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PNM, NM Gas Co. offer payment assistance to customers affected by government shutdown
A New Mexico Gas Co. office in Santa Fe. The utility, along with the Public Service Company of New Mexico, is offering payment assistance to customers affected by the federal government shutdown.
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New Mexico’s two largest utilities are offering payment support to federal employees affected by the ongoing government shutdown.
Affected New Mexico Gas Co. customers, whether furloughed or unpaid, will not face disconnections or late fees during the winter heating season. Assistance is planned through mid-March or until the shutdown, which began Oct. 1, is resolved.
Similarly, Public Service Company of New Mexico is suspending disconnections and offering payment assistance to affected customers. Impacted federal workers who receive a disconnect notice can submit a special form for payment extensions on its website.
PNM spokesperson Jeff Buell said while these customers face uncertainty, the utility wanted to “help them at least not have to worry about power while they are furloughed.”
NMGC spokesperson Tim Korte said the assistance does not save customers money, but will allow them to reorganize or spread out payments. The utility offers similar aid to low-income customers and is now extending the benefit to impacted federal employees.
The gas utility said affected customers can call or visit any of the 22 NMGC walk-in offices to discuss residential service arrangements and other available assistance.
Customers will be required to verify their active federal employment status by presenting a government employee photo identification, a badge or other documentation of proof at an NMGC office or to a field collector.
Neither NMGC nor PNM, which serve hundreds of thousands of households and businesses, has an estimate of how many of its customers are impacted. But, considering each serves several communities housing federal facilities, the assistance is expected to reach a large portion of these employees in New Mexico.
The state boasts some 22,000 federal civilian employees and another 22,000 active duty and reserve military personnel.
“We understand that sometimes customers face circumstances beyond their control that make it difficult to pay their bill, and we want to help,” Korte said.
