*PNM's full press conference is in the video at the bottom of this article
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – With high winds and dry air increasing the risk of power-line-sparked wildfires throughout New Mexico, the state's largest electric company, the Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM), is following California's lead and has been preparing to conduct Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) as needed. To determine whether or not shutoffs are needed, PNM's crews have been monitoring the amount of fire fuel, moisture content, and windspeed in at-risk areas.
East Mountain Power Shutoff Information
In PNM's 11 a.m. press conference, the company announced its plans to shut off power in the East Mountains at noon on Thursday, March 6. However, due to improved weather conditions, at around 2:20 p.m. on Thursday, PNM called off the planned power shutoff. The outage was initially predicted to last until Friday evening, impacting roughly 10,500 customers. This would have been the first time PNM ever implemented a Public Safety Power Shutoff.
Despite canceling the planned outage, PNM warned that fire and weather-related outage risks remain high with strong winds. If outages do occur, restoration is expected to take longer than usual, as PNM has heightened the sensitivity of its systems to not automatically re-energize power lines when they are tripped.
Impact on schools
In anticipation of the outage, A. Montoya Elementary, San Antonio Elementary, and Roosevelt Middle School announced that students could be picked up for voluntary dismissal starting at noon on Thursday.
Clik here to view.
PNM Speaks on Shutoff
In Thursday's press conference, the senior vice president of New Mexico operations for TXNM Energy, Mike Mertz, said:
"Any decision to turn off the power to any of our customers and communities is extremely difficult, and it's not made without extensive analysis of a number of factors we've monitored closely over the last week in making any determinations that this weather system poses an extreme risk to these communities. So, we know that electricity is absolutely critical to our customers, and safe and reliable power is always our goal. Ultimately, though, we believe that the safety of our community is at risk, and we must do our part to avoid the type of devastation that we've seen from wildfires firsthand in our states and other parts of the country. Our number one priority is, and always will be, to return every customer to service with safe and reliable power as quickly as possible."
Many parts of New Mexico are under a wind advisory and/or red-flag warning on Thursday, with winds expected to reach up to 65 miles per hour in some areas. Santa Fe and Las Vegas were also being watched closely by PNM earlier in the week, but the power company announced that those areas are no longer a safety concern; the company is not expecting to have to implement a PSPS for those areas on Thursday.
Clik here to view.
Over the last twelve years, New Mexico has seen at least three power-line-sparked wildfires, including the 2022 McBride Fire in Ruidoso, the 2013 Tres Lagunas Fire near Pecos, and the 2013 Thompson Ridge Fire near Los Alamos in 2013.
PNM encourages community members to take the following steps ahead of and in case of outages on Thursday:
- Customers should sign up for outage alerts by texting #REG to 78766 from a phone number associated with their account. Then text #ALERT to 78766.
- Customers should update their contact information at PNM.com/login or call us at 888-DIAL-PNM.
- Given the widespread nature of the storm, it is also possible that customers outside of these areas could experience extended power outages. Customers can report a power outage at PNM.com/outage or by texting #REG to 78766 and then #OUT to 78766. Customers can view the power outage map at PNM.com/outagemap.
- Plan ahead. The American Red Cross advises steps to prepare for a power outage at: https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/power-outage.html.
- Learn more at PNM.com/wildfire-safety.
- Finally, be prepared by creating an outage plan with food, water and resources you would need during a power outage and ensuring you have back-up power for any medical equipment.