Utility Billing

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The City of Truth or Consequences has recently converted to new Utility Billing software. During this conversion, we suspended our online payment system.  We now have completed the conversion process and online payments are once again available.  To make a payment on your utility bill or to check your usage, please visit our online payments web site.  To make use of this site, you will need to create an account.  This account creation requires an email address, and information from your last utility bill.

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.

There are four main possible reasons for a high bill:

1. Misread meter - this is rare
2. Meter is malfunctioning and running fast - this is very rare
3. Customer change in lifestyle or season, and/or leaks (common)
4. The balance on any previous bill was not paid in full

• Holiday lights or other additional exterior lighting
• Running / hung up toilet or a leak in your plumbing system
• Visitors / guests using extra water and electricity
• New appliances
• New habits, such as leaving the bathroom light on
• Climatic changes - increased need for electric heaters / air conditioning
• Watering season

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.

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:

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:

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."