The Sunland Park City Council tonight approved a new rate structure for the Camino Real Regional Utility Authority (CRRUA) that goes into effect January 1, 2026. CRRUA provides water and wastewater services to Sunland Park and Santa Teresa, NM.
As co-owners of CRRUA, both the City of Sunland Park and Dona Ana County were required to approve the rate plan, along with the CRRUA Board of Directors.
The CRRUA board of directors gave its approval on Nov. 10, 2025, followed by the Dona Ana County Commission on Nov 14, 2025.
The approved rate structure is based on a cost-of-service rate study conducted by Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc.
“CRRUA serves one of New Mexico’s fastest-growing regions. Rapid growth, aging infrastructure, and increased regulatory compliance costs have placed growing pressure on the utility system,” said CRRUA Executive Director Juan Crosby.
“This rate structure is essential for us to accurately recover the costs associated with delivering high-quality water services to homes and businesses and ensuring that rates are aligned with the resources required to keep the water utility system running at optimal performance now and in the future,” Crosby said.
In 2024, the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) commissioned an independent, third-party Comprehensive Performance Evaluation (CPE) of CRRUA. The CPE, conducted by Eastern Research Group (ERG) found that, “Rates have not kept pace with the full cost to properly staff, operate, and maintain the water system.” ERG recommended immediate action, including a rate study and building reserves to avoid further financial strain.
Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc., a nationally respected infrastructure consulting firm, conducted the Cost-of-Service Study, which it completed this past summer. Jacobs is supported by Garza & Associates, a Las Cruces-based firm assisting with financial modeling and development standards.
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