New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 17 - PUBLIC UTILITIES AND UTILITY SERVICES
Chapter 12 - WATER SERVICES
Part 1 - GENERAL PROVISIONS FOR WATER UTILITIES
Section 17.12.1.9 - INTRODUCTION
Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 18, September 24, 2024
NMPSC Rules 710 through 780 [17.12.1 NMAC, 17.12.720 NMAC through 17.12.780 NMAC] govern annual reporting; Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity; system design, construction, and operation; customer services; rate filings; and utility accounting for water utilities operating under the Commission's jurisdiction.
A. Annual Report Forms are required to be filed for every calendar year by April 30 of each year. Attached to this report shall be SEC Form 10K, if applicable, and NMPSC Rule 710 [17.12.1 NMAC] Form 1 regarding jurisdictional customer numbers. NMPSC Rule 720 [17.12.720 NMAC] provides that water utilities shall file Annual Reports in either of two (2) formats. Smaller water utilities may file an abbreviated Annual Report form.
B. Under NMPSC Rule 720 [17.12.720 NMAC] regulated water utilities are required to maintain financial accounts in either of two (2) formats. Larger water utilities shall keep their financial records according to the NARUC Uniform System of Accounts for Class A and B Water Utilities. Smaller water utilities may keep their financial records either pursuant to the New Mexico Uniform System of Accounts for Class C and D Water Utilities or according to the NARUC Uniform System of Accounts for Class C and D Water Utilities.
C. Provision for rate filings is divided into the levels of operation set out in the classification of water utilities herein below. NMPSC Rules 730 and 780 [17.12.730 NMAC and 17.12.780 NMAC] provide that water utilities shall file for rates in one (1) of three (3) formats. The larger utilities must file the most comprehensive package. Middle-sized utilities may file a simpler package. The smaller utilities may file the most abbreviated package.
D. No water utility subject to the Commission's jurisdiction shall commence construction nor operation without first obtaining a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. NMPSC Rule 740 [17.12.740 NMAC] provides that every filing for a certificate from the Commission shall be made pursuant to NMPSC Rules 110.35 through 110.38 [17.1.2 NMAC] and must demonstrate proposed system and service compliance when operational.
E. The Minimum Standards for Design, Construction, and Operation set forth in NMPSC Rule 750 [17.12.750 NMAC] establish the measurements the Commission will require in connection with questions which pertain to expense, capital, Rate Base, prudence, adequacy, or convenience and necessity. These system standards may reasonably be exceeded in any particular application. The minimum standards apply to all new water utilities seeking initial certification after the effective date of General Order No. 42, codified by NMPSC Rules 710 through 780 [17.12.1 NMAC, 17.12.720 through 17.12.780 NMAC], and to new expansion, construction, and repair of existing facilities of already certified utilities.
F. The Customer Service Rules and Regulations, NMPSC Rule 760 [17.12.760 NMAC], establish the responsibilities and rights of jurisdictional water utilities and their residential customers in their water service relationship. Nothing herein shall prevent any utility from adopting Service Rules and Regulations which do not conflict with but which are additional to those set forth herein to cover special circumstances.
