New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 17 - PUBLIC UTILITIES AND UTILITY SERVICES
Chapter 12 - WATER SERVICES
Part 770 - SMALL WATER UTILITIES
Section 17.12.770.10 - NOTICE TO RATEPAYERS PRIOR TO FILING OF PROPOSED RATES
Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 18, September 24, 2024
A. Notice required. At least sixty (60) days prior to filing with the commission a schedule proposing a change in rate or rates, a small water utility shall notify its ratepayers of the proposed rate or rates in writing. The utility may mail the notice to ratepayers either with their billings or independently.
B. Required information. The notice to ratepayers shall include the following information:
C. Billing analysis for residential customer required. The notice to ratepayers shall include a chart that provides a billing analysis for residential customers clearly showing the present rates, the proposed rates, and the percentage difference between the present bill and the anticipated bill for each of the following levels of consumption (if consumption is measured in units other than thousands of gallons the utility shall convert their billing units to thousands of gallons) - 0 gallons, 1,000 gallons, 2,000 gallons, 3,000 gallons, 4,000 gallons, 5,000 gallons, 6,000 gallons, 7,000 gallons, 8,000 gallons, 9,000 gallons, 10,000 gallons, 15,000 gallons, 20,000 gallons, 25,000 gallons, 30,000 gallons, 35,000 gallons, 40,000 gallons, 45,000 gallons and 50,000 gallons;
D. If the utility has one thousand five hundred (1,500) or fewer service connections in any operating district or division, averaged over the previous three (3) consecutive years, the notice to ratepayers shall include a statement that the new rate or rates will go into effect automatically and will not be subject to review and hearing by the commission unless ratepayers file a protest conforming to the requirements of 17.12.770.12 NMAC.
E. If the utility has more than one thousand five hundred (1,500), but less than five thousand (5,000) service connections in any operating district or division, averaged over the previous three (3) years, the notice to ratepayers shall include a statement that the new rate or rates will go into effect automatically and will not be subject to review and hearing by the commission unless commission staff files a motion for review or ratepayers file a protest conforming to the requirements of 17.12.770.12 NMAC.
F. Prior approval of notice form. The utility shall submit a copy of the form notice to the utility division staff for approval at least fifteen (15) days prior to giving notice to ratepayers. If the commission does not disapprove of the form of notice within five (5) business days of submission of the notice, the form will be deemed approved.
G. Rejection. Failure to comply with this section shall be deemed grounds for rejection of the filing proposing a change in rate or rates.