PNM continues to urge customers to prepare for weather-related outages due to high winds

(Albuquerque, NM) – In response to extreme fire conditions caused by prolonged dry weather, large amounts of fuel in wooded areas, warmer temperatures, low humidity, and increased winds PNM initiated a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) in Las Vegas impacting 2,300 at 11:30 a.m. in an effort to prevent power lines from igniting a wildfire, protecting lives and communities.

Customers should expect this outage to last overnight and up to 48 hours depending on fire conditions and potential damage caused to the system by high winds. Assuming no damage is caused by this wind event to the system, we estimate that power could be restored as early as 3 a.m. Friday, April 18. PNM reminds customers that crews will be patrolling our system into the night and urges customers to help them stay safe by letting them work to safely bring the power back on. 

The PSPS will be in place until the extreme weather conditions have passed, and the risk of a wildfire has been reduced. Current forecasts predict that the weather event will subside by 8 p.m. 

Once it is safe, more than 50 PNM employees will be deployed to patrol the equipment in the area and make any repairs necessary to get the lights on. 

In Las Vegas, there are 20 miles of lines and more than 800 poles and equipment that must be patrolled, mostly on foot, and possibly repaired. This could take an extended amount of time, and PNM is urging customers to prepare to be without power overnight. 

Updates will be provided on facebook.com/PNMelectric and restoration times for specific outages will be updated at PNM.com/outagemap. 

PNM encourages customers who are not impacted by the PSPS to be prepared for outages caused by the extreme weather conditions. If you are affected by an outage, please report it by texting #OUT to 78766 or by calling PNM at 888-DIAL-PNM.