(A) Property and contracts. The AEU may:
(1) Sell its products and services to public and private corporations and to other consumers;
(2) Construct and operate generating plants, transmission, distribution, and other facilities;
(3) Set rates and service policies and regulations;
(4) Purchase real property and personal property; and
(5) Enter into contracts, leases, and agreements in furtherance of its powers and duties.
(B) Extensions of services. The AEU may adopt regulations governing extensions of services of the AEU. The regulations shall provide the conditions under which the extensions shall be made to render them compensatory and shall provide that each extension project shall, when completed, become the property of the city whether on public or private property. The AEU may provide for refunds where advances by the person benefitted are necessary to make extensions compensatory.
(C) Joint operations with others. The AEU may enter into contracts and agreements with any public or private corporation or any individual, both inside and outside the boundaries of the city and state:
(1) For the joint use of property belonging either to the AEU or to the other contracting party or jointly to both parties;
(2) For the joint acquisition of real and personal property, rights and franchises and the joint financing, construction, and operation of plants, buildings, transmission, distribution, and other facilities; or
(3) For the operation and management of the electric system of AEU or any part thereof.
(D) Eminent domain. The AEU may enter upon any land or water for the purpose of making surveys and may exercise the right of eminent domain as provided by law when the AEU determines that public necessity or convenience requires such action.
(E) Use of thoroughfares and easements for utility installations. The AEU may use the ground over, under, or along any road, railway, highway, street, sidewalk, thoroughfare, alley, or waterway in the operations of the AEU including the easements granted by Section 3-24-4 NMSA 1978 but shall in all cases, subject to the applicable general regulations of the city, cause the surface of the public way to be restored to its usual condition.
(F) Bond issues and other indebtedness. Subject to applicable state laws, the AEU may authorize the issuance and sale of revenue bonds or other types of indebtedness necessary to finance the acquisition, construction, improvement, and extension of the utility facilities owned by the AEU, including facilities owned or operated jointly with others.
(G) Public information expenditures. The AEU may authorize reasonable expenditures to inform the public of the policies, operations, programs and plans of the AEU.
(H) Existing obligations. Contracts and obligations relating to the utility systems of the city incurred prior to the effective date of this charter shall not be impaired and shall be binding upon the AEU insofar as they apply to the AEU.
('74 Code, § 1-22-5) (Ord. 60-1990)