N.M. Admin. Code § 17.10.640.7

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 20, October 22, 2024

Section 17.10.640.7 - DEFINITIONS

In addition to the definitions contained in NMSA 1978 Section 62-3-3, as used in this rule, unless otherwise specified:

A. annual reconciliation factor means a computed surcharge or credit factor in the PGAC used to collect any revenue shortfall in the PGAC or to refund any excess revenue collected through the PGAC;

B. annual reconciliation factor implementation period means that twelve consecutive months comprising the period set forth in the utility's PGAC for the implementation of its annual reconciliation factor;

C. annual reconciliation period means the historical period of twelve consecutive months used for purposes of determining the PGAC balancing account under-collection or over-collection;

D. annual reconciliation report means a report setting out all costs and revenues applicable to the utility's PGAC and including the calculation of the annual reconciliation factor;

E. attorney general means the attorney general of the state of New Mexico and the representatives and consultants of the attorney general's office;

F. balancing account means the account containing the current cumulative over-collected or under-collected gas costs or such other costs as ordered by the commission;

G. balancing account adjustment factor means a mechanism employed within the gas cost factor statement that allows the utility to make adjustments to the balancing account to manage the utility's balancing account as necessary;

H. basic gas cost factor means an interim factor developed during the calculation of the gas cost factor statement that considers all of the normal, recurring gas cost elements;

I. billing cycle means a regular periodic interval during which certain customers of the utility are billed. For purposes of this rule, the billing cycle shall be deemed to begin on the day of preparation of bills for mailing for the utility's first billing cycle in which the gas cost factor will become effective;

J. billing factor means the gas cost factor applicable for a billing period;

K. billing period means that period of time that encompasses the date of the first billing cycle through the date of the last billing cycle;

L. gas costs mean those types of costs defined by the utility in its PGAC tariff as approved by the commission for recovery through the utility's PGAC. No gas costs of customers of the utility not subject to the PGAC shall be included in the utility's PGAC calculations;

M. gas cost factor means the gas cost billing rate used in the utility's billing process for recovery of gas costs not included in the base rates;

N. gas cost factor statement (GCFS) means the filing required by a utility before an adjustment can be made in its gas cost factor;

O. gas supply plan means a planning report that sets forth the steps to provide a reliable gas supply at just and reasonable rates consistent with market conditions, regulatory requirements and other authorized purposes;

P. general service gas cost factor means the factor determined within the gas cost factor statement that is billed directly to sales service customers for gas costs. This factor is the sum of the basic gas cost factor, the balancing account adjustment factor, the producer/supplier surcharge or refund factor, the annual reconciliation factor, any other surcharge or refund factor authorized by the commission, and the factor for taxes and commission inspection and supervision fees, if applicable;

Q. lowest reasonable cost means gas supply procured at the lowest cost available at the time a gas contract is entered into or a purchase is made, consistent with supply reliability and operational needs of the utility;

R. month means a calendar month;

S. planning period means a period of twelve consecutive months or longer, beginning and ending in the months specified in the utility's PGAC;

T. producer/supplier surcharge or refund factor means a factor utilized to return refunds collected from suppliers or to surcharge additional items billed by suppliers that are not recognized elsewhere in the gas cost factor statement;

U. purchased gas adjustment clause (PGAC) means the mechanism that allows the utility to set gas cost billing rates for the purpose of recovering gas costs on a continuing basis and allows for levelization of the gas cost factor reflected in the PGAC component of the customer's bill;

V. sales customer means a customer of a utility who purchases gas from the utility rather than from a marketer, broker or other supplier;

W. staff means all persons employed by or representing the utility division of the commission;

X. tariff means the filed rate schedule, including rates, rules, and forms, setting forth the obligations of the utility and its customers;

Y. verification period means that time as established by this rule between the receipt of a gas cost factor statement by the commission and the first day of the first billing cycle in which the proposed gas cost factor will be placed in effect;

Z. transportation customer means a customer of the utility who purchases gas from a marketer, broker or supplier other than the utility and/or obtains only transmission and/or distribution services from the utility;

AA. year means a consecutive twelve-month period as defined in the utility's PGAC.

N.M. Admin. Code § 17.10.640.7

17.10.640.7 NMAC - N, 3-15-04