About the Department of Public Utilities

Los Alamos County DPU was established in 1968 under the County Charter of Incorporation. DPU provides payments to Los Alamos County for assessed franchise fees and taxes that would normally be paid by an investor-owned utility. Sales of utilities services to customers is the sole source of income to the Department.

As provided by the Los Alamos County Charter, DPU is governed by the Board of Public Utilities, comprised of a group of five citizens appointed by the county council who each may serve up to two five-year terms. DPU’s budgets and policy decisions are also approved by the elected county council. The county manager and the utilities manager are ex-officio, non-voting members of the Board of Public Utilities.

DPU has an annual budget of $115 million and 104 employees who provide electric, natural gas, water and wastewater services to Los Alamos County customers. The department is organized into five collaborative divisions: 1) Finance and Administration, 2) Electric Production, 3) Electric Distribution, 4) Gas, Water and Sewer, and 5) Engineering. DPU has two collective bargaining units. 


Recent DPU accomplishments

Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI): DPU installed AMI recently and launched an online metering portal where DPU customers can monitor their usage.

New Drinking Water Well: DPU has just completed drilling a new drinking water well – Otowi Well 2 – at a total depth of more than 2,000 feet below the surface.

Highway utility infrastructure: The project to replace utility infrastructure along NM-502 was completed giving new life to a system that was undersized and 50-70 years old.

Microgrid: In response to the nearby Cerro Pelado Fire in 2022, electric staff created a temporary microgrid to power a water well field and ensure sufficient water pumping for customers as well as for potential firefighting efforts.

San Juan Generating Station (SJGS): DPU helped to extend production at the San Juan Generating Station by three months prior to its 2022 shutdown to accommodate high summer demand.

Utility Assistance Programs: DPU processed $64,000 in utility assistance payments for programs administered in-house, though LIHEAP and through the state of New Mexico.

Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems (UAMPS): DPU is a member of UAMPS, a joint action agency comprising 46 public power utility members in six western states. Through UAMPS DPU is participating in the Carbon Free Power Project – a next generation nuclear generation facility to be built in Idaho using small modular reactors which should go live in 2030.

Conservation: In 2022, the department’s Water & Energy Conservation Plan was updated in full for the first time since 2015. This plan is now on a continuing update schedule.