Facilities and Services oversees the acquisition, production, distribution, and management of most campus utility systems. These include domestic water, sanitary sewer, electric power, chilled water, steam, geothermal water, natural gas, and emergency power. The utility costs for Instructional and General purpose space are funded by the State of New Mexico and by NMSU via I & G appropriations. All other facilities and utility consumers are expected to reimburse the university for the cost of providing the utilities used.

PART 1: UTILITY CONNECTIONS

Utility systems are integral to the well being of the campus. No modification or connection to a utility distribution system is authorized unless approved by the executive director for operations in Facilities and Services and either accomplished by or directly supervised by Facilities and Services.

PART 2: UTILITY LOCATES

1. In accordance with the New Mexico legislation (SFL/SB 415), anyone excavating or preparing plans for excavation on NMSU property shall request a utility locate a minimum of 2 working days prior to commencing excavation, in order to ensure all locators are informed of the locate request with sufficient time allowed to make their locates. Therefore, the time limit does not commence until both parties listed above are notified. Anyone excavating or preparing plans for excavation are required to provide information regarding the commencement, extent, and duration of the excavation work.
2. The utility locate performed and communicated shall be considered valid for 5 days. If excavation has not commenced within that time, a request for a relocate shall be made in accordance with the above.
3. A minimum of 18 inches must be maintained between any marked utilities and the cutting edge or point of any mechanical excavating equipment.
4. Existing utilities must be protected during the excavation. The owners of any utilities damaged or dislocated during the excavation work must be notified prior to backfilling. The owners must also be notified of any tracing tape or tracing wire damaged or dislocated during the excavation work, prior to backfilling.

PART 3: UTILITY OUTAGES

Facilities and Services will normally provide 2 weeks’ notice for all planned utility outages that impact campus facilities. Any activity that will require an outage must be requested in accordance with Facilities and Services procedures. On some occasions, emergency situations may require an unplanned utility outage and Facilities and Services will repair the situation and restore utility service as soon as is possible.

PART 4: UTILITY TUNNELS

The university owns an extensive network of utility tunnels that exist for the sole purpose of providing a conveying utility systems to and from campus facilities. Access to those tunnels must be specifically approved by the executive director of operations (or designee) at (575) 646-2101. The tunnels are potentially dangerous spaces and safety regulations shall be followed by any person that enters these areas. Any installation of additional equipment or devices in the university utility tunnel system shall receive prior written approval from the executive director of operations in Facilities and Services.