Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has established a new energy affordability council to study energy cost and grid reliability issues in New Mexico. The 13-member council, which includes Cabinet secretaries and industry executives, will be tasked with studying how the state's electrical grid can be updated while protecting ratepayers from cost increases. The governor's executive order also highlighted concerns about possible wildfire damage to the state’s electricity infrastructure. This comes as New Mexicans face rising electricity rates and increased weather conditions. The council's members are also tasked with compiling a final report by Nov. 1.