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

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.