The Paper. Open Search Questions Surround AG's Relationship With Lawyer Representing PNM Utility Merger Share this story and add your comments: Smoke billows from the San Juan Generating Station in Waterflow. / Don J. Usner for Searchlight New Mexico By The Paper. 100% of reader revenue goes to the local. independent journalists bringing you the news. Published by Associated Press I'm not interested Attorney General Hector Balderas’ cozy relationship with a local law firm is under scrutiny amid allegations that Albuquerque-based attorney Marcus Rael Jr. used his influence with the attorney general to convince Balderas to sign off on a multi-billion-dollar utility merger. The merger between a global energy giant and New Mexico’s largest utility could drastically change electricity distribution in the state, with hundreds of millions of dollars for New Mexico utility customers hanging in the balance.