(AP) -- ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - New Mexico regulators have made a decision that clears the way for customers to take advantage of third-party power purchase agreements with renewable energy developers.

The Public Regulation Commission voted 4-1 Tuesday to largely uphold an earlier ruling by a hearing examiner, who found that it is legal for a developer to install solar panels or other renewable energy electricity generation systems on a customer's property and then sell the electricity to the customer.

Like the hearing examiner, the PRC decided that such developers are not public utilities and not subject to state regulation.

The state's largest utility, Public Service Company of New Mexico, and other rural electric cooperatives had argued that third-party power purchase agreements were illegal.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

(Copyright ©2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)