant paid a registration fee of $29,475 which continues to be applied to the unsold securities. On August 6, 2015, the registrant filed a prospectus supplement pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2) of the Securities Act for the sale of $250,000,000 of Debt Securities, resulting in $250,000,000 of unsold debt securities on the 2014 Registration Statement. Pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6), the offering of the unsold securities registered under the 2014 Registration Statement will be deemed terminated as of the date of effectiveness of this registration statement. If the registrant sells any of such unsold securities pursuant to the 2014 Registration Statement after the date of this filing, and prior to the date of effectiveness of this registration statement, the registrant will file a pre-effective amendment to this registration statement which will reduce the number of such unsold securities included on this registration statement and increase the additional securities registered hereon so that the total amount of securities registered hereon will equal $475,000,000, as reflected in footnote 3 to the table above, and will pay the additional registration fee resulting therefrom.

The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act or until this Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to Section 8(a), may determine.

The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities, and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED MAY 17, 2017

PROSPECTUS

$475,000,000

PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF

NEW MEXICO

SENIOR UNSECURED NOTES

We may offer from time to time up to an aggregate of $475,000,000 of our senior unsecured notes. We will specify the principal amount of senior unsecured notes being offered and the underwriters, dealers or agents, if any, for the offering, together with the terms and conditions for such offering, the public offering price, the underwriting discounts and commissions or other fees and our net proceeds from the sale thereof, in supplements to this prospectus. You should read both the prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you invest.

Our principal executive offices are located at 414 Silver Ave. SW, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87102-3289 and our telephone number is (505) 241-2700.

_____________________

Investing in our senior unsecured notes involves risk. See “Risk Factors” on page 3.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

_____________________

The date of this prospectus is _________, 2017.

Prospectus



ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS	1
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION	2
PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF NEW MEXICO	3
RISK FACTORS	3
DISCLOSURE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS	3
USE OF PROCEEDS	6
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES	6
DESCRIPTION OF SENIOR UNSECURED NOTES	7
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION	18
LEGAL MATTERS	20
EXPERTS	20

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may sell the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of $475,000,000. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that we may offer. Each time we offer any of the securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with the documents that are incorporated by reference herein that are described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” before investing in the securities. This prospectus contains summaries of certain provisions contained in some of the documents described in this prospectus. Please refer to the actual documents for complete information. All of these summaries are qualified in their entirety by the actual documents. Copies of the documents referred to in this prospectus have been filed, or will be filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and you may obtain copies of those documents as described below under “Where You Can Find More Information.”

Unless otherwise indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, all references in this prospectus to “PNM”, “we”, “our”, “us”, or similar references mean Public Service Company of New Mexico and all of its subsidiaries.

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplements and any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement, any free writing prospectuses and the documents incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the respective dates of those documents in which the information is contained. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

In particular, you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described under the section titled “Risk Factors” or otherwise included in any applicable prospectus supplement or incorporated by reference in this prospectus before you decide whether to purchase the securities. These risks and uncertainties, together with those

not known to us or those that we may deem immaterial, could impair our business and ultimately affect our ability to make payments on the securities.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and special reports and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy these documents at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information about the Public Reference Room. The SEC also maintains an Internet website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the SEC, available at www.sec.gov.

Our Internet address is www.pnm.com. Our filings with the SEC, including annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports, filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), are accessible free of charge at www.pnm.com/investors or www.pnmresources.com/investors, the website of PNM Resources, Inc. (“PNMR”), our parent company, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. The contents of the websites are not a part of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. These reports are also available upon request in print from us free of charge.

We are “incorporating by reference” in this prospectus information we file with the SEC, which means that we are disclosing important information to you by referring you to those documents. Our combined filings with the SEC present separate filings by PNMR, PNM and Texas-New Mexico Power Company (“TNMP”), an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of PNMR. Information contained therein relating to an individual registrant is filed by that registrant on its own behalf and each registrant makes no representation as to information relating to other registrants. The information we incorporate by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, unless it is updated or superseded by the information contained in this prospectus or the information we file subsequently with the SEC that is incorporated by reference in this prospectus or a prospectus supplement. We are incorporating by reference the following documents that we have filed with the SEC (except those portions of filings that relate to PNMR or TNMP as separate registrants), other than any information in these documents that is deemed not to be “filed” with the SEC:


•	Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 as filed on February 28, 2017;


•	Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2017 as filed on April 28, 2017;


•	PNMR’s Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A as filed on April 4, 2017; and


•	Our Current Reports on Form 8-K as filed on May 5, 2017 and May 15, 2017.

We also incorporate by reference into this prospectus any filings we make with the SEC (excluding information furnished under Items 2.02 or 7.01 of Current Reports on Form 8-K) under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, after the date of initial filing of the registration statement that contains this prospectus.

You may obtain without charge a copy of any of the documents we incorporate by reference, except for exhibits to such documents which are not specifically incorporated by reference into such documents, by contacting us at Public Service Company of New Mexico, 414 Silver Ave. SW, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87102-3289, Attention: Shareholder Services, or by telephone at (505) 241-2868.

PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF NEW MEXICO

We are a public utility company that was organized under the laws of the State of New Mexico on May 9, 1917. We are an integrated public utility with regulated operations primarily engaged in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity to our rate-regulated customers. In New Mexico, our retail electric service territory covers a large area of north central New Mexico, including the cities of Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, and Santa Fe, and certain areas of southern New Mexico. Service to retail electric customers is subject to the jurisdiction of the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (“NMPRC”).

Other services we provide include transmission services to third parties as well as the generation and sale of electricity into the wholesale market, which services are regulated by Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”). We own transmission lines, interconnected with other utilities in New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah. We are a wholly-owned subsidiary of PNMR, an investor-owned holding company of energy and energy-related businesses.

Our executive offices are located at 414 Silver Ave. SW, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102-3289, and our telephone number is (505) 241-2700.

RISK FACTORS

Investing in the securities involves risk. Please carefully consider the specific risks set forth under the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and other reports filed with the SEC, which are all incorporated by reference in this prospectus and in the applicable prospectus supplement. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider these risks as well as other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or the applicable supplement to this prospectus. The risks and uncertainties described are not the only ones facing us. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial also may impair our business operations, financial results and the value of our securities.

DISCLOSURE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus contains or incorporates by reference “forward-looking statements,” which you can generally identify by our use of forward-looking words including “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “anticipate” or “plan” or the negative or other variations of these terms or comparable terminology, or by discussion of strategies that involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements relate to future events or our expectations, projections, estimates, intentions, goals, targets, and strategies and are made pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You are cautioned that all forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations and estimates, and we assume no obligation to update this information.

Because actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, we caution you not to place undue reliance on these statements. Our business, financial condition, cash flows, and operating results are influenced by many factors, which are often beyond our control, that can cause actual results to differ from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These factors include:

•

Our ability to recover costs and earn allowed returns in our regulated jurisdictions, including the impacts of the NMPRC order issued in September 2016 in our general rate case we filed in August 2015 (“NM 2015 Rate Case”), appeals of that order, and our general rate case we filed with the NMPRC in December 2016 (“NM 2016 Rate Case”) and the impact on service levels for our customers if the ultimate outcomes do not provide for the recovery of costs of operating and capital expenditures, as well as other impacts of federal or state regulatory and judicial actions


•	Our ability to successfully forecast and manage our operating and capital expenditures, including aligning expenditures with the revenue levels resulting from the ultimate outcomes in our NM 2015 Rate Case, including appeals, and our NM 2016 Rate Case and supporting forecasts utilized in future test year rate proceedings


•	The impacts on the electricity usage of customers and consumers due to performance of state, regional, and national economies, energy efficiency measures, weather, seasonality, alternative sources of power, and other changes in supply and demand, including the failure to maintain or replace customer contracts on favorable terms

•

Uncertainty surrounding the status of our participation in jointly owned generation projects, including the scheduled expiration of the operational and fuel supply agreements for the San Juan Generating Station ("SJGS"), as well as the 2018 required NMPRC filing to determine the extent to which SJGS should continue serving our retail customers beyond mid-2022 and the outcome of the related analysis undertaken in connection with our 2017 Integrated Resource Plan ("IRP") to be filed with the NMPRC in 2017

•

Our ability to access the financial markets in order to provide financing to repay or refinance debt as it comes due, as well as for ongoing operations and construction expenditures, including disruptions in the capital or credit markets, actions by ratings agencies, and fluctuations in interest rates, including any negative impacts that could result from the ultimate outcome in our NM 2015 Rate Case, including appeals, and our NM 2016 Rate Case


•	State and federal regulation or legislation relating to environmental matters, the resultant costs of compliance, and other impacts on the operations and economic viability of our generating plants


•	Risks related to climate change, including potential financial risks resulting from climate change litigation and legislative and regulatory efforts to limit greenhouse gas emissions, including the Clean Power Plan


•	Uncertainty regarding the requirements and related costs of decommissioning power plants and reclamation of coal mines supplying certain power plants, as well as the ability to recover those costs from customers, including the potential impacts of the order in our NM 2015 Rate Case, appeals of that order, the ultimate outcome of our NM 2016 Rate Case, and our 2017 IRP


•	Uncertainty surrounding counterparty credit risk


•	The performance of generating units, transmission systems, and distribution systems, which could be negatively affected by operational issues, fuel quality, unplanned outages, extreme weather conditions, terrorism, cybersecurity breaches, and other catastrophic events


•	State and federal regulatory, legislative, executive, and judicial decisions and actions on ratemaking, tax, including the potential for tax reform, and other matters


•	Employee workforce factors, including cost control efforts and issues arising out of collective bargaining agreements and labor negotiations with union employees


•	Variability of prices and volatility and liquidity in the wholesale power and natural gas markets


•	Changes in price and availability of fuel and water supplies, including the ability of the mines supplying coal to our coal-fired generating units and the companies involved in supplying nuclear fuel to provide adequate quantities of fuel


•	The risks associated with completion of generation, transmission, distribution, and other projects


•	Regulatory, financial, and operational risks inherent in the operation of nuclear facilities, including spent fuel disposal uncertainties


•	The risk that FERC rulemakings or lack of additional capacity during peak hours may negatively impact the operation of our transmission system


•	The impacts of decreases in the values of marketable securities maintained in trusts to provide for decommissioning, reclamation, pension benefits, and other postretirement benefits, including potential increased volatility resulting from international developments


•	The effectiveness of risk management regarding commodity transactions and counterparty risk


•	The outcome of legal proceedings, including the extent of insurance coverage


•	Changes in applicable accounting principles or policies

Important risk factors that could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements are listed under “Risk Factors” in a prospectus supplement and may also be found in our periodic reports filed with the SEC at www.sec.gov.

USE OF PROCEEDS

Except as may otherwise be set forth in a prospectus supplement, the proceeds from the sale of these senior unsecured notes may be used to retire outstanding debt, to finance a portion of our capital expenditures and for other general corporate purposes.

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

The following table shows our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the periods indicated:



Three Months Ended March 31, 2017	Year Ended December 31
Three Months Ended March 31, 2017	2016⁽¹⁾	2015⁽²⁾	2014⁽³⁾	2013⁽⁴⁾	2012
2.02	2.21	0.59	2.60	2.55	2.56

⁽¹⁾ Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and non-controlling interest for the year ended December 31, 2016 includes a pre-tax loss of $15.0 million due to the write-off of regulatory disallowances and restructuring costs. If that loss was excluded, the Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges would have been 2.37 for 2016.

⁽²⁾ The shortfall in earnings available for fixed charges to achieve a ratio of earnings to fixed charges of 1.00 amounted to $36.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and non-controlling interest includes a pre-tax loss of $167.5 million due to the write-off of regulatory disallowances and restructuring costs. If that loss was excluded, the Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges would have been 2.48 for 2015.

⁽³⁾ Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and non-controlling interest for the year ended December 31, 2014 includes a pre-tax loss of $1.1 million due to the write-off of regulatory disallowances. If that loss was excluded, the Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges would have been 2.61 for 2014.

⁽⁴⁾ Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and non-controlling interest for the year ended December 31, 2013 includes a pre-tax loss of $12.2 million due to the write-off of regulatory disallowances. If that loss was excluded, the Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges would have been 2.70 for 2013.

DESCRIPTION OF SENIOR UNSECURED NOTES

General

The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of our senior unsecured notes, or SUNs. When we offer SUNs in the future, a prospectus supplement will explain the particular terms of those SUNs, and the extent to which any of these general provisions will not apply.

The SUNs will be our unsecured and unsubordinated obligations ranking equally with all of our existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated obligations. We may issue the SUNs from time to time in one or more series, under the indenture dated as of August 1, 1998 between us and MUFG Union Bank, N.A. (ultimate successor to The Chase Manhattan Bank), as trustee (the “Trustee”). This indenture, as heretofore amended and supplemented, and as it may be amended and supplemented from time to time, is referred to in this prospectus as the Indenture.

We have summarized selected provisions of the Indenture below. You should read this summary together with the Indenture, any supplemental indentures or other documents establishing the SUNs for a complete understanding of the provisions that may be important to you. You should also read this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement before you make any investment decision. The following descriptions of the SUNs and the Indenture are qualified by reference to the Indenture, which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. References to certain sections of the Indenture are included in parentheses. Whenever particular provisions or defined terms in the Indenture are referred to under this “Description of Senior Unsecured Notes,” such provisions or defined terms are incorporated by reference herein. The Indenture is qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. You should refer to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 for provisions that apply to the SUNs.

The Indenture provides that the applicable SUNs will be issued in one or more series, may be issued at various times, may have differing maturity dates and may bear interest at differing rates. We need not issue all SUNs of one series at the same time and, unless otherwise provided, we may reopen a series, without the consent of the holders of the SUNs of that series for issuances of additional SUNs of that series.

The prospectus supplement relating to any series of SUNs being offered will include specific terms relating to that offering. These terms will include any of the following terms that apply to that series:


•	the title of the SUNs;


•	the total principal amount of the SUNs;


•	the person or persons to whom interest payments are made, if other than the registered holder;


•	the date or dates on which the principal of the SUNs will be payable, how the dates will be determined;


•	the rate or rates at which the SUNs will bear interest, if any, and how the rate or rates will be determined;


•	the date or dates from which interest on the SUNs will accrue, the interest payment dates on which interest will be paid, and the record dates for the interest payments;


•	the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods for the SUNs and the duration of the extension;


•	the place or places at which or methods by which payments will be made;


•	whether we have the option to redeem the SUNs and, if so, the terms of our redemption option;


•	any sinking fund or other provisions or options held by holders of the SUNs that would obligate us to repurchase or otherwise redeem the SUNs;


•	if the SUNs will be issued in denominations other than $1,000 and integral multiples thereof;


•	any index or formula used for determining principal, premium or interest;


•	the currency or currencies in which payments will be made if other than United States dollars, and the manner of determining the equivalent of those amounts in United States dollars;


•	if payments may be made on any of the SUNs, at our election or at the holder’s election, in a currency or currencies other than that in which the SUNs are stated to be payable, then the currency or currencies in which those payments may be made, the terms and conditions of the election and the manner of determining those amounts;


•	the portion of the principal payable upon acceleration of maturity, if other than the entire principal;


•	if the principal payable on the maturity date will not be determinable on one or more dates prior to the maturity date, the amount which will be deemed to be such principal amount as of any such date or the manner of determining such amount;


•	whether the provisions described below under “ - Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance” will apply to the SUNs;


•	whether the SUNs will be issuable as global securities and, if so, the securities depositary;


•	any changes or additions to the events of default under the Indenture or changes or additions to our covenants under the Indenture; and


•	any other terms of the SUNs not inconsistent with the terms of the Indenture.

(See Section 3.01)

All SUNs of any one series will be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be determined in the manner provided for in the Indenture. (See Section 3.01)

The SUNs are not secured by any property or assets and represent our unsecured debt obligations. As discussed below under “ - Restrictions on Liens” and “ - Restrictions on Sale and Lease-Back Transactions,” the Indenture contains certain limitations on our ability to create liens and enter into sale and leaseback transactions. Such limitations do not afford holders of the SUNs protection in the event of a highly leveraged or other transaction involving us that may adversely affect the holders of the SUNs. The Indenture does not limit our ability to pay dividends or limit our ability to incur other unsecured and unsubordinated debt ranking equally with all of our existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated obligations. However, debt to capital requirements in certain of our financial instruments and regulatory agreements would limit the amount of additional debt we could issue.

SUNs may be sold at a substantial discount below their principal amount. You should consult the applicable prospectus supplement for a description of certain special United States federal income tax considerations which may apply to SUNs sold at an original issue discount or denominated in a currency other than United States dollars.

Global SUNs

We may issue some or all of the SUNs as book-entry securities. Any such book-entry securities will be represented by one or more fully registered global securities. We will register each global security with or on behalf of a securities depositary identified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Each global security will be deposited with the securities depositary or its nominee or a custodian for the securities depositary.

As long as the securities depositary or its nominee is the registered holder of a global security representing SUNs, that person will be considered the sole owner and holder of the global security and the SUNs it represents for all purposes. Except in limited circumstances, owners of beneficial interests in a global security:


•	may not have the global security or any of the SUNs it represents registered in their names;


•	may not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of certificated SUNs in exchange for the global security; and


•	will not be considered the owners or holders of the global security or any of the SUNs it represents for any purposes under the SUNs or the Indenture.

We will make all payments of principal and any premium and interest on a global security to the securities depositary or its nominee as the holder of the global security. The laws of some jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of securities in definitive form. These laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a global security.

Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be limited to institutions having accounts with the securities depositary or its nominee, which are called “participants” in this discussion, and to persons that hold beneficial interests through participants. When a global security representing SUNs is issued, the securities depositary will credit on its book entry, registration and transfer system the principal amounts of SUNs the global security represents to the accounts of its participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be shown only on, and the transfer of those ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by:


•	the securities depositary, with respect to participants’ interests; and


•	any participant, with respect to interests the participant holds on behalf of other persons.

Payments to owners of beneficial interests held through participants will be the responsibility of those participants. The securities depositary may from time to time adopt various policies and procedures governing payments, transfers, exchanges and other matters relating to beneficial interests in a global security. None of the following will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the securities depositary’s or any participant’s records relating to beneficial interests in a global security representing SUNs, for payments made on account of those beneficial interests or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to those beneficial interests:


•	PNM;


•	the Trustee; or


•	an agent of either of them.

Redemption

We will set forth any terms for the redemption of the SUNs in a prospectus supplement. Unless we indicate differently in a prospectus supplement, the SUNs will be redeemable upon notice by mail to the holders between 30 and 60 days prior to the redemption date. If less than all of the SUNs of any series are to be redeemed, the Trustee will select the SUNs to be redeemed. In the absence of any provision for selection, the Trustee will choose a method of random selection that it deems fair and appropriate. (See Sections 11.03 and 11.04)

The SUNs will cease to bear interest on the redemption date. We will pay the redemption price and any accrued interest once the SUNs are surrendered for redemption. (See Section 11.06) If only part of a SUN is redeemed, the Trustee will deliver to you a new SUN of the same series for the remaining portion without charge. (See Section 11.07)

We may make any redemption, at our option, conditional upon the receipt by the paying agent or agents, on or prior to the date fixed for redemption, of money sufficient to pay the redemption price. If the paying agent or agents have not received the money by the date fixed for redemption, we will not be required to redeem the SUNs. (See Section 11.04)

Payment

Except as may be provided in the prospectus supplement, interest, if any, on each SUN payable on each interest payment date will be paid to the person in whose name the SUN is registered as of the close of business on the regular record date for the interest payment date. If there has been a default in the payment of interest on any SUN, the defaulted interest may be paid to the holder of that SUN as of the close of business on a date to be fixed by the Trustee, which will be between 10 and 15 days prior to the date we proposed for payment of the defaulted

interest, and not less than 10 days after receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The defaulted interest may also be paid in any other manner permitted by any securities exchange on which that SUN may be listed, if the Trustee finds it practicable. (See Section 3.07)

Registration of Transfer and Exchange

Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement, the transfer of the SUNs may be registered, and the SUNs may be exchanged for other SUNs of the same series, of authorized denominations and with the same terms and principal amount, at the corporate trust office of the Trustee. We may change the place for registration of transfer and exchange of the SUNs and may designate additional places for registration and exchange. Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement, no service charge will be made for any transfer or exchange of the SUNs. However, we may require payment to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed. We will not be required to execute or to provide for the registration of transfer of, or the exchange of:


•	any SUN during a period of 15 days prior to giving any notice of redemption; or


•	any SUN selected for redemption except the unredeemed portion of any SUN being redeemed in part.

(See Section 3.05)

Restrictions on Liens

The Indenture provides that so long as any SUNs are outstanding, we will not issue, assume, or guarantee any Debt (as defined below) secured by any mortgage, security interest, pledge, or lien (Mortgage) of or on any Operating Property (as defined below), owned as of the date of the Indenture or thereafter acquired, without also securing the outstanding SUNs (so long as the other Debt is so secured) equally and ratably with the Debt.

This limitation does not apply in the case of any Debt secured by:


•	Mortgages on any property existing at the time we acquired it;


•	Mortgages on property of a corporation with which we consolidated or merged or which transfers or leases all or substantially all of its properties to us;


•	Mortgages on property to secure all or part of the cost of acquiring, constructing, developing, or substantially repairing, altering, or improving the property, or to secure indebtedness incurred to provide funds for any of these purposes or for the reimbursement of funds previously expended for any of these purposes if created within a certain period;

•

Mortgages in favor of the United States of America or any State thereof, or any department, agency, or instrumentality or political subdivision of the United States of America or any State thereof, or for the benefit of holders of securities issued by any such entity, to secure any Debt incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price or the cost of constructing, developing or substantially repairing, altering, or improving the property subject to such Mortgages;

•

Mortgages on any property (x) which, at any time subsequent to January 1, 1985 through the date of the Indenture, was leased to us, or (y) pursuant to the terms of any lease to us in effect at any time subsequent to January 1, 1985 through the date of the Indenture, title to which would not have been vested in us (assuming that the lease remained in effect on the date of determination as the lease was in effect immediately prior to the date of the Indenture);

•

the extension, renewal or replacement of any Mortgage referred to above; provided, however, that the principal amount of Debt so secured and not otherwise authorized by the previous clauses, shall not exceed the principal amount of Debt, plus any premium or fee payable in connection with any such extension, renewal, or replacement, so secured at the time of such extension, renewal, or replacement.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as any SUNs are outstanding, we may issue, assume, or guarantee Debt, or permit to exist Debt, secured by mortgages which would otherwise be subject to the foregoing restrictions up to an aggregate principal amount that, together with the principal amount of all of our other Debt, secured by

mortgages (other than mortgages permitted by the Indenture that would otherwise be subject to the foregoing restrictions) and the Value (as defined below) of all Sale and Lease-Back Transactions (as defined below) in existence at such time (other than certain Sale and Lease-Back Transactions specified in the Indenture), does not exceed at the time the greater of ten percent (10%) of Net Tangible Assets (as defined below) or ten percent (10%) of Capitalization (as defined below). (See Section 10.05)

Restrictions on Sale and Lease-Back Transactions

The Indenture provides that so long as any SUNs are outstanding, we will not enter into any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction with respect to any Operating Property if the commitment by the purchaser was obtained more than 18 months after the later of (i) the completion of the acquisition, construction, or development of the Operating Property or (ii) the placing in operation of the Operating Property or of the Operating Property as constructed, developed, or substantially repaired, altered, or improved, unless:


•	we are entitled pursuant to the Indenture to issue, assume, or guarantee Debt secured by a mortgage on such Operating Property without equally and ratably securing the SUNs; or


•	we are entitled pursuant to the Indenture, after giving effect to the Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, to incur $1.00 of additional Debt secured by mortgages; or


•	we apply or cause to be applied:


o	in the case of a sale or transfer for cash, an amount equal to the net proceeds thereof (but not in excess of the net book value of the Operating Property at the date of sale or transfer), or,


o	in the case of a sale or transfer otherwise than for cash, an amount equal to the fair value (as determined by our board of directors) of the Operating Property so leased,

to the retirement, within 180 days after the effective date of the Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, of our Debt ranking senior to, or equally with, the SUNs. However, the amount to be applied to the retirement of Debt will be reduced by an amount equal to the principal amount, plus any premium or fee paid in connection with any redemption in accordance with the terms of Debt voluntarily retired by us within the 180-day period, excluding retirement pursuant to mandatory sinking fund or prepayment provisions and payments at maturity. (Section 10.10)

Certain Definitions

The term “Capitalization,” as used above, means the total of all the following items appearing on, or included in, our consolidated balance sheet: (i) liabilities for indebtedness maturing more than twelve (12) months from the date of determination; and (ii) any common stock, preferred stock, premium on capital stock, capital surplus, capital in excess of par value, and retained earnings (however the foregoing may be designated), less, to the extent not otherwise deducted, the cost of shares of our capital stock held in our treasury.

The term “Debt,” as used above, means any outstanding debt for money borrowed evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds, or other securities.

The term “Net Tangible Assets,” as used above, means the amount shown as total assets on our consolidated balance sheet, less the following: (i) intangible assets including, but without limitation, such items as goodwill, trademarks, trade names, patents, and unamortized debt discount and expense and other regulatory assets carried as an asset on our consolidated balance sheet; and (ii) appropriate adjustments, if any, on account of minority interests.

The term “Operating Property,” as used above, means (i) any interest in real property owned by us and (ii) any asset owned by us that is depreciable in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

The term “Sale and Lease-Back Transaction,” as used above, means any arrangement with any entity providing for the leasing to us of any Operating Property (except for temporary leases for a term, including any renewal thereof, of not more than forty-eight (48) months), which Operating Property has been or is to be sold or

transferred by us to such entity; provided, however, Sale and Lease-Back Transaction shall not include any arrangement (i) first entered into prior to the date of the Indenture and (ii) involving the exchange of any Operating Property for any property subject to an arrangement specified in the preceding clause (i).

The term “Value,” as used above, means, with respect to a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, as of any particular time, the amount equal to the greater of (1) the net proceeds to us from the sale or transfer of the property leased pursuant to such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction or (2) the net book value of such property, as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles by us at the time of entering into such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, in either case multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be equal to the number of full years of the term of the lease that is part of such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction remaining at the time of determination and the denominator of which shall be equal to the number of full years of such term, without regard, in any case, to any renewal or extension options contained in such lease.

Restrictions on Mergers and Sale of Assets

Under the terms of the Indenture, we may not consolidate with or merge into any other entity or convey, transfer or lease our properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any entity, unless:


•	the surviving or successor entity is organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and it expressly assumes our obligations on all SUNs and under the Indenture;


•	immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no event of default and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an event of default shall have occurred and be continuing; and


•	we deliver to the Trustee, an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel as to compliance with the foregoing.

(See Section 8.01)

Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

The Indenture provides that we may be:


•	discharged from our obligations, with certain limited exceptions, with respect to any series of SUNs, as described in the Indenture and any additional covenants set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, such a discharge being called a “defeasance” in this prospectus; and


•	released from our obligations under certain restrictive covenants especially established with respect to any series of SUNs, including the covenants described under “ - Restrictions on Liens” and “ - Restrictions on Sale-Leaseback Transactions” as described in the Indenture, such a release being called a “covenant defeasance” in this prospectus. (See Sections 13.02 and 13.03)

We must satisfy certain conditions to effect a defeasance or covenant defeasance. Those conditions include the irrevocable deposit with the Trustee, in trust, of money or government obligations which through their scheduled payments of principal and interest would provide sufficient money to pay the principal and any premium and interest on those SUNs on the maturity dates of those payments or upon redemption. (See Section 13.04)

In addition, we will be required to deliver to the Trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the deposit and related defeasance or covenant defeasance will not cause the holders of the applicable series of SUNs to recognize gain or loss for federal income tax purposes, and that such holders will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would be the case if such deposit and related defeasance or covenant defeasance were not to occur. In the case of a defeasance, that opinion of counsel must be based upon a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service or a change in federal income tax law.

Modification of the Indenture

We and the Trustee may enter into one or more supplemental indentures without the consent of any holder of the SUNs for certain specified purposes, including:


•	to evidence the assumption by any permitted successor of our covenants in the Indenture and in the SUNs;


•	to add to our existing covenants or to surrender any of our rights or powers under the Indenture;


•	to add additional events of default;


•	to add to or change any of the provisions to such extent necessary for the issuance of SUNs in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons, or to permit or facilitate the issuance of SUNs in uncertificated form;


•	to change, eliminate, or add any provision to the Indenture; provided, however, if the change, elimination, or addition will adversely affect the interests of the holders of the SUNs of any series in any material respect, that change, elimination, or addition will become effective only:


o	when the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the SUNs of that series has been obtained in accordance with the Indenture; or


o	when no SUNs of the affected series remain outstanding under the Indenture;


•	to secure the SUNs;


•	to establish the form or terms of the SUNs of any other series as permitted by the Indenture;


•	to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment of a successor trustee;


•	to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts by more than one Trustee;


•	to cure any ambiguity or inconsistency or to make any other provisions with respect to matters and questions arising under the Indenture; provided that the action will not adversely affect the interests of the holders of the SUNs of any series in any material respect.

(See Section 9.01)

If the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after the date of the Indenture to require changes to the Indenture, the Indenture will be deemed to be amended so as to conform to that amendment of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. We and the Trustee may, without the consent of any of the holders, enter into one or more supplemental indentures to evidence that amendment. (See Section 9.01)

The consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the SUNs of all series then outstanding, considered as one class, is required for all other modifications to the Indenture. However, if less than all of the series of SUNs outstanding are directly affected by a proposed supplemental indenture, then only the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding SUNs of all series that are directly affected will be required. No amendment or modification may:

•

change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any SUN, or reduce the principal amount of any SUN or its rate of interest or change the method of calculating the interest rate or reduce any premium payable upon redemption, or change the currency in which payments are made, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or after the date that any principal or interest is due and payable on any SUN, without the consent of the holder;


•	reduce the percentage in principal amount of the outstanding SUNs of any series the consent of which is required for any supplemental indenture or any waiver of compliance with a provision of the Indenture or any default thereunder and its consequences, or reduce the requirements for quorum or voting, without the consent of all the holders of the series; or


•	modify certain provisions of the Indenture relating to supplemental indentures, waivers of certain covenants and waivers of past defaults with respect to the SUNs of any series, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding SUN affected thereby.

(See Section 9.02)

A supplemental indenture which changes the Indenture solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of SUNs, or modifies the rights of the holders of the SUNs of one or more series, will not affect the rights under the Indenture of the holders of the SUNs of any other series. (See Section 9.02)

The Indenture provides that the SUNs owned by us or anyone else required to make payment on the SUNs will be disregarded and considered not to be outstanding in determining whether the required holders have given a request or consent. (See Section 1.01)

We may fix in advance a record date to determine the required number of holders entitled to give any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other such act of the holders, in certain situations. If the record date is fixed, the holders of the outstanding SUNs of the relevant series on that record date, and no other holders, will be entitled to take or revoke the relevant action, whether or not those holders remain holders after that record date. No action, however, will be effective unless taken on or prior to the applicable expiration date by holders of the requisite principal amount of the outstanding SUNs of that series on that record date. Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, election, waiver or other act of a holder will bind every future holder of the same SUNs and the holder of every SUN issued upon the registration of transfer of or in exchange of those SUNs. A transferee will be bound by our acts or those of the Trustee taken in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of that action is made upon that SUN. (See Section 1.04)

Events of Default

“Event of default” when used in the Indenture with respect to any series of SUNs, means any of the following:


•	failure to pay interest on any SUN of the applicable series for 60 days after it is due;


•	failure to pay the principal of or premium on any SUN of the applicable series when due (whether at maturity or upon earlier redemption);


•	failure to pay the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as due by the terms of the applicable series;

•

failure to perform any other covenant in the Indenture, other than a covenant that does not relate to that series of SUNs, that continues for 90 days after we receive written notice from the Trustee, or we and the Trustee receive a written notice from the holders of a majority in principal amount of the SUNs of such series; however, the Trustee or the Trustee and such holders can agree to an extension of the 90-day period and this extension will be automatic if we are diligently pursuing action to correct the default;


•	certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of PNM; or


•	any other event of default provided with respect to the SUNs of that series.

(See Section 5.01)

Remedies

Acceleration of Maturity

If an event of default with respect to any one series of SUNs occurs and continues, either the Trustee or the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding SUNs of that series may declare the principal amount of all the SUNs of that series to be due and payable immediately. However, if the event of default is applicable to more

than one series of SUNs, the Trustee or the holders of a majority in principal amount of all the outstanding SUNs of all series, considered as one class, and not the holders of any one series, may make a declaration of acceleration. (See Section 5.02)

At any time after a declaration of acceleration has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee, the event of default giving rise to the declaration of acceleration will be considered waived, and the declaration and its consequences will be automatically rescinded and annulled, if:


•	we have paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay:


o	all overdue interest on all the SUNs of the series;


o	the principal of and premium, if any, on any SUNs of the series which have otherwise become due and interest, if any, that is currently due;


o	interest, if any, on overdue interest (to the extent lawful);


o	all amounts due to the Trustee under the Indenture; and


•	any other event of default with respect to the SUNs of that series has been cured or waived as provided in the Indenture.

(See Section 5.02)

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding SUNs of any series may on behalf of the holders of all the SUNs of that series waive any past default under the Indenture with respect to that series and its consequences, except a default (i) in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any SUN of that series, or (ii) in respect of a covenant or provision of the Indenture which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding SUN of the series affected. However, if a default occurs and continues with respect to more than one series of SUNs, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding SUNs of all such series, considered as one class, have the right to waive the default, and not the holders of the SUNs of any one such series. Upon any waiver, the default ceases to exist, and any and all events of default arising therefrom is deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of the Indenture; but no waiver will extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon. (See Section 5.13)

Right to Direct Proceedings

If an event of default with respect to any series of SUNs occurs and continues, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding SUNs of that series have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the SUNs of that series. However, if an event of default occurs and continues with respect to more than one series of SUNs, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding SUNs of all such series, considered as one class, have the right to make the direction, and not the holders of the SUNs of any one of such series. In either case, the Indenture further provides that:


•	such direction will not be in conflict with any rule of law or with the Indenture;


•	the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee and not inconsistent with such direction; and


•	subject to the provisions of the Indenture the Trustee will have the right to decline to follow any direction if the Trustee in good faith determines that the proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability.

(See Section 5.12)

Limitation on Right to Institute Proceedings

No holder of SUNs of any series will have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to the Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy under the Indenture, unless:


•	the holder has previously given to the Trustee written notice of a continuing event of default;


•	the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding SUNs of all series in respect of which an event of default has occurred and is continuing, considered as one class, have made a written request to the Trustee;


•	such holder or holders have offered reasonable indemnity to the Trustee to institute proceedings; and


•	the Trustee has failed to institute any proceeding for 60 days after notice and has not received any direction inconsistent with the written request of the holders during that period.

(See Section 5.07)

No Impairment of Right to Receive Payment

The limitations on the right to institute proceedings, however, do not apply to a suit by a holder of a SUN for payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest if any, on that SUN on or after the applicable due date. (See Section 5.08)

Annual Notice to Trustee

We will provide to the Trustee an annual statement by an appropriate officer as to whether we are in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of the Indenture. (See Section 10.04)

Notices

Notices to holders of the SUNs will be given by mail to the holders at the addresses that appear in the security register. (See Section 1.06)

Title

We, the Trustee, and any of our agents or the agents of the Trustee, may treat the person in whose name the SUNs are registered as the absolute owner thereof, whether or not such SUNs may be overdue, for the purpose of making payments and for all other purposes irrespective of notice to the contrary. (See Section 3.08)

Governing Law

The Indenture and the SUNs are governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York. (See Section 1.12)

Regarding the Trustee

The Trustee is MUFG Union Bank, N.A. (ultimate successor to The Chase Manhattan Bank as trustee). In addition to acting as the Trustee, MUFG Union Bank, N.A. acts as trustee under various indentures of our affiliates. We and our affiliates also maintain credit and liquidity facilities and conduct other banking transactions with the Trustee and affiliates of the Trustee in the ordinary course of our businesses.

The Trustee may resign at any time by giving us written notice or be removed at any time by an act of the holders of a majority in principal amount of any series of SUNs then outstanding delivered to the Trustee and PNM. In addition, provided that no event of default has occurred or is continuing, we may appoint a new trustee upon

delivering to the Trustee, a resolution of our board of directors appointing a successor trustee and the successor’s acceptance of our appointment. In this case, the Trustee will be deemed to have resigned and the successor will be deemed to have been appointed as trustee in accordance with the Indenture. In any event, the resignation or removal of the Trustee, and no appointment of a successor trustee, will be effective until the acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee. (See Section 6.10)

The Trustee will perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in the Indenture unless an event of default under the Indenture occurs and continues. In case an event of default occurs and continues, the Trustee will exercise the same degree of care and skill as a prudent individual would exercise in the conduct of his or her own affairs. (See Section 6.01)

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell SUNs, in or outside of the United States, to underwriters or dealers, through agents, directly to purchasers or through a combination of these methods. The applicable prospectus supplement will contain specific information relating to the terms of the offering, including, to the extent not otherwise included in the prospectus:


•	the name or names of any underwriters or agents;


•	the purchase price of the SUNs;


•	our net proceeds from the sale of the SUNs;


•	any underwriting discounts or agency fees and other items constituting underwriters’ or agents’ compensation; and


•	any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers.

By Underwriters

If underwriters are used in the sale, the SUNs will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account. Underwriters may offer the SUNs directly or through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters. The underwriters may resell the SUNs in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price, which may be changed, or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The obligations of the underwriters to purchase the SUNs will be subject to certain conditions. The initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

By Dealers

If dealers are used in the sale, unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will sell the SUNs to the dealers as principals. The dealers may then resell the SUNs to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealers at the time of resale. The applicable prospectus supplement will contain more information about the dealers, including the names of the dealers and the terms of our agreement with them.

By Agents and Direct Sales

We may sell the SUNs directly to the public, without the use of underwriters, dealers or agents. We may also sell the SUNs through agents we designate from time to time. The applicable prospectus supplement will contain more information about the agents, including the names of the agents and any commission we agree to pay the agents.

We also may engage a broker-dealer from time to time to act as agent or principal for the offer of our SUNs in one or more placements pursuant to a distribution agreement. If we and the broker-dealer agree, we will sell to the broker-dealer as agent or as principal, and the broker-dealer will seek to solicit offers to purchase on an agency basis and/or will purchase on a principal basis, our SUNs. The amount and purchase price (less an underwriting discount) of the SUNs we sell to the broker-dealer will be mutually agreed on the relevant trading day. The SUNs sold under the distribution agreement will be sold at prices related to the prevailing market price for such securities, and therefore exact figures regarding the price, proceeds that will be raised or commissions to be paid will be described in a prospectus supplement to this prospectus or in other filings made in accordance with and as permitted by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act. The broker-dealer may make sales of our SUNs pursuant to the distribution agreement in privately negotiated transactions and/or any other method permitted by law deemed to be an “at-the-market” offering as defined in Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act including sales made on the New York Stock Exchange, the current trading market for our debt securities.

General Information

Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the SUNs may be deemed underwriters as defined in the Securities Act, and any discounts or commissions we pay to them and any profit made by them on the resale of the SUNs may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. Any underwriters or agents will be identified and their compensation from us will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

We may agree with the underwriters, dealers and agents to indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute with respect to payments which the underwriters, dealers or agents may be required to make.

Underwriters, dealers and agents may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of their businesses.

LEGAL MATTERS

Certain legal matters in connection with the SUNs offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Leonard D. Sanchez, Esq., Associate General Counsel of PNMR and McGuireWoods LLP. As of April 30, 2017, Leonard D. Sanchez, Esq. held 5,206 shares of PNMR Common Stock (pursuant to the vesting of restricted stock rights) and 1,995 restricted stock rights (which vest in equal annual installments over a three-year period from the respective grant date). If legal matters in connection with offerings made pursuant to this prospectus are passed upon by counsel for the underwriters, dealers or agents, if any, such counsel will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to such offering.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements and schedule of Public Service Company of New Mexico and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2016, have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the reports of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The estimated expenses of issuance and distribution other than underwriting discounts and commissions, to be paid by PNM are as follows:



	Amount to be Paid
SEC Filing Fees	$26,077.50
Printing and Engraving Expenses	*
Accounting Fees and Expenses	*
Legal Fees and Expenses	*
Trustee Fees and Expenses	*
Rating Agency Fees	*
Miscellaneous	*
Total Expenses	$26,077.50

_____________________________

* Estimated expenses are not presently known. The foregoing sets forth the general categories of expenses (other than underwriting discounts and commissions) that we anticipate we will incur in connection with the offering of securities under this registration statement. An estimate of the aggregate expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being offered will be included in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Each prospectus supplement will reflect estimated expenses of PNM based upon the amount of the related offering.

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Section 7 of Article II of Public Service Company of New Mexico’s Bylaws contains the following provisions with respect to indemnification of directors and officers:

Each person serving as a director or an officer of the Corporation, or, at the request of the Corporation, as a director or an officer of any other company in which the Corporation has a financial interest and regardless of whether or not the person is then in office, and the heirs, executors, administrators and personal representatives of the person, shall be indemnified by the Corporation to the full extent of the authority of the Corporation to so indemnify as authorized by New Mexico law.

Section 53-11-4.1 of the Business Corporation Act of the State of New Mexico provides that a corporation shall have power to indemnify any person made (or threatened to be made) a party to any proceeding (whether threatened, pending or completed) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director (or, while a director, is or was serving in any of certain other capacities) if: (1) the person acted in good faith; (2) the person reasonably believed: (a) in the case of conduct in the person’s official capacity with the corporation, that the person’s conduct was in its best interests; and (b) in all other cases, that the person’s conduct was at least not opposed to its best interests; and (3) in the case of any criminal proceeding, the person had no reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful. Indemnification may be made against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses, actually incurred by the person in connection with the proceeding, but may be limited or unavailable with respect to certain proceedings. In some instances, indemnification of a director may be mandatory or, upon the application of a director, may be ordered by a court. Reasonable expenses incurred by a director may, under certain circumstances, be paid or reimbursed in advance of a final disposition of a proceeding. Unless limited by its articles of incorporation, a corporation may (or, as the case may be, shall) indemnify and advance expenses to an officer of the corporation to the same extent as to a director under Section 53-11-4.1. Also, unless limited by its articles of incorporation, a corporation has (1) the power to indemnify and to advance expenses to an employee or agent of the corporation to the same extent that it may indemnify and advance expenses to directors under the statute and (2) additional power to indemnify and to advance reasonable expenses to an officer, employee or agent who is not a

II-1

director to such further extent, consistent with law, as may be provided by its articles of incorporation, bylaws, general or specific action of its Board of Directors, or contract.

Section 53-11-4.1 was amended in 1987 to provide that the indemnification authorized thereunder shall not be deemed exclusive of any rights to which those seeking indemnification may be entitled under the articles of incorporation, the by-laws, an agreement, a resolution of shareholders or directors or otherwise. PNM and/or its parent PNMR, have entered into agreements with each director and officer which provide for indemnification of directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by law including advancement of litigation expenses where appropriate. The agreements provide for the appointment of a reviewing party by the applicable board of directors to make a determination whether claimed indemnification is permitted under applicable law.

Insurance is maintained on a regular basis (and not specifically in connection with this offering) against liabilities arising on the part of directors and officers out of their performance in such capacities or arising on the part of PNM out of its foregoing indemnification provisions, subject to certain exclusions and to the policy limits.

Item 16. Exhibits.

Exhibit

Number Exhibit Description



1.1**	Form of Underwriting Agreement for Senior Unsecured Notes.
3.1*	Restated Articles of Incorporation of Public Service Company of New Mexico, as amended through May 31, 2002 (Exhibit 3.1.1 to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2002 in File No. 1-6986).
3.2*	Bylaws of Public Service Company of New Mexico with all amendments to and including May 31, 2002 (Exhibit 3.1.2 to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2002 in File No. 1-6986).
4.1*	Indenture (for Senior Notes), dated as of August 1, 1998, between Public Service Company of New Mexico and MUFG Union Bank, N.A. (ultimate successor trustee to The Chase Manhattan Bank), as Trustee (Exhibit 4.1 to Form S-3 No. 333-106079).
4.2*	Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 12, 2011, supplemental to Indenture dated as of August 1, 1998, between PNM and Union Bank, N.A. (ultimate successor as trustee to The Chase Manhattan Bank), as Trustee (Exhibit 4.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 12, 2011 in File No. 1-6986).
4.3*	Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 11, 2015, supplemental to the Indenture dated as of August 1, 1998, between PNM and MUFG Union Bank, N.A. (ultimate successor as trustee to The Chase Manhattan Bank), as Trustee (Exhibit 4.2 to Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 11, 2015 in File No. 1-6986).
4.4**	Form of Supplemental Indenture establishing Senior Unsecured Notes (with form of note attached).
5.1	Opinion of Leonard D. Sanchez, Esq., Associate General Counsel of PNM Resources, Inc.
5.2	Opinion of McGuireWoods LLP.
12.1*	Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (Exhibit 12.2 to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2017 in File No. 1-6986).
23.1	Consent of KPMG LLP.
23.2	Consent of Leonard D. Sanchez, Esq. (included in Exhibit 5.1).
23.3	Consent of McGuireWoods LLP (included in Exhibit 5.2).
24	Power of Attorney (contained on the signature page of this registration statement).
25.1	Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of MUFG Union Bank, N.A. (ultimate successor to The Chase Manhattan Bank), as Trustee for the Senior Unsecured Notes.

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*Incorporated herein by reference as indicated.

**To be filed by an amendment or pursuant to a report to be filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as applicable.

Item 17. Undertakings.

(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement; notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement;

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

(i) each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(ii) each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof;

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provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

(b) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(1) any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(2) any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

(3) the portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

(4) any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

(c) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(d) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the provisions described under Item 15 above, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933, and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

(e) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933:

(1) The information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective; and

(2) Each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Albuquerque, State of New Mexico, on May 17, 2017.

PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF NEW MEXICO

By: /s/ P. K. COLLAWN
P. K. Collawn
President and Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints, jointly and severally, Patricia K. Collawn, Charles N. Eldred and Joseph D. Tarry, and each of them acting individually, as his or her attorney-in-fact, each with full power of substitution, for him or her any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including, without limitation, post-effective amendments and any amendments or abbreviated registration statements increasing the amount of securities for which registration is being sought) to this registration statement, with all exhibits and any and all documents required to be filed with respect thereto, with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any regulatory authority, granting unto such attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do if personally present, hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.



Signature	Date	Title
/s/ P. K. COLLAWN P. K. Collawn	May 17, 2017	President and Chief Executive Officer; Chairman of the Board of Directors (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ C. N. ELDRED C. N. Eldred	May 17, 2017	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; Director (Principal Financial Officer)

/s/ J. D. TARRY J. D. Tarry	May 17, 2017	Vice President, Finance and Controller (Principal Accounting Officer)

/s/ R. N. DARNELL R. N. Darnell	May 17, 2017	Director

/s/ C. M. OLSON C. M. Olson	May 17, 2017	Director

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