[Lwvcnmtopics] NMPRC press release on Helping NM Consumers.

[George Richmond]

-------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject: 	FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 	Thu, 6 May 2021 18:06:20 +0000
From: 	Valencia, Sarah E, PRC <SarahE.Valencia at state.nm.us>
To: 	Valencia, Sarah E, PRC <SarahE.Valencia at state.nm.us>



NEW MEXICO PUBLIC REGULATION COMMISSION


    //


    /COMMISSIONERS/

DISTRICT 1   CYNTHIA B. HALL

DISTRICT 2   JEFFERSON L. BYRD

DISTRICT 3   JOSEPH MAESTAS

DISTRICT 4   THERESA BECENTI-AGUILAR

DISTRICT 5   STEPHEN FISCHMANN

	

	

P.O. Box 1269

Santa Fe, NM  87504-1269

*//*

*//*

*/CHIEF OF STAFF/**//*

Wayne Propst

*/Contact:/*

Sarah E. Valencia, PIO

(505) 490-7910

*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*

AS COVID-19 SHUT OFF MORATORIUMS EXPIRE, THE NEW MEXICO PUBLIC 
REGULATION COMMISSION ISSUES ORDER TO ENCOURAGE SMALL UTILITIES 
CUSTOMERS TO APPLY FOR AVAILABLE ASSISTANCE AND PAY OFF ARREARAGES

(SANTA FE, NM—MAY 6)—On May 5, 2021, the New Mexico Public Regulation 
Commission (PRC) issued an order providing protection to customers who 
are waiting for an application for relief funds to process. The order 
comes just as moratoriums on disconnections expired on May 4, for small 
water, gas and rural electric cooperative utilities, allowing these 
utilities to begin serving disconnection notices to residential 
customers who were previously protected.

PRC considered emergency health conditions the highest priority and 
worked with utilities to ease concerns regarding disconnections. 
  Payment plans are being offered by utility companies to assist 
customers in paying off their past due balances. Rental assistance 
programs and other relief programs are now available that provide some 
utility assistance, as well. The PRC encourages utility customers with 
past due balances to reach out to their utility companies for assistance.

The most recent order issued by the PRC on Wednesday states that a 
customer cannot be disconnected while an application for relief funds 
(from the Emergency Rental Assistance Program or other state, federal, 
or private sources) is being processed.  Customers who rent their homes 
can apply for ERAP funds online at www.renthelpnm.org or by calling 
1-833-485-1334.

Under previous orders from the PRC, residential customers cannot be 
disconnected for nonpayment if they have agreed to an installment plan 
and are complying with it. The PRC also ordered installment plans 
“should be extended as long as needed for the customer to be able to 
fulfill the terms”.

In anticipation of the moratorium expiration, the PRC held a public 
workshop for stakeholders, including utility companies and customers, 
last week. Through the workshop, PRC learned that 8.7% or 21,251 of 
small utilities’ residential accounts are in arrears. Total residential 
arrears for small utilities are $7.5 million, and the average account is 
$354 past due. Stakeholder input also revealed that utilities were 
having trouble getting customers to agree to installment plans while the 
moratorium was in place. According to responses from the April 19 bench 
request, less than 2% of the 21,251 residential accounts in arrears are 
on installment plans.

PRC intends to keep the conversation with utilities going and plans to 
hold a similar workshop with large utilities later this summer. The 
moratorium is in place for large, investor-owned utilities until August 12.

/The *New Mexico Public Regulation Commission* (*PRC*) regulates the 
//utilities/ <http://nmprc.state.nm.us/utilities/index.html>/, 
//telecommunications/ 
<http://nmprc.state.nm.us/utilities/telecommunications.html>/, and 
//motor carrier/ 
<http://nmprc.state.nm.us/transportation/index.html>/ industries to 
ensure fair and reasonable rates, and to assure reasonable and adequate 
services to the public as provided by law.//

The NMPRC also promotes public safety through the offices of //State 
Fire Marshal/ <http://nmprc.state.nm.us/state-firemarshal/index.html>/, 
the //Firefighter Training Academy/ 
<http://nmprc.state.nm.us/state-firemarshal/fire-training-academy/index.html>/, 
//Pipeline Safety Bureau/ 
<http://nmprc.state.nm.us/transportation/pipeline-safety.html>/ and 
//Transportation Division/ 
<http://nmprc.state.nm.us/transportation/index.html>/./

Sarah E Valencia

Public Information Officer

NM Public Regulation Commission

505-490-7910

logo 230x61



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