Customers with overdue heating bills should quickly seek financial help, but the Public Service Company of New Mexico doesn't expect to pull the plug on their utilities.

Legally, PNM could do that as of Wednesday.

NEED HELP? Anyone who needs help paying heating bills can apply for assistance through the Low Income Housing Energy Assistance program. Qualifying households earn less than 150 percent of the federal income poverty level, which would be below $2,011 monthly for a family of three. (800) 283-8865. The Good Neighbor Fund can also help: 881-4292. To avoid being disconnected, call PNM at 246-5700. Sources: PNM; state Human Services Department/td>

"Whether somebody gets disconnected is a function of how far behind they are and when they receive their bills," said PNM spokesman Don Brown.

Last year, state lawmakers required utility companies to keep service, even for delinquent customers, from Nov. 15 until March 15.

The goal was to ensure that low-income customers would have heat throughout the winter. Of course, that doesn't mean PNM will forgive debts, Brown said.

"The utility company's goal is to prevent disconnection and it will work with customers to set up a payment plan as much as we can," Brown said.

PNM counts 4,500 customers around the state who have not paid since Nov. 15.

Brown said PNM has about 31,000 households that get financial help through the Low Income Housing Energy Assistance program.

Those households received one-time grants worth, on average, $430, Brown said.

Customers who also qualify for PNM's Good Neighbor fund could get an additional $130 toward the cost of utilities.

PNM has about 27 or 28 billing cycles a month.

"Every day, we are sending out 20,000 bills, both gas and electric," he said.