New Mexico Administrative Code › Title 17 - PUBLIC UTILITIES AND UTILITY SERVICES › Chapter 5 - UTILITY INTERCONNECTIVITY AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS › Part 410 - RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER SERVICE BY GAS, ELECTRIC AND RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE UTILITIES › Section 17.5.410.7 - DEFINITIONS

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 13, July 16, 2024
In addition to the definitions contained in NMSA 1978,
				  Section
				  62-3-3, as
				  used in this rule, unless otherwise specified:
A.
administering authority
means the human services department or a tribal or pueblo entity that
				administers a tribe's or pueblo's low-income home energy assistance program
				under NMSA 1978, Section
				27-6-18.1;
B.
automatic adjustment clause
means the adjustment procedure approved by the commission to recognize
				variations in the cost of fuel for electric generation, cost of purchased
				power, cost of purchased gas, or for any other cost factor approved by the
				commission;
C.
billing
				period
means a utility service usage period in accordance with
				applicable tariff schedules;
D.
chronically delinquent
means the status of a residential customer
				who during the prior twelve (12) months has been disconnected by that utility
				for nonpayment or who on three (3) or more occasions during the prior twelve
				months has not paid a bill by the date a subsequent bill is rendered;
E.
cycle billing
means a system
				employed by a utility which results in the rendition of bills for utility
				service to various residential customers on different days but on or about the
				same day of each billing period;
F.
delinquent
means the status of a bill rendered to a residential
				customer for utility service which remains unpaid after the due date of the
				bill;
G.
discontinuance of
				service
means an intentional cessation of service by a utility not
				voluntarily requested by a residential customer;
H.
estimated bill
means a bill
				for utility service which is not based on an actual reading of the residential
				customer's meter or other measuring device for the period billed;
I.
heating season
means the
				period beginning November 15 and continuing through March 15 of the subsequent
				year;
J.
HSD
means
				the New Mexico human services department;
K.
installment agreement
means
				an arrangement by a utility customer pursuant to 17.5.410.40 NMAC to make a
				series of payments of past due utility charges scheduled over a period greater
				than forty-five (45) days, and may be referred to as "payment plan" in customer
				notices;
L.
LIHEAP
means the low-income home energy assistance program administered by HSD or a
				tribal or pueblo entity that administers a tribe's or pueblo's low-income home
				energy assistance program under NMSA 1978, Section
				27-6-18.1;
M.
line extension
means that
				part of a utility's system for the delivery of gas or electric utility service
				which extends and connects the utility's existing system to a residential
				customer, exclusive of yard lines or service drops;
N.
medical professional
means a
				licensed physician, physician's assistant, osteopathic physician, osteopathic
				physician's assistant or certified nurse practitioner;
O.
nonheating season
means the
				period beginning March 16 and continuing through November 14 of the same
				year;
P.
rendition of a
				bill
means the date of mailing or personal delivery of a bill by a
				utility;
Q.
residential
				customer
means any person being supplied with and legally liable for the
				payment of an electric or gas utility service for that person's household or
				domestic uses;
R.
residential service
means the provision of or use of electricity or gas
				for household or domestic purposes;
S.
seriously or chronically ill
means an illness or injury that results in a medical professional's
				determination that the loss of utility service would give rise to a substantial
				risk of death or would gravely impair health;
T.
settlement agreement
means
				an agreement between a utility and a residential customer establishing terms
				and conditions for resolving a dispute;
U.
special service
means a
				service provided to a residential customer by a utility which is not subject to
				a tariff schedule;
V.
specific date
means an exact date, or a period of no more than five (5)
				business days beginning with an exact date. The date specified on the most
				recent bill or notice as the date by which past due amounts must be paid to
				avoid discontinuance of service constitutes a specific date for purposes of
				this rule;
W.
utility
				charges
means the billing or charges for the provision of utility
				service and other charges authorized by the commission pursuant to approved
				tariffs.