N.M. Admin. Code § 17.9.560.15

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 23, December 10, 2024

Section 17.9.560.15 - STANDARDS OF QUALITY OF SERVICES

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.

N.M. Admin. Code § 17.9.560.15

6-30-88; 17.9.560.15 NMAC - Rn, NMPSC 560.45-560.49 & A, 6-15-05; A, 12-31-12, Adopted by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXI, Issue 21, November 10, 2020, eff. 11/10/2020