Utilities Department

The Truth or Consequences Utilities Office is located at the east end of City Hall. It's the heart of the utility services that the City provides. Any utility customer service concerns go directly through this office.

The Utilities Department main office number is 894-6671. Call this number to establish service, modify existing services, or to ask questions about services and billing.

The phone number for after-hours emergencies is 894-7111. This is the main number to Central Dispatch (the 911 center), so if you are put on hold for an extended period of time, please be patient, as they may be handling a life-or-death matter.

The City of Truth or Consequences Utilities Department is proud to provide electric, solid waste collection, water, and wastewater services to our valued customers, the residents of Truth or Consequences. We provide the same services, with the exception of solid waste collection, to the Village of Williamsburg.

PLEASE NOTE: A convenience fee (minimum $2.00) will apply to all web transactions. Online payments made after 8:00AM Mountain Time will be posted to your account on the next working business day.

Bills can be paid at the office (505 Sims) - either inside at the counter, or at our drive up payment window. An after-hours drop box is also available for your convenience. Please do not put cash in the after-hours drop box.

The office is closed for all government holidays.

Residential $0.09	$8.00 Customer Charge $0.1314 per kilowatt-hour
Small Commercial Single-phase $0.095	$10.00 Customer Charge $0.136 per kilowatt-hour
Small Commercial Three-phase $0.095	$12.00 Customer Charge $0.136 per kilowatt-hour
Large Commercial Single-phase $0.077	$23.25 Customer Charge $0.118 per kilowatt-hour $8.00 per kilowatt
Large Commercial Three-phase $0.077	$25.50 Customer Charge $0.118 per kilowatt-hour $8.00 per kilowatt
Yard Lights	$5.57 per light per month

Residential	$8.15 Customer Charge $1.75 per 1,000 gallons for first 7,000 gallons $1.93 per 1,000 gallons from 7001 gallons to 29,000 gallons $2.12 per 1,000 gallons from 29,001 gallons to 50,000 gallons $2.33 per 1,000 gallons for amount over 50,000 gallons
Commercial	$8.15 Customer Charge $1.75 per 1,000 gallons for first 7,000 gallons $1.93 per 1,000 gallons from 7001 gallons to 29,000 gallons $2.12 per 1,000 gallons from 29,001 gallons to 50,000 gallons $2.33 per 1,000 gallons for amount over 50,000 gallons
Industrial	$91.91 Customer Charge for first 50,000 gallons $1.84 per 1,000 gallons from 50,001 gallons to 100,000 gallons $2.02 per 1,000 gallons from 100,001 gallons to 150,000 gallons $2.22 per 1,000 gallons for amount over 150,000 gallons
Effluent Water	$100 deposite $1.35 per 1,000 gallons

Residential-Averaged	$7.10 Customer Charge $2.40 per 1,000 gallons based on averaged water use of 3 lowest months in Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
Residential-New	$19.10 per month
Commercial	$7.10 Customer Charge $2.40 per 1k gallons
Williamsburg Commercial	$8.75 Customer Charge $1.60 per 1k gallons
Williamsburg Residential-Averaged	$8.75 Customer Charge $1.60 per 1,000 gallons based on averaged water use in 3 lowest months in Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
Williamsburg Residential-New	$16.75 per month
Sewer Bathhouse	$30.75 per month

Residential	$20.33 per month
Commercial-Class I	$39.87 per month
Commercial-Class II	$63.53 per month
Commercial-Class III	$93.06 per month
Commercial-Class IV	$124.62 per month
Commercial-Class V	$358.87 per month
All Other	Rate Varies according to service needs

Can I pay my utility bill online?

When am I allowed to water my lawn and yard?

What can I do to help conserve water?

What is this "Pass Through" charge on my bill?

Which dumpster do I use for my trash?

Why is my bill higher than usual?

Why is my bill higher than my friend's/neighbor's?

Why didn't my last payment show up on my current bill?

Why is my bill based on an estimated reading?

When are my meters read?

As per Ordinance No. 419-94, Section 14-37

Security deposits, guarantees of payment.

(a) The City shall require a utility deposit or an acceptable credit rating for residential or commercial utility service. The deposit shall not exceed an amount equivalent to one sixth of that customer's estimated annual billing or not more than one and one half times the customer's estimated maximum monthly billing. However, if an average can not be obtained then $200 ($100 each service Electric & Water) shall be collected.

(b) The City reserves the right to refund and waive deposits requirements upon establishment of an acceptable credit rating. A customer or guarantor may only establish an acceptable credit if they:

1. Can provide adequate credit references from a utility where the residential customer had prior utility service.

(c) If the customer or prospective customer cannot establish an acceptable credit rating but can demonstrate to the City that the customer does not have adequate financial resources to pay the full security deposit at one time because the customer has a low income and is elderly, disabled, or subject to other considerations, the City shall give special consideration to such a customer in determining in what amount and over what period of time a portion of the deposit total will be billed monthly until such time that full deposit is obtained. In no case will monthly deposit accruals exceed six months

(d) If a prospective customer cannot establish an acceptable credit rating but previously received utility service under the name of a spouse, the City may consider prior utility service to that spouse in determining whether and in what amount a security deposit will be charged.

(e) The City, at its sole discretion, may require a security deposit of customers with a previous acceptable credit rating and deposit waiver as a condition of continued service if:

1. The customer is a chronic delinquent customer;
2. As a condition for reconnection of service following a discontinuance of service by the City; or
3. A Customer who in an unauthorized manner has interfered with or diverted the service of the City situated on or about or delivered to the customer's premises.

(f) Security deposits may be applied toward payment or partial payment of utility charges, including penalties, at any time after delinquency, being the time the penalty charge becomes applicable.

(Code 1962, § 3-3-12; Ord. No. 419, §1,9-12-94; Ord. No 513, §1, 3-11-02)

State law reference - Municipal authority to require reasonable deposits for utilities, NMSA 1978, § 3-23-1.

Returned Check Fee	$25.00
Red Tag Fee	$50.00
Penalty Rate	1.5%
Connection Fee      Water      Electric	$19.09 $19.09
Disconnect Fee	$0.001
Water Tap Fees      3/4"      1"      1 1/2"      2"	$305.00 $420.00 $725.00 $900.00
Sewer Tap Fees      3"      4"      6"	$225.00 $235.00 $260.00
Residential Meter Test   Water   Electric	$25.002 $25.002
Pass-Through Fees

1. There is no charge to turn off water service temporarily (to fix leaks for instance). However, there will be a standard $19.09 connection fee charged to turn the service back on during normal business hours (8am-4pm, Monday through Friday). Reconnects which occur outside of these hours will be charged at twice the normal rate, $38.18. These charges will appear on the customer's next bill.

2. If a meter test is requested and the test shows the meter to be operating normally, the charges noted above will be billed to the customer. If the meter proves faulty, there will be no charge.

An automatic rate increase on electric power bills is specifically directed by Section 14-45, paragraph 7-a of the ordinances to pass along to the customer any increase in the wholesale rate for electricity, which is charged to the City.

As a City, we are allotted a portion of power generated by hydro means. If we consume more than this allotment, we must buy more power from another source. Our other source for power is Sierra Electric Cooperative.

The cost for wholesale hydropower from WAPA is currently $.01043 per KWh. The cost of any extra power needed from Sierra Electric Cooperative is $0.06495 per KWh - a substantial increase from the normal rate. To offset these extra costs, a "Pass-Through Charge" is passed on to consumers.

The Pass-Through Rate is calculated using the following formula:

Pass-Through Rate =	KWh (Sierra) x (Sierra KWh Rate - Hydro KWh Rate)
	KWh Used (Sierra) + KWh Used (Hydro)

For example, say that during any given month, the City used 2,338,000 KWh (our allotted portion) from Hydro power and an additional 1,257,900 KWh from Sierra Electric.

In this case, the Pass-Through Rate would be figured as follows:

1,257,900 KWh x ($0.06495 - $0.01043)	= 1,257,900KWh x $0.05455	= .019072
1,257,900 KWh + 2,338,000 KWh	3,595,900 KWh

So, in this example, the Pass-Through Rate equals $0.019072, which is rounded to $0.02.

This charge of $0.02 would then be multiplied by your KWh usage to arrive at an amount billed as a "Pass-Through Charge."

Accounts for which payment by check is returned for non sufficient funds will be assessed a $25 returned check fee.