New Mexico's largest electricity provider has agreed to issue credits to more than 200 customers who were affected by a series of what state regulators call bad meter readings.
The Public Regulation Commission says its consumer relations and utilities divisions worked for the past two months to help recover more than $18,000 in overcharges.
The agency says recently filed complaints indicated a series of incorrect estimated meter readings were taken. That resulted in higher than average utility bills for some customers living on Santa Fe's west side.
Estimated readings occur when a utility can't obtain normal access to a meter. Charges typically reflect a customer's median bill over the past 12 months.
The director of the Consumer Relations Division, Jim Williamson, says the mistake bumped most of the affected customers into PNM's highest pricing block.