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 17.5.410.15 - ESTIMATED BILLS

A. A utility may render a bill based on estimated usage to a seasonally billed residential customer if an appropriate tariff is on file with the commission and an actual reading is obtained before each change in the seasonal cycle.

B. A utility may render a bill based on estimated usage to a residential customer other than a seasonably billed residential customer if the utility through no fault of its own is unable to obtain access to the residential customer's premises for the purpose of reading the meter or in situations where the residential customer makes reading the meter unnecessarily difficult; a meter is defective or has been evidently tampered with or bypassed; or weather conditions prohibit meter readings or where other force majeure conditions exist. If the utility is unable to obtain an actual meter reading for these reasons it shall attempt to contact the residential customer to obtain access to the premises, or it shall undertake reasonably practical alternatives to obtain a meter reading.

C. Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection B of 17.5.410.15 NMAC, a utility may not render a bill based on estimated usage for more than two (2) consecutive billing periods without prior notification to the commission, nor for an initial or final bill for service, unless otherwise agreed to by the residential customer and the utility.

D. The estimating procedures employed by the utility must be contained in a tariff on file with the commission.

E. The utility must, for no less than twelve (12) months, maintain accurate records of the reasons for each estimate and the efforts made to secure an actual reading.

F. If a utility underestimates a residential customer's usage and subsequently seeks to correct the bill, the residential customer shall be given an opportunity to participate in an installment agreement with regard to the underestimated amount.

G. Upon request, a utility shall explain to any residential customer how to read and report electric or gas usage. Upon an agreement between a residential customer and a utility, a residential customer may read and report the electric or gas usage as long as such usage is reported on a regular and accurate basis. The utility shall provide a reasonable means for the residential customer to report meter readings. In such a case, at least annually, a utility shall obtain an actual meter reading of residential customer usage in order to verify the accuracy of readings reported in this manner. 17.5.410 NMAC shall not prevent a utility from reading meters on a regular basis.

H. A utility's tariff may provide for a residential customer to read and report the electric or gas usage on a regular and accurate basis.

I. Notwithstanding Subsections B, C and H of 17.5.410.15 NMAC, a utility may estimate a billing in the event that a residential customer fails to timely and accurately report the self-reading.