Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 18, September 24, 2024
A.
Standard frequency: The
standard frequency for alternating current distribution systems shall be 60
cycles per second. The frequency shall be maintained within limits which will
permit the satisfactory operation of customers' clocks connected to the
system.
B.
Voltage
limits: Each utility shall adopt and file with the commission standard
nominal service voltages and for each of the several areas into which its
distribution system or systems may be divided.
(1) The variations of the voltage for the
various classes of service, voltage spread, and extreme tolerable voltage
limits shall be in accordance with the publication EEI No. R-6, NEMA No. 117,
ANSI standard C-84.1, or voltage levels on rural distribution systems REA
bulletin No. 169.4.
(2) For service
rendered to public utilities and others for resale, the nominal voltage spread
and extreme tolerable voltage limits shall be as mutually agreed upon by the
parties concerned. These limitations do not apply to special contracts in which
the customer specifically agrees to accept service with unregulated
voltage.
(3) Exceptions to voltage
requirements: Voltage outside the limits specified will not be considered a
violation when the variations:
(a) arise from
the action of the elements;
(b) are
infrequent fluctuations not exceeding five minutes' duration;
(c) arise from service
interruptions;
(d) arise from
temporary separation of parts of the system from the main system;
(e) are from causes beyond the control of the
utility.
C.
Voltage surveys and records:
(1)
Each utility shall make a reasonable number of voltage measurements using
recording voltmeters or minimum/maximum voltmeters to determine if voltages are
in compliance with the requirements as stated in Subsection B of 17.9.560.15
NMAC.
(2) Voltage measurements
shall be made at the customer's point of metering and at other pertinent
locations on the utility system.
(3) All voltmeter records obtained under
Paragraphs (1) and (2) above shall be retained by the utility in accordance
with 17.3.310 NMAC and shall be available for inspection by the commission's
representatives. Notations on each record shall indicate the following:
(a) the location where the voltage was
taken;
(b) the time and date of the
test; and
(c) the results of the
comparison with an indicating voltmeter.
D.
Equipment for voltage
measurements:
(1) Working instruments:
(a) Each utility shall have at least two
indicating voltmeters with a stated accuracy within plus three percent of full
scale.
(b) Each utility shall have
at least two portable recording voltmeters with a stated accuracy within plus
three percent of full scale.
(2) Working instruments shall be checked
periodically (see Paragraph (2) of Subsection E. of
17.9.560.14
NMAC) by comparison with a standard in a meter shop.
(3) Extreme care shall be exercised in the
handling of instruments to assure that their accuracy is not
disturbed.
E.
Interruptions of service: Each utility shall make reasonable
efforts to avoid interruptions of service, but when interruptions occur service
shall be reestablished within the shortest time practicable consistent with
safety.
(1) Each utility shall keep records
of interruptions of service on its primary distribution circuits and shall make
an analysis of the records for the purpose of determining steps to be taken to
prevent recurrence of such interruptions. Such records should include the
following information concerning the interruptions:
(a) cause;
(b) date and time; and
(c) duration.
(2) The log for each unattended substation
must show interruptions which require attention to restore service with the
estimated time of interruption.
(3)
Planned interruptions shall be made at a time that will not cause unreasonable
inconvenience to customers and shall be preceded, if feasible, by adequate
notice to those who will be affected.
(4) Each utility shall report the following
information:
(a) A major interruption of
service is defined as an unscheduled interruption of service of more than 30
minutes in duration, affecting:
(i) more than
ten percent of a utility's New Mexico jurisdictional load or more than 100 MW
of its New Mexico jurisdictional load, whichever is less; or
(ii) substantially all of a New Mexico
municipality or county; or
(iii)
any of the utility's customers of at least one MW (based on the most recent
demand billing information on the date of the major interruption).
(b) Within two hours of the
commencement of a major interruption of service (or no later than 9:00 AM the
following business day for outages occurring after 4:00 PM or on a weekend),
the utility division of the commission shall be notified telephonically, by
facsimile or by e-mail of the occurrence with a brief description of the
occurrence.
(c) Within three
business days a written report shall be filed with the records division of the
commission. The written report shall contain the pertinent information on the
outage including, but not limited to, time of occurrence, duration, cause,
facilities affected, MW of load lost, MWH of lost sales, estimated number of
consumers affected, municipalities and counties wholly or partially
interrupted, and actions taken by the utility to correct and prevent recurrence
of the outage.
(d) Utilities that
submit reports of an interruption to any coordinating council, regional
transmission group or other industry review shall concurrently submit copies to
the records division of the commission, including any engineering reports
associated with an interruption. Each utility shall provide to commission staff
all information requested by staff that is reasonably needed to assess the
situation.
(5) Each
utility shall identify critical customers, including facilities that require
electricity to perform essential life-health-safety services, including other
utility services such as natural gas compression, to establish priority of
service and to minimize curtailments to these customers.
(6) Each utility shall identify an emergency
coordinator to act as a single point of contact between designated emergency
personnel in each community served by the utility in the event of a system
emergency.
F.
Curtailment of service plan: Each utility shall have in place a
plan for curtailment of service that may need to be instituted to maintain
system reliability and integrity. Each plan shall be consistent with applicable
NERC and other reliability standards. The plan shall identify various levels of
curtailment and conditions that an electric utility must experience for each
level as well as specifying the type of actions the utility must undertake to
contain or reverse a potential emergency. Each plan must also prescribe the
minimum documentation required at each level. The plan must also include
information dissemination to customers, the public and governmental entities.
Each utility will periodically review and update the plan and will submit a
copy of the most current plan version to the records division of the commission
as a company rule pursuant to 17.9.210 NMAC.
