Unless otherwise specified, as used in this rule:

1. A. "budget billing plan" means an agreement between a customer and a dealer intended to levelize or average the monthly billing for propane and propane services;
2. B. "customer" means a purchaser of propane who purchases propane from a dealer to heat the interior of a dwelling or structure or to heat water, is legally liable for the payment of those purchases and does not purchase propane for resale;
3. C. "customer rate variation" means a variation of prices charged by a propane dealer to customers;
4. D. "dealer" means a retail distributor of propane who delivers propane to customers’ premises and fills propane tanks at those premises;
5. E. "delinquent" means the status of a bill rendered to a customer for propane service which remains unpaid after the due date of the bill;

6. F. "important Information for New Mexico propane consumers (IINMPC)" means a document in Spanish and English for residential customers created and updated by the commission and posted on its website that shall contain at a minimum:

   (1) the toll-free telephone number of the commission’s consumer relations division;

   (2) information regarding LIHEAP application forms, qualification requirements, application procedures and locations at which residential customers may submit LIHEAP applications;

   (3) information regarding New Mexico energy$mart application forms, qualification requirements, application procedures and locations at which residential delivery customers may submit energy$mart applications; and

   (4) other information as may be specified by the commission from time to time such as:

   (a) tips for new and existing consumers;

   (b) a description of propane;

   (c) questions consumers may ask dealers;

   (d) service termination rights and obligations as set forth in this rule;

   (e) tips for budget billing plans; and

   (f) payment plans and payments;

7. G. "LIHEAP" means the low-income home energy assistance program administered by the New Mexico human services department or a tribe’s or pueblo’s low-income home energy assistance program administered under Section 27-6-18.1 NMSA 1978;
8. H. "New Mexico energy$mart" means the low-income weatherization assistance program administered by the New Mexico finance authority;
9. I. "payment agreement" means an agreement between a dealer and a customer in which the customer makes a series of payments scheduled over a period of more than forty-five (45) days to pay the customer’s past due balances;
10. J. "propane" means liquefied petroleum gas and LP gas;
11. K. "residential customer" means a person who purchases propane from a dealer to heat the interior of a dwelling house or other structure used as a residence, who is legally liable for the payment of those purchases and who does not purchase propane for resale;
12. L. "service" means the provision of propane by a dealer to a customer to heat the interior of a dwelling or other structure or to heat water;
13. M. "schedule of charges" means the documentation provided by the dealer to the customer identifying and serving as notice of all relevant charges and fees and prices related to propane services.

[17.10.2.7 NMAC - N, 12-15-10]